New Eden- The New Eden series book#1 (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 2 "Everyone out!"

"It's a quarantine," Brandon, another one of my friends was saying. Word had spread that the town was being shut in by the military. People were getting agitated. Some other kid had gotten his dad on the phone and he was saying that there was unrest in the streets.

The teachers had cancelled classes and were currently in a meeting. Discussing what to do, I suppose. We were in homeroom, trying to figure out the same thing.

"How do you know it's a quarantine?" Kay-Marie asked. "They could just be looking for somebody. A suspected terrorist, or something."

"Maybe. Except you don't need to restrict an entire town to find one person...or even a group of persons." Brandon countered. He pushed his glasses further up his nose from slipping.

Kay gave an exasperated sigh. She was tired of Brandon showing off his knowledge and shooting down her theories.

I had no input for the conversation. Ever since mom left me that message I had been trying to call her back. I only got her voice message. I'd left a message saying that I was in school and okay.

I hung up for the twenty-fifth time. It seems like other kids were having the same problem with trying to reach their parents or whoever else.

Keep calm, Bradley. This, whatever this is, is probably temporary. I said this to myself, but I already felt the anxiety. My pulse quickened, and my chest gave a twinge as it tightened. I was on the verge of getting another asthma attack.

Breathe, Bradley, breathe.

I took a couple of deep breathes.

Brandon and Kay had broken into an argument, I don't know what about. Just as I was about to tell them to shut up, an angry rumble echoed through the class. The chattering halted abruptly. People moved over to the shutter windows to look outside.
It was thunder.

Grey clouds covered half the sky and were advancing to take the whole thing. Thunder rumbled again. God rearranging his furniture.

"Nice." I grumbled. The bad day was getting worse.

  The P.A system came alive and the voice of the principal, Mr. Joseph, boomed through the speakers. "In light of the current situation, we ask that all staff and students please assemble in the main auditorium." He repeated the message once more and then signed off.

  We were in the auditorium fifteen minutes later. The whole school was packed in. Students occupied the seats, talking loudly to be heard over everyone else. It sounded like chaos. The teachers stood at the back talking more quietly, but just as confused and scared probably.

Finally Mr. Joseph made his way to the podium. "Quiet! Settle down, please!" The noise diminished, but still people talked. The principal continued. "An hour ago, we got information that the military have stopped all human traffic in and out of town..." People started talking again, shouting for answers.

"Please," Mr. Joseph tried to settle the mob of young people. "We want answers too. " At that, he indicated to the wall behind him.

The hanging projector turned on and threw up a video. No,not video. A live stream. A female reporter was talking into a mic and pointing to the line of soldiers and cameo jeeps behind her.

The audio snapped on and everybody quieted to listen.

"...surrounded by soldiers, and arresting anyone who tries to leave." the reporter was saying.

"The only piece of information that army officials have reviled is that a chemical agent was released in the area sometime in the early hours of the morning. We don't know for sure-"