Post Apocalyptic

Chapter Three

Skylar slept like she always did, rough and anxious, nightmares ruling her slumber. I kept my arms wrapped around her. Sometimes doing that would help with the nightmares, making them less horrific.

I got a face full of hair as she turned her head, sighing a little. I hugged her close. She squirmed a little, but went silent and still again.

I smiled faintly and raked my fingers through her soft caramel colored hair. Despite everything, Skylar still believed in making sure she looked presentable. I usually laughed at her when I caught her brushing her hair, finding it ridiculous she'd think of such things during these times. But that was what made her Skylar.

She made a small, squeaky noise and turned her head slightly. I knew she was having a nightmare, and it hurt me that I could do nothing to stop them. All I could do was wrap my arms tighter around her and hope they weren't horrible.

I adjusted my legs under the blanket, ankle rubbing against the scratchy matress. Before we had layed down in the bed, we stripped it of it's blankets and sheets. This was a precaution, seeing as we could miss a splotch of blood or something else to get into a small wound and infect us. We carried a blanket with us, a soft gray thing, from back home. When there was a home.

Wrapped in this blanket, it brought back the memory of the last Christmas we had shared as a family. Skylar and I snuggled and squished together under the blanket in dad's big leather recliner, Skylar sipping on hot chocolate and watching a Christmas Special while I read a new book. Grandma in the kitchen with mom, continuing to bake even though mom had told her Christmas was over. Sparkles of snow danced outside the big window beside the door, shining like diamonds against the dark night sky. Grandpa and dad having a common talk about football and other sports no one cared about.

The fire crackled in the fireplace under the TV. I remember Skylar grabbing my hand under the fuzzy blanket, and looking up at me. Her huge silvery blue eyes bore into mine, as if looking into the deep corners of my soul.

"Addison?" She had asked, voice small against the rumble of the other voices

"Yeah?" I asked, fiddling with the corner of a page in the book.

"We'll always be together right?"

That question had thrown me off at the time, seeing that, of course we'd always be together, we were sisters. "Yeah," I answered.

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Then the promise didn't mean much. Now it means everything.

And I kept that promise. I planned on keeping that promise.

Silver moonlight spilled in from the small window about a foot and a half from the bed. It pooled in a circle on the light pink carpeted floor. A shadow moved across the window, leaving a small dark spot in the moonlight pool for a split second. I tensed, but judging by the size and shape of the shadow, it was most likely a bird. My grip on Skylar tightened.

I nestled my head into the crook of Skylar's neck and tried to focus on getting some sleep. I'd need it for tomorrow. I let my eyes flutter shut and tried to think of happy times. That usually helped me get to sleep. I slowed my breathing and drifted off into darkness.

"Addison!" Skylar screamed, jumping up and flinging herself off of the springy, squeaky bed. I jerked to attention, a small snort coming out. I sat up lazily and stared at Skylar.

She was huddled in the far corner of the room, gasping and crying, hugging herself tightly. Her eyes met mine in the soft darkness. They were glazed over, obviously filled with overflowing tears. She hiccuped.