After many failed games of tic-tac-toe and hide and go seek, the group just decided to clock out early at 9:00PM. The girls slept on the cots, while the boys were resigned to sleeping on the cold tile floor. After sleeping for more than necessary, the crew woke up at 9:00AM. Amy heats up a few of the hotpockets and they eat in silence. Mason speaks up after their meal. “So, we are going to check on our families now, right? I think it’s best if we stick together while we do this. After we find our houses, we leave. Roxxy’s house will be last since she seems the most capable of handling herself.”

“Damn right I am.”

    Roxxy grabs the hammer off of the counter and starts removing the nails from the door reinforcements. “So what are are we going to do with all that food.” Clink. She popped the first nail out of its place deep in the wood. Amy ponders the question for a moment, “Well, we can just keep it and divide it up. The grocery stores have probably been raided, so at least we know we’ll each have food for awhile.” Clink. Clink. Two more nails down.

“Alright then. Beanstalk, start putting the food back in the plastic tub.” Clink. Only one more nail to go. Brendon obeys and starts getting to food ready. Everyone was else was shivering from the anticipation of seeing their families, and the fear that they might not. Clink. “Ah, alright idiots, let’s go. Who’s house is the nearest to here?” Brendon perks up, “Um, mine.”

“Are you just saying that, or did you wet your pants from fear earlier and want to go home to change?”

“No, um my pants are still dry.”

“Pfft-Okay then. Skyscraper’s house first.”

    The crew got up from their seats and headed out through the now freed door. The walk is quiet, partially from fear of being heard by a Reaper, and partially from no one wanting to talk to the others. The make it to the front door of the school, They brace themselves. Roxxy steps forward and addresses the group. “Okay, Beanstalk’s house is first, he has the food so he shouldn’t be directly leading. I don’t want the food to get damage if a Reaper attacks. Mason, you can lead the way. I’ll stay in the back as lookout. Everyone else just try and stay vigilant, or at least don’t piss yourselves.”  Her hand stops at the handle of the door and sighs, so doesn’t face them. “Just-brace yourselves this might not be pretty.”

    The sight was horrifying, The streets that they had grown up in were ruined. Houses were burnt to the ground. Several lonely limbs were strewn across the asphalt of the parking lot. Puddles of dried blood were the only attendees of the gruesome funeral. One of the puddles had the work ‘HEL_’ written in it. It’s author didn’t make it to the last letter.

    The group was froze in horror. Amy grasps on Bredons arm like a lifeline, Robin and Aaron try to shield themselves from the sight. Mason walks woodenly to the bloody word and bends down to press his hand to his. He shoots up and turns around, his whole body shaking.

    “So we find our families, and then what? That doesn’t change our situation. We just hide in our houses like recluses, then crawl out when there’s no food left to find the country has been overrun. “ He clenches his fists. “NO! I won’t stand for this. We find out what the fuck is going on and stop it.” Amy steps forward.

“Why is it our job to save the world? We can’t we just find our families and survive?”

“Because. That’s what everyone else is doing, No one is going to step up and figure this out. Some has to, or else we’ll all be as good as dead.”

“What about the military?”

“Military? What military, we haven’t had one in decades, and I don’t exactly trust the police force to be our saviours. Crime is so low, they probably never even use their guns.”

    Roxxy steps up to Mason. “So what do you suppose we do then? Because for how high and mighty you are acting, you don’t seem to have a plan.”

“We’ll hike to the next nation, and ask for their help. Next time we see a Reaper, we hide and I’ll take a video as proof. I know President Burns hates Selenus, so there’s no way our fair leader already asked for it.”

“And how is that finding out what’s going on, Sherlock?”

“When they kill all those fucking things, we investigate. I’m not going full detective when my life is on the lin-” uuAUgh

    The group swings around to find three Reapers had heard the commotion. They go dead silent. The Reapers to left and back of them slowly creep forward, but the one to their right lunges at Mason. He jumps back as it swipes at him. Roxxy kicks it is the back of it knees, sending it face first into the asphalt. She pulls her knife out and slashes at the second Reaper. The slice makes a deep gash in its side and it cowers slightly. Crunch. Mason stomps on the head of the Reaper beneath him, and almost vomits at his own actions. The sound triggers the two Reapers, and they rush for him. Roxxy stabs the already wounded Reaper in the stomach, blood and acid seep out of the puncture. The second Reaper manages to grab hold of her arm. She freezes, and watches her life flash before her eyes, and then the Reaper falls to the ground. Amy is standing before her trembling. The Reaper coughs and then succumbs to death.

    Roxxy gapes, “How did you...” Amy bends down and pulls the kitchen knife out of the Reaper’s skull. “I found it when we were searching for food. I wanted to be able to defend myself. I guess we are even now.” Her smile is shaky, but still bright and full of warmth. She turns away from Roxxy and back to the group. “Let’s head for Selenus.”