Gunfire echoed all around me as I ran through the whitewashed stone hallway. My heart was pounding and I could barely breathe. Why was this happening to me? I strained to remember my past but couldn’t. Was I married? Did I have kids? Where did I live? How old was I? All these thoughts and more ran through my mind.

I heard footsteps all around me. I couldn’t help but think these were going to be my last moments alive. I wished I could remember everything before…before what? What was this? A scientific apocalypse? Was that even a thing? I doubted it, though it made sense, considering the circumstances.

I kept on running down the long, dirty hallway, passing multiple closed doors. I wondered what was behind them all; I didn’t think I wanted to know. I longed to see the world outside, to feel the sun on my pale skin. I yearned to smell the fresh air again. Anything would be better than this putrid air.

I tried to clear my racing head…to think of what to do. Then a thought literally stopped me in my tracks: What if this is a dead end with no way out? Then I’ll be cornered and be killed by them. Fear gripped me. What choice did I have? I couldn't go back; I could only go forward. I was exhausted and didn't know how much farther I could run. I had to keep going; I had to escape or at least die in the process.

But if I’m going to tell you my story, I’m going to have to tell you it from the beginning, before the world fell doomed to power.

My name is Alex Black. I live in Billings, Montana. The year is 2038. Times have changed since 2016, the year I was born. Some things, like technology, medicines, and education have grown better, but a lot of other things have gone way downhill. The economy has slipped. Everything is extremely expensive and jobs hardly pay enough to live, if that. And that’s only if you’re lucky enough to find a job.

The streets are filled with homeless and starving people. There are still many well-off people, but losing everything and being thrown out onto the street is becoming more and more common. Many fear that the world will slowly die away and become a “ghost planet” if we don’t figure something out, fast

I am more on the wealthy side, being somewhat of a computer genius. I do a lot of different jobs but inventing new computers and other technology is my main job. I have been married to my beautiful model, Jessica Hugh, for just over a year. She’s the most gorgeous model ever, with long, silky blonde hair and sparkling green eyes filled with joy. I love her sweet yet feisty spirit. She’s loving and kind. Some nights she returns home with a homeless mother and her children, and we feed them and let them stay a few nights.

I am 22 years old. I started inventing and building technology at age eight. I was hired to the job I currently have at 19. I got lucky with my life. Though it wasn’t perfect, it was still a pretty good life: good job, amazing wife, nice house and not living on the streets. I was happy with my life.



======================



It was a very hot summer Wednesday evening. Jess was at a modeling gig in Los Angeles and wouldn’t be back until Tuesday. Until then, I was alone. My house was quiet—too quiet. There aren’t too many houses in my neighborhood and the ones that are, are occupied by elderly people. I was in the middle of checking our finances. At this rate, by next year, we’d be out on the streets like so many others. What if we had a baby by then? Stress was becoming a common companion to me now. Jobs were scarce. Technology was taking over the more common jobs such as those of cashiers and waiters. Shortly before jobs became so scarce, welfare ceased to exist; that was almost 11 years ago. I was extremely lucky to get the job I have; same goes for Jess.

There are rumors spreading rapidly in the streets—rumors of the leaders of the world joining together and searching for a solution to this broken world. No one had any clue as to what that solution would be.

That night, I went to bed feeling discouraged. I hoped the rumors were true and hoped they would really find a way to help. Sleep finally took over my restless body. Nightmares consumed me: dreams of Jessica never coming home, dreams of the world ending in fire and ash, and I, the only survivor. I woke up drenched in sweat in the morning. All I wanted now was Jess back, safe and sound.



=======================



Buckingham Palace, London, England

June 17, 2038



All the major leaders of the world sat in the conference room, waiting for one last person to arrive: the President of the United States, Blake Segan. When he showed up, he immediately announced his plan.

“It’s quite simple, actually. Our best people have invented a way to help the human race. By inscribing certain knowledge into the brain, we will allow them to be able to not only get a good job, but to be able to know how to survive off the bare land. We will give everyone the same knowledge, and with knowledge for survival as well as brilliance, things can only get better. Now, this technology has been tested on young, old, and babies, and is deemed completely safe for every age.”
No one spoke for a good 30 seconds.
“I don’t know what to say,” Amanda Prace, the Queen of England, said, breaking the awkward silence. “How does it work?” she asked, obviously intrigued.
“As we speak, many trusted engineers are working on thousands of machines that use headgear to implant the knowledge straight into the brainwaves. All you need to do is stand completely still in a special, portable room for two short minutes. Up to twenty people can join a room at the same time. Each town will gain many of these rooms and in just three days, everyone will share similar information. In as few as five days, the world could be on its way to recovery.”
The leader of China piped in. “It sounds sketchy.”
“No, no, no. It’s completely safe! It’s been severely tested and is ruled safe.”
“Well, does anyone else have any other ideas?” the queen asked. Her question was followed by shakes of the head and silence from everyone. She continued, “Well, maybe we should give this a chance—,” she turned to the president,”—if you’re absolutely positive it’s safe.”

“I am one hundred percent sure it’s safe,” he assured her once again.
“Does it cause any pain or side effects?” the queen questioned.
“No pain. As for side effects, minor headaches may occur anytime between completion of the Transfer—that’s what it’s called—and 48 hours after. Nothing more.”
Silence fell again. President Segan asked, almost cockily, “Well, should we vote? Really, what do we have to lose?”
“I think we should, but before we do, does anyone else have any other questions?” asked the queen. A few simple questions were asked, and they received hard, true evidence as their answers.
They voted, and all but nine people were in favor of it. The Transfer would commence. All, young and old alike, would be forced if need be to have the Transfer passed on to them.

======================

After all the other leaders had left Buckingham Palace, the president talked in private with the queen. “Thank you for helping me; you were magnificent.”
“Thank you. You did great, too,” Amanda replied with a smile. She couldn’t help but notice his well-built muscles and found his slightly spiked, shorter black hair attractive. She suddenly realized how handsome he was. He was only twenty-nine, a year older than she.
“In five days, ultimate power will be ours,” she said with an air of disbelief. “Unfortunately, I need to get back to my workers. I will see you in two days when the Transfer begins.”
“Yes, can’t wait. See you then. This is so exciting.”
“I hope your flight is comfortable, and thanks again for your help, Blake.” They bid their final goodbyes and Amanda left the room.
Blake wondered why she’d kept staring at him. He shrugged it off; he had more important matters to deal with. Just five days…he couldn’t wait.


======================



Alex

It was all over the news: “the break to a new life” was the way it was being announced.
I wasn’t sure what to think. It seemed strange to me and gave me an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach. Was it safe? Did I trust it? I mean, I should, shouldn’t I? All the world leaders agreed to it, so it must be safe, right?
With Jess in LA, she would be having it done at roughly the same time as I. I found myself wishing we could be together during this, but I had talked to her on the phone and she assured me she’d be fine; she didn’t see the need to either come home or have me go out there. I had reluctantly agreed.
To be honest, I was scared. What if something went wrong with me or Jess or any of my friends? I tried to rid my mind of the uneasy thoughts. It was hard, especially because of those dreams I’d had. But nothing like that could ever happen, they’d told us; the Transfer was perfectly safe, and they tested it thoroughly.
I needed to calm my edgy nerves. A good workout always helped with that. So I headed downstairs to my basement where we had two separate rooms. One was Jess’ and one was mine. Over the year we’ve had this house, we’ve filled our rooms with things we love. Jess’ had art supplies: canvases, paints, pencils, brushes, etc., as well as a large bookcase filled with her favorite novels. As for me, I was more of a TV watcher, computer nerd, and gamer. I had a large flat-screen TV, three computers, and the latest video games. I also had the most comfortable chair money could possible buy. It was large; soft, yet not too soft; and my favorite color, teal.
Along with all that, I also had a high-tech treadmill and bench press. I had numerous weights varying in a range from five pounds to one hundred pounds, though I still couldn’t do too much with the hundred-pound weights yet. I decided to run a few miles on the treadmill. As I ran, my mind became consumed with countless questions about the Transfer.
What about the sick and dying, or the elderly—the ones who couldn’t make it? And what would be the point of doing it to them, anyway? There wasn’t much about it in the news yet, but tomorrow night, there was going to be a live interview with the president that would stream all over the world. People could call or text in questions and he would answer them live. I couldn’t wait to ask him some questions of my own.

======================


President Blake Segan

The president was readying himself for his live conference with the world. Everything was going as planned and he couldn’t wait for it to truly begin. He moved his head from side to side, cracking his neck just before walking out onto the stage toward the podium that awaited him.
The crowd of reporters, world leaders, and photographers stood and clapped at his arrival. Once he had crossed the stage and stood behind the podium, he raised his hands and began speaking.
“Thank you all for coming out here tonight and for watching at home. Before I begin answering your questions, I would like to say a few words.” He paused for a moment. “With the Transfer, starvation, homelessness, lack of jobs, unnatural deaths, and most of all, heartache will cease. The Transfer is the road to recovery! Get the Transfer peacefully and nothing harmful will happen. If you do choose to put up a fight, then force will be inflicted upon you. Now, please proceed to text or call in your questions, and I will answer as many as I can. All lines are now open.”
The phones immediately started ringing. President Segan answered one of the twelve phones ringing. “Hello, this is the president.”
“Hello sir,” a young woman spoke for all to hear. “Well, I want to know: if I were to refuse to have the Transfer done, what would you do to me?”
“It’s simple. My men, or my army, would compel you to have it done.”
“How?”
“We would escort you to one of the Transfer areas.”
“So you’re forcing us all to do something even if we don’t agree with it? What happened to our freedom?”
“This is all for the best—and believe me, you don’t have to worry about your freedom anymore; this is all that needs to be done. Thanks for calling, ma’am.” He hung up the phone at once, and then answered the next call.

