The Other Side

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End

Who thought a 14 year old girl would be the one to save the world? Not me. Either way, I guess I should explain myself.

My name is Alexis, popular name, I know.

I am 14 years old and by that, a freshman in high school, I have dyed my hair black, not because I'm emo but because I am a rebel. My hair is pretty long and goes to my elbows. My mom never let me cut my hair so it just grew as long as it wanted to be.

My eyes are this boring brown color that always makes me think of mud.

I may or may not be the stereotypical 'bad girl'. It's actually fun to have a reputation that makes people fear you. It makes you feel special.

It all started one day when I was walking to school. I was taking my usual route and everyday, I passed this old couple. They always smiled nicely at me and I always smile back because I'm polite.

As usual I passed the couple, and as usual they smiled at me, but this time... the smile was kinda dead? I smiled back at them, thinking they may just be tired or something.

I continued on with my day, ignoring the event that happened in the morning.

At lunchtime, I started feeling dizzy, and felt like I was going to faint. I stood up and walked to the girls bathroom. It smelled old but rosey, like it was old but then someone with perfume was in there.

I walked into one of the stalls and leaned against the wall. Someone had drawn all over them. Things like flowers, cats, circles and just random lines.

As you may have realized, I'm not the most talkative person alive.

I walked out of the stall, ready to continue with my day. The time I was in there is unknown. It may have been seconds, minutes or more. Either way, when I got out, something seemed off about the school. It felt dead or maybe abandoned. I walked out of the room with all the stalls and saw no one.

As I walked down the halls, not caring if I skipped this class, I heard something. It sounded like someone fell on the floor. Not the kind of tripping in the halls, but more of a accidentally fainting kind of fall.

I walked towards the sound, meaning to help if someone fainted. When I go to the place, I saw nothing but a note.

I picked it up and opened it. It was empty. Just a folded piece of paper.

Some seconds later, the piece of paper was crumbled up and in my backpack. I felt like I shouldn't be here at this time.

I walked out of the schools endless halls and down towards a hill near the school that I enjoyed spending time at. The hill had an old oak tree on it and my whole life I loved that tree. Just being near it or climbing it made me feel happy.

This time, the oak tree didn't make me happy, it almost made me feel uncomfortable.

As I sat down at the tree trunk, I began to think.

Thoughts like "This tree, it always makes me feel happy. Why not now?" or "What was that I heard back at the school?" filled my mind.

When I was done thinking I had come to the conclusion that something had happened and I were going to know what a lot sooner than I expected.

I opened my backpack to see if I had anything fun in there.

I did not find anything entertaining. Only, my homework and that piece of paper.

I decided it was best to walk home now if I wanted to be home before dinner tonight. My mom always made the best food.

Why do I always talk about my mom but not my dad, you ask? Well, the answer is easy. My dad left my mom when he realized she was pregnant with me. My mom mentions that day sometimes. She describes it as "and he just straight up left that moment I told him".

It never bothered me. The whole thing about not having a dad. It is the only life I have ever known so I guess I can't really complain. But if I have to be honest, sometimes, I want to have a dad and just see how it is to... y'know... be a complete family.

When i got home, I locked up the door only to find that no one was home. That's weird, when I got home this late, my mom was always home at this time.

I guessed she was just working late today so I decided I would be the one to make dinner. I'm not the best cook but it should go well if I didn't die.

Spaghetti was my favorite food so I should be able to cook that. Though I've never been a big fan of meaty stuff, I've always liked spaghetti for some reason.

As I prepared to cook, I heard the radio make a weird noise. It sounded like it was a bug in there or something.

Then it stopped and I heard an unfamiliar voice say, "As you, the remaining population of the world, may know, this is an apocalypse. Please, pack only the necessities and then, travel to higher ground".

I began to panic, 'W-what- wait... apocalypse? Where's mom? Remaining population!?.... Is she... dead!?'.

Collapsing on the floor, I began crying uncontrollably. Not caring that I may die, I stayed on the floor, sobbing.

After what seemed, and may have been, hours of crying, I sat up. I was still shaking but at least I wasn't crying.

I stood up and looked out of the window. It had began raining while I was on the floor. Everything looked dull without all the people and life outside. It was the first time I've seen this place without all the people. You see, I live in a city and there were always people here.

At that moment, something clicked in me. My emotions just shut off and I became as dull as the world outside. I stopped shaking and went upstairs, into my room.

Without people, the internet doesn't work, right? Wrong. My computer worked as normal and I looked up what you need to survive in the wilderness.

I made a packing list with things I would need, and some things I wouldn't need, but I wanted them anyways because why not?

Some essentials were; Water, canned food, a pocket knife, money if I find any survivors It'll be nice to trade with them. I also have some warmer clothes if I were to survive until winter. I packed some personal stuff too; A photo of me and my mom, a pen, some candy which might be an essential, and my phone plus a charger.

The phone might be useful if anyone I know is still alive.

As I stuffed my bag full, I remembered that piece of paper I found earlier today. I quickly packed that in my bag and then I was ready to go.

My backpack was the heaviest thing ever. My back and shoulders hurt after only 30 seconds. Though I had to have it on for a lot longer than that.