Decoding Earth

Chapter five

Black dots invade my vision as I attempt to sit up. Why is everyone asleep? Why are we wearing gas masks? One man notices my movement and nudges the person next to them

"The first persons awake, more people should start waking up now" I hear him say. I'm beyond confused, to the point where I stop forming questions. Gradually people start to wake up, some people look tired, others look alarmed when they notice the gas masks. I sit against the wall, clutching my legs, waiting for something to happen. I notice the men at the front start whispering and moving around, eventually one of them steps forward and clears his throat.

"I can imagine you are all very confused, try to remain calm. We don't yet know the reasoning for this but what we do know is that a radioactive gas was leaked into the atmosphere which caused  severe reactions, which is why we subjected you to another gas which temporarily put you to sleep, only so that you didn't have to feel the effects of the gas. The gas does cause minor memory loss so you can't remember what happened, which is probably for the best" The man says. He's right, I don't remember anything, I don't even remember waking up yesterday, or was that today? Nobody says anything, either because they are scared or because that gas drained any energy they already had. 

"As you recover from this, we will provide you with water which will be handed out soon" He continues. As the water bottles are being handed out I try to look for anyone I recognise, although my vision still seems disturbed. Everyone seems so spaced out, pale with black rings under their eyes. I can only imagine I look the same. 

About an hour after sitting in confused silence, people start to talk to each other quietly. I notice Lizeth's distinctive blonde hair behind the crowd of people. 

"Lizeth!" I call, but not too loud as people are still only really whispering. She turns her head round and I gesture her to sit next to me. 

"Hi" I say as she takes a seat next to me. 

"Hey" she croaks

"Why does your voice sound so dry?" I say, only just realising that everyones voice is the same, which explains the whispering.

"Why does yours not?" She says "I overheard those men saying the radioactive waves made people cough so much that they passed out themselves without even needing the second gas"

"Apparently I was one of them" a voice behind me says. I look around to see Talon.

"Talon! Come sit" Lizeth says, moving around trying to make space for him.

"Wait so thats what the guy meant when he said severe reactions?" I ask

"Yeah, it affected everyone. Apparently it was chaos" Talon says. I suddenly get a memory of the door being knocked down, and then gas masks being thrown around. Why am I remembering this? I thought our memories were practically wiped?

"I don't remember a thing" Lizeth says, seeming weirdly nonchalant.

"You shouldn't, the gas they used to put us to sleep can make you forget anything that happened in the last day or two" He says, which just confuses me more.

"Can I have your attention please" A loud voice travels across the room "We would like to inform you that shortly, each one of you will be placed on a bus which will take you all to safer ground. Please remain calm until further information is available. All we can ask is that you keep your gas masks securely on, don't remove them until instructed" I quickly fumble around for the mask, I wasn't aware we couldn't take them off. Everyone seems to be doing the same thing.

Soon after this, names start to be called and we all board our assigned bus. Its extremely cramped but thats the least of anyones worries. I cant help but overhear the conversation between the two men in the front.

"Yeah, the government knew everything, they have their ways of communication. In fact, thats why these underground shelters were made before the gases were released. At least they could prepare for this, there is no way they can prepare for what will happen next"