Into the Darkness

Prologue

Lydia was sleeping, curled up in her sleeping bag. She was warm, and sleep was something she didn't get much of lately. Meanwhile, Rome, was wide awake. Rome sat up, then poked the girls face in an attempt to wake her up. Lydia didn't move.

Rome tried again, this time harder and using the tip of his nail. Without opening her eyes, Lydia gently moved her mouth.

"I'm trying to sleep." She whispered, trying not to wake up the kids. Rome sighed.

"Fuck sleep, Lydia, I think there is something going on outside." Rome said, his voice quiet and timid. The same voice he would use when talking to his foster father.

"I don't care. Now leave me alone." Lydia said, rolling over. Rome wasn't going to let this go easy though, sleep was pointless for him anyways. Without his sleeping medication, he could only hope for a few hours of light shut eye.

"Lydia, if you don't come with me. I am not afraid to wake up the children. It'll just be two minutes." Rome insisted. This time, Lydia sat up. It was dark, almost too dark to see, but she could make out the figure of Rome. He was kneeling next to her.

"I hate you." Lydia said. Rome brushed it off. She would say that sometimes and he was never sure whether she meant it or not.

"Stop being such a grumpy pants and let's go." Rome said finally. He stood up and so did Lydia. Together they snuck out of the employee room in a large abandon warehouse. The adults were sleeping on the ground floor, where they could take turns watching the entrance.

They went down the hallway and to the stairs. It took them three flights of stairs before they reached the roof. Thankfully someone had already broken the glass for the employee door to the roof. They didn't have any problems going onto the roof, other than cold feet.

As soon as they stepped out the moon seemed to be staring them in the face. As if it knew that they shouldn't be outside at night. Rome continued to walk towards the edge of the roof, meanwhile Lydia had stopped. Her hair was still somewhat blue from when she had dyed it, but it was very faded.

"Rome! Where are you going? We can't be out here." She said as loud as she dared. Rome didn't bother turning around, she just sat at the edge of the building with her legs hanging over the side. He waited until Lydia had gotten frustrated and came over to sit. She sat cross legged, no way in hell would she put her legs over the side of a very tall building.

"What are we-" Lydia was cut off.

"Shh, just look." Rome said. Lydia looked around, putting on her glasses to see whatever Rome was referring to. Then she saw it. In the sky there was a group of stars, very faint, but they were there. The stars seems to be moving, gliding gracefully across the midnight expanse.

It scared her. The only other time she had seen something even remotely like this was when the meteor shower had happened. The night before the apocalypse had broke out.

"I've been watching them for a few nights now. Each night they get bigger but still stay faded. I'm no astronomer but I think they'll be here by the morning." Rome said. He seemed calm, at least as calm as Rome could be. His eyes never left the sky, the only movement he made from him tapping his knee gently.

"We should tell the others, maybe we can move or set up protection against whatever is coming." Lydia said, standing up cautiously. Rome shook his head.

"It's useless, they'll already be here. I can-" he stopped himself. Lydia wasn't going to ignore it though.

"You can what?" She said. Rome shifted uncomfortably. She hated it when he kept things from her.