The Darkest Time

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We didn't have anywhere to go. East River had basically been blown to hell. Months ago, kids from East River came to live in the mall. They told us about the attack and how decimated it was.

We had been on the road for 5 hours straight. We just kept driving until we found a motel. We'll stay there for the night and look for new shelter in the morning. 

We had to find an unoccupied room but it's not like we can ask the front desk. Since, you know, we're psi on the run. Kinda don't want to end up in a camp again. 

We found one and were able to get inside without anyone really noticing. There were two beds and a bathroom. That was enough for us to survive the night. 

Layla got a bed all to herself while Ryan and I would share a bed. We would all take a shower and change our clothes. 

I finished my shower and laid on the bed under the blankets. I can guarantee this room hasn't been cleaned in weeks, maybe even months. 

I felt the bed shift and I knew Ryan was laying next to me. Layla was already passed out on the bed next to us and she was snoring. Loud. 

I turned to face Ryan and he was already facing me. 

"Hey" He said smiling. 

"Hi." I put on a tired smile.

"This has been a long day." My smile faltered. 

"Just 24 hours ago, everything was fine. Now, we've lost everything we've built." I spoke. I hated having photographic memory right now. I can remember the exact moment they attacked. 

I was on the second story of the mall sitting at a table in a 'Starbucks', playing Uno with Layla. I had 7 cards left in my hand while Layla had 16. I had a Wild +4, a green 3 and 8, a red skip, a yellow 5 and +2, and a blue 6. While playing, this girl, Penelope, was sitting next to me watching intensely. She was wearing a red, floral, one-piece, jumpsuit. I was about to place my yellow 5 over Layla's yellow 2, when I heard glass shattering. Penelope and Layla screamed and gripped their ears, while nothing happened to me. White noise. I looked out of the shop and could see some Psi guards trying to gather the kids. I saw a reds there too, lighting items in stores on fire. I rushed to the electrical panel and concentrated. I felt as if lightning were surging through me. I had to focus or this could easily shift to fire. I made everything electrical in the building, including the white noise, cause sparks and knock some of the adults and reds unconscious. Once I did that, I rushed to get Penelope, Layla, and any other kids I could find out of there. I ended up finding 35 kids on the 2nd floor and had to get them onto the 1st floor so we could escape. A bunch of the kids gotten to the entrances when the guards were coming near us. Some blues pushed the guards back. Ryan grabbed Layla's arm and my arm and pulled us towards the Yugo car. I wasn't going to fight Ryan so I just yelled to the rest of the kids. I told to run and to get out of here.

I can't tell Ryan that I have photographic memory. He'll ask me how. I didn't have it before. And I don't exactly have an answer. 

"We'll be alright. We always are." He took my hand and intertwined our fingers. We couldn't feel each others finger directly, since I was wearing my gloves. But, I still found it comforting. 

"How can you be so confident?" I asked him. 

"We've survived before. We can do it again. It also helps that I have you by my side. " I gave him a real smile. He pecked my lips. 

"Don't forget Layla." I reminded him, pointing at her sleeping figure. 

"I feel bad for her. She's basically our third wheel." I laughed quietly. 

"We need to get her a boyfriend."