2080

Chapter 1

• April 17th, 2080 •

Addilyn was just 12 when the war began in 2075. In those passing five years, so much has happened. Leaving only 2 million out of 38 million people supposedly alive according to her parents. She and her family were one of the lucky ones.

The journey from their enclosed community to the boundary of a town outside of the radiation was too long, nobody has yet to make it out alive to get help. Let alone if there even was anything not affected by radiation. The power is brought by solar panels and there isn't a strong enough connection to reach someone not affected by the nuclear bomb; if there was one.

The community of Willow Grove was one of 2,500 people. They were the smallest of all communities on the west coast, there was no telling how many other communities were out there, but they have managed to reach out to 3 others.

Addilyn was a few weeks away from her parents arranging her marriage. In this world, nobody had a choice on who they would marry. Her mother and father sat at the table in the kitchen trying to look through the ten pictures of the men that were suitable enough for her. Technically they would be suitable for her parents too, because they would be running the community after her parents retired or died.

Addilyn rolled her eyes. If anyone was a rebel in this community it was her.

"What do you think about this darling, Addy?" Her mother raised a picture of a blonde haired, blue eyed, suited up bachelor.

"He looks like his greatest accomplishment is his rock collection." Addilyn said, rolling her eyes again and walking away. She could hear her parents yelling at her to come back. But there was no point, she didn't know why her mom asked her who she liked, because the final decision would be up to them. Who was strong enough, handy enough, and who had a green thumb and who could tend to animals the best. These were the 'desirable' trades of the new age. People pictured 2080 having flying cars and the best technology of all time, but instead, there was no electricity, no running water, and no technology, unless a radio was considered. Even if you had a radio, you had to be pretty special to get batteries or have batteries. Good thing her parents founded this place.

Addilyn walked outside. Everyone that she passed by waved at her. The community was so close with each other, living with the same 2,500 people for 2 years, you know just about everyone. They haven't had a new person since the 4th month during the start of the community. Any survivor was thought to be already in a community or dead by now.

This community had been built before the war, Addilyn's parents said they had a feeling it would come in handy. A huge dome blast resistant window above allowed the sun to make its way into the community and they were allowed to grow crops everywhere and anywhere

Addilyn made her way to the steel gates of the community. "How's it looking out there, Jerome?" She smiled up at her best friend on the guard's tower that had a clear view out of the window.

"Dead." He smirked lightly at her. Addilyn made her way up the steps to look out the window. Anybody else would've gotten in trouble for going up into the guard's tower, but not her, well at least not that much.

"Wow, you're right." She smiled back once at the top. They sat there looking out the window. Trees and power lines down, building foundations spread about and stripped naked of what they had to offer from their community and the scavengers. "I have another theory for you to bite into."

"Dear god, Addy, what is it now?" He laughed. She always came up with some of the dumbest theories, but they made sense, so he always listened.

"Do you really think it was just us? Like the west United States, what if the power went down the rest of the US or the rest of the world was blasted like this. What if us and the other three communities are the only people left?" She looked over at him staring at her like she was insane.