I merged the prologue with chapter 1. :].
Nighttide
Chapter 1
Bad Decisions
*The words almost lifted off the page as she began to read. She sat on a single bed with black and white checkered patterned sheets. She paused, turning her head away from the book and to the window on the far side of the room. Numerous screams could be heard, along with crashes reminding her of an old World War II movie. Her attention shot up as she ran over to the window, pulling it open without hesitation.
She scanned the outside as a gust of wind smacked her in the face. Collecting herself she looked outside again. People were running frantically from something coming from the west she assumed since everyone was running east. Confused she ran outside her room to the left, down a flight of stairs and jumped over the last five steps. Quickly, she took another left looking over the spotless living room. No one; Continuing to the also spotless kitchen which was empty. The only thing out of place was a note on the fridge.
"Went out to the grocery store. Be sure to find your brother if anything goes wrong. You should also clean the kitchen and living room before I get home. No excuses. I may not be back for a while. Be careful, be safe, and don’t forget to feed Blair."
-Mom
"What does this mean mom?" She said aloud. A crash made her jump. "What is going on"? She said shoving the note into her pocket. She headed out the front door only to see more people running, but from what? Her only choice was to ask someone who was running. She spotted a young man, about 6'1 with brown hair, worn out jeans, and a blue short sleeve shirt running right by her. She ran up beside him.
"Hey! What are you running from? What's going on?" She had to yell over the large crashing sounds coming from the other direction.
"I'm not sure honestly." He yelled back without looking in her direction.
"So your running and you don't know why or where to?" She was becoming tired which became obvious by her panting and the sweat gathering under her long brown hair.
"Well, when those crashes started my dad told me to just run east and keep running, not to stop for anything. I'm still not sure what is going on either." He turned his head to look at her. She looking into his dark green eyes, and couldn't turn away or even speak. It was like she was hypnotized. "I'm Drake by the way." He smiled. "Oh hi I'm-
She awoke on a pile of leaves. Her head felt like someone had just beaten it up against a brick wall. Her vision was blurry for a few moments. When she felt well enough, she sat up against what looked like a concert wall covered in vines and dusted off her dark purple tank top.
“Hey you’re awake.” A familiar voice spoke. “Here have some water.” He opened a bottle of water and placed it on her lips, and gently poured it in her mouth.
“Thank you.” She said exhaling. “What happened to me? I feel like crap.” She rubbed her forehead.
“Well you were about to introduce yourself but managed to um kind of run into a tree.” He chuckled.
“You’re kidding me, and you find that funny?”
“I’m sorry, I know I shouldn't but I can’t help it.” He said in a laughing tone.
“Well now that there are no trees to interrupt me, my name is Anya(on-ya).”
“Nice to meet you Anya.” He smiled. There was an awkward silence where the two did not look at each other. Anya broke the silence.
“So, where are we?” She said looking around.
“Under a bridge leading out of town. After you were knocked out so I picked you up and ran until a police officer stopped me and told me to head to some kind of safe zone outside the city. He also gave me this first aid backpack” He said poking at a fire with a twig. Anya has just noticed it and felt it’s warmth on her chilled skin. “So I got to the safe zone, I could see it anyway. Then an explosion destroyed the whole thing; all those people.” Sadness came across his face.
“So you brought us here? A bridge outside the city?”
“Yea”. He said as he stood up and walked outside the protection of the bridge. A veil of moonlight covered him. A bluish color oozed from his body. Anya had never seen such a beautiful shade of blue, but what did it mean? It reminded her of an aura, an emotion or feeling expressed in a color. It was all fiction of course. It soon faded as her reentered the bridges cover.
“Are you okay?” Anya said in a confused tone.
“I think I’ll be fine. This is a small bridge so I’m just worried how long it will be safe.”
“Safe from what?”
“Well be leaving in the morning. I’m not sure where we’re going but far from here.” He walked over and sat down next to Anya.
“So Drake, how old are you?”
“Eighteen as it turns out.”
“You sound like you’re not sure of that.” Anya was more curious about this guy then she should be.
“Oh sorry, my mind was on something else. I am eighteen.” He used the same twig to make shapes in the dirt.
“Well, I just turned seventeen a few months ago.” She examined the shapes while he spoke. Drake just laughed under his breath and smiled. “Something funny again?”
“I still can’t get over you running into that tree.”
“Jerk,” she said giving him a friendly push.
Soon they feel asleep on the cold dirt. Anya kept waking up at random times in the night to see Drake squirming in his sleep. Nightmares about the safe zone bombing she assumed so she didn’t wake him. When the sun rose she was awoken by Drake.
“Good morning sleepy head.”
“Oh how cliché of you.” Anya got up dusting herself off yet again. This time it didn’t all come off giving her a homely appearance. “Great my hair is going to look like a rats nest all day.” She brushed her hair with her fingers, straitening it the best she could.
“Well it’s not like you need to look good where we’re going. Besides you look fine.” Drake said while packing the first aid supplies into the backpack.
“Said the guy who hasn’t taken a second look at me since I woke up about a minute ago.”
“You looked fine then, you look fine now. Trust me.” He looked toward her, smiling. She tried not to blush as she turned around to avoid being seen.
After packing everything into the backpack, Drake and Anya proceeded to the top of the bridge.
“I’ve never left the city before, it’s so…flat.” Anya pointed out.
“Yea so much different than the city right?”
“Buildings can do that.” She said in a smart-alike tone.
“Ha-ha so funny.” They both laughed then continued to walk forward onto the seemingly endless road in front of them. Anya couldn’t help but find that last brief conversation odd. Everything about Drake was odd. He sometimes acted like her didn’t know who we was, or where he was at but put on act. She knew he was hiding something with that aura from last night, but what does blue mean? Too many questions, not enough answers. What else was new?
About four empty water bottles later, Anya spotted something in the distance. She could see the color, silver, and it was round.
“Is that a car?” She pointed out.
“I think so, I wonder if it works?” Drake said in a pessimistic tone.
“I don’t know but I guess we’ll find out.” As they got closer to the figure it became apparent it was in fact a silver car. With excitement on their faces, they ran over to the vehicle. Drake jumped into the driver’s side and Anya in the passengers, but to their dismay the car would not start.
“Crap, well I’ll get out and see what I can do.” Drake walked around to the hood and propped it open. Within seconds he closed it and reentered the car.
“That was fast.” Anya said suspiciously.
“Wow, you have really pretty eyes. What are they, hazel?”
“Yes, but your avoiding the question.”
“I’m really good with cars I guess. My dad taught me.” He looked worried. Again, with the aura but this time it was orange. She realized that she had to figure out what these auras are. Now wasn’t the time though.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to-
“It’s fine. Let’s just go.” Drake said cutting her off. He started the car and pulled onto the road. The car ride was awkward. Not only because of their conversation but because no cars passed them. It was almost like they were the only people left in the world. So quiet and peaceful, but it was a disturbing kind of peace.
Next
Chapter 2
The Beginning
*Edit 1- Prologue fix 1.
asleep on the cold dirt. Anya kept waking up at random times in the night to see Drake squirming in his sleep. Nightmares about the safe zone bombing
