The Last of Our Lights

"Hello? Is anyone there?" I call out in to the darkness. I know no one will answer. Everyone is gone. Half the population of Earth is gone. This question is merely reassurance. To keep me sane as I walk through the empty streets I used to call home. Now these streets are where I have to constantly fight for my life. From them. The outcome of a mass vaccination. The one that had been said to eliminate all disease and illness. The one that would cure everyone. All it has done now is the complete opposite. It's created it's own disease. It's created monsters. I am caught up in my thoughts when I hear the sirens blare. "Time to head back." I tell my self. Back to the only place I'm safe.

"Wren Garcia?" The guard at the gate asks me. I nod in reply. I'm let in to the camp. When I say camp, I don't mean cozy little camp in the middle of the woods. This isn't that kind of camp. This camp is meant to resemble a small town. With its flat brick houses, small school buildings, the main building, and labs. I live in one of the small, brick hoses along with my mother and older brother. My father is gone. Gone like the other half of the population of Earth. He had worked in the labs. Where cures are produced and trialed. None have worked yet.

In the school buildings, children are taught necessary survival skills, as well as typical subjects such as math and English. Only 1 to 16 year olds are required to attend. I'm 17, which means I have to scour the streets for food, medicine, and other useful items. This is my life now. No more birthday celebrations, no more parties, no more cozy nights with my parents watching movies and eating popcorn. This is what life has become. This life is hell.

When I return home, I find my mother waiting for me. She's at the dining table reading a book. My mother and I look very alike. With our brown eyes, tan skin, and brunette hair. Except her hair is long and braided back, mine is cut short, an inch away from my shoulders and always in a wavy/curly mess. My mother has put down her book and stands up to greet me. " you're back so soon. How come?" She asks. "Oh. Right. Um...they didn't need us that much today." I reply. Today was an easy day. I had only been gone for four hours. Unlike my typical twelve hour days. "That's good." She says with an awkward smile. My mother spends her days in the main building, mostly cooking and reading to the children who's mothers and fathers are working or infected. My mother ends the conversation by sitting back down and continuing to read.

This is my first short day in a while. I don't have a clue of what to do with it. I decide to read. I read for about two hours and check my alarm clock. Ugh. 2:17. I still have 9 hours until mandatory lights out. I know! I'll go meet Ben at the main building. He's always there. I tell my mother and head out the door. The main building is only a short walk away. I'm lucky for that. I'm a few steps away when I see Ben. We do this awkward-wave-type......thing."Hey!" He calls out. "Hey there!" I respond. Ben is like a brother to me. We tell everything to eachother. He looks like he could be my brother, too. With his brown eyes and similar tan-ness. He's way taller than me, though.

"Thought you wouldn't be back for a while."

" I didn't either"

" How's it goin'"

" Could be better. You?"

" You know how it is here."

" Better than out there."

Ben works in the tech part of the main building. I don't know what he really does. His role constantly changes. We walk around the building for hours. Just talking. I glance at my watch and notice that I have to get home. I say goodbye and find my way outside. I start my walk back home. But that's when the sirens blare. And that's when I hear the screaming.