======================

Alex

Question after question flooded in. I kept dialing and redialing but couldn’t get through. Finally, after nearly an hour, I succeeded.
“Hello, you’re speaking to the president.”
“Hello, sir.”
“What would you like to ask me?”
“Well, what about the elderly and the sick and the ones who can’t get out? And is it safe with babies and the young?”
“Everyone in the world will get the Transfer. My men will go into nursing homes, hospitals, and even people’s houses if need be.”
“Don’t they need to be in a special sort of room to have it applied?”
“Being in one of our ‘special rooms’ will allow the transfer to be completed in two minutes, tops, but without that room, the only difference in the Transfer is the time. Without being in there, it will take approximately nine minutes to be completed.”
“Won’t it be too much for babies to handle? Shouldn’t there be an age limit, sir?”
“No, it works perfectly with babies and all ages. Now, thanks for your call.” With that, he hung up abruptly.
It was weird hearing my own voice on the TV in my basement room, but what was even weirder was the way the president had reacted to my questions, and that he’d hung up so fast. Was I getting too close to something? Unfortunately, there was no way I could know for sure.
I continued watching the president sweat through his clothes. I finally went to bed at 1:30 a.m. Tomorrow was the first day of the Transfer and I just wanted to get it over with. I’d decided I was getting it really early so I could try to just get in and out quickly.

======================

13 Years Ago

I awoke to my little six-year-old brother shaking me awake. “Alex! Alex! Please, wake up!”
“What?” I asked groggily.
“There’s fire!” he said, obviously frightened. My eyes snapped open wide and fear began to build rapidly. “Where is it?” I asked, hoping it was in a neighboring house. It wasn’t.
“It’s coming.” he informed me.
I jumped out of my bed. “Stay right here, Tyler!” I ordered. My feet hit the light wood floor, chilly due to the late May night. I walked over toward my bedroom door and placed the backs of my hands on the door, pulling them away quickly; the door was very hot and searing pain rushed through my hands.
“Alex, you ok?” Ty asked me.
I gulped and nodded my head, not sure if he could see in the darkness of our room. Sweat was beading on my forehead; what should I do? “We have to crawl out the window.” I was terrified but I had to keep calm to keep little Ty calm too. I ran to the small window, threw it open and crawled out onto the little bit of roof just below it. When I was in a crouching position, I turned around to call Ty over to the window to help him out, but what I saw would be permanently ingrained in my brain.
Ty was walking to the bedroom door and was grasping the doorknob. I screamed his name as he flung the door open. Flames engulfed his tiny body and the air was filled with smoke, heat, and the screams of a six-year-old boy who was too young to die. I watched, unable to do anything, as his body burned in front of me. I hated myself for not crawling back in the fiery room to save my little brother, but I was paralyzed with fear and couldn’t move, not even to turn away. I didn’t look away until I heard the sirens of fire trucks piercing the cold night air. As the flashing lights came flying down our street, I began screaming for help, for the blaze had begun to lick the inside of the window I was outside. By the time the firefighters found me, I was wishing that the flames would take me, too, and I made no effort to come down. They had to come up to the roof and pull me away from the flames that had already begun to eat at my skin.
I was unconscious by then and was rushed to the hospital where, when I awoke nearly a day later, my parents met me, tears in their eyes. My body was covered in third-degree burns, though I was too stunned by what I’d witnessed with Ty to even care about the excruciating pain. What was left of our family would never be the same.
I never forgave myself for letting Ty die…for not letting him go out the window first. I distanced myself from everyone, including my friends and parents. I didn’t feel like I deserved to be happy; my brother was dead because of me. For years after that horrific day, all I wanted was to die.
I can’t tell you how often I wish I would’ve died instead of Ty. He was so sweet and kind; he deserved to be alive more than I. I miss him to this very day, and no matter how bad I want to forget that night, I know I’ll never be able to.

Present Day

That terrible night was still as fresh as ever this evening. Even after thirteen years, that event still haunted me greatly. I shook off the chilling memories and tried to think of happier thoughts; I couldn’t. It was as if my mind were locked on that day, even though I wished I could forget it forever. The memories kept me from sleep that I desperately needed, and when I did end up sleeping, my mind was consumed of images of Ty’s young body burning up in the deadly flames. His screams penetrated my mind and tortured my soul. I dreamed of his frightened dark brown eyes staring at me intently as he shook me awake. I dreamed that the fire reached out and pulled him away from me, screaming and crying for my help as I stood by, frozen, like a coward.
I never got to say goodbye. The last thing I said to him was just me ordering him around, as usual. He had been so young and full of life and joy; it wasn’t fair that death had called at his door so soon. Why couldn’t it have been me? I was nothing special. Well, nothing compared to Tyler, anyway.
My alarm clock rang at 5:00 a.m. and I awoke, startled and drenched in sweat. I quickly got up and began preparing myself for the dreaded Transfer.

======================

I had been waiting for nearly three hours in the waiting room for the Transfer. I was tired and hungry and couldn’t wait to just get home. Ever since the whole Transfer idea was announced, the world had gone crazy. Between riots, murders, shooting, stabbings, etc. the world had fallen into complete chaos. If the Transfer was causing all this stuff, then how was it supposed to calm us down and fix the world’s problems?
I was relieved that the waiting area was air-conditioned. Here in Billings, Montana, the temperature is usually pretty hot. Today was going to be in the upper nineties. Sometimes I miss Alburgh, Vermont, where I grew up. Well, I miss the cooler temperatures, anyway. I got out of there as soon as possible; way too many memories. My parents had died in a massive shooting when I was nineteen, just a month after I had gotten my job in Billings. By then, I had already moved, and that just gave me another excuse to never return to Alburgh again.
I was deep in thought when my name was finally called. I didn’t hear them at first, and they had to call me again…twice. When it finally sunk in, I slowly rose to my feet, feeling stiff. I took a deep breath and forced myself to move my legs and walk into the small chamber. The lady who had called us in handed out the headpieces and instructed us on how to put them on, and told us what to do and what not to do during the Transfer. It was all basic stuff: stand as still as possible, do not take off the headpieces, and don’t touch anyone else. The headgear referred to as “the crown” was thin and gold-colored and was surprisingly heavier than it looked. I did exactly what I was instructed to do. The lady who had led us in and instructed us left the room.
The room looked like a glorified tent, with wires and cords running all along the walls and the edges of the floor. Over a speaker, an unknown voice told us that the Transfer would commence in ten seconds and reminded us to stand perfectly still.
I was waiting for it to begin when a strange thought came to me. Over the time I had been in the waiting room, all the people who had gone in had never come out. There must be a back exit or something, I thought, though still uneasy. Then it happened: lights began to flash and wiring began to make noises. My body tensed and pressure began to build in my head until I could barely breathe. The other nineteen people were groaning, and my body was shaking uncontrollably.
Then, as one, all of us stopped. We stood there, unable to move, until suddenly, in unison we snapped our heads up, staring straight ahead.
“We submit to you.” All spoke it out simultaneously. Our bodies relaxed then in single file, headed toward a hidden, but now open exit.
It was as if someone were controlling my body, but I could still think on my own. I wondered if everyone else felt like this.
Wait! Where am I? Who are these people? What’s happening? Oh my gosh, I don’t…I don’t know! Emptiness consumed me. Who am I?

