This is Not a Test

Chapter 1

I opened my eyes to the pitch-black room. I was sweating from head to toe and my heart was pounding in my chest. Gradually the gloomy room started to come into focus. I relaxed focusing on my boyfriend's slow breathing beside me. I rolled onto my left and saw the red numbers of my clock stating staring back at me. It was 4:30 am. Trying to stay quiet I slowly pushed the blankets away. The floor was freezing beneath my toes, but I grabbed my black boots, socks, my jacket, and a pair of jeans. The crisp air made my legs quiver but I tiptoed out of the bedroom into the rest of our house. 

Silence filled the house like an empty void. Nothing was stirring. Nothing ever did at this time. I was always the only one up. I pulled on my black jeans and threw on my socks and boots. I then pulled on my jacket over the tank top I was sleeping in and felt for my necklace. Elijah-my boyfriend had given it to me before these times. I sighed at the memories. As grateful as I was, I missed my old life. No use thinking about the past I thought to myself. I tiptoed to the kitchen and grabbed myself a bottle of water as well as a granola bar. I checked my watch. 4:42 am. I unlocked the front door and emerged into the hall. 

The complex we were staying in now had 16 people in it. We had started with 50 people but we were the only ones that survived long enough to make it here. It had all started a year ago when the terrors came. There were five main creatures each more powerful than any force humans had ever met. When these monsters emerged they brought a disease that changed a human's nature and turned them into one of them. It spreads through the bloodstream shutting vital functions in the body down and alters one's genetic code turning them into mind-controlled beings with no recollection of their life beforehand. 

We were being chased by a group of these humans when we found this place. The complex was placed on a cliff facing the ocean. On the surface was a house. When we entered the house it was bare. It was supposed to just be a resting place. I walked through the halls into the smallest room with Elijah where there was solely a bookshelf and desk. Everyone went to their respective rooms with the people they were closest to, with the goal of sleep in mind. I looked at the books on the shelf before turning to examine the desk. I opened a drawer and found an old piece of paper. 

Scribbled on it was some sort of poem. "Elijah come look at this," I beckoned him over. I slowly read it out loud. 

This thing all things devours;

Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron bites steel; Grinds hard stones to meal; Slays king, ruins town, And beats mountain down.

"What does it mean?" I questioned.

"The Hobbit," he said with a wary smile.

"Elijah seriously what does this mean?"

"It's the riddle from the hobit. Something that devours all, grinds at the existence of life, and is forever ongoing."

"Can you just tell me what it is and stop speaking in riddles. The day has been long enough as it is."

"The answer is time, Ellie."

I looked back down at the paper. What did it mean? I rolled it back up and set it back on the desk. "We should try to sleep, we'll have to leave in the morning." I laid down our blanket and we snuggled up under our jackets. I closed my eyes but sleep wouldn't come. Why would someone write something about time? What was the point? Time time time. What was so important about time. Somehow sleep got to me. 

I awoke to a sharp jab in the ribs. I sputtered not knowing where I was or what was happening. I soon realized it was just Elijah who had rolled on top of me. I stood up knowing I wouldn't be able to sleep again. I went back over the bookshelf looking through the books. Don Quixote, A Tale of Two Cities, The Lord of the Rings, The Little Prince, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Slaughterhouse 5. Wait a minute.. Slaughterhouse 5 was all about being lost in time. 

I slowly pulled the book down from the shelf and the entire structure opened up exposing a  metal door in the center. A scanner popped up in the middle of the door. I stepped back tripping over Elijah and waking him up. Together we approached the blue light. 

"Names," said a female voice.  I looked at Elijah.

"Ellie"

"Elijah"

"Full names," said the scanner. I looked up at Elijah before stating;

"Elizabeth James Taylor"

"Elijah Richards the II"

"Access granted,"  said the cool female voice. 

The bookshelf opened into a doorway that sloped downwards. It looked like a large metal tunnel. "Elijah go check for the others." He walked over to the door and tried to open it but it had been locked. I looked down the tunnel into the darkness below. "Only one thing to do now." I swung myself so I was sitting at the edge. Right as I was about to go down I felt him pull me out. 

"I'm going first," he said. He kissed me hard then swung himself over and went down the metal tube.