Eight Minutes

Two minutes left: Remi

Remi,
The world will end. It's our fault.
You know who this is from.

I stare at the note, my eyes reading it and rereading it again and again and again.

"What does it say?" Clyde asks tentatively, softly, as if he's scared of the answer.

"It says..." I begin, but my voice cracks halfway through the sentence. "It's from my parents."

He gulps and kneels next to me, putting his arm round my shoulders. I don't shake him off and for a second the only noise is my tears dripping off my chin onto the floor. He eases the note out of my grip and scans it, his eyes widening.

"What does it mean?" He asks, as if I know, "how is it their fault?"

I shake my head, taking the paper back and placing it face down on the floor. What looks like a few tiny dots squished together at the bottom corner of the paper catches my eye. I pick it up again and hold it close to my eye, wishing for a magnifying glass. I can just make out the words, get to Hanigo you'll be safe.

"Hanigo..." I whisper, my voice filling the whole room despite how quiet I speak, "we have to get to Hanigo."

Sudden recognition and relief appear on Clyde's face, as if he's happy he finally understands what's going on. It fades quickly as he remembers the situation but a glimmer of hope is still there.

"Hanigo...I read about that planet! We'll never make it there in time though: it's at least a light year away!"

"We have to try!" I say, clarity slowly returning to me, "we can't just sit around and wait to die!"

He nods, "so what do we do?"

"We find a shuttle!" I say, easier said than done. We only have one minute left. One minute. The countdown is terrifying, and in a strange way it's comforting to know that nobody will be left, that everyone will go.

We run outside, the silence no longer comforting and begin to scream, "DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE WE CAN GET A SHUTTLE?" Over and over and over again and again until our voices are hoarse and we can get another word out.

"Sorry kid." Comes a choked voice from one of the houses.

Another window opens, "We all wish it was different..."

"Your brave to be trying to do something."

"So young...so sad"

More and more windows open and voices call out to us until the whole street is awash with sympathy making it difficult for me to hold back my tears.

Suddenly a door opens and an elderly lady comes hobbling out towards us and pulls us into a tight hug. "I didn't have long left anyway kids, I think I know where you can find your ship. You," She points a shaking finger towards me, "I knew your parents, very brave they were!"

We follow her as she makes her way back into her house. And down some stairs to a dark basement.

I cough as dust fills my lungs and I see Clyde doing the same. When the lady turns on a light bulb swinging above us a shuttle is revealed, taking up most of the room in the basement. It's very small, only room for two people but I can't help wondering how they got it in here in the first place and how we are supposed to get out.

Clyde takes my hand, "Remi, I think we're too late." A tear slides down his cheek and settles on his chin.

I take a shaking breath, I know he's right.

"I'll see you soon." I reply, hugging him as tightly as I can.

The clock ticks down as we stay like that,

3...

2...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Thanks so much for reading 8 Minutes! I know I've been writing it forever but I honestly had no idea how it was doing to turn out! I just let my characters tell the story! Please vote, comment and follow me if you enjoyed it! Also please read my other book Isa! It's a bit longer but still really short! ❤️🎈⭐️