Another Way

~Chapter 3~

The frosty wind bites my nose and cheeks as I stand outside Alexa's bakery. Last night's broadcast from the aliens stunned me. I really did think we could all be saved, and well, I was desperately wanting that to be true. Now, I have to wonder about dying.
I close my eyes and let my thoughts drift to the world before Ender AND the aliens. The memories are still fresh in my mind of mom and dad still alive and happy. Dad. He knew about Ender, well sort of. He didn't know it would kill everything and everyone on earth at the time, but he was an epidemiologist who studies the spread of disease. When Alexa and I were growing up he taught us about similar viruses in the past, and now that I think about it, all those ancient killer plagues are fairly close to being the same as Ender. He knew it was only a matter of time before some new disease (like Ender) came knocking on our doorsteps.
I turn away from the shop and slowly tilt my head up to the sky. Are THEY watching us right now? Watching me? What if I'm going to die tomorrow, or the next day? This feeling inside my stomach of not knowing or not having a fragment of what my future might hold is torture. It's like I'm a cat and the universe is teasing me with a toy mouse on a string, pulling and pulling till I'm to tired to move on.
A light snow falls as I stride home before our curfew. A lot has changed since last night, and it has changed rapidly. Stores that are still open are being torn apart by looters and even houses to, school's canceled for who knows how long, curfew now falls into place at 7:30 p.m, and any emergency services have limited their help to anyone who pays a tip of $100 right then and there. Looks to me that Alexa won't be getting any medication or doctor's attention anytime soon, which means I need a plan to keep her going just long enough for things to go back to normal. The thing is, I don't know what that plan is. Or when things will be normal again.
Night has fallen when I reach our front door but no flickering candles light up the windows. That's... weird. I hurry up the steps and fling open the door, then rush up the stairs to stand outside of our apartment door. The door is slightly ajar so I push it open. I walk around the living room and the kitchen, but find nothing out of sorts. I creep towards Alexa's bedroom hoping what I find on the otherside of the door is... is not terrible.
"Alexa?" I ask from the hallway. No answer. "Alexa?"
I enter her room all frantic, flipping up the covers on her bed, swinging open her closest doors, and checking ALL the nooks and crannies I could find. Still, I can not place where Alexa is!
I run back into the living room when a sudden crackle of static from the tv startles me so much, that I stumble over my own feet. My arms take most of the blow and then begin to sting from the friction of the carpet that caught my fall. Ow! Ahh... ooo... it burns! Holding my arms close to my chest in hopes of the burning evaporating into the air (no such luck with that), I stand to watch the broadcast unfold on the television. I want Alexa to be here right now...
《"This is the Prime Minister of Canada speaking and would appreciate if EVERY earth citizen seeing this, would listen well..."》My head begins to spin, no, the whole WORLD begins to spin as I watch the message without Alexa. I need her here with me...
《"Last night we received a message from our LAST HOPE saviors and have been given instructions to serve a draw for our NEW EARTH LEADERS between the ages 12 and 14, to save our race from extinction. If your name has been drawn you will have tonight to say farewell to your love ones and pack a single bag. Then in the morning at 9:30 am, military personnel will escort you to the nearest launch pad for you to be handed over to our LAST HOPE saviors. I don't have words to describe how heroic this is. Not even written words on paper are able describe it."》
The Prime Minister's face looks sincere and appreciative. How come Alexa is not here right now? Why isn't she here? I turn away from the screen, and begin jogging towards the front door.
《"We... we will begin drawing with the young ladies."》I want to ignore those words but I just can't. I need to know I will not get to live and be able to die with my sister, who I need to find. The Prime Minister's wrinkly hand dips into a large clear bowl filled to the brim with tiny sheets of papers. He slowly unfolds the innocent paper and sighs.
《"Miss. Renee Emy Lévesque, from Chilhac, France. We thank you."》The Prime Minister bows his head in gratitude, then pulls another name.《"Miss. Ko Maki Yamada, from Sapporo, Japan. We thank you."》He pulls another name then so forth. When he pulls the fourth name a look of sadness and hurt creeps into his face. 《"... Miss. Lacy Bianca Walters, from Washington, DC. We... thank you.》I bite my lip. Isn't that THE Lacy Bianca Walters? As in the president of the United State's daughter? The names keep getting closer and closer to home!
"Jillian! Where have you been!?" I fiercely spin around at the sound of Alexa's yelling.
"Where have I been?! Where have YOU been!?"
"I've been looking everywhere for you! You didn't stay here like I told you too! I had thought someone broke in and took you! DO NOT disobey me again," she strides over to me and takes my hand instead of a hug.
"You never told me to stay here, I didn't even know you left! I was terrified something horrible happened to you..." A tear slithers along down the outline of my nose.
Alexa squeezes my hand, trying to emphasize how sorry she is. "You must have been in bed still. I thought you just in your room ignoring me, or something. I'm sorry Jillian, I really am sorry."
We stand holding each other's hands for what seemed to be forever, but not one of us let go.
《"Our final name for the ladies is..."》Alexa and I peer over at the screen as the last name is drawn from the bowl.《"Miss. Jillian Rosanne Carter, from Toronto, Canada. We thank you."》