Alex

My vision was blurred, my head hurt, and my brain was boggy. I couldn't remember anything before this moment.
Where am I?
I was in a small, dimly lit room made of cold, damp stone. There was a musky smell to this cell-like room and the only illumination came from a small, hanging light bulb. I was sitting on the only furniture in the room, an old, creaky bed that felt as if it were about to fall apart. Directly in front of me, maybe ten feet away was a heavy metal door.
I didn’t know where I was or how I came to be there. I wondered how long I had been there, wherever ‘there’ was. I looked down at my body. I wore a plain gray jumpsuit with a sewn-on patch that had the numbers “681790”. I felt empty inside, like there was nothing in me at all. It felt almost dark, and I didn’t like it.
I tried to think. I knew some things like how to speak, what objects were called, things like that. It was the personal things—like my past—that I couldn’t remember. I groaned quietly as I grew extremely dizzy, feeling as if I might faint. I tried to stay awake, but was finding it very hard. What’s wrong with me? I was frightened.
I ran a hand through my hair as I tried to figure out what was wrong with me. My hair! My hair had grown to just below my top lip. The front was shorter than the back and was tangled and in need of a good wash. I touched my chin and felt a little stubble growing. That's when it clicked: I must be in prison! But why? And why didn't I have any memory prior to this moment? Something was going on; I could tell by the knot in my stomach.
I jumped when I heard loud footsteps coming from somewhere behind the steel door in my cell. I froze and tried to slow my pounding heart.
A stony voice called out loudly, “681780, approach door.” The sound of scraping metal rang out and the single pair of footsteps doubled in what I guessed was a hallway. Again, he called out, this time, “681781, approach door.” More scraping metal and more footsteps. “681788, approach door.”
Hmmm, he skipped a few. I wonder why. Did they die? Eh, not really my problem at the moment, though, I thought, then my number was called. At first, I didn't realize it was mine. Well, not until my cell door was opened by a well-built man in a navy blue shirt and black pants. Light flooded in when the heavy door swung open and I winced. I blinked a few times, and then walked to the door. That's when I saw how almost-robotic the other prisoners looked. I thought maybe it'd be best to act the same; I didn't really want to get in trouble or stand out anyway.
All the other prisoners were standing in single file and staring straight ahead, emotionless and stiff. They started walking, and I took what I assumed was my spot at the back of the line. I tried to match my stride with theirs. Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot. It was actually a lot harder than I thought it would be. I also allowed the same type of emotionless expression to take over my face so I looked like the others. The officer continued to call out more people, and stopped when we had a group of twelve. We followed the man down a long, pure white hallway and past what looked to be a main hallway. Everything looked the same: all white. So white that it almost hurt the eyes.
On the other side of the large hallway was another short one that led to a large laboratory-looking room. Our escort ordered us to walk over to twelve small tables, one for each of us. I stood behind one and watched the guard walk into a protected room that had thick glass windows through which to watch us. There were multiple people up there, most wearing lab coats. I shook, worried about what they might do to us in here.
We all stood completely still as multiple people came in through the same door we’d come through; all were holding trays with a bunch of different-colored and odd-smelling drinks on them. One of each drink was set in front of us, four cups in all, and the order was given to us to drink.
I realized then that we were human lab rats. What did these drinks do to me? Did I even want to know? I didn't, but what other choice did I have?
A voice rang out over a loudspeaker, ordering us to “drink what is presented to you.” All those around me picked up a single cup and started to drink. I hesitated but followed their lead. I chose a mauve-colored, thick drink that smelled similar to oranges but with a weird sour smell to it. It looked to be, by far, the most appetizing one of the bunch. I picked it up gingerly, took a deep breath, and began to drink it. It threatened to come back up, but I refused to let it. After I drank the first one, I stole a glance around, only to see that others had already finished their disgusting drinks. How did they manage to drink them so fast? I wondered. I didn't know if I could handle downing another one so I didn't reach for a second cup. That was my mistake. The guard who’d led us in stood up and came into our room; he had a pistol in his right hand and extended it in my direction. “Stay where you are!” he ordered me.
A wave of panic raced through me.
“I knew something was wrong with you, boy,” he said in a gruff voice. “Now, let me tell you something. There are very few whose transfer didn’t complete right, and you know what happened to the rest of them? They're dead. Now you’ll join them.”
All this began to sink in. I was about to be executed! I needed to act, fast. I made a quick dive to my right and landed it with a shaky somersault just as gunfire rang out. I had just made it to my feet when I looked up and saw the guard still aiming at me. The adrenalin began to rush as I ran straight for him and knocked him to the floor. I landed on him but was back on my feet and heading toward the door in just a couple seconds.
I darted out the door and ran. The first thing I was greeted with were about thirty to forty more guards, all armed with guns pointed at me. There was only really one way to run: away from them. I was running down the main hallway as fast as I could. I heard bullets being fired at me and whizzing past me, and I knew I was being chased by more people now.
I'm not going to lie: I was very scared. Those prisoners acted as if they were maybe being mind-controlled. The men shooting couldn't hit me to save their lives, but I wasn't about to complain. It was obvious that they hadn't fired any weapons in probably many months. I didn't know how to get out; all I could do was continue running. I took a chance and glanced behind my shoulder to see how many were chasing me. Directly behind me was a mix of guards and prisoners. The prisoners had their arms outstretched like zombies, it was really creepy.
I was weak, possibly from the terrible drink. But I kept on running. What did I have to lose?
Gunfire echoed all around me as I ran through the whitewashed stone hallway. My heart was pounding and I could barely breathe. Why is this happening to me? I strained to remember my past but couldn’t. Was I married? Did I have kids? Where did I live? How old was I? All those thoughts and more ran through my mind.
I heard footsteps all around me. I couldn’t help but think these were going to be my last moments alive. I wished I could remember everything before…before what? What was this? A scientific apocalypse? Was that even a thing? I doubted it, though it made sense, considering the circumstances.
I kept on running down a long, dirty hallway, passing multiple closed doors. I wondered what was behind them all; I didn’t think I wanted to know. I longed to see the world outside, feel the sun on my pale skin. I yearned to smell the fresh air again. Anything would be better than this putrid air.
I tried to clear my racing head…to think of what to do. Then a thought literally stopped me in my tracks: What if this is a dead end with no way out? Then I’ll be cornered and be killed by them. Fear gripped me. What choice did I have? I couldn’t go back; I could only go forward. I was exhausted and didn’t know how much farther I could run. I had to keep going; I had to escape or at least die in the process.
I had been trying to avoid any hallways that resembled the one that I had been held in. There must be an exit somewhere, right? As I ran down a wide hallway that opened up into a large room, what I saw gave me a sliver of hope: hovercrafts. Many, many hovercrafts. I guessed this was a hangar of some sort, which meant there had to be an exit somewhere close.
I surveyed the room, slowing my pace and panting hard. Glancing behind me, I realized no one was following me. It made me uneasy. I wondered what I would find outside if I managed to escape.
I tried to even my breathing but found it hard; I assumed it had been a while since I’d gotten much exercise. I once again wished I could remember who I was. I hesitated slightly before slowing myself to a normal walk.
I approached the first long row of hovercrafts and was amazed at how many there were. I counted at least twenty rows, each containing no less than fifty hovercrafts.
I quietly darted into the midst of all the hovercrafts, thinking I’d be less visible there. In a zigzag style, I eventually made my way to the end of the vehicles. When I broke through the last row, I saw it: a large, red button that I could only assume opened the door. I ran over to it and hit it, hard, and right in front of me, the entire wall began lifting up like a garage door would.
I couldn't help but smile as the sunlight began to stream in and hit my skin. The sun had just risen, turning the sky a brilliant array of colors over the barren land beyond. I thought about trying to hotwire one of the crafts but decided against it; too much work, and I didn't exactly remember how to fly one anyway. Instead, I hit the red button again and the wall door began falling back into its original place as I quickly ducked under it. Maybe, just maybe, they wouldn't know where I’d gone—if they were even chasing me anymore.
Why would they stop chasing me when they clearly had the advantage over me? Whatever. I'm not going to complain.
I began to jog across the flat plains to the left of the facility. When I was a decent distance away, I turned to look back at where I had been held. It was a huge building with only one floor. I hoped to never see that place again.
There were no paths or roads, only grassy plains as far as I could see. I kept pushing on, but only walking because I was exhausted. Really, all I wanted to do was rest but I knew that wasn't an option. I felt so overwhelmed…so angry over what I had just experienced. Who would do such a thing? Mind control and holding people as their own private lab rats— I just couldn't comprehend it all. I felt sick and knew I couldn't go on much farther, but I was determined to keep going until I collapsed.
By mid-afternoon, my pace had slowed down to a sluggish crawl. I was so thirsty. A gentle breeze whispered through the open plains, refreshing my overheated body, but the sun was beating down on me. I was beginning to realize why they had let me go. I wouldn’t last long without water. I had to keep going and hoped to stumble upon even a small stream of water soon. I tried not to think of the fact that even if I found a water source, the water might not be safe to drink.
By early evening, the hallucinations had begun to corrupt my mind. I needed to find water, and soon; I didn't think I would last the night. I finally couldn't hold myself up anymore and collapsed in the tall grass as the weariness and dehydration gnawed at my body.
Hearing something in the distance that sounded like a woman yelling, I lifted my head and gazed around. Directly in front of me was what appeared to be a city. I couldn't see it very well in the waning light, but I could just make out a few structures. Was it real or just a hallucination? I couldn't tell, but if it was a city, it might be worth the trip.
I dragged myself to my feet and began walking again. My lips were cracking and my legs felt like jelly. I forced myself to continue on, falling multiple times. The closer I got, the better I could see the buildings. It wasn't a hallucination!
It was a relatively small city, but it would do. Even if I didn’t find any water, I would at least be able to find shelter here. The first store I came across was the Billings Market. I tried the door and it stubbornly opened. There was something about the building that drew me in; it felt somehow familiar, as if from a dream.
The store looked old, but I hoped that maybe there was still some water or useful supplies. I began scouring the vacant shelves. I found two boxes of crackers, six canned vegetables, and, most importantly, a whole pack of twelve water bottles. I wasn't hungry, so I didn't eat anything, but I did drink three of the water bottles. I felt a little better after being rehydrated, but I was still fatigued all the way to the bone. I had also come across a couple of thin blankets and I laid them down on the floor of the grocery and finally lay down to rest, falling asleep almost immediately. Before I succumbed to my deep sleep, I promised myself to explore the ghost town when morning came.

======================

The White House, Washington DC, USA


The former president of the United States of America, now the ruler of the world, sat on a white metal bench in his extensive gardens, lost in thought. He’d thought that being in complete control would be overwhelming and exciting. And for the first few months, it was amazing. Once it sunk in, though, he soon discovered that it wasn't really what he’d thought it would be. Sure, there was no more crime: no more killing, rapes, rebellions, wars, etc., but life was now boring. Queen Amanda, now his wife, didn't understand his feelings at all. She thought it was exhilarating to be in control of every living being in the world. He wondered if he would have agreed to “team up” with the queen, had he known he would feel this way afterward, or if he would have turned down her offer. IN any case, it was too late now. He felt alone, not knowing anyone else who shared his same feelings of regret.
“Blake, what are you thinking about?” Amanda asked, startling him.
He looked up to see his wife walking toward him dressed in a very becoming light yellow sundress, her soft brown hair flowing in the gentle summer wind. “Just stuff,” he replied in a docile voice. She lowered herself beside him on the bench and they sat in complete silence. When Blake couldn't contain it any more, he blurted out, “Were we right?”
“With what, babe?”
“The Transfer, and...and taking over?”
She sighed. “Yes, we were. Can't you see? There's no more crime, grief, pain, or heartbreak anymore. We did them all a favor. Sometimes I'm actually jealous of them.”
Blake knew she was referring back to when she was seventeen. Her parents, older brother and two younger sisters were all brutally murdered when someone planted a bomb in their private jet. Amanda had been sick with the flu and had remained home while the rest of them went to Hawaii on their vacation. She’d planned on catching up with them once she was feeling better.
The explosion left nothing of them or their jet. The one responsible for the deaths, their pilot, also died in the bombing; Amanda still felt immense anger toward him, though he was long dead. At the age of seventeen, she suddenly found herself crowned Queen of England.
Blake knew she wished she could forget the whole thing; that even after all these many years, the pain was still fresh and agonizing. Of course, it would be easy to have just one simple memory like that removed, but she refused to allow it to happen—she claimed that was what kept her motivated to keep the world in line.
“But Amanda, don’t you ever feel, I don't know…empty inside sometimes?”
She shook her head. “Mmm, no. Never.” She paused a moment and then placed her delicate hand on his leg. “Look, baby, it'll pass. You're still adjusting to all this. Trust me, it takes time.”
“It's been nine years. I should be used to it by now!” he snapped angrily. “Maybe I was the wrong man for you to choose.” He got up and walked away, leaving Amanda in silence.
“Maybe you were,” she muttered.

