chapter 1
Burns and stains cover every wall of the old house. The grass had died and became yellow from the lack of water. Bricks of an old wall were scattered over the yard along side a large crater where a bomb had hit. Clara quickly looked around and darted across the yard into the dark house. Her frizzy brown hair was tucked back the way she liked to wear it. It was falling out of its tail, from the harsh winds and the length she had been traveling in them. She hurried across the house as it creaked under every step, and pulled up a large basement door to get into a small room hidden beneath. She quietly crept down the crooked wooden stairs hoping not to awaken anyone. To her surprise a light shown under the old mettle door, though it was dim, it was a sign that someone was awake. Clara closed her eyes and sighed silently, slowly opening the door. The room looked to, at one time, have been a light blue but now a gross gray. A single light hung from the ceiling and several flash lights laid on a shelf over four beds. One was missing, which was found in the hands of a young women with ash blond hair. Clara quietly closed the old door behind her and latched it closed. "So, where have you been all night?" Asked the young lady, who was sitting on one of the make shift wooden beds. She looked up from the scrappy brown book she had been reading and glanced at Clara with her large green eyes, reminding Clara of a deer caught in headlights. "Don't worry Delta, I was just walking." She wasn't exactly lting, she had been walking but she also was scouting out the abandoned city. She knew no one would agree woth her goimg off and wished not too worry them, so she found it best to simply tell half the trueth. The city was only an hour by foot from the old house.
Clara looked about the room for a moment seeing the other two beds that were occupied. Two little ones slept in one of the beds closest to a large book shelf full of canned foods. They were the youngest of the group, Jane was five and her brother Vincent was seven. They shared the same dark auburn colored hair and large honey eyes. Clara found them in the woods not too far off, huddling under a huge tree for warmth, hiding from the rain. They hadn't eaten for days when she found them, they were to weak to walk on their own. In the other bed was a young man, about nineteen with curly black hair, named Axle. He was found outside the glass city (a place that will come up again soon) covered from head to toe in cuts and bruises. He wouldn't tell anyone what happened for the longest time. His hands were a dark blue from frost bite, but not yet damaged enough to require amputation. He was found on a night when the wost blizzered of many years was roaring through the land. Axle was brought to their home to rest and regain strength, he ended up staying with them.
The pitter patter of feet soon filled the small room. Jane sat in her bed playing with her dolls Delta had made for her, and Vincent drew beside her. Delta sorted through the food Clara's garden, not all was of good quality. So she (being Delta) looked for what would be good for food and what could be replanted. Axle ran back and forth in the room making sure all the wiring and piping was in order. Every once in a while shoking hinself. Clara was upstairs laying dusty tan tarps over the old rickety floors of the kitchen and living room. The clouds had become almost black, they all knew a storm was a brewing and they had to take precautions.
All the dark and dim house used to be so full of life and color, but after the incident all was destroyed. The incident no one was to speak about. Not verbally around children of they're elders great defeat. They were to keep quiet of all that had happened and to live as though nothing had ever happened. In the great towers,the ones that still stand, there is talk of great cities being built up for the new generation of children. It was to be a sanctuary, a haven, a safe place for those who never had that. This seemed to be a mere rumor and nothing more.
It began to rain around noon, a real light drizzle but a strong wind was pushing hard against the outer walls of the house causing it to groan louder then normal. Delta came up from the basement carring a can of chicken broth and a bunch of veggies. She began to make a nice stew that would last them for a few days. Axle gave her a hand, as Clara headed out side to wait for him. Jane calles it the cooking of the meal. She gave many of the chores names to make them a little more fun. The rain water shifted down the long black trench coat clara wore over her modest molt green dress. She carried a large red patched bag on her, though it was empty it had a purpose. It was to carry anything they might find valuable to be carried. She kicked a small rock causing her to scuff her boots more then they already were when Axle finally walked outside. "You ready?" He asked while he was slipping on a pair of worn down shoes. "Yeah, just been waiting." Clara responded looking out to the woods in front of them. They were in the back yard facing a torn down fence that opened up to the shadowed woods. Though it was scary it was intriguing and the most superlative place to go gather cherries and other fruits. They (being the group) rarely got to have such a delicacy which brought great smiles to the small faces of Jane and Vincent.
The forest was vast with wild life, some were mix breeds that were made in scientist's labs and escaped, others had adapted to the changes in the environment. So, if you were to look about you'd find the strangest little things. Like black widow wasps, one of the most awful little things; other things not as dangerous such as squirrel bat mix breeds. Well, enough sifting through facts it is time to go on to see what happens next.
