McNeill 1

Ashley McNeill

CRW 3013

Professor Roney

11 October 2015

No More Tomorrows

Breathing was painful; or at least that what Rose was thinking. For each

inhale, she could feel herself choking on the thick air, the debris floating around.

Groaning, she opened her eyes and could barely believe what she was seeing.

Houses were destroyed, their hard concrete skeletons reduced to nubs, fires littered

the little bit of street she could see through the destroyed wall, and the sky. The sky

was so otherworldly looking that it was hard for her to comprehend. All she could

really say is that the sky looked angry. It is red and almost looks like it is cracked,

like a glass vase that didnt quite shatter. Forcing herself to gain her bearings, she

slowly rolled herself onto her stomach, noticing that the ringing in her ears had

finally ceased. However, what took its place wasnt any more pleasant than the

ringing. All she could register were the sounds of people screaming, pleas that

made no sense, and the tortured cries of people who were truly terrified.

Feeling the adrenaline start to kick in, Rose stumbled to her feet, then made

her way to the front door to see what all of the commotion was; since all she could

remember was a bright flash of light, the intense burning on her back and cheeks,

and then blacking out under the pressure of the roof collapsing on top of her.

However, what she found was not what she was expecting. Everything was

complete anarchy. People were running, some were sitting in their drive ways with
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dazed looks on their faces, and one woman was openly weeping at the street

corner. However, upon closer inspection she noticed a tiny body resting in the

womans arms and Rose had to turn to the side feeling the bile rise up her throat.

Unable to stop its ascent all Rose could do was cough it up, and feel the dread settle

in her stomach. Was that real, had she truly seen what she thought she had, it

couldnt be possible, and how could something like that happen. So close to home

anyway.

A second glance only re-confirmed what she had seen the first time, and Rose

felt the panic set in. Then with further thinking she came to an even more startling

realization, where was her family, were they okay. Rushing down the porch stairs

into the streets with the other people Rose quickly made her way around the street

corner to her own house, not emotionally capable enough to think about her friend

Marissa whom she had been visiting with just an hour ago. Pushing her door aside

Rose felt both relief at not finding any of her family hurt, and crushing loneliness at

the fact that none of them were there at all. Had they gone out, were they okay?

Yes, they had to be okay. If she, with all her lack of technique and survival

knowledge could make it, then her military trained dad most certainly could pull her

family through this. At least that was what she was going to tell herself until she

found any evidence that proved otherwise. With this issue quickly fielded to the

back of her mind, Rose thought through all of the places she should check to see if

thats where her family had ended up.

This line of thought was interrupted though, when Rose heard rubble moving

around. Quickly spinning on her heel Rose picked her way through the wreckage of

her house to the crumbling wall and almost immediately wished she hadnt. One of

her neighbors, Mr. Fitzpatrick maybe, is screaming and trying to escape from a
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goliath of a human. However, before he could get too far he crumpled to the

ground, the loud crack of gun echoing through the air. Rose had to cover her mouth

to keep the rising scream from escaping. She forced herself to swallow the cry, lest

the man realize she was there. Sliding down the wall, Rose held her head in her

hands and felt anxiety start to take over. Heavens she couldnt afford this right now.

She kept trying to force herself up, to move, but her body just wouldnt follow

orders. Clenching her hands in dust and sediment that covered the ground Rose

took a handful. Running it through her hands, trying to find comfort in having

something normal. Even if it was crushed up bits of her old home. Feeling the panic

loosen its hold on her windpipe and the butterflies in her stomach calm down, Rose

risked a quick glance around the wall, only to notice that the bulky man wasnt

alone anymore, that one of his friends was quickly making his way up to her house.

What do I do, what do I do she wondered. She couldnt fight, she had no idea

how to handle a weapon if she were lucky enough to get her hands on one, and she

isnt a runner by anyones standards. At this moment however, it was the only thing

she could think of that would put distance between her and them. Wrangling her

limbs in, she leapt to her feet, hearing the exclamation of the group behind her, and

ran as fast as she could towards the woods that surround the small town. She heard

them pursue her, could hear their sick laughter at the thought of having something

to hunt. She let this fuel her need to run faster. She felt twigs slap her skin, tiny

whips splitting her skin, but she wasnt going to stop. She ran until she couldnt

hear them anymore. Kept running until, finally, her legs gave out. Her muscles

spasmed and caused her to fall to the ground. She let herself lie there, feeling the

pine needles dig into her uncomfortably, but couldnt bring herself to care. God she

was so tired, both emotionally and physically, but she couldnt sleep here, not in the
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open. She may not be a survivalist of any kind, but even she knew that would be a

bad idea.

Past finding a hiding spot though, Rose had no clue what she should do next.

Shed never been camping, had no idea how to make a shelter or fire, or how to

confuse and deter predators. Human or animal. Plus she was starving, which she

felt was stupid in the face of everything. So with all of this uncertainty she allowed

herself to lie there for a few more minutes, allowed the day to sink in, and finally

took in her surroundings.