Stay...Together

Chapter 1

The sky was overcast with black clouds, and it was easy to see. That's because there wasn't a roof to cover them. Victorine stared at the sky right through the branches devoid of leaves. The chilly super early morning breeze made goosebumps travel up her pale arms and onto her clean face. A chill went right up her spine and spread across her scalp, making her short white hair stand up on the end. She hugged her little legs close to her flat chest and rubbed her shins. It didn't give her anymore more warmth. The half moon was distorted by the clouds that fogged over it. The clouds looked so much lighter when they were right in front of the bright moon.

Victorine turned her attention to what was around her. She was leaning against the trunk of a moderately tall tree, with Asha snoozing right next to her. Jacey was asleep on Parker's shoulder, and Yolanda (the only one who remember to bring a sweatshirt) was laying on her back with her arm crossed over her chest. Buckley had inched his way onto a branch so he could sleep like a squirrel or, as he called it, "For the experience." Opal and Gina slept with their backs leaning against each other's, so they'd be equally comfortable. Lee slept a few feet away from everyone else, lying on her stomach with her angry face buried in her arms.

The last time Victorine had more than a few stars was the day all the street lamps went out. She'd finally been able to stare at the surplus of stars while sitting on a car hood, and letting that stray tabby cat nuzzle her. But as long as there were clouds and street lights, the stars couldn't shine their little light on the world. Often times, Lee would correct Victorine when she pointed to a "star."

"That's just an airplane, kid," she had said. "Probably off to bomb somewhere and kill people."

Just after she said that Thelma started crying.

Thelma.

Thelma's gone. She's gone. And there was no time to even cry. For whatever reason, Victorine tried to conjure up an image of Thelma lying lifeless in the pile of charred rubble, where she would stay forever. But for some reason, she couldn't help but draw blanks. It was almost like she'd unintentionally repressed anything having to do with it. And then there's Edd. Poor Edd didn't even get a thought to anyone but a kid with a crush on him.

Another gust of brisk wind blew the thoughts right out of her head. Every limb shivered as she turned her face away from the source. She squeezed so her eyes wouldn't get wind-blown and tear up. After a second, she slowly opened one eye. Pretty much everyone shifted slightly as the gust passed. The branches above her swayed in the wind. A skinny twig of a branch scratched Buckley's check, but he was such a heavy sleeper that it didn't faze him in the slightest.

Lee, still being a yard or two away from the bunch, moved from her stomach to her side, facing away from Victorine. She got a split second glimpse of Lee's face; all cringed with her eyebrows permanently a scowl. Victorine shook her head in pity as she glanced at the field of trees and tall hills that weren't too far away. The winter weather had drained the color from the grass. It was left as a field of sharp, dark yellow blades poke holes in your socks and stick there.

And this was only the first night. There would be many afterward as their journey continued. Buckley's promise to Pauline echoed in Victorine's ears. They had an objective: to find help and send it back to the people still in that bomb shelter. It could take forever just to find civilization is what was left of the world. But until then, this would be their life.

Just then a little bit of light perked up from the horizon. The few cloudless spaces turned from pitch black to dark blue. The clouds began a slightly lighter shade of gray. Victorine looked to the East, where thin hints of red and orange started to appear. The clouds were blocking out what would become an explosion of color once. But Victorine still smiled, because even if she couldn't see it, the sun would rise.