Dimension Runners

Chapter 1

      No one expected a bunch of normal, boring teenagers to save the world. Let alone those teenagers would be us.                  
      I wake up to the blaring sound of my alarm. Great another stupid day at a stupid school.
"Vanessa," Cate shouts, "get up and come down for breakfast!"
      "Coming!"
I slowly step out of bed and head downstairs.
"Good morning! The bus will be here in 10 minutes, so hurry up, eat, and get dressed." Madison says.
I find myself sitting in front of a dull, sad looking bowl of cereal, for the 7th time in a row. Now I bet your wondering, why is she so sad? Well, here's my answer. It's not easy being stuck in a tiny house with 3 girls and having to wear hand-me-downs everyday.
I chow down my cereal, run upstairs, and change into a red flannel and jeans shorts. I quickly tie up my hair into a braid, grab my book bag, and race out the door. I stand there at the bus stop waiting for Cate and Madison to join me.
      "Have a good day!" Anna shouts.
      "I will!" I reply with a smile.
      Anna is our legal guardian. Even though we can take care of ourselves, after our parents died Anna was there for us 24/7, she was like the mom we never had. Also, we wouldn't have a house without her. Even though it's puny.
      Cate and Madison race out the door and join me just as the bus comes. I step onto the bus and walk past Barry and he smiles and waves at me. I smile and wave back and continue walking to the back of the bus. Cate, Madison, and I sit across from each other.
"So..." Madison says.
"So what?"
"Why didn't you sit with him?!" Madison and Cate say in unison.
"He has a girlfriend, she probably wants to sit with him." I reply.
Madison scoffs, "Rebecca is a dumb, stupid, rich, ignorant, kid who thinks she is better than everyone else."
      "So are you saying this is supposed one of "those stories"?"
      "What the hell do you mean by "those stories?!" Madison exclaims.
      I roll my eyes, "Whatever."
      I grab my earbuds and jam them into my phone and crank up the music. I hate school and everything about it. Even though I get to go with my two best friends and see the most beautiful person in the world everyday, it doesn't make school much better.
      I'm failing two classes and if I don't improve my grade soon I'll have to re-take them with all the Juniors. Not fun.
      "Dammit!"
      I look over to my right and notice that Rebecca spilled her coffee all over herself. I smirk. Maybe this won't be such a bad day after all.
      After 15 minutes we finally get to school. I file behind Madison and Cate and we walk off the bus and head to our lockers.
      "Did you guys get number 16 for math? Like what is this? I spent literally 2 hours on it and I still couldn't figure it out!" Madison complains.
     "The answer is 46." I reply.
     I may be failing English and Social Studies, but that doesn't mean I can't have a 100% in Science and Math.
     "Why didn't you tell me last night when I asked for help?!"
     "Cause, I wanted to watch you struggle." I smirk at her.
     "You can be a real bitch sometimes you know that right?" Madison giggles.
      "I know." I smile back.
      "Bing! Bing!"
      I walk to math class with Cate and Madison by my side.
"Ok class, please take seat." Mrs. Walker states.
I sit in the middle row with Cate to my left and Madison to my right.
"Please take out your home-"
Mrs. Walker slowly lowers to the ground and sits there for 30 seconds.
      "Mrs. Walker what's wrong?" Cate questions.
      "Class, get down now!"
We all scramble to the ground like when you drop marbles. We are used to earthquakes here, but they were never this bad. Desks start tipping over and books fall from shelves. I grab Cate and Madison's hands. None of us were prepared for this. The windows shatter into pieces and aim right towards us. I use my arm to block my face, but some manage to get jammed in my arm. I scream in pain. I look down and noticed one is pierced in my upper thigh.
Cate sobs, "Make it stop!"
      I look over to Cate and squeeze her hand tightly. "It'll be ok!" I whisper.
      I doubt it will be. I look over to where Madison is. There I see her unconscious body lying on the cold, bloody, and dusty floor. I rush over. "Maddi! Wake up!"
      I feel her pulse. A heartbeat. I can't do much, so I pull her over to where me and Cate are. As I slowly drag Madison over I watch the ceiling start to crumble. First on Cate then, on me.
I wake up to a piercing ringing in my ears and my fingers painted in blood. I struggle to get to my feet. I look around the room and see dead and unconscious bodies everywhere. Barry and Cate slowly get up to their feet and stare up at me. Barry's forehead is doused in blood and Cate's tears have turned to tears of dirt and blood. Cate motions to my thigh.
"Great." I mumble.
The shard of glass as managed to get more lodged into my thigh. I slowly limp over to them.
"You're hurt!" Cate says.
"So is everyone else." I reply.
"Wait, wheres Madison?!" Cate worries.
I look around the room and I spot Madison and rush over. "Still unconscious, but looks like the ceiling missed her." I explain to Barry and Cate.
"Gross!"
I look up and see Barry standing by a body and walk over. I turn away and gag. Mrs. Walker has been decapitated. I can see Cate throwing up and wishing I could join her, but I fight the urge.
"Looks like her head was cut off when the ceiling fell. A medal rod must've fallen on her." Barry tells me.
      I look around the room. The rest of class is either unconscious, dead, or buried under the ruble.
      "We should go look for others." Barry says.
      "Good idea." I reply.
      Cate and I follow after Barry. I can't believe an earthquake this bad can happen here. It's supernatural!
       Bodies lie across the hallway. Luckily there aren't that many because people should've been in class. Every now and then you'll see a mini-fire, but there's nothing we can do about them now.
        "Wait," Cate whispers, "do you hear that?"
        I hear the running of footsteps in the distance. "Hello," I shout, "is anyone there?!"
        "Yes!"
         Soon enough a group of 3 people show up. Great Rebecca is one of them. Barry runs up and kisses her. "I thought I lost you." I hear him whisper.
         With Rebecca are 2 boys. Mike and Jordan.
          "Are you guys ok?" Mike says.
          "Yeah. Have you found anyone else?" Cate replies.
           "No. We've been looking everywhere. Either people are dead or unconscious." Mike states.
           "Maddi! Cate!"
           I look to my left and see Maddison limping towards us. "Maddi! Thank goodness you're ok!" I exclaim rushing towards her.
           "Let's go outside to check for survivors there." Jordan suggests.
            "Good idea." Barry replies.
            We walk towards the doors, I can see a shimmer of light shining through the windows. I step forwards to push open the doors, but the won't open. "Uh. Guys?"
            "What is it?" Jordan asks.
            "The doors won't open!" I exclaim.
            "Maybe something is blocking them."
            Jordan looks through the glass. "Nope."
            I see a puzzled look cross everyone's faces. This isn't good. The lights go out and all you can see is the drops of sunlight through the windows. "What the hell is going on?!" I shout.
"Ah!" Rebecca screams.
"Rebecca," Barry shouts, "Are you ok?!"
A greenish glow appears in Mrs. Walkers class room. I stealthily step towards it. I open the door. A small jewel lies on the floor. "Guys come look at this!" I shout to the others.
"What is it?" Mike says.
"Look!" I point to the jewel.
I go to pick it up.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" Cate exclaims.
I pick up the jewel and we fall through the ground.