Rebellion

The House

"Do you really have to leave?" A girl asked.

Her hair was long and brown. Her wavy locks were tucked in a half up half down fashion. Her dark green eyes seemed scared and sad, like she was about to cry. Her fragile skinny body gave off a very weak appearance, multiplied by her frightened look. 

"Yes, I do have to leave, Ayase." The other girl said.

The other girl had messy black hair. She was shorter than the brown haired girl, looking up with her with a serious expression. She had about two bags with her, carrying them with her oddly strong hands.

"But... But you just became an adult. You're not ready, Satoko!" Ayase began to beg her.

"I was an adult a lot earlier. It's just official now. I need to go." Satoko answered, not wanting to let her persuade her in staying like she did multiple times already.

"You're not bothering anyone!" Ayase continued to try.

Satoko let go of her bags and put her arms on her shoulders, looking up at the taller Ayase.

"I don't want to become something that bothers others. I can be on my own. Don't worry about me." The black haired girl assured her, giving her a big hug.

Ayase hugged back tightly, not wanting to let go of her best friend. She really didn't want to be alone in that house.

"You can visit me anytime. I'm only a couple of minutes away." Satoko gave one last reassurance.

She saw Ayase cry slightly. It made her feel really bad for her decision, but she really didn't want to leech on her family for more than she should have. Five years was more than enough.

"You can visit too." Ayase said, smiling barely.

"I will. But... Goodbye for a little while." Satoko said, giving her one last hug.

She began walking away, giving her best friend one last little glance before turning away. Her house wasn't even that far away. She knew this was a lot for Ayase, but it wasn't world changing. They could manage. They weren't separated in districts. 

Satoko walked through the half empty streets. Everyone was either in their houses or in school. Still, the streets were once so lively. Everything really did change after the event that happened five years ago. Some of the pictures were deeply burned into her head, most of them including fire, blood, screams and the oh so hot air to breathe. It was unlike any heat that she ever felt.

Demons. They were demons. It was noted that just a huge hole opened in the sky, releasing these monstrosities, who seemed to be perfectly calm for some time until they just randomly exploded. It was noted that the more they inhaled the cold air, the more unstable they became. Some of them were seen holding their breaths, but it was an inevetible explosion. 

She sighed as she remembered all of that. It completely ruined her life. She wanted out of this city, out as soon as possible. Food was expensive as all hell, and there wasn't much of it anymore. Not to mention the water, that she didn't even drink in a thousand years. They were only drinking juices and shit they could make without using water. It all tasted so plastic like that it sickened her. The city she once loved was ruined in a single chaotic day.

Satoko saw her house. An old house, gray and black in some places from the previous fires. The door that was torn down was fixed appropriately, good for her living standards. She felt nervous walking in and she didn't know exactly why. She was scared of going to that house since the long year of 2017, the year the demons came out. 

She closed her eyes. This isn't 2017 anymore, she told herself. It's 2022. Things changed. It's safe... Safer now. 

She opened the door, squeezing the knob a lot more than she should've. Her heart pounded as she saw the inside. It was all like before, just a lot more dustier. Somehow it hurt. A weird feeling of something missing was there. She missed her parents so much. Her eyes watered, but she decided to think about something else.

She turned on the TV, that seemed to be very old compared to every other TV now. She didn't watch much TV anyway. The books on the shelves were still there, untouched. She was happy her mom's collection wasn't ruined. The white little piano she played was still in the living room, just very very dusty. She walked upstairs, ignoring her parents room for now.

Her old room was filled with teddy bears and posters of then known celebrities. Who knows where they are now, since this whole city lost contact with the outside world since a shield covered the whole city. There was no other way to hide, only the shield was an option. 

Satoko sighed at her bad music taste then. She kind of felt empty, remembering that she actually listened to music. Why did everything seem gray now?

She left her things on her small bed and exited her room. She went to her parents bed room. It was clean just like they left it, she didn't include the dust though. Everything seemed perfectly at place. She decided she was going to clean the whole house from dust just as soon as she did something. Something she hasn't done in a long while. 

She sat next to the piano, her fingers touching the keys. It seemed forever since she done that. She pressed the keys lightly, first not playing an actual song. Just pressing to remind herself. Then it slowly became a nice and smooth song, fast paced but elegant. She seemed like a natural at this, not even breaking a sweat. 

But the song abruptly ended. Instead of a smooth melody, only shrilling crying was heard. Satoko cried on the piano, missing everything she had before. Freedom, safety, nights out and most importantly... Her parents.