======================


Alex

I awoke, mind groggy. Sunlight was streaming down on my face. Where was I? Oh yeah, the store in the ghost town.
As my eyes adjusted, I noticed the light wasn't coming from the sun. It was still dark. I closed my eyes briefly, trying to gain confidence. When I opened my eyes again, I stared right at the source of the light. My heart was pounding and my pulse was rapid. Standing before me holding a flashlight pointed at my face was a woman. Her eyes were intent on me, and that's when I noticed a large knife in her other hand. “Please don't hurt me!” I pleaded.
“Shhhhh!” was her quick reply. I looked at her querulously. She stood as still as a stone, head cocked slightly as if she were listening for something, her knife poised and ready to kill me if I made any sudden moves. After about ten minutes of this, she finally spoke. “Okay, I think we're clear.”
“Clear? From what?”
“The Forgotten.”
“The what?”
She laughed slightly. “Judging from your uniform, you're another Incomplete. The Forgotten is our name for the completed ones: the ones the Transfer worked on.”
“What's the Transfer?” I asked, confused.
“Oh, so you don't have your memory; you're one of those. I'm so sorry.”
“Will I regain it?”
“Hard to say. Some do, but really, most don't. But,” she continued, “that doesn't mean you give up hope. There's still a good chance you will.”
I nodded. “So tell me about these…these Forgotten people.”
“Okay, well…let’s see. Years ago—I’m not sure how many—the ones who now rule over us tricked the struggling world, except for the select few, and wiped their memories. Now they have control over all of them. What was referred to as the Transfer backfired on some of us, including me. We are the Incompletes.”
“There're more of us Incompletes?”
“There were, and there still might be, but none that I know of. The Enforcement—that's what we call the world army—they massacred us. As far as I know, I was the only survivor.”
“What's your name, by the way?”
“Alaina. Or Ali. And you?”
“I don't know.”
“Oh, right, sorry.”
I shrugged. “It's fine. I guess you can call me, like, Jack or something.”
“Okay, I will. It's better than not calling you anything.” She motioned with the hand holding the knife. “Follow me, Jack.”
I did. She led me through the deserted streets in awkward silence. The nearly full moon loomed above us, casting ominous shadows about. An eerie mist was rising, making it hard to see.
Ali spoke in a whisper, making me jump slightly. “How'd you escape?”
“I'm not really sure. I was just running and then I reached a hanger filled with hovercrafts and they kind of just left me alone. I don't know why.”
“That happened with me, except I got out through a window I smashed through. The same happened with all the other escapees. We never figured out exactly why, but we did come up with multiple hypotheses. Like maybe sunlight can't touch their skin, or maybe the Forgotten can't be controlled from a certain distance away from each facility. Or possibly...”
I interrupted her. “There are more of these facilities?” I was shocked.
“Yes, many of them. My companions and I were heading to the main facility where the transmitter is located. We believed if that one was destroyed, then everyone would be free again. We never even got the chance to start our journey to New York City.” Her voice cracked and she became overcome with emotion.
I didn't know what to do. “I'm sorry.”
She nodded and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “I watched them get shot down, listened to them crying out in agony. Their blood was pouring out, staining the ground red. It's something that haunts me. Me, the only one left alive, trying to fulfill my mission.”
“That's terrible, Ali.” I paused a moment. “So your mission is to stop the transmitter by yourself?”
She didn't reply for a few minutes. The only sound heard was the soft crunching beneath our feet as she continued to lead the way to wherever we were going. “Yes, that's what I must do—or at least try to. What they're doing to us is wrong and I'm the only one who can stop it.”
I was speechless. I admired her courage, but on the other hand, her plan was sure suicide. Silence fell between us again until I broke it this time with words that I, to this day, don't know why I said. “I will help you.”
She turned on her heel and faced me in the fading moonlight. “No, no, no. I don't think you understand how incredibly dangerous this is. There will be guards, solders, and Forgottens crawling all over the New York Facility. If we were to even make it there, it's very unlikely that we’ll make it past them. Now think for a moment: Are you willing to probably lose your life to try to right the world?”
I knew my answer almost as soon as the words left her mouth. “Yes. Isn't it partly my responsibility, since I’m one of these Incompletes?”
“Well, in a way, yes. But really, it's up to you if you want to help.”
“I do,” I said, partly excited, partly terrified. I knew she needed my help and I couldn't let her go on this suicide mission alone. After all, we both had a better chance of living with two of us working together.
Ali broke into a smile. “Good. I was kind of hoping you would want to come with me. Okay, so I have supplies hidden in an old cottage on the outskirts of the town. I need to know something first, though: Have you gotten hungry since you've escaped?”
I shook my head. “Come to think of it, no.”
“Me neither. So I don't think we should worry about bringing any food. Besides, if we do end up needing food, we can pick some up along the way.” She started walking again and I followed her lead. For the rest of the relatively short walk to the cottage, neither of us spoke. The sun was just kissing the horizon, turning the sky multiple shades of majestic purple and red. For the first time, I was able to make out Ali's features. She had red hair, long and slightly wavy, and had bright emerald green eyes. I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was.
We walked up onto the rotting wood porch of the small white house. It had a large stone chimney on the side, and two large windows on the front of the house, one on either side of the wooden door. Both windows were smashed. Ali opened the elegantly carved wooden door and we entered the dimly lit interior.
At some point on our walk, she had put the flashlight in her right pocket, and now she withdrew it again. It was just a small one, sleek and black, but when she turned it on, it did a good job of eliminating the darkness.
We found ourselves in a small living room. Ali led the way, turning left into a small kitchen, its light blue walls reflecting the flashlight’s beam nicely. At the far end of the kitchen was another door; behind it was a steep, run-down staircase that descended into the pitch blackness of the cold basement.
We carefully made our way down the staircase and headed deep into the musty-smelling cellar. I couldn't see anything other than where Ali pointed the flashlight, and was having trouble breathing due to the dampness. My eyes were itching; I must have been allergic to something down there, probably mold. I followed Ali through the darkness as if she were my lifeline. I didn't know what could possibly be down here and I was nervous. “It's kind of creepy down here,” I admitted in a whisper.
She nodded, “I know. It doesn't matter how many times I come here, it's still freaky. Watch your step—there's a little ditch up ahead. Don't worry, we're almost to my supplies.”
We passed the 'little ditch' and shuffled forward a few more feet where she finally stopped me. She walked over to what looked like a little work area. It had old rusty tools, nails, and rotting wood planks on an even rustier metal table with scraps of wood and cloth on it. To the right of the table was a large metal cabinet.
Ali walked up to it and swung the doors open wide, revealing all her hidden items. Blankets, flashlights, matches, disposable plates, paper towels, and silverware were stuffed inside. There were also three large backpacks that could be stuffed with enough supplies to last a week, if used wisely. But most importantly, there were four cases of water.
I was impressed that Ali had gathered all these items. She had started off with nothing at all, like me, and had scavenged towns, cities, and villages, gathering supplies for her long journey.
We decided to take all four backpacks, each of us carrying two of them. Three of them we packed full of water, which ended up being very heavy, but necessary. The other one we filled with paper towels for washing up, matches, flashlights and extra batteries.
“Maybe we should leave a pack of water behind—if you don't think you can carry one, that is,” I suggested, and was turned down abruptly.
There was something about her I liked a lot. She was determined and strong-willed; I could tell that already. Yet she had a sweetness about her that attracted me. Somewhere along her way here, she had picked up a large atlas, and she used it to show me what roads we would be taking and what cities we needed to avoid. It seemed like such an overwhelming journey to me: it would take at least two weeks to reach New York, but most likely it'd take longer.
I felt strange around her, though. She acted as if she knew me somehow. And the way she already trusted me…I just didn't understand why. For some strange reason, I felt as though I needed to prove myself to her, even if I had already gained her trust.
We made our way back outside to start our long, dangerous trek to New York City. The sunlight burned my eyes as they adjusted after being in the darkness for so long. We were planning to take the interstate all the way to New York City, and from where we were, we figured the walk would take about an hour and a half before we’d reach the highway. We found the road that lead to the interstate and started walking down it, but it took us only an hour to get there. So far, we were ahead of schedule.
The interstate was rough and full of holes and cracks, with weeds and wildflowers growing in all of them. The sun was rising high in the sky and it was extremely hot. Ali wasn't dressed in the uniform of the Forgottens, but rather in a simple black T-shirt and jean shorts. I, on the other hand, I was still my jumper, which was making me sweat rather badly.
I figured since Ali and I were working together that maybe it would be best if we learned a little about each other. Well, at least I wanted to learn about her. So I said to her with more confidence than I felt, “Tell me about yourself.”
“Like what?” she replied.
“Everything.”
“Okay. Well, my full name is Alaina Anne Black. Before all this, I was a photographer—not professional, but I loved it. I remember working at a McDonald’s; I hated it.” She chuckled quietly. “I had the best parents one could possibly have. They were hard on me but yet I knew they loved me. They were kind and loving and full of joy. I remember my grandma lived with us. She was dying of brain cancer…she's probably dead now. I had three older brothers. They drove me insane, but now I miss them like crazy.” She looked out over the rolling plains. “I really, really miss them.”
I could see her trying to hold back the tears and failing. They rolled down her soft cheeks and sparkled in the sunlight.
“We will find your family, Ali, I promise.” I doubted it would help, but in all honesty, I meant it.
She reached out to me and laid her small hand on my shoulder, pulling me to her and wrapping her arms around me in a sweet embrace. She reached up and whispered in my ear, “I've missed you, Alex.”
“Alex?” I said, confused.
“You don't remember me, do you?”
“I don't know.”
“Alex, I'm your wife.”

