World's Ending

Chapter 3 - Red Sky

The world outside began to darken. Right now I was safe from the dangerous world. I didn't need to worry.
I closed the curtains and lit some candles that I had found in the living room, then I gathered the blankets and pillows from around the house and built a fort next to the bookshelf in a small room. It was my own little house.
It was comfortable and cosy, I was bundled up in blankets and resting on pillows.
The flicker of the candle made my shadow dance and my fort lit up so I could see all the warm colours, reds, oranges and pinks from the blankets that made up my celing and walls.
It felt like I was at home on a cold winter's day, sitting in front of the fire with a blanket over my shoulders, with a hot chocolate warming my hands.

I turned my attention to the bookshelf and a thin yellow book caught my eye. It was a map.
I flicked through the pages and found my location. I still didn't know where to go. I belonged nowhere.
I looked at the map, remembering where all my friends lived, the places I had been, the places I had wanted to go.
Tears spilled out my eyes as I reflected on the past. I began to drift off to sleep. I saw the candles flickering flame, I blew it out and shut my eyes.

I began to dream. I dreamt of going to school, the place I went most.
I walked through the gates, but it didn't feel like I was walking, or that I was even there, I was floating in a vision.
I now noticed that the school had two sets of gates, both had big padlocks, and the fences were tall, way taller than me, taller than my brother. And the outer fence had spikes along the top.
The car park had a few cars in, I recognized them, and I knew who they belonged to, but why were they there on a dark night like this.
The front entrance was barracked with steel sheets and desks were pushed behind them.
The building was dark and there was a light layer of dust and a few cobwebs.
Going through the building there was no one in sight.
But then I got to a small separate building. It was old and Victorian. I found it strange that the place was abandoned even though it had been secured, I wondered what had happened.

***

Sunlight burst through the gap in the curtains and landed on my face. The golden warmth woke me up. In the night my fort had fallen down so I was buried under a pile of blankets.
My map was still open, I now knew where to go, to the town, ten miles away. Even if it was densly populated, there was a chance of some safe places. Now I just needed a route. It would only take about 4 hours walking on the main road, but that could be risky because there would have been alot of people there and the road might be blocked at certain points. I also had to consider the fact that I had a trolley with me that had all my supplies in it that I had to bring. What about the old train tracks, it's sheltered by trees, and there would have been no one about, and no blockages like cars, it would be perfect. Except for the fact that it would be a pain to drag the trolley over hundreds of planks of wood.
But I'm not in any rush, maybe it would be the best option.

I looked through a gap in the curtains, it was early morning. The sun was low in the sky and it had a few clouds in front of it which made the sky a beautiful red colour. It made me remember something my grandma used to say.

"Red sky at night, sailor's delight,
Red sky at morning, sailor's take warning."

I got a red pen and began to mark my route on the map, tracing the road to the next town, and down towards the train tracks, then follow them to the next big town.
I really didn't think going to a big town was a good idea, but I had a feeling that listening to my dream was a good idea. The school looked secure.

When I was packing my things into my backpack I heard something outside. A glass bottle smashed.
Maybe it was just that local stray cat.

Probably

Nothing I should worry myself about.

I heard the gate out the back of the house creak.

Just the wind.

Isn't it?

I became paranoid. I began to panic. I was scared.
I started shaking and I couldn't breathe. I just wanted to scream, to shout. Tears escaped my eyes and made my vision blurry. I curled up in a ball, I wanted to hit something, break something, let out all these emotions in one blow.
I just lay on the ground crying and kicking the floor. I stopped caring that something might hear me.
After ten minutes I calmed down, tears were still streaming down my face.

***

I finished packing my things whilst still crying, I was so anxious, I didn't want to go out there, but I had to, I needed to find a new home, that's safe, and hopefully I'd find someone to keep me company.

With shaking hands I unlocked the back door, I left the keys visible inside, maybe one day someone else will find this place useful.

I dragged my shopping trolley outside and left it in the yard with my bag whilst I took one last look round the house, looking for anything useful.
I didn't find much. There were a few lighters that I pocketed, and I found a tub of boiled sweets in a draw.

I heard I crash outside and the clattering of cans.

I heard the squeaking of wheels, and I heard the gate slam shut.

I bolted down the stairs and ran as fast as I could.

At the end of the street, I could see someone running away, with the trolley.
Their big jacket floated behind them like a cape.
I couldn't see what their hair looked like as their head was covered by a hood.

I didn't bother to shout out, they weren't coming back, and I didn't want to draw the attention of those things to me.

I didn't even cry, I had no tears left.

I looked over at where the trolley had stood, the person had left me some food and water.
I went inside and got a suitcase, which I had spotted earlier on top of a wardrobe.
It was pink, my least favourite colour, but I had nothing else, I needed to be grateful.

I remembered that I had put the keys to the shop's storeroom into my bag.

I searched through it but I couldn't find the keys.

The person had taken them.

How long have they been watching me?

I sighed, I now needed to find another shop to take food from.

With what I had left I'd surely be able to last till I get to my destination.

I could scavenge houses and cars.

I checked to make sure the coast was clear.

It was.

So without rushing, and with a cool breeze flowing through my hair, I began to walk.

Maybe I'd see that person again.

I probably won't

But then again.

Nothing can be predicted now.