12 years had passed since the dawn of 'The Pause' most physical destruction caused from the outbreak was fixed yet the mental scars of those who lived through it will never heal. The modern age of civilisation has ended and thus a new dawn of people trying to live with what they had left of suburbia was born. Shanty Towns were the equivalent of cities in this age, and the Rut District was the largest and most powerful of these shanties. What was once a small suburban town in New Zealand became the capital of the new world, at least that was what everyone thought as communication to other countries was lost when the outbreak ensued.
The locals of the Rut District had to live in various sized huts made from the ruins of houses and whatever scrap was found in the town's wreckage. People usually kept to themselves aside from the occasional nod and "how are you?" that would take place when working on construction/mining, farming or fetching water, the main jobs civilians had during the day. Nights were spent indoors praying for safety as the foot soldiers of The New Government went on patrol looking for roaming "Mutts" or civilians breaking curfew unlucky enough to be caught. This way of living was not ideal, but better to be there than the wasteland.
No family had it harder than the Hendrix's, a single father trying to care for two children, Mr Hendrix lost his wife during the outbreak as his oldest, Nathan was only 4 years old at the time. Nathan is 16 years old, with messy dark hair, bright blue eyes, a fondness for the grunge style (particularly his massively torn denim jacket he found at the remains of an old shopping mall) and as cliché as he thought it was, his plan was to break out of the Rut District and get vengeance for his mother. Nathan didn't spent that much time in school back when society existed, and although measures were put in place for children to get an education post outbreak, he didn't care for it despite being fairly intelligent. All he dreamed about training to fight as a foot for The New Government, and now that he was legally old enough, he signed up in an instant, to his father's dismay.
Nathan thundered down the old cracked stairs of the Hendrix family home to his dad and 7 year old sister having breakfast. Most of the Hendrix household was actually in good shape as it didn't suffer a lot of damage during the outbreak, aside from a few losses. Nathan walks over and grabs some bacon made from the local Rut District farmer. He walks over and sits at the table. "well I guess that makes it a week now" Nathan whispers to his sister, referring to the last time Mr Hendrix last showered, not that he could judge as hot water was hard to find, although it was known fact that Mr Hendrix's reluctance to bathe was down to grief.
Nathan's sister, Elinor giggles at his remark, "your letter came in today" she said to him, Nathan's eyes lit up "are you serious?" he asked excitedly. "yup it's over on the coffee table" Elinor points out to him, Nathan sprints over to find an envelope addressed to him with a massive black snake imprinted on it with the statement underneath "DO NOT IGNORE THIS ENVELOPE, THIS IS AN OFFICIAL LETTER OF IMPORTANCE SENT FROM THE COMBAT DEPARTMENT OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT". Nathan eagerly tears open the envelope and reads what's inside. A minute of dead silence falls across the house, Nathan can feel his sister's excitement and his father's dread very strongly as he reads the letter. The silence is soon broken as Elinor impatiently asks "what does it say? What does it say? Are you in?" Nathan runs over as he picks up and hugs his sister with the happiest look he's ever had in his entire life "I GOT ACCEPTED" he screams with sheer joy, he laughs and spins Elinor around whilst still hugging her. Without a doubt this was the happiest day of Nathan's life, he put Elinor down and turned to his father, what Nathan saw was a look of utter disgust and shame upon his months unshaven, cold disapproving face.
"So this how you're attempting to pay respect your mother?" Mr Hendrix states rhetorically "of course" Nathan replies confidently, though he thinks that may not of been the right answer. "I would hate to see the look on her face, to know what kind of unjust coward her 'son' has become, I want you out by tomorrow". On that note Mr Hendrix walks upstairs to where he spends 90% of his days, Nathan, trying to hold back the tears thinks to himself, am I doing the right thing.
YOU ARE READING
The Pause
Science FictionWhen the passage of time stops, a mutant outbreak destroys most of society and a new government regime controls everything, there is little hope left in the new world. Nathan Hendrix is a boy with a dream of breaking out of the ruined city of the Ru...