I pulled away, shocked. “My...my wife? You're my wife?” She smiled and nodded happily. “I don't know what to say.”
“I know everything about you; I can help you remember your past!” Ali said, enthusiastic.
“Why didn't you tell me sooner?”
“Guess I was just waiting for the right time.”
So much was going through my head, I couldn't think straight. I felt lightheaded, as if I might faint. I needed to sit down. There was a large rock off to the side of the road and I made my way over to it.
My head began to clear as the news sank in slowly: I was married to Ali. What were the chances of us meeting up? It was a miracle.
“Well?” Ali poked.
“Wow, I can't believe it.”
“I'm just so happy you're here with me again!” Her voice was filled with joy.
“Yeah, just wow. I hardly know what to say.”
Ali smiled. “You ok? You look kind of pale.”
“I'll be fine, just...shocked, that's all. Can you tell me about myself?”
“Sure, what should I start out with?”
“Ummm, what was my job?” I asked.
“You were a computer genius. You worked for a company that invented new technology.”
“And now I don't remember any of it. That's really hard to comprehend. A man, once a genius and now someone who knows nothing.” I wished I wouldn't have asked that question. It made me feel so terrible and worthless now.
“Alex, I know what you're thinking. You feel worthless, don't you?”
I was taken aback by her knowledge of my feelings. She really did know me well. “Uh, yeah, kind of,” I stuttered.
“I know, but guess what? After we shut down the transmitter, if my calculations are correct—and I believe they are—you and everyone else will regain your memories! So all that matters is that you know you are the most important man on the face of the earth right now. Without you, I probably wouldn't stand a chance, you know that? Now I have you, my husband. I love you so much!”
Ali really had a way with words that made me feel so much better. “Thanks, Ali,” was all I managed to say. It wasn’t that I didn't want to talk more—I did—but I didn't know what to say. She must have sensed that, and didn't talk to me until I began asking some more questions about ten minutes later. “How old were we when the Transfer took place? I asked.
“You were twenty-two, I was twenty. We were married for two amazing years. My parents weren't too thrilled with me marrying a twenty year old at the age of eighteen. Now, I can't believe how crazy I was to marry so young. But you know what? I wouldn't have changed anything.” She leaned in and kissed me on the lips. Her warmth spread over me and when she pulled away, I actually didn't want her to. But I felt too awkward to even really speak.
I stuttered out stupidly, “We should get going again.”
“Are you sure you're able to walk? You still look pale.”
“Oh, I'm fine.” I said, trying to reassure myself as much as her. I was still in shock over the news, but I felt that walking might take my mind off it. I felt terrible, not remembering her. I was afraid I might have hurt her, but she had to understand that I didn't remember anyone or anything. It wasn't my fault, I know, but I still felt awful.
She helped me up and we again started walking the rough road that led to almost certain death. Large black crows were circling us from above, making me feel like their prey. We had only been walking maybe a half hour when we stopped for a quick water break. That's when I saw something strange, slightly off the side of the road. It was a milky white rock, which seemed strange for where we were.
I went to investigate, kneeling down to examine it. I jumped back, frightened, as I realized I was staring right into the hollow eyes of a human skull. Ali quickly came to my side to see what was wrong. When she laid eyes on it, she pointed out the rest of the skeleton, just slightly buried.
“Poor guy, must have been an Incomplete. He didn't make it very far.” There was sorrow in her voice. “It's not fair, what's happening to us. No one should go through any of this!” Her voice changed from compassionate to full of anger. I didn't blame her one bit. All I wanted was for those who did this to us to suffer as much as we had. “Alex, I just want this all to end. I've been wandering for so long, trying to figure out what to do. I was so alone for weeks. I've never felt so empty inside.”
“I'm sorry, Ali. I didn't realize how hard it would've been. But now you have me, and together, we will put an end to this! We will make them suffer as much as we have. They will learn their lesson.” By the time I was finished, I was breathing heavily.
Ali place her arms around me and held tight. I hugged her back. We stood there in each other’s arms for some time, not wanting to let go. This time, it was she who gently told me that we should be off. I reluctantly let her go and we started off, leaving the skeleton behind to lie there, alone, forever.

======================

The woman sat on the single bed, her eyes glued to the plain wall straight in front of her. Her look was vacant and she sat stiff and rigid, not moving. The only sign of life was the slight raising and lowering of her chest with each shallow breath. Her long red hair was in a tangled ponytail that trailed down her thin back. With no warning, the woman moved stiffly, almost robotically, lying down on the thin mattress. She lay there for many hours in her small black chamber, not once blinking.

======================

Alex

The sun was just beginning to set off its first glows of brilliant orange and red as it slowly glided down to the horizon. Off in the distance, we could just make out the outline of trees. We made it our goal to reach those trees by nightfall.
Once we were at the trees, the sun was mostly set and I was so weary I couldn't wait to just sit back and relax a little. The trees turned out be a dense woods that made me feel uneasy. Who knew what might be hiding in here? I didn't sleep well that night; I was so paranoid that a wild animal or person would jump out and try to kill us both. Ali went to sleep rather fast, so I decided as long as I couldn't sleep, I would just stand guard for anything unusual. I was close to dozing off when something jarred me awake. Footsteps.
I sat up straight, shaking. I couldn't see anything; it was too dark. We would've made a fire, but by the time we set camp it was too dark to see much of anything. I tried to let my eyes adjust to the blinding darkness but it was just too dark. I groped for Ali's pack to try to find a flashlight.
“What are you doing?” I jumped. It was Ali.
“Oh my gosh, Ali, you scared me.”
“Sorry,” she said, and I could hear a little laughter in her voice.
“I'm trying to find a flashlight. I heard something,” I explained.
Ali reached over to where she was sleeping on her dark blue blanket, picked up a small flashlight, and handed it to me. I took it and turned it on, slowly scanning the perimeter with the small light beam. I froze as the light reflected two eyes, and then relaxed a little when I realized it was only a possum. I heard Ali stifling a laugh. “It's not funny. I thought it might be something that could hurt us,” I said, embarrassed.
“Actually, it is,” she insisted playfully.
I let myself laugh a little. “Fine, it is kind of funny. I'll try to get some sleep now. G'night,” I said, yawning.
We settled back down, but after what had just happened, I had an even harder time falling asleep. Ali didn't seem bothered at all, for she fell right back to sleep again. As for me, I remained awake and on edge for a couple hours afterward. Exhaustion eventually did take over my body and pulled me into a troubled sleep.
Ali shook me gently, waking me from the precious few hours that I managed to get. The sun was just rising. I was still tired from the day before and couldn't even imagine walking the whole day again. My body was crying from overuse of my muscles. “We should get going soon, babe,” Ali said in her sweet voice. I groaned as I sat up, back aching and head full of fog.
The morning air was crisp and chilly, which helped me to wake up and start moving. I figured I’d better enjoy the cool air while it lasted, for I knew far too well that it would be scorching hot by noon. We still had plenty of water but I was getting concerned because it would take us at least another full day to get to the next town to refresh our water supply. Shortly after I’d woken up, we headed off, tired and sore. I felt dirty and wished for a nice, soothing shower but I knew that wouldn't happen anytime soon.
It was nearing noon and the temperature was rising steadily. I was a sweaty, dirty mess and I'm sure I didn't smell too good either. Ali and I had hardly spoken a word. I felt as if I were pushing her away but I just didn't know how to reach out to her. I understood that I’d known her in the past, but now I didn't. This whole thing had me so frustrated and angry. What if we never reach New York? Or if we do, what if we fail to shut down the transmitter? I mean, I have no clue how to go about doing that and I doubt Ali does. Who knows, she's surprised me on how much she knows about survival and stuff. But if we fail, who else would be able to do it, and how much longer would it take for anyone else to do it? How would they know? So many questions remained unanswered and nagged at me. I was terrified that I would be killed. What did I have to lose, really, other than the hope of freedom? I didn't want to die, that was for certain, but if I just sat back and watched the world never progress and stay in the wrong, then really, I was no better than the ones behind this.
As if Ali had read my mind, she spoke up, dragging me from my own thoughts. “I'm scared,” she said, looking at me.
Was it that obvious that I was, too? I wondered. “Why?” I said, trying to be strong for her sake.
“I just don't want to fail. If we fail, that's it. There will be no one else.”
“What about other Incompletes?”
“I told you, there aren't any.”
“What about like me? I just came to my senses the day you found me.”
“Yeah, well that’s extremely rare, and I've only seen it twice. All the others 'came to their senses' within the first week after the Transfer. It was as if it wore off. We believed it was the result of a faulty worker not making the headpiece right.”
“Oh. Well, there's nothing to be worried about, Ali; I'll be there with you and I'll protect you with my own life. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise.” Every single word, I meant. She was my wife. Granted, I might not remember her, but she was still my wife. And to be a good husband, I would need to stand up for her and protect her. “Was I good to you?” I asked.
“Yes, you were the best thing that ever happened to me.”
I was relieved. We fell into heavy silence after that, though. I didn't know why, but I just didn't feel like I could keep a conversation going with her. I blamed it on my lost memories. If I regained them, I hoped that it would be easier.

