Long Tomorrows

Part One- The Beginning

It was such a normal day, I can't believe that the whole world could change so fast. It was just like the Earth put a gun to it's head, and pulled the trigger, ruining everything in it.

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It was just like any other night. I fell asleep staring at the ceiling, the same rhythmic sound of my fan filling my ears like music. I looked over at my desk, filled with papers and stressful assignments from school. Kai, my dog, fell asleep next to me, her nose twitching in her sleep. I watched my alarm clock, as the minutes ticked by, until I fell asleep.

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I woke in the middle of the night, at the time, I wasn't sure what woke me up. I sat up a little, still half asleep. I looked over at my alarm clock, it wasn't there, but on the floor. The odd silence was broken when I heard the terrible scream from the basement. I jumped up, scared half to death. I ran through the hallway, dodging the broken glass on the floor from fallen picture frames. My first thought was 'intruder..' I hurried down the steps, Kai right next to me. When I reached the kitchen, I saw my mother. He looked shaken, her eyes wide, full of fear. I nearly screamed, "Mom, what is going on?" I saw plates scattered on the floor, and the door rattled a little. My dad came racing through the hallways, his face holding the same look as mom's. Dad grabbed my wrist, pulling me outside. I begged for an answer, "Please, what is happening?" I didn't get a response though, and I never would. Mom threw the door open, and pushed me outside. It took my eyes a while to adjust, strangely, it was brighter outside, than it was in the house, but it was night time. Police car lights, were everywhere, blue, red, and white lights shadowing the houses. The streets were filled with huge trucks, police cars, and ambulances. People were running everywhere, trying to figure out what was going on. I held Kai in my arms, and my parents still drug me over to a large camouflage army truck. I turned around, "Where are we going?" Mom and dad glanced at each other. The man standing in the end of the truck was yelling, "Children, children only!"

Mom put her arm on my hand, "You are going to the children's camp. It will be safe there."

I shook my head in confusion, "Safe from what? No, where are you going?"

Dad sighed, "We are going to Termanice" He lifted me up by my waist, handing me to the man in the truck. He grabbed my wrist, and I urged to get free. "No, let me go," I yelled towards the man. "Last call!" He yelled loudly. I wriggled, hoping he would lose his grasp eventually, "Mom, dad, please, I don't want to go!" I called after them as the truck pulled away. I watched as they became smaller, and eventually so small that I couldn't see them. I nervously turned around, to see many other kids, all wide-eyed and scared looking. I looked down at my hands. Kai sat, here tail low. I patted her head, but that didn't seem to calm her down. I looked over at the man sitting the back of the truck, who had just finished latching the door shut. "What is going on? Where are you taking me?"

He looked at me, "Crawford. It's a disaster camp, for children. Your parents-" he paused, and looked around at all the other kids, "Your parents are probably goin' to Termanice or Dayton. Those are different camps. There are different camps for different ages, kids, adults, and elders. They each have the necessities for each age." I nodded. I kind of felt like I was the only one listening. All the other kids seemed younger than me.

I looked back over at him, "But why, what are we running from?" I asked impatiently.

He shook her head sternly, "We don't even know."

It all happened so fast, I was starting to think this was a dream, but it wasn't. I couldn't even think about what was happening. I kept seeing my parents grow smaller, over and over again. I tried to calm down, but I was still so confused.

I settled down, even though I was still angry, and nervous. I couldn't think of anything to stay, but the silence in the truck was killing me. "Name? You have one?"