Book One - Starless Sky

Chapter 3

That week passed by quickly, school was okay now that I was a permanent fixture at Damien's lunch table. It was nice to speak about things other than the world's impending death. Also we have not received another message from CEO Prinston recently, Mrs Evers seems to think that is a good sign.

However as usual the world has to ruin any light or hope humans find, and always remind is of our fate. I come downstairs earlier than usual this morning but am not greeted by the smell of blueberry pancakes. My father had made them every morning for us since Kindergarten so I know something was up. Instead the scene in front of me causes my palms and head to sweat the content of the River Nile.

My mom was sitting on the swivel chair at the kitchen table, her head in her hands gripping unbearably tightly to her red hair. Standing next to her was my father who was transfixed on the holo-tv above them. I moved closer so that I was just in beside them now, obviously not noticing my presence through their blood shot eyes. Had they been crying, I thought to myself as the level of worry increased through my body.

Unable to watch my parents scene any longer I turned to that of the one above me on screen. My eyes were greeted by the world's news told by Sohora Violet, who's usually tanned skin was pale and drawn.

This news story would be our last.

"Today, world scientists have reported that there are only several hundred stars left in our sky. The sun is at its lowest reported solar output of all time. With over half the world's population living in permanent darkness, crime and disease has increased. She paused obviously to compose herself.  Last night several Pacific and Atlantic countries were divulged by the ocean due to seismic solar activity in those areas areas . She paused again, this time with her eyes becoming watery. An estimated three million people were lost in the devastation and scientists fear that this fatal event could be the fate of the entire world. A drop of sweat fell from her pale face. CEO Prinston along with other leaders, has issued a worldwide code red state of emergency urging people to buy food supplies, and take shelter in red alert units. If we can not find a solution soon, our world will only last a few months at the most.
Im Sohora Violet reporting live for News global, God save us all."

The news flashed to images of the devastation; entire buildings under the sea, bodies floating on the surface. The fading solar entities was destroying the earth yet we can do nothing to stop it. I heard a little whimper from behind me and I immediately spun round. My mom was srabding there motionless, her youthful face, had aged a lifetime.

"What are we going to do, where are we going to go, how can we survive this" she asked us both frantically.

Instead of giving her an answer i knew I didnt have. All I could do was walk past the her, straight out the front door.
And run.

I found myself running, running so fast that my legs were aching and my heart was thumping wildly. I stop to catch my breathe and make sense of my surroundings.Stumbling against a hard rock boulder, I find myself at the abandoned graveyard just a mile or so from my house. It wasn't far, but it was far enough from the scene I was running from. Slightly limping from my encounter with the boulder, I make my way through the twisted branches and debris to the one familiar grave in the yard. My Dad's mother was buried here over forty years ago, she died in childbirth. My grandfather claims that I'm like her stubborn and strong, the first I agree with but the latter is a total misjudgment of my character. I bend down in front of the marble headstone, and play the holographic gallery of my grandmother's life. She was the strong one, she fought against the government trying to control birth rates, giving birth to my father in secret. Which inevitably took her life, she sacrificed everything for him.

I wish I lived up to my status of being like her, but I've never been any good at facing my fears.
So as usual I run away from them.