======================

The day seemed endless. I was so sore by the time we set up camp for the night that I didn't know if I could even move by morning. Ali was just as sore, she had told me, but we both knew that we needed to continue no matter what. It was a beautiful night with clear skies and the moon was full. We were lying on our backs next to each other, staring at the stars. We had built a cozy fire that lit up the surroundings, casting shadows about us.
Ali rested her head on my chest. “I remember one time when we were dating, you took me out to an empty field. We spent the entire night out there, staring at the stars and talking about our future. We fell asleep in the same position we are now. When I woke up, I turned my head and saw you kneeling on one knee, the sun shining behind you. I sat up and asked what you were doing. You pulled out a diamond ring and replied, 'Ali Spencer, will you marry me?' I remember smiling so broadly and saying 'yes' excitedly. That was the best day of my life,” she finished, voice sounding strained. I could see the tears glistening on her cheeks in the moonlight. Neither of us spoke for some time, just staring at the majestic sky before us.
I wanted to talk to her, but I didn't know if she was asleep or not. “Ali, you awake still?” I whispered.
“Yeah,” she answered.
I took a deep breath, heart pounding. “Will you marry me, Jess...Ali, again? When this is all over?”
She giggled, “Of course I will.”
I sighed, for at that moment, life was perfect and I was actually happy for the first time since my escape. I just didn't know why I’d called her 'Jess.' I didn't care; I leaned in to kiss her but never got to. At that moment, I heard a low growl that sent a chill through my body. I jerked my head up, fully alert.
“Did you hear that?” Ali asked. I nodded. She sat up slowly and we both listened intently for any other noise.
“It's probably just a raccoon or something, right?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“Since when do raccoons growl?” she asked, fear clearly audible in her voice.
I closed my eyes, trying to think of what to do next.
There it was again, closer this time and more ferocious. I cautiously took a look around, terrified. It was behind us.
Standing tall and menacing was a mangy dog that had the look of death in its black eyes. Its teeth were bared and it was in a fighting stance, fur standing on end. I froze in fear, eyes wide. Ali followed my gaze and a small scream escaped her lips. The wild dog growled and took a step forward. I reached for the large machete that was lying next to my blanket, and the large, black eyes of the mutt followed my hand. “Wait for my signal, then run,” I ordered.
“I'm scared, Alex.”
“I know. Just stay with me, stay strong.”
I readied myself. Were there more of them? I stole a glance at Ali, saw her reaching for the pack of water, and realized that was all we could save. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. “Now!” I yelled, jumping to my feet as we took off down the road away from the crazed dog. I looked back to see Ali hot on my tail. We kept running—running for our lives. I didn't have to look back to know that the dog was gaining on us. I could hear its long nails scraping the dry dirt behind us. It was at that moment that I chose my fate.
Ali was fast; she had already passed me and she could escape if she had a delay. “Ali! Keep running! Don't stop and do not look back! Just keep going no matter what! Promise me that!” I said in desperation, pleading with her to do as I said this one last time.
“What are you talking about? What are you doing?”
“Just do as I say!” I yelled harshly, and immediately regretted those words. “Please, please do it for me. I love you, don't forget that!” I told her, gentler this time.
“Fine, just don't do anything stupid.”
I guess she thought I had a better plan than what I did have. I knew what must be done and I knew I had to do it. “Good bye,” I whispered into the air. I turned suddenly on my heel and stopped moving.
I stood there, the dog just twenty feet away. My head was pounding and I thought my heart might pound out of my chest. The dog was large and was a mix of browns and black, like a German Shepherd mix with long yellow teeth, ready to kill. It was approaching fast and I felt like my world was in slow motion. I turned just my head to see where Ali was at. She was still running, her blonde hair flowing behind her. When I brought my head back around, the beast was tight on me, about to attack. I braced my body for the impact—and that's when it happened.

======================

President Blake


President Blake Segan was on one of his many private jets flying to Atlanta, Georgia, the first stop on his tour of the largest Transfer facilities in the USA. Amanda had refused to come with him, believing it was a waste of time. He had no idea what he would see, but nothing he could do could have possibly prepared him for the horrors that awaited him. Blake was very anxious and didn't know why. He tried to just relax and enjoy the flight but something kept nagging at him relentlessly. He thought to himself, What right did I really have to take control of the world? They once were all just normal people like me. How many did we kill? Hundreds, thousands? He didn't know how many and he didn't really want to know. He just wanted to learn what was happening in the Transfer Facilities. The guilt continued to gnaw at him, making him uneasy for remainder of his flight.

======================

Alex

As I stood my ground waiting for the final blow, I clenched my fists tight, my knuckles turning white. That's when I realized I still held the machete. I looked at it, almost unbelieving. I brought the blade up and my eyes met the creature’s cold, angry ones. I held the blade so it was facing out toward the dog and braced myself.
The impact was so strong, I toppled to the ground and felt the wind get knocked out of me. Warm blood smeared my shaking body and I couldn't tell if it was mine or the beast’s. I felt my body weakening and knew it was my time. Still clenching the machete, I breathed out and my world plunged into darkness.

Alex

Images of a girl filled my mind: laughing, smiling, running through a flower-filled field. The woman's blonde hair shone in the sunlight with radiance as she spun in circles, free and happy. “Alex,” her voice called to me, a hint of an echo to her soothing sounds. “Join me, my love. Join me so we can be together forever again.” I didn't know who she was.
I called back to her, feeling strange. “Who are you?”
She replied, eyes intent on me. “Your wife; your true love.” I was confused, for this was clearly not Ali. “Don't you remember me?” she asked, her flowing white dress blowing in the slight breeze. I shook my head. She reached out her hand toward me. “Follow me and remember.”
I felt mesmerized by this strange, beautiful woman. I grabbed her hand and immediate warmth hit my cold skin. She led me through the gently-swaying grass. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“To a special place.” she replied, certain mystery in her voice. I gasped as my body was suddenly overtaken with pain. I cried out and the woman began to fade from my vision. “Don't forget me!” I heard her cry, as I passed from one world to the next.

Everything was blurred when I opened my eyes. I was gazing up at the gray and cloudy sky, and I couldn't move my neck—something was preventing even the slightest movement. I tried to call out but my throat was parched and the only sound that came out was a sickly croak. Apparently it was enough, because Ali came rushing to my side, speaking comforting words softly.
“Baby, baby it's okay, just shhhh, shhhh,” she whispered, stroking my blood-encrusted brown hair. I asked for water and she brought a bottle to my cracked lips, holding it while I drank deeply, refreshed.
“What happened?” I asked, pain coursing through my upper body.
Ali explained that when the wild dog attacked me, its head met its match with my machete. The knife had lodged itself into the dog’s skull and ultimately killed it, but not before the animal had gotten a deep bite in my shoulder near my neck. Ali had bandaged the wound as best she could and had put my neck in a makeshift brace to let the wound to heal and not reopen. According to her, I had been unconscious for most of the day and she was beginning to worry; a lot, actually.
I was in pain, but in all honesty, I didn't feel too bad. I told Ali I would probably be able to continue on our way in the morning. She wasn't too sure about that. She said she had lost me once and had just gotten me back, and she really didn't want to lose me again. She said she would see in the morning how I was doing and decide then.
We were so close to the city of Harden, only half a mile away. I just wanted to get there, and fast, partly because our water supply was getting dangerously low. I insisted that we keep going in the morning, no matter what.
When the morning came and the sun began to rise, I still was hurting but it was more of a stiffness than anything else. Ali checked on my bite and thought it didn't look too bad, considering she hadn’t been able to clean it properly. She washed it out with water again and wrapped it back up. It hurt badly but at the same time, it felt good and refreshing.
I convinced her that I was well enough to move on and she reluctantly agreed, so we headed down the road once again. Ali had gone back and gathered up our supplies while I was out and she had even dislodged and cleaned my machete for me. The heat was already scorching by midmorning and we were both miserable. By noon, we were almost unable to continue for fear of dehydration.
We were on our last bottle of water when the town came into view, hazy from the intense heat. By the time we made it into town, we both were ready to collapse, even though it was only midafternoon. We raided the first store we came across and found lots of water and—the best thing, in my opinion—fresh clothes. I chose a simple gray- and white-striped V-neck T-shirt and blue jeans, and a purple sweatshirt in case I ever needed it. Ali wore a cute yet simple black T-shirt that was very becoming on her, and skinny jeans. We also chose some fresh sneakers that would be better for walking. It felt good to be in clean clothes. We had cleaned up as best we could without running water, but even just washing up a little felt fantastic.
We refilled on water and began walking through the town, making our way back to the highway. Little rocks crackled beneath our feet. Seeing all the abandoned houses and businesses made me feel so alone and empty. I tried to imagine this place before the Transfer, thriving and alive, with little kids running through the streets, playing and carefree, completely unknowing of what was about to happen to them all.
Ali had been acting weird ever since I’d proposed to her again. I figured it must be because I had accidentally called her Jess. I couldn't figure out why I’d even said that; it had just come out involuntarily. I looked over at her walking beside me. I had been trying to make small talk to her but she seemed aloof. Looking at her, I felt sorry for all she had been through, and for what? Why were they doing this to us? Anger flooded through me.
“What is the point of all this? Why did they do the Transfer?” I blurted out, overcome with rage.
“I don't know. We came up with a couple of theories but I don't know.”
“What do you think?”
“Well, all people, except the ones who are working for the Government, are in prisons like you and I were in. Some were used for testing medicines, foods, drinks, and things like that. Others work in factories making things like clothes. We thought that maybe all that stuff was just for the one in charge, but we doubted that. I think they’re planning something—something like a partial mind-controlled world. A world where everyone is forced to do their job and live their life how they want you to live it, but are sort of programmed to do so. They wouldn't have to command us to do what they want; they would just do it day after day for the rest of time.” Ali's voice was bitter. I didn't blame her, it was all so wrong. I didn't even know what to say. It made me so very mad.
What if what Ali said were true? Then the human race would be a living dead. I knew that I would rather be dead than to have my every action controlled; not that I would know it anyway, but just the thought of it was appalling.
“We have to stop this! Dying isn't an option anymore; no, this must end!” I was yelling now, though Ali was still calm.
“I know babe, I know. We’re the world’s only—” Something she saw stopped her midsentence. She was staring at something covered in a large tarp at the back of a driveway to a nice, large house. I followed her wide-eyed gaze to the large mass. She walked over to it in silence, and I followed, not sure what it was. She asked me to help her with the tarp, and together we pulled it off, revealing a hovercraft! I stared at it, not believing our find.
“How…?” Ali asked, voice trailing off. “All hovercrafts were removed from the streets after the Transfer. They must have missed this one; but how?” She was incredulous, as was I.
“Now, the question is, will it run?” I asked.
“Only one way to find out. I know how to hotwire a hovercraft, so it shouldn't be too hard.” She opened the driver’s side door and hopped in. I walked over to the passenger side and sat in the old and worn seat, watching Ali's delicate hands maneuver the wires just so until the engine sputtered and came to life. She smiled, so happy. “Full tank of fuel. It just might last until New York City. But will the engine last?”
She seemed concerned about that, so I asked why. She said it was because it hadn't been run for years and might not be too stable or even safe to drive. We took our chances, though. It would take at most only two days to reach our destination. I was overly excited. No more walking. Just the two of us gliding along the open roads. I didn't remember how to drive, but Ali did, so it was decided that she would, of course, drive us.
What amazing luck we’d had, finding this. The wind felt good as we flew down the highway. Ali was acting a little more herself, chatting away about random stuff, from our past together to her favorite foods. She told me how she missed being hungry, and that it was driving her crazy not know what they did to us so we didn’t need food anymore.
She told me stories about her childhood, like when she was nine and she went to a summer camp where she learned how to ride horses. The first time she got on a horse, the horse got spooked and bucked her off, breaking her arm and forcing her to leave camp early because of it.
She told me random stories like that, but it was annoying that I wasn’t able to talk about my childhood with her. It just made me want to get to New York and end this all the more.
She also told me that orange was her favorite color, she loved the platypus, and that she was stillborn but was miraculously revived. Through the two days spent driving, I realized I had fallen completely in love with Ali.
Seeing the change in scenery from Billings, Montana, to New York City was really cool. I enjoyed driving through all the towns, cities, and villages, and it was on the evening of the second day that we saw, far in the distance, the towering skyscrapers of New York City. The height of the buildings had me completely awed. I wanted to explore the city but I knew we didn't have time, because the sun was setting and we needed our sleep for what we had to do the next day. I didn't think I would get much sleep, though, for the adrenalin was beginning to pump: I wanted to take them down, now.

