The Wave

Boarded Up

2 months ago

I used to play outside every day! Rain or shine. Hot or Cold. I was out there, climbing trees and building dens, playing tag with my friends and riding my bike. But then, something happened; I don't know what. It all happened within a day, I was shut into my bedroom to find the windows locked, and wooden slabs nailed across them. When I was let out the next day, I found the rest of the house was the same as my room. My Mum told me I wasn't allowed to leave the house anymore, she didn't mention why? Now, no one ever leaves except Dad. I would try to watch him leave every morning, so I could get a glimpse of the outside, but he would order me back upstairs before he opened the door; even the front door was kept locked, so I never saw the world outside after that day.

Present Day (15/07/30)

I was upstairs, lying on my bed reading the Hobbit series for the 5th time, when I heard it; the door shutting. At first, I thought I imagined it because Dad wasn't due back till' tomorrow but then I heard him, whimpering? I heard my Mum sprinting down the corridor and rushing down the stairs. By the time I got downstairs, she had hurried him into the living room. I reached for the handle, turned it clockwise slowly and nudged the door open. Immediately, I wished I hadn't because what I saw scarred me for life.

"Dad?" I whispered, my eyes fixed on him,

"Lizzie, please don't look!" He pleaded weakly. I did what I was told and shifted my eyes to the floor, I desperately wanted to forget. Forget everything that's happened over the past couple of months, but I can't, and I know that it will linger in the back of my mind forever. My Dad looking as if he had been skinned, like his skin had been burned off. I wasn't ready for this, so I shut the door and headed for my bedroom.

1 week later (22/07/30)

I sat on my Bed wondering, I couldn't remember what day it is, and thinking about it, I haven't known for about 2 and a half months. You lose track of time when there's no routine. Dad wasn't really improving, and with no one to go outside, we were running out of food. My Mum had started an even stricter rationing routine. Only two small meals a day and it was taking its toll on the family; Mum was exhausted, Dad wasn't getting any better and I, well I was shut in my Room. I went over to the mirror on my Wardrobe and looked at my reflection for a long time, wondering why I couldn't recognise myself. Was I thinner, more grown up or had these past weeks just changed me!?

I then had a sudden thought; I had to save my Family, to save my Parents, to save my Dad.

Later that evening, when I couldn't hear my parents anymore, I crept out of my room and down the stairs and headed for the kitchen because that was where my dad kept his backpack for when he leaves. I carefully unzipped it checking to see if the right things were in there, to my relief it seemed everything was there. I slipped my spare clothes in replacing the ones that are usually there. I slung the bag over my shoulders and tiptoed towards the door and tried the handle. The door wouldn't open; it was locked. Quietly, I fished through the bag, hoping my Dad had a key. I heaved a sigh of happiness when I felt the cold of the metal on my fingers and unlocked the door,  wincing in anticipation of the creek I knew the door handle would make. I was filled with joy when the door opened with no noise and I stared in awe at the broken world that surrounded my house. I was afraid to step out into the alien planet I saw around me and thought about heading back upstairs, but then I remembered the image of my Dad that was scarred into my memories and knew, I had to go...