Cold

Chapter One

They came during the night. They took 25 of each participating age. Kids were screaming, mothers were crying, fathers were fighting. Chaos. Me and my brother were brought to an institution on the edge of the village. Everyone was taken there. They cleaned us, gave us new clothes, put us into rooms with people the same age as us. They told us to make friends, as allies are important. Allies are also stupid. They can betray you, giving you up to the zombies. But we don't have a choice. The institution is scary, especially when you don't know anyone and your best friend wasn't chosen. Everyone in my room is talking with one another, but I can't talk. Not now. Not before we go to the cold just to freeze to death.

"No. It doesn't make sense. If we create molten lava now, it will explode in the cold."

"That's the point. We make lava, we have a bomb." Two guys were arguing about lava. "Bombs are useful against the zombies too."

"You guys don't really believe that story, do you?" I asked. They both looked at me. "It's just a story the gaurds made up to keep us out for this long. No one can survive more than ten years in the cold. Even if they did, well, they must be immortal then."

"Hi. I am Justin. And you are awesome" said Justin, the guy who wants the bombs. "This is Tyler."

"Even if there were zombies, molten lava would be useless. It would turn into a rock. You should try molten bronze. Just make sure you can heat it" I said as I sat on my bed. Tyler and Justin walked over to me. Justin sat on my bed.

"You should totally be in our group. What else is in that head of yours?" said Justin.

"Allies are useless. They are a distraction. All I want is to make it out of the cold and survive" I said. They both just stared. "Fine. If you want to know how to make a real bomb, grab a bottle, string, gasoline, and a lighter. I'm going to show you how to make a proper bomb."

***

Time goes by fast when you're having fun. If that's what you can even call it. Stranded in a room full of people teaching two men how to kill you is hardly fun. But maybe these allies are good. Maybe I could have a fighting chance with these ones. Maybe we could be friends.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!"

We all turned to look at someone standing on her bed, screaming and pointing at the floor.

"GET IT AWAY FROM ME!!!" There was a mouse on the floor, staring at her. Her screams scared it, forcing it's body to shut down. It's dead, like we all will be soon. I walked over, picked it up, and walked it over to the garbage can, throwing out it's lifeless body.

"What did you just do?!?" shouted Tyler. "Mice could have rabies. You could've just killed yourself!!!"

"Relax. It won't affect me as long as I don't touch it again" I said. I walked back to Justin who was sitting in awe. A guard walked in the room and forced us into a straight line.

"LISTEN UP!!! We are opening the gates shortly. You must stick together with the groups you have hopefully chosen. Dante, Owen, Cathy, and Summer, you four will be paired with a kid each. Come with me" said the guard. I went to leave, Justin grabbed my arm.

"Summer. That's my name. I have to go" I said. And I went on my way to my new partner.

***

"I can't believe I am paired with you" said my new partner, a 10 year old named Skyler.

"What's wrong with me, exactly?" I asked. I admit I was testing her.

"You look weak. With the zombies out there, there's no way you'd be the person to defend us" she said.

"Maybe not. But at least I know how to keep the so called 'zombies' away, and I know how to hunt and make a shelter. Do you know how to do that?" I asked. She looked at me before shaking her head no. Sometimes I feel like I am the only one with common sense in this world. But I see great things in Skyler. She's like me. A bratty kid who doesn't like to admit when she's afraid. If only she knew how important she is.

"I have some friends in my age group. Do you have some friends you want to be part of our team?" I asked.

She smiled and said "I have an older brother. He got chosen."

"So did my brother. We can find them and be a team. Does that sound good?" I asked. She nodded her head.

A guard came in the room and ordered us all outside. Immediately I saw my friends. I grabbed Skyler's hand and ran over to Tyler and Justin.

"Tyler!!!" Skyler hugged Tyler. It must be nice, knowing your brother is safe. Being able to hug him and be held in his arms. I can only hope my brother is safe.

"Summer, are you ok?" asked Justin.

"Sure." I answered. I guess I'm not ok. My brother is alone, probably scared, and I have no idea where he is. "We have to find my brother. He is 8, so he should be with someone else."

"Don't worry we'll find him" said Justin reassuringly.

"SUMMER!!!" I heard someone calling my name. I looked over. My brother was running up to me. I ran up to him and grabbed him in a hug.

"I'm so glad you're safe, Lucas" I said.

"Who are you?" asked his partner. Great. Another Skyler.

"His sister. Who are you?" I retorted.

"I am his partner. My name is Emma. And Lucas, is my partner, not yours." she said.

Who does she think she is?!? "Why don't you join our team to watch over him?" I asked, trying not to sound like I want her dead.

"Ok" she said like there was nothing wrong. She walked over to everyone else.

After she left, I asked "Lucas why don't we go and introduce you to everyone?"

***

'A whistle. A bell. A drum. Three sounds, three meanings. A whistle can symbolize content, boredom; it's calm and collected. A bell symbolizes distruction, panic; it's disorganized and messy. A drum symbolizes fear, anger; it's protective, but hidden. Three symbols, three sounds. Which one are you?'

I remember reading that when I was a kid. The author was telling a tale of how there are three kinds of people in the world: nice, fierce, and the ones inbetween who don't fit in. The whistle symbolizes the nice people; always bored or just having fun. The drum is the fierce; either really mean or just over confident. The bell is the people in the middle; panicking because they want to fit in but can't. I used to think I was the bell. Always afraid of what people would do when they met the real me. Always afraid of being too nice or too mean or too.......me. My brother was always the whistle. He had friends just for the purpose of seeing people smile and laughing. My dad was - is the drum. He is fierce in all the wrong ways. He thinks being confident means putting others down just to lift yourself up. Today, the guards are the drums, we are the whistles, and the ones left behind are the bells. The drums control everything. The whistles let them. The bells don't have control. So are the ones left behind really the bell, or are we?