Survival Mode

Chapter 1

An overwhelming feeling takes over me. The feeling like I'm falling. I hear screams from above but don't open my eyes. Just as I'm about to hit the ground I feel arms circle around my waist and pull me close to a warm chest.

I feel safe.

Water circles around both of us and I pull myself closer to the person. I feel like we're both going to die. I feel like nothing can save me anymore.

"You're an idiot."

So what if I am? It's not my fault I feel safe.

But despite everything I don't feel even a tinge of sadness. Just... guilt?

I pull myself even closer to the person, finding calmness in their arms.

I feel safe, like I've never felt before.

I gasp in a deep breath and start coughing as I wake up. I groan in pain when I try to raise my head from the steering wheel and blink a few times when I see the blood splattered all over my body and the car.

*******

8 people killed and 56 injured in the attack at Roraria.

An unexpected attack at Northern Cornylia leads the inhabitants to evacuate in the middle of the night.

Last night military aircrafts were seen scattered all around the country.

Even more people losing their lives in Noxa: exactly 15 people killed and more than 120 injured.

The government states to have had nothing to do with the...

I shut my laptop and stare at the plain slightly cracked white wall in front of me instead. Way better than reading about strikes, uprisings and deaths. Worse than that, the government doesn't even want to admit to have done it. They're just looking for a way to shut people up without scaring away the rest.

I sigh in relief as I hear footsteps coming towards the kitchen and a few seconds later a sleepy Elon walks in. My little brother yawns as he takes a seat at the table, running a hand through his hair, ruffling even more than it already was.

I smile at him. "Good morning. Sleep well?" He just grunts in response. He puts his head on his arm on the table and starts dosing off.

I sigh and take my own cup and put it in the sink before pouring him a cup of coffee. Being addicted to coffee like I am, he immediately sits up and gulps the whole thing down as soon as I nudge his arm.

I walk to the sink and start washing the dishes left from last night. I was too lazy to do it then.

"Remember that April is coming to visit today so come home sooner ok? Don't stay out late like you usually do." I look at Elon to see his cheeks turning a light shade of pink. I smile at the sight.

"I didn't know she was coming today. You never told me." He glares at me as he puts his empty cup in the sink.

I shake my head at him. He's had a small crush on April for a long time now. "I didn't know it until last night. She called me and told me she was coming. You were already sleeping then." I know he wasn't sleeping. He's usually up till late either waiting movies on his phone or playing video games. He's a night owl. I can't say I'm not either.

"Well, fine. I'll come sooner. How long has it been anyway? 3, 4 years?"

I finish washing the dishes and dry my hands on a towel. "Yeah, I think It's been 3 years actually. Who knew your crush could last so long though? How long has it been? 6 years?" I laugh when I see his cheeks turn the familiar shade of red.