In the Aftermath

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine: In the Aftermath

"They couldn't make it," Mark said.

What exactly happened? Ethan wanted to know but the words got stuck inside his mouth. The world had just ended. At least, with the comfort of his parents, there was some sort of hope that somehow there was a chance that things could feel a little like home. 

Now, that seemed impossible. Ethan was an orphan. Homeless. Alone

His head fell and he felt cold tears falling on top of his cheeks. Ethan's body shook with sobs that he tried hard to keep inside. What was the use of surviving through the end of the world when doing so meant that you had to live the rest of your life alone?

Ethan felt a comforting pat on his back; Mark, trying hard to provide his condolences, had no idea what to do except placing his hand on the boy's back.

"If you have to know," Mark said, "their Eden machine malfunctioned when your mom got in..." But he was cut off.

Ethan could not take it. "Thanks for your concern," he said with a lifeless voice. "But I think I'd want to be alone for now." 

Mark acknowledged the boy's remark with a nod and proceeded to help the other survivor who were just waking up from their trances; leaving Ethan alone.

Meanwhile, Ethan walked back towards his own machine and sat right by it on the cold, cave floor. In his mind, he was thinking of everything, yet he was thinking of nothing. A storm of confusion and sadness raged inside his head and he had trouble keeping on his feet. 

Slowly, Ethan started to feel the exhaustion starting to envelop him. It didn't take him long to realize that the effect of the True Love's Kiss was beginning to wear off. Maybe it was just for the better, he thought. Ethan did not feel like doing anything anyway, with or without the added surge of energy.

He sat on the ground, head between his knees, unmoving. Detached from everything else, Ethan mourned for his parents.

His only light, extinguished.

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The girl had dirty-looking sneakers on and socks that were just as muddy. She stood just in front of Ethan as she fidgeted, waiting for something else to happen. Ethan couldn't blame her, everything that had happened was pretty messed up.

"Hey, do you have any idea what the hell's going on?" she said, her voice a little hoarse from exhaustion. 

Ethan looked up and found a girl just about his age aiming a hard look towards him. She reminded him of his father, the look that he gives him whenever Ethan had done something bad as a kid. For a moment, Ethan stared back at those dark, piercing eyes and the slightly scrunched up nose. 

The memory only forced out more tears out of his eyes and he struggled to keep them hidden.

"Do you mind?" Ethan asked. "I'd rather be alone for now, if you'll excuse me." Though his words would say otherwise, the tone of his voice was that of annoyance thinly masked by common pleasantries. 

"Yes, I do mind," the mysterious girl answered. "Now, answer my question. Do you know what we're supposed to do now?"

"What makes you think I know anything?" Ethan answered, now more irritated and he didn't care if the girl notices. "Do I look like one of those four-eyed scientists over there?"

"No," the girl replied. "But I saw you talking to that scientist guy earlier and I know you know at least something about what's happening around here. What's the next step after waking us up? They have a plan, don't they?"

Ethan could not believe his luck. The only thing he wanted was to mourn the loss of his parents in peace and now this stupid girl comes up and started badgering him with unnecessary questions. He prepared a counterargument in his mind but kept it there. Ethan realized that he was too exhausted and spent to even argue with the girl.

With a sigh, Ethan answered in defeat, "They're thinking of heading back to the surface then planning out what to do afterwards."

Acknowledging his response, the girl nodded with the same blank expression on her face. "Thank you, I really appreciate it," she said. "My name's Saria. Yours?"

"Ethan," the boy answered.

"Nice to meet you, Ethan," she continued. "Are you okay? You seem pretty down considering you just survived through the end of the human race."

Ethan did not want to answer the question. He didn't even want to think about the topic. But there was something about this girl, something that made his blood boil. He was about to reply when the words were pushed back inside his mouth.

Mark's voice, which Ethan noticed a little easier now, echoed through the caves. Both boy and girl stopped their introductions and turned to look towards the scientist who knew everything that was going on.

"People!" Mark announced with a booming voice. "In a few minutes, we will start our journey towards the surface. Please make sure you're ready to go."

A sense of anticipation slightly replaced the despair that Ethan felt. Finally, he was about to see the "post-war" world. He wondered what could there be. Would there be nothing? Would there be people alive?

The girl's voice snapped Ethan from his short reverie. 

"Come on, Ethan. You ready to go?"