FallOut

Charlie I

T-Minus 1 Day and 3 Hours

People always used to say 'Why panic about things that won't happen?'.

They used to say 'We're safe where we are.'

Now where are they?

They're panicking, looking in desperation for somewhere to stay safe. Looking for some hope from some higher authority that might never come.

And where am I?

I'm safe. All those times they told me not to worry and yet it's them who are now despairing because they can't save themselves from what's to come.

After the election, I had begun to feel a sense of dread. It steadily grew as over time the news began speaking of increased terror attacks and nuclear war so I did what any sane person would do.

I began prepping. This was when the comments started, but I ignored and persevered. I signed up to websites and began speaking to others who felt the same as I did. I bought a house in the most remote location I could find and started building a bunker underneath fit for at least fourteen people. The house itself concealed the entrance.

Now, in our last day, I can say that I have a safe house that I can escape to, filled with everything I could ever need. I say everything...I was missing one minor thing. Other people. I couldn't survive by myself. I knew I'd go mad without other people to interact with. So as the end of days approached, I sent out a message to those who I regularly spoke to and invited them to join me.

They seemed hesitant, but as the days grew darker and the threat grew larger, they realised that I was a way for them to survive. Over fifty people reached out and asked whether they could join. They had heard from a variety of sources that I was opening my bunker to others but it was too late. I had chosen thirteen of my closest 'friends' to come and join me in the bunker.

We agreed that they would sent forward their belongings and would arrive as soon as they could. The local postman looked ever so confused when massive boxes began arriving at the door of a random farmhouse but nevertheless, they kept coming and eventually my bunker was filled. It just needed people.

That's what I'm doing now. I'm waiting for them to all arrive. The TV is on in the background explaining how rioting and murder had spread worldwide and how young people from all around the word were being drafted into their respective armies to deal with the problem and to fight in some stupid war that we know can't be won, how a madman is sat at his desk with a finger over a button which could end the world and how people from all manner of religions are coming together as one to seemingly pray away the oncoming dread. There hasn't been a normal TV programme in over a month. It's nothing but news these days.

A gentle knock alerts me to someone at the door. I ensure that the hatch is open and the TV wasn't on loud before I open the door. To my surprise, there are six of them. All looking slightly disheveled but hopeful. I explained where they go could to freshen up and I turned the kettle on. One by one, they all came back and sat down on the couches that surrounded the TV and we began the awkward introductions.

Jack went first. His thick Manhattan accent made it clear that we didn't need to ask where he was from. He informed us that he was on one of the last planes out of the US and had tried to speak to others on board to see if they were coming along too but had failed to find anyone. In fact no one had even looked at him.They were all too focussed on escaping.

Riley was next.They explained how they had travelled out from London on their motorcycle, trying to avoid as many major roads as they could. Armed forces had surrounded the city to ensure smooth evacuation but how can any evacuation be smooth where panic and chaos lurks. Anyone on bikes had to wait their turn just like a car rather than skimming through traffic like normal. Riley had not abandoned their motorcycle but had hidden it in a bush near the house. I explained he could bring it inside to save it from being stolen, thinking we could possible use it in the future.