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1

It was a sunny day in New Idaho, and Sapphire Woods was sitting on her dingy old red Ford pick up truck in the middle of the plains. She looked up at the sky seeing the faintest hint of orange. Her father, Daryl Woods had been born in the early 2000's. When he was growing up the sky was always blue and the clouds were white instead of an orangey pink. After Japan had dropped a nuclear bomb on Chicago and D.C. the States had fallen into peril. Sapphire sighed climbing back into her car and turning the ignition with a soft curse when it wouldn't start. She got out and popped the hood, removing some debris from the old engine and walked back to the car and started it. She drove onto the small gravel road making her way back to the farm. When she got there her father was seated on the front porch, a cigar in his mouth. "Where the hell have you been?" He said as Sapphire hopped out of the pickup. Sapphire flopped down into the chair beside him. "Damn car wouldn't start." She said. Daryl nodded looking up at the sky. "Been watchin' the skies today." He said taking a drag from his cigar. "Looks like the Canadians are coming to claim us for themselves." Sapphire looked confused. "You sure dad? I haven't seen any planes today, nor have I seen drones." Her father nodded. "Exactly. So someones planning somethin'." Sapphire groaned and leaned back, more of her father's stories about the old days. Daryl snorted. "When I was your age we went to a place called school. Now we gotta homeschool ya'll." Sapphire sighed looking over. "Do we got anything for dinner?" She asked changing the subject. Her father laughed. "Kid- we didn't have food last night! We were lucky we caught that rabbit that got us through breakfast and lunch! If you wanna try going into town tomorrow-" Sapphire cut him off, "Can I? Please, dad!" She begged watching as her father grunted and put his head in his hand. "Saph, your seventeen. I ain't letting my seventeen-year-old daughter go into that hellhole!" He said. Sapphire looked at him pleadingly. "Please! I promise I'll be careful!" Sapphire had always wanted to go into town for supplies. Her father had rarely ever taken her due to the fear of losing her to one of the remaining United States soldiers. Daryl sighed. "Fine. Be back by morning." 

Sapphire walked out of the farmhouse, a sniper over her shoulder, and a small handgun holstered at her thigh. She put the sniper in the front seat and turned to her father, "Do I need any money?" She asked. Daryl handed her a twenty dollar bill. She stared. This was too much. She stared. "This is almost all we make in a month!" Daryl nodded. "We need the best supplies, Sapphire. We can't live off of what we got now. Grab a few chickens if they got any, then some weapons and gasoline. We can't sell gasoline without gasoline." Sapphire nodded, "Why don't we just convert the barn into a bed and breakfast?" She asked. Her father glared. "That's where the bunker is." Sapphire nodded, "Yeah but we'd make more money." Daryl shook his head. "We ain't letting no one on our property. They get close enough to get the gasoline." Sapphire sighed giving her father a hug before climbing into the car. She lifted the false seat and stashed the sniper under it. After closing it and securing it, she backed out of the driveway and made her way down to McCormick. It was a solid twenty minute drive, but not too bad. As she approached she was stopped by a border guard. "Name." He demanded, eyeing her. Sapphire handed him her license, "Sapphire Woods. My dad owns Woods Farm." The guard nodded, "I guess it wouldn't hurt to let a pretty lady like you into McCormick." He chuckled. Sapphire narrowed her eyes. The guard waved his hand to the soldier operating the gate before turning back to Sapphire. "Welcome to McCormick."