======================

President Blake

Blake had just arrived in New York City, visiting the last stop on his tour of the facilities. He’d only thought it fitting to save the largest for last, but now he didn't want to see it. He was sick and horrified by the things he had witnessed, and just wanted to go home and forget all of this. But no, he thought. He didn't want to forget this—he wanted it to end. But he knew he didn't have the guts to do anything about it.
If he realized one thing throughout his trip, it was that he was a coward. He ran when things got too hard or ugly; he didn't like to see what he’d created…the horrors in which he’d been a participant.
He was cleaning up from his last plane ride in his suite's bathroom, feeling lost and confused in life. He didn't want to take the tour of this place; no, he didn't know if he could handle it. Feeling sick and needing some air, he headed out of his suite and was immediately followed by his two bodyguards. He told them that he simply wanted to have some time alone. They hesitantly backed off and he continued toward the exit to get a breath of fresh air.
Once outside, he followed the gravel pathways around the fenced-in premises. Inside the thick stone walls topped with large spikes and barbed wire were eight large buildings where the defenseless people were held. Looking from outside the buildings, he would never have guessed what they were used for. There was a nice walkway and a courtyard just off the center building and straight from the only entrance. He found himself walking the pathway that led through the courtyard and to the main gate.

Alex

New York City was magnificent in the rising sun: the skyscrapers shimmered in the pink-tinted morning light; the air had a nice chill to it and was a huge relief from Montana's extreme heat. Even in its ruined state, it was still gorgeous. We had ditched the hovercraft on the outskirts of the city so we wouldn't be as noticeable. We now were walking through streets once filled with taxis, cars, and people…and now empty. Neither of us spoke in fear of someone—anyone—hearing us. There was an eerie feeling to walking the streets of this enormous city alone. The buildings were still intact, for the most part, but it was so desolate it made us feel sad inside.
We had no clue where we were even going; all Ali knew was that the facility was somewhere in the city. It could take hours for us to find the right area, and that was why we had started our search rather early in the morning. Adrenaline was pumping through me and my heart was practically pounding out of my chest. Emotions of excitement, fear, anger, and love raced through me.
The place on my shoulder where the dog had bit me was throbbing this morning and, by the looks of it, might have become infected. I was able to move it now without too big a fear of it opening up again, though. It had been leaking a foul smelling pus and didn't look very good at all.
We had been wandering the barren streets for no more than two hours when we found it: eight buildings surrounded by a large, unreachable wall. My heart sank as I laid eyes on the spikes and barbed wire. “That's not good.” I whispered.
Ali shook her head. “There must be a way in. C'mon,” she said, motioning me to follow her lead. I did, not knowing what she had in mind.
We circled the menacing wall and as we rounded the third corner, we saw the large metal gate, closed and locked with chains. Ali smiled. “That's our way in,” she said, pointing toward the gate.
I didn't understand. We couldn't get through that. Then it came to me: over…we would go over. There was no barbed wire on top of the gate; it was only very high. We could do it!
“Let’s do this,” I said, excited.
“We have to be careful. One at a time. I say you go first so you can help me up—is that ok?” she asked.
“Yeah, sure.” With that, I headed to the gate and looked up at it. Standing right in front of it, I saw it was much taller than I’d thought. Can I actually climb it? I didn't know, but I knew I had to try. We'd come too far to be stopped by a single gate. No, I could scale it, I just had to believe I could. I took a deep breath and grasped the highest bar I could reach and pulled myself up. I felt my wound pulling from the stress, which made me feel dizzy, but I kept going, climbing up. By the time I reached the top, I was out of breath and found myself holding on to the top bars for stability. I felt weak, and I knew it was from exhaustion. I hadn't slept much since I’d escaped nearly a week ago. A week ago; that's it? It felt like eternity.
As soon as I’d caught my breath a little, I helped Ali up and over the gate and jumped down after her. Once we were inside, it seemed as if there was a certain evil feel about the place. Maybe it was just me, but I didn't like it nonetheless.
We followed the pathway past the first building and maybe forty feet in front of us was the main middle building, our destination. Surrounding the skyscraper was a simple, decorative wall that partially enclosed a cute, surprisingly well-kept courtyard. We were about to sprint to the main building when we saw a man walking through the courtyard. He didn't see us as we darted down behind the wall outside it.
I looked at Ali. Fear was written all over her face, though I could tell she was trying to be strong. Truth was, I was just as scared. We could get caught right now and all this could end. Unless...I slipped the machete out of my belt. I could kill him. The blood was pounding in my head as I looked into Ali's knowing eyes.
“Alex, no, please,” she pleaded, her whisper barely audible.
“What choice do we have? I have to,” I replied, terrified but trying so hard not to show it. Killing a wild dog wasn't so bad, especially when my life had depended on it. But killing another human? That was so different. I knew the dirty deed must be done, and I knew it wouldn't be easy. I heard his footsteps drawing closer to me. Ali pleaded with me with her big green eyes; I ignored her. It was time.

======================

President Blake


He saw the glint of the blade as soon as he passed by the entrance in the stone wall. He stumbled back, hitting the ground, just missing a machete to the neck. Alex swung down again at Blake's body. He rolled away just in time. “Wait! Please wait!” he pleaded, backing away from Alex, who held his machete ready to strike again.
“Why should we?” Alex snarled.
“Look, I don't know who you are or what you want, but can't we just talk about this?”
“What's to talk about?”
“What do you want? Maybe I can be of assistance?”

