Surviving the Collapse

Chapter 7

I was used to our daily routines after about a week. Danny and I became a lot closer the past weeks. It became very tiring training literally everyday. I missed my sisters like crazy. I missed how they'd annoy me while I studied, my mom telling me how unmannered I was to new guests. That always made me laugh but it was such a fond memory.

I needed a break from all this. I had to get out but what would I do when I finally got out? I probably wouldn't find my family anyways so there was no point. Plus I guess I'm needed here but after all this training, it's for nothing.

I was surprised to not see any of my friends around. There must be hundreds of "communities" around.

Another test was coming up tomorrow. I really didn't want to do the test but I had a bit more confidence after the training we've been doing.

We've also started a school. We only learned the basic algebra and other courses but nothing else.

We all never got to actually get to know each other. We always had a free time period after we trained. So we all decided on going into one room together and get to know everyone better. We don't get to talk to everyone all at once so we all thought it'd be a good idea. To make friends and not enemies that'd betray each other in the war.

They had a name for the tests we were doing today. They're called STACK Tests. It stood for Survive, Trust, Agility, Concentration and Knowing. All things we needed to pass them.

We had to go back into the concrete rooms in the chair and take that pill again. I hoped I'd pass with a better score than last time.

This time I ended up just in a steel-type box. It was just big enough to sit in. I couldn't see anything out if it because the box obviously wasn't clear. I only felt calm rocking and realized I was just floating in water in a steel box. Well that'd be fun. I didn't even know how to start or where to start for that matter.

I felt around the box to see if there was a secret opening somewhere in it. Suddenly, the box must have hit a reef because I smacked right on the side of it hitting my face.

I saw a small light and realized it was a hole. There still wasn't much I could do with one small hole. At least I could see a little out of it. All I saw was water for miles. I accidentally bumped the box on the hole side and then started panicking. The water filled up fast and got faster each second. I kept banging on the sides of the box as hard as I could going it would get me out of there. I kicked a side of the box and it broke open. I swam out carelessly.

I didn't know what would happen next. I don't know if that was the end of it or just the beginning. Apparently it was the end because the scene changed. This time, I was in my own house.

No one else was in there. I was in the living room. I wonder how they knew this. It looked the same as it did before I had left. There was a voice in my head telling me that this wasn't right. What was I supposed to do? I headed for the basement door. Maybe my family was still here! I could finally get to see them again.

I opened the door and walked down the creaky stairs. Turning the corner, I didn't see anyone. Then, there was a shadow. It was small and very dark. Thinking it was one of my sisters, I walked toward it. "Hanna?"

"Clairey? It's you!" The shadow figure said. It sounded like Hanna but I still wasn't sure. As it came closer, I saw that it was Hanna. She ran up and hugged me. I wondered where everyone else was.

"Come with me!" She said running up the basement steps as I followed. She opened the door and headed to the front door of the house.

"Wait where is everyone else Hanna?" I asked feeling a little scared. Why was she even alone?