Amber Wood

Goodbye?

  "AMBER WOOD-may we all realize our mistakes and create a new world..."


"This world was a blur full of colors. No one ever stopped to take a look at the beauty in it. For they have forgotten the true beauty in things. For the people of today have been consumed by greed and selfishness that they have no time to care for anything but themselves and take instead of giving to the poor. It is my duty as an artist and many others like myself, to bring out the beauty in which the colors hold so others can stop and finally take notice. Our place, our world, has become a canvas of black and white. Our community "Amberwood" is filled with ashes and coughs coming from the sickly. Why have we become like this?! The color went and all hope of humanity gone with it! AMBER WOOD..."

Suddenly the tv turns off and a beautiful woman with pale skin almost as if she's crystal clear stands in view. The beautiful mother of Caleb Rose. Never wanting the politics of the new world order to pollute her son's brain. Though he was already in college and just came home due to the chaotic world events she still had her overprotective ways as if he was still just a boy. Ushering him to the kitchen where a plate of pancakes awaited him. What a breakfast. Poking at the pancakes Caleb pondered the speech given by the man on tv.

He wasn't wrong at all. We had color once, but no one ever paid attention to it. One day the world woke up, and the world we knew was gone. The idea of waking up to another sunny day was gone. The idea of color, the feel of the sun, the beautiful blue sky painted with clouds.... was gone. Videos of people had surfaced showing the clouds in the sky and then all of sudden the clouds getting darker. Eating away at any amount of light that shined down on the city below. Even the ground was covered in what looked like snow but was much deadlier than imaginable. The clouds an ominous color, almost as if a horror story was coming alive before everyone's eyes. Those videos and even my own memory will never leave my mind.

A few days earlier....
Just as the first few droplets came down screams began not too far off. What looked like rain turned out to be snow. Except this snow seemed to suffocate anything it landed on. The screams continued and soon silence. The echoes of an ambulance on its way to whatever incident occurred filled the now quiet town. Everyone was in shock at the snow.
Was it snow? Holding a hand out the window Caleb touched what was falling down. What looked to be snow didn't melt on his palm nor left a small chill that came expectant with it. It began to part like ash in a fire. With a grayish tone and an earthy smell. There were no reports of a fire nearby. There were no volcanoes around this area. Not even miles away to cause this. The news hadn't reported anything about one so big it could cause ash to head this way. There was no explanation for this phenomenon.

A woman on the sidewalk abruptly fell and caused those around her to rush to help. Cries for help began all down the street with similar cases occurring. Only thing was... it was only happening to women. Passing through the city ambulances rushed and almost any transportation service available was stopped to carry those fallen to the nearest hospital. Caleb being a part time uber driver to earn extra money on the side for college decided to stop and help too. Stopping near a group of people surrounding two women near him. Pulling aside he hopped out the car aiding in placing one of them into the car to reach a hospital. A man hopped into the front seat busy on the phone in a panic tone.

"Ma idk what's happening but Ashley just fell out of nowhere!"

"Are you safe?! Get out of this ash or whatever it is! It's not good for you!"

"Please ma listen..."

"It's for your safety we don't know what this is rightnow"

"Ight, I love you too"

Placing the phone on his lap turning to Caleb. The man's eyes filled with worry and his breathing exhausted from the stress of the current events he opened his mouth to speak but all that came out was a choked up sigh. Tears began in his eyes and all the man could do was move his hands to signal for him to drive. After a few moments of silent he broke it.

"Thanks for helping us.... Idk what's happening ."

"It's no issue. I've been asking the same thing..."

With that Caleb asked politely which hospital he wanted to go too he drove as fast as he could without endangering anyone. Arriving at the emergency entrance at Coroland hospital they rushed out getting the girl who Caleb assumed was Ahsley onto a gurney. As the nurses wheeled her away the man turned as if to ask how much he owes for the ride. Caleb simply shook his head no and as he went to leave there was an abrupt scream from behind. Turning around in just what seemed split second the man was on the floor just as the girl Ashley had been. Only this time he was bleeding from his eyes. Caleb rushed to his side holding the mans head. First whatever this ash was, it was only attacking the women on the street and now this man? Holding him telling him to stay with him he reached his hand for Caleb's face.

"Ash.."

He had taken his last breath trying to utter his sister's name or so Caleb assumed. The nurses who had taken Ashley came and did all they could but pronounced him dead shortly after. Sitting in his car his hand shaking, grabbing the wheel he could only question what was happening. Why is everyone just dropping like flies? Contemplating whether he should stay for the girl or take off a nurse came tapping on the cars window.

"Sir if you can please park and move from blocking the emergency entrance we would appreciate it."

Nodding, Caleb had his choice to make. I don't even know this girl but after what just happened I can't just let her wake up alone... I'll just leave my number and go...

Walking into the emergency room it was a whole new world. Nurses running from one end to another rushing patients into rooms or yelling for equipment. It was as if everything was a blur again. Like watching the women fall on the pavements in slow motion all over. Easing his way past the chaos he was able to get the nurse off the phone and leave his number for the girl named Ashley. Hopefully it will reach her...

Passing through the streets the ash had become thicker. Caleb moved his shirt over his nose to use as a mask. The streets were clear but stores near by were housing people too far from their cars or with no ride at all. Riding silently he found his way driving to his mother's unconsciously.

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Hey guys so this is my first story just leave comments on what you guys think as I go along.

Will try to update 1-2xs every week or every other week ❤️