The World as We Knew it

Chapter 1: Collection Day

December 28, 2150
  Vivian POV

It's just normal day in this post-apocalyptic society. The few trees and bushes that are left are barely alive, the water in the lake is a murky color combined with all the mud but it's the only non-contaminated water, the people are all going about their daily boring lives of working or taking care of their homes and children. Of course, it's a normal day for them but for me, it's the worst day of my life. The Collection Day. The day where to government comes to take the oldest child of every family that is 18 years old and it just so happens that I am the oldest and I'm 18.

This all started 5 years ago when the world started to go to hell. The sky had turned a blood red color, but the clouds were as white as snow against the blood-stained sky. Mutant creatures started to attack along with zombies, killing and eating people. Natural disasters started happening randomly across the world where they normally wouldn't happen, and the continents started moving towards each other at a much quicker pace than before, eventually becoming one continent.

This forced the government to develop a weapon to counter and attack the mutants and zombies since their soldiers were being destroyed in huge numbers. The people in charge of creating this weapon created a serum that would give humans abilities to fight the mutants. They tested the serum and many people died just for them to figure out that people from age 18-21 had the best survival rate, nearly at 100%.

So today is the day that they would come to take all the 18-year-old oldest children from every family. We were told that we are only allowed to bring one item of our choosing and one suitcase they sent to us to limit space. I packed up the suitcase with as much clothes as I could fit and put my ruby pendant in my pocket. I left my room and my family was there waiting for me.

"I'm sorry Vivian." My mother sobs covering her eyes.

"Mother, I will be okay." I say giving her a reassuring smile.

"Please send us letters, keep in touch please." My father pleads holding my mother.

"I will father." I reply.

"Big sister, why do you have to go?" my little brother asks holding onto my arm.

"So I can protect you and mom and dad." I say crouching down, putting a hand on his head.

We say our goodbyes and I go to meet up with my friends who are also being taken by the government today. I see Melody in her usual outfit, white frilly tank top with a black jacket that she has a bit below her shoulders along with a black frilly skirt and black stockings with white sneakers and her blonde hair flowing down her back. She's there with Chase, who is standing next to her trying to comfort her, in his brown sweater that is too big for him cause the sleeves go down to the middle of his pointer finger and black jeans along with his black and blue sneakers with his black hair a mess, like usual. Then there's Dimitri with his hands behind his head staring at the sky through his black framed glasses in his black jacket, white button up shirt with black jeans, green and white sneakers, and his black hair is also a mess, even more than Chase's. I see another group of about four people as I head towards my friends.

"Hey Mel, Chase, Dimitri." I say waving and walking over to them.

"Hi Viv." Melody says showing a strained smile.

"Hey Vivian." Chase says waving.

"Hi." Dimitri says sounding tired and annoyed.

"So are you guys ready?" I ask taking a deep breath.

"I'd be lying if I said yes." Melody muttered, looking down and tightening her grip on her suitcase.

"Yeah same here." Chase says looking up at the sky.