Kids Never Die

Chapter 2: Aftermath After Math

I cracked my eyes to an open position, expecting light to peer in. Hoping it was all just a dream. Hoping it would all go away and I would wake up in bed. Cool and crisp, ready to go to school on the icy spring morning. But to my dismay, this was not the case.

My eyes opened slowly and were hard shut. As my vision was renewed, all I saw was darkness. The sky was shaded by a dark blanket of black clouds of ash- orange and black, much like a Halloween decoration. The air was thick and tasted like a burnt steak. The air ran through my throat and rubbed against my esophagus. But all was calm. Things burnt around me and debris lay around but it was quiet. Almost too quiet.

I stood up, slowly, and took my breaths quick and short. Gavin lay in the dirt with a large cut across his forehead. His arms spread out at his side like an eagle. His legs were together and rattled with cuts and bruises. His back and hair line lie, drenched in sweat.

Ian was beside him, sitting in what most would call a fetal position. He sat with his hands buried in his crotch and he rocked back and fourth. His simple flip-phone was clenched tightly between his two massive hands and his fingers vigorously mashed at the buttons. He looked very worried. Every few seconds, he would jitter, or shake.

I walked past him and rested my hand on his left shoulder for a moment, then I moved forward. On the hill was Morgan. Light peered around him, suggesting a majestic scene. He stood with his feet spread apart and his arms at his sides, yet veering from his body. His breath was very deep and slow. I stammered and limped up the hill and took a spot beside him. My breath soon became heavy like his. I rested my neck and hung my head down before raising it in tired manner.

A tear rolled down Morgans cheek. My eyes were scorched. As we looked out across the basin next to Oakwood Middle School, or what was left of it, there was a beautiful yet petite forest beside the school. It was all gone. All that remained was a large crater. A long, deep black hole in the earth, that burned high and loud. Burning trees and wood sat around it. Cars and pieces of neighboring buildings piled at the bottom and along the sides and burned together.

The hole was about 50 feet in diameter and sunk almost 90 feet. Every few moments, there would be a small explosion down in the hole. Water pipelines spewed stagnate water down in the abyss, producing much steam and long smoke columns. The air ran even thicker here with a hint of maple. The smoke here, merged with the cloud line and coated the blue from above. We expected to hear sirens or enraged and fearing parents. But all was silent, minus the clacking of Ian on his phone and the clutter of fire and falling debris.

I placed my hand on Morgans back, then turned to limp away. I trudged back down the hill and saw Gavin, sitting next to Ian holding his forehead. I searched the ground for a moment and spotted a shard of glass. I reached down and gripped it tight, ripping through the skin and palm of my hand. I then grabbed my sleeve, and shucked and cut at it with the glass blade. I tore the remaining bit of fabric and handed it to Gavin to tie around his head.

I walked over by Ian and sat down beside him.

"Whats wrong mate?" I asked.

"No one will answer," he sobbed. "Not my parents, not Anna." As the words passed his lips, tears streamed down his face.

"Hey man," I wrapped my arm around him in reassurance. "It'll be fine."

"Yeah man, we'll find her." said Gavin, in a rasped, deep voice.

Ian continued to sit and place his hands over his face. I looked at Morgan. He was coming towards us. I stood up and walked next to him.

"We should start looking for survivors," he said in a very serious voice. I nodded and we headed for the wreckage of the school.

"Gavin!" I called "Ia-"

Morgan interrupted me. "Leave him, he's not gonna be a help in the state he's in."

The three of us walked from where the school once was and disappeared into the black hole of smoke and dust. The orange glare from above was all that reassured us.