We'll Go Down Together

The beginning

The magnorat super soldier has been created. We have been putting them to use and they have been winning this war for us.

Ryder's grandfather turned the tv off and shook his head, "War is a silly thing that has no real reason to be here. It's just greed."

Ryder chuckled and nodded, "That is true. It also leaves the citizens like me and you without money or food."

Ryder's grandfather ruffled Ryder's hair and leaned on the back of the chair, "What'ya reading?"

"A fantasy about two kings fighting for power," he said looking up at him, showing him the cover.

"Ah that's one of my favorites my boy, I'm glad you're enjoying it as well," he stood up then went to the staircase, "Now why don't you put that book away now and wash up for dinner?"

"Alright," Ryder put the leather bookmark into the page and put it on the coffee table next to the chair. Standing up and he stretched before following his grandfather down stairs. Ryder went to the bathroom and washed his hands before going and sitting down at the table.  His grandfather smiled at him and put his plate of food in front of him, it was a small meal only having a burger to share between them both, and a potato.  That was all they were able to buy, that's all the store had.

"I'm sorry it's not the best," his grandfather said with shame in his voice.

"It's not your fault Grandfather, that's all we could get. I will enjoy it anyways," he smiled, "I always do."

"Your mother would be proud of you Ryder," his grandfather said softly before sitting down.

"I know," Ryder said before starting to eat the little food on his plate.

After dinner Ryder went up to his room taking out the journal his grandfather had made him two years ago and started to sketch in it. After a few minutes his grandfather came into the room, "Lights out Ryder." He blew out the candle next to Ryder's bed, then kissed his forehead and pulled the blanket over Ryder.

"Grandfather, I'm 15 you don't have to tuck me in," Ryder chuckled as he put the journal into his backpack next to the bed.

"Oh hush," his grandfather laughed and ruffled his hair, "Sleep tight, see you tomorrow."

"Sleep tight Grandfather I'll see you tomorrow," Ryder smiled up at him then watched him leave the room and close the door. 

Boom!

The sound rang through the house causing Ryder to wake up, he hurried to sit up and he ran to his grandfather's room. "Grandfather what was that!?"

"Bombs," his grandfather spoke with fear in his voice, "It hit the magnorat lab."

Ryder shook his head in disbelief and stepped backwards before running to his room. He grabbed his backpack and shoved his life kit, med kit, clothes, journal, and the book he had been reading into it before running back to his grandfather. "We need to get to the shelter come on." 

His grandfather nodded and hurried with Ryder down to the bomb shelter underneath the house. As soon as they got there his grandfather let him down first before seeing a magnorat coming towards them. He looked down at Ryder who had stopped to look up at him, then he closed the shelter door it instantly locked into place. He knew the magnorat would be able to get into the shelter and he needed to protect Ryder. He picked up a large fence post and held his ground against the magnorat.

Ryder screamed helplessly as he pounded on the door, "Grandfather!" The sounds from outside were terrible, more bombs dropped shaking the house, he could hear his grandfather struggling against the magnorat, and he could hear that he was failing. After nearly half an hour everything was silent, Ryder had been looking around for the door code and when he finally found it he typed it in and went outside. The sight he saw made him want to throw up. The sky had turned green, the house was a pile of rubble, and a magnorat laid dead with a fence post through its chest just inches from where Ryder stood. "Grandfather!"

"Ryder?" A croaky voice called.

"Grandfather!" Ryder ran over to the voice and kneeled down next to him, "You're bleeding."

"I know," his grandfather smiled weakly up at him and touched Ryder's cheek gently, "You have to go to Safe Haven, you have to find it for me, you'll be safe there. Just keep heading north until you reach Ohio then head east to the coast, there will be people there to help you. I love you Ryder, your mother would be very very proud of the man you have become." His eyes stared unblinking, his body went limp, and he breathed for the last time. Ryder shook him yelling for him to wake up but it wouldn't work. That was two years ago.