Castaways

Alone.

            

               The day was sunny and warm. And just like any other, I was alone. Wandering the emptied halls, they were covered in green; green grass spotted the floor, moss covering the walls. Tiny plants started sprouting out of the open lockers, but then again the school had been abandoned for years. The bell screeched with a muffled sound. Good to know that they still worked, even though they were covered in leaves and roots. I liked to wander these halls, they made me feel happy and at one with everything. This place is my home, and it has been since I was a child. Ever since mom died...

I was 7 when she died, I'm 19 now. I don't think of her death much, instead I think about the happy times; the times she made me laugh, when she took me on adventures. She taught me everything I know. I lay down on my bed in the old principal's office, it's the only room without any holes or plants in it. I hung the pictures I had of my family along the walls. Covered the floor with an old rug I had cleaned. My bed was a hammock my mom had found, my room was small, but it was enough for me. I decided to take a nap until nightfall, it was better to go out at night so I wouldn't be seen by...them. I wake up to my alarm, it's night now, they would've gone back. I empty out my binder, duffle bag, gather my weapons, turn off the lights, and quickly leave. I don't have much time before they return. The human race has crumbled, everyone either left to the new "civilization" or rebelled and became bandits.

My family decided to leave for the new civilization. Me and Mom, we became cast-aways. The bandits didn't want us, and the civilization was full of corrupted, greedy people. Since the civilization was constructed 40 years ago, everything on the outside started to decay and break down. Cast-aways and bandits use them for shelter, we each brand our homes to signify someone lives there. Normally everyone is in peace, until the bandits cross the border and try to steal and kill. They live in the forests and rotting corporation buildings. They are ruthless people, they take anything they can. Mom told me they tried to take me when I was a baby. I locate this old hospital near the woods, there aren't any signs on it; and it doesn't look like it's been searched. The doors are locked, fortunately the doors are made of glass. I throw a rock at the window, listening to the shatter and the glass falling to the ground. I carefully walk through the door, glass crackling as I step on it. The desk has pens, pencils and some lined paper. I take out my binder and put them in, then I set it back into my duffle bag gently.

I check the power, the lights don't turn on, neither do the elevators. "Guess I'm taking the stairs." I think annoyed. I take the stairs to the ER one floor up. I look through every room... There are so many dead bodies, the smell is horrific. It's so sad to see so many people left for dead. I can't believe people would do that to the injured.

After I search the rooms, I look into a closet labeled "STAFF ONLY." In it, I find tons of medical equipment. I stuff as many bandages, rubbing alcohol, anything I can fit into my bag. I only fill it halfway, I think it would be enough for me to last for a while. As I start to leave, there's a sound. Someone's here, and they're watching. I move my hand next to my gun tucked under my shirt, I am calm. My heart is steady, my breaths full and calm. There it is again. A piece of glass flies from my side, I feel the blood running down my cheek. I turn around to see them running toward me. I quickly pull out my gun and shoot. They fall to the floor, groaning in pain. Blood is gushing out of their leg, a pool growing beneath them.

As I turn away, I hear them groan. I pause, "Do I help them? What if they're a bandit?" I don't know what to do. "Help me...please." A soft voice beckons to me. As much as I want to leave, I grab my bag and tend to their wound. They groan in pain.

"Thank you." the soft voice whispers.

"Don't thank me, you just have a chance to tell your bandit friends now."

"I'm not a bandit."

"What do you mean you're not a bandit?"

"I'm a cast-away."

                                                                        ..I paused..