Kids Never Die

Chapter 5: Dead Silence

As I sat, I quickly realized that we were going to need to move to find shelter and possibly even civilization. To be one hundred percent honest, we were going to have to move just to see. The sky was so crowded with smoke, fog, and an orange blanket burnt into the sky.

I stood up and began to think. I shifted my eyes from left to right. Then I placed my hand to my forehead. Then I had an idea. I took out my cell phone. The screen had a long, deep crack, harboring itself down the center. I called out to the others.

"Guys, see if you can get a cell phone signal." Everyone took out their phones. Frantically pressing buttons and sliding to unlock. To our dismay, there was no luck. Not from anyone.

I smashed my hand into the dirt and dust filled the area in front of me. Out in the distance, I caught sight of Morgan. He was carrying a water bottle that was a little less than half full. I stood and ran out to him.

"This is all I could find." he handed me the bottle.

"This will do for now." I unscrewed the cap and ran to Emily, who lay asleep on the ground. I kneeled by her and elevated her head into my knee. I placed the bottle to her lips and tipped it so water would pour into her mouth.

She lay very still for a few moments, but her finger began to twitch. Her eyes emerged open, wide and bright. She started in a coarse, heavy cough. She spit a lot of the water down her shirt and gasped for breath.

I placed my hand on the side of her face. "Hey, calm down. You're alright," I reassured her. "Just breathe slowly. In and out." I breathed along with her, slowly inhaling and exhaling in tune with her. "How do you feel?"

"Tired... And weak." Her voice certainly agreed, for she spoke very drawn back and hoarse.

"Okay, get some rest." I said and I laid her head back down. I called Gavin and Morgan over as I paced toward the road. "We're going to need to get moving soon. I don't think anyone's coming for us."

Gavin looked down in dismay. I placed my hand on his shoulder. Morgan interrupted. "Well we'll need something to move large groups long distances." He said.

"What do you suggest?" I crossed my arms. He smirked and gestured over to the principle's Lamborghini, sitting in the school parking lot. I rolled my eyes.

"We can't drive." Gavin said. "We don't even have permits."

"Are there any cops?" asked Morgan slyly. "Plus I know how to drive."

"Grand Theft Auto doesn't count, Momo."

"No, seriously." He said.

I shook my head and chuckled. "Whatever you say."

Kyra stood up and trotted over to us. "I see you boys are already trying to take over our politics" she joked.

"Very funny." I scoffed, "We're trying to figure out how to move this large group."

"Wouldn't it be best to save our energy and rest? Perhaps make camp here. Find food." She said.

Morgan nodded, "That sounds best. Just for tonight."

"Alright." I began "Someone should try to make shelter."

"I can get Miranda and Em to help me make shelters," announced Kyra.

"Ian and I can start a fire." said Gavin

"Morgan and I will search in the rubble of the cafeteria." I looked over to Kyra. "See if you can get Nick and Nate to take care if Katie and Emily." She nodded and we all went our separate ways.

After our chatter had died down, the world crawled back into the silence. A quietness that cut your ears open because it was so loud. It was so quite, it could send any man into madness. You could hear your own organs functioning. You could hear your ears shattering. You could hear your own hair growing, fiber by fiber. We now understood the meaning of "Dead Silence."