======================

Alex

“I doubt it.” Ali stood up and came to my side. She reached up and whispered in my ear, “That's President Blake. Maybe he can take us to the transmitter.”
I considered that, but then also considered that it would be way too easy for him to get someone’s attention and have us killed.
“I know who you are. You’re President Blake. Now, if you lead us, quietly, to the transmitter, I'll consider letting you live. Got it?”
Relief flooded his face. “I will lead you there. You’re going to need my help, because you only get two tries on the pass code to the door or the floor gets put on lock down and is only assessable from the outside. Alarms will alert the guards and you're done. Once you get in there, though, I'm not even sure how you shut it down. I'm assuming that's what you want?”
I nodded. “Let it be known, if you try to pull anything, I will kill you,” I said, nearly spitting the words. I didn't know this man, but I hated him. He was responsible for all this; he deserved to die.
“Ok. But you're going to need a disguise,” he said, getting up. I still had my machete out and I knew I couldn't lead him at bladepoint—that would be too obvious. I didn't like this. Could we even trust this man? I knew I didn't.
He led us through the thick glass doors of the middle building. There were very few people walking about the halls. Blake informed us that it was lunch time, so most were in the cafeteria. He also told us that the first half of this building—the bottom ten floors—were dorms, rec rooms, cafeterias, etc., whereas the top ten floors were all used for storage. The top floor, floor twenty, held the transmitter itself.
Blake led us to a small room on the second floor that held extra uniforms, simple gray jumpsuits and black boots. We slipped these on over our clothes and swapped out our shoes. “Okay, now you guys blend in. Just follow me, and if someone greets you, be polite and return their greeting.”
I nodded. “Just remember our deal. Take us there quietly and no one gets hurt,” I reminded, and he nodded his head.
A device on his wrist beeped and a voice came through. “Where are you, sir? Are you ready for your tour?” a man's voice spoke. I fingered the hilt of the machete hidden in my jumpsuit. He held down a button and replied, “I'm not feeling too well. Could we hold off until this evening?”
“Sure thing.”
“Great,” he said, and then turned off the device, removed it, and handed it to me.
I was shocked. He could have easily told them about us and now he was actually giving me his only means of getting us stopped. Maybe I had misjudged him.
“In all honesty, I haven't been happy with going through with the Transfer. I just didn't know what to do. You guys coming along have helped me make the right decision. Let’s shut this thing down.”
I could see the truth in Blake's eyes as he told us this. He began walking and Ali and I fell in step behind him.
“Good thing you let him live, huh?” Ali said quietly.
I didn't want to admit it, but she was right. I felt ashamed at having thought that killing was the way to solve this. I had been sorely mistaken.
We walked down the whitewashed hall, back to the elevator that had brought us up to the second floor. This time, we headed up to the twentieth floor.
On the tenth floor, we stopped, and two men got on. Fear gripped my heart, and I felt Ali's hand reach for mine. The men greeted us kindly, acknowledging the president warmly. They were heading to the first floor and when they saw us going to the twentieth, they looked confused. For a moment, I thought we were doomed. Now would be a perfect opportunity for him to tell who we were. I thought I could kill one, maybe two of them, but I didn't think I could take them all on. Besides, we desperately needed Blake to get us into the transmitter room.
“May I ask why you are going to the transmitter floor?” one of them asked.
“Um, just wanted to check on it; it's been ten years since I've last seen it,” Blake explained.
That's it, tell them anything but the truth.
“You going there with them?” the man said, gesturing toward Ali and me.
“Well, they wanted to see it and I said why not. I trust them; they're old friends of mine.”
“Could we see it?” the second man asked.
“Sorry, I don't want more than a few people in there with us.” the president explained.
“Aw, all right. It was great meeting you, sir,” the first man said as the elevator doors opened on the topmost floor.
Yeah, trust me though, you don't want to come in with us. You do that and we'd have to kill you, I thought, relieved that the president had played them so well. We left the elevator and the two unsuspecting men behind, my pulse racing and my body shaking.
The top floor wasn't white and clean like all the other floors were. The walls were painted black and the floor was illuminated by strategically placed, glowing blue lights. We walked down the long hallway, turned a corner, and at the end of the corridor were the doors to the transmitter.
I was so happy; we’d reached it! I knew our journey wasn't yet complete, but I felt slightly relieved anyway.
Blake walked right up to the door, produced a ring of keys, found the specific one and inserted it into a keyhole. He turned it and slid a panel out of the way, revealing a massive lock with a sixteen-digit combination.
I could see Blake's hands shaking as he punched in the digits. 5-1-4-6-9-2-8-5-7-3-0-6-9-6-8-1. The door clicked and Blake pushed it open, allowing cold air to rush over us.
The room looked just like the hallway, except it was round and had a giant transmitter in the middle it. The walls were painted black, and neon blue lights shone from the floor, just like they did in the hall. It was hard to see much of anything in there, but I managed to make my way over to the transmitter. “What do we do now?” I asked.
Blake sighed. “I can't believe I'm about to do this. Look, there's no way to just shut it down. There's only one way to stop it, and I must do it alone. You two, run out of here as fast as you can. Don't stop for anything, just keep running and get as far away as possible! Don't wait for me; just run. You'll have four minutes, tops. Go!”
We obeyed, confused, not knowing what he had planned. We headed out of the room and down the hallway back to the elevator.
“Alex, I'm scared,” Ali admitted once we were on our way down the elevator.
“Me too,” I said sheepishly. I reached over and grabbed her hand. “We'll be fine, though.” I kissed her hand gently. The ding of the elevator’s bell made me jump. Ground floor. I was still holding her hand as we ran, trying to remember how to get to the entrance.

======================


Blake

Right after Alex and Ali left, he, too, ran out of the room toward the elevator, but not to escape like they did. He took the stairs one floor down. He ran down a large hall, passing doors on either side of him. The final door was locked. He took out his keys, fumbling with them. He found the right one and entered the storage room. Once he had collected all he needed, he bolted back up the stairs and back to the transmitter. Two minutes.

======================


Alex

We were in sight of the door and could see the sunlight streaming in. Freedom awaited us. Then, from one of the rooms came an older man.
“Halt! Why are you running? Stop this instant!” he ordered.
“Can't!” I yelled back.
“You will listen to me now! Stop, in the name of the president!”
I was still holding onto Ali's hand and she made me stop. “Ali, what are you doing? We need to go!”
“Go where?” the man asked, instantly suspicious.
“Uh, President Blake summoned us. He's outside,” I told him.
“Really? What would he want with you?”
“Not sure; he didn't really say. But we shouldn't keep him waiting.” With that, I turned, and Ali and I began running again, ignoring the man, who was still ordering us to stop. One minute.

======================


Blake

His hands were shaking as he placed down the two large explosives. Tears were flowing down his face, his gray-blue eyes filled with worry, fear, and determination. He set the timer for thirty seconds…thirty seconds left of life. He stood there after hitting the “accept” button on both bombs. He’d chosen the largest bombs he could, know that the larger they were, the less time there would be to escape. It was just how it worked. Thirty seconds was the longest these ones could run.
He tensed at the double beep that announced the time. Ten seconds.

======================


Alex

We burst through the front doors. Eight seconds. We were still running as we made our way down the pathway, nearing the walls surrounding the courtyard when it happened. The sound was deafening and the power of the explosion launched Ali and me forward. My body slammed into the decorative stone wall, knocking me out cold…for how long, I did not know.

Alex

When I came to, I couldn't see and I was dizzy. Am I blind? I wondered. No, it’s just dark. My vision was blurry and my whole body was aching and weak. It took me at least ten minutes to gain enough strength to pull myself to my feet. I was lying next to the wall and I leaned against it once I was upright. I looked down and saw a dark spot on it. Blood. My blood. I raised my hand to my head and felt a deep gash that had formed when I’d smashed into it. The air was filled with thick smoke and there wasn't much left to the middle building.
Panic gripped me as I thought of her. Jess, Ali, oh my gosh I remember! But there was no time to think on that now. I had to find Ali and see if she was alive.
I spotted her standing in front of the smoldering remains of the middle building. She seemed dazed and I wondered if she was ok. I walked up to her, and the only sound I made was my footsteps in the ash-covered gravel.
“Ali, you ok?” I asked gently. She turned to me, tears smearing her soot-covered face. She leaned in to me and wrapped her arms around me. I returned the hug, but not very enthusiastically.
“You're ok!” she cried.
“Yeah, other than hurting...everywhere.” I paused. “You lied to me. Thanks.” I was hurt and I knew she knew that.
“I can explain. I—” she began.
“Save it,” I said coldly. “Come on, we have work to do. All the people need to see the outside world again.” I headed toward the first building, Ali following me. I knew I’d hurt her. I didn't care, though. She’d lied to me, she’d hurt me.
When I entered through the steel doors of the nearest prison, my ears were filled with the terrified screams of people calling for help or loved ones. It was sickening. Though we’d completed our mission, we still had a long road to recovery ahead of…well, all of us.
The few remaining workers didn't know what to do. I ordered one of them to give me their keys to the cells. It took three hours to clear out the first building. It took drastic measures, a.k.a. threatening their lives, to get the workers to follow my orders. It broke my heart to see the faces of the men and woman we’d freed; they were all in so much pain, both physical and emotional, not knowing if their loved ones were alive or dead.
I’d always thought the journey to New York City would be the hardest part. How wrong I was. It took two years to finally have most of the world back in working order again. The best part was watching family and friends being reunited. The smiles, tears of joy, and happiness that came with that was heartwarming.
I knew this feeling. Seeing Jess for the first time was so amazing. How I’d missed her, without even realizing it. It was a happy ending for us.
As for Ali, not so much. I now remembered: Ali and I had dated once. She was my “first love” at only seventeen. We had done everything together, until one day, she’d talked to me and told me that I wasn't the same and hadn't been for the previous few weeks. She was right. Things weren't the same. I had met Jessica, and it was love at first sight: her long, blonde hair flowing behind her graceful body as she walked toward me, her emerald green eyes sparkling under the moonlight. She’d come to me to ask for directions and I’d gladly given them. She had been new to town and I’d offered to show her around a bit. She’d gratefully agreed, we had hit it off right away and as hard as I tried, I couldn't forget her. I broke up with Ali and began dating Jess and the rest was history.
When Ali saw me after I’d escaped, she saw her chance to get me to fall in love with her again, and she jumped all over it. Though she didn't get me, I was sure she'd find someone else in her future. I'm not going to lie; it hurt saying goodbye to her after we saved the world together. She moved to Los Angeles, and though we still saw each other once in a while, things were never the same between us.
Jess was pregnant with twin girls! We were so excited and scared. I couldn't wait to hold them in my arms and spoil them. Through the excitement of learning that I was soon to be a father, I was terrified that I wouldn't be a good daddy. With all that I'd witnessed and done, I was somewhat traumatized by it all. Nightmares ate at my mind each night. Countless nights were spent wide awake, remembering.
The queen was imprisoned, as were all her allies. She was sentenced to the death penalty and was awaiting her fate still. She sat in her prison cell, rotting away while the world outside thrived.
Two years…two long years since the “Day of Freedom,” as it was being called. It's been a long journey, a journey that's not yet complete; but all is well and continuing to get better every day. The world was finally on the true road to healing, everyone was doing something to help make the word better than it had been in years.
All the fame and glory was overwhelming and exciting at first, but now, I find myself wishing I could be a normal person again, at least be able to go to the store without being swarmed by grateful people thanking me or wanting a picture of me and my autograph.

A new president had been elected since President Blake sacrificed his life to save the world. His name was Jordan Maron. His vice president was Ryan McNulty. They were the best people for the tough job of running the country, especially with all that was going on.
I have to admit, it was kind of weird to think that those two men that were in the elevator with us were dead. In fact, all the people in the middle building were dead.
It's hard to imagine that.
Well, that's my story: the story of how I helped save the world. I have to confess that I do miss Ali now that we again don't speak very often at all. And when we do, most of the time, it's for an interview or something. I want to try to reconnect with her more, but I'm nervous she might get the wrong impression. Maybe it would be worth it. After all, we did save the world together.
That was my story of how I found myself again.


The End