The Switch

Chapter One

The sound of gun shots was now natural to me. That awful sound has occurred too many times in my life to be normal.

America has changed so much over the past years. Rules have changed, laws are broken, and we are leaderless. Just over ten years ago our president went missing. As well as every other person in line to take his position. The accident occurred when our country was invaded by foreigners. They say that they were all taken and held prisoner by the foreigners. Possibly still alive, but most likely dead.

In that time period of mourning a group of individuals stepped up to take charge of our nation. All of them were around the same age, thirty or so at the time. Each of them were intelligent and knew the simple facts. That is how to overthrow a country. They wanted to rebuild this country into a perfect nation. No problems, exemplary homes and families, and peace without resistance. They called themselves The Founders.

As I looked out of my house I could see the glowing light from the Capitol beaming at all of us in mockery that they were still alive. Washington D.C was almost indestructible. The Founders had hired almost all of the engineers, architects, and scientist to design a Capitol that could be "a safe house". Knowing that we would try to take our country back by war they quickly designed buildings that could endure weaponry, weather, and the people.

After The Founders took control of our nation they decided that our society wasn't safe anymore. We knew they had plans, but nobody knew exactly what they were going to do.

That was where my parents stepped in. My parents are head of the rebellion against The Founders. My mother is the leader in the mission controlling the attacks on The Founders. My father is in charge of the military attacking. I guess you could say my mother is the brain behind my father's bullets.

"Annaliegh! Why are you still in the house?"
"I'm sorry mom, I was just.."
"You were what? We don't have time to waste, D.C is now firing back at us!"
"Wait you mean The Founders are shooting at us this time? They've never-"
"Shot back, I know. We have to leave now! Grab August and Sawyer and bring them to the bunker now!"
"But mom, what about you?"
She looked at me empathetically, then smiled and said,"I'll be fine. If I haven't returned to the bunker in an hour send someone after me. But whatever you do don't go out of the bunker! I love you."

And with that she gave me a quick look and dashed out the front door. I looked around the house now frantic. The Founders had always believed in peace even if it wasn't returned. The thought of them firing back at us terrified me. No one knew what they could be hiding behind their impenetrable buildings, and no one has ever been inside. For all we know they could have been stocking up on weaponry all this time. It was simply the fear of the unknown at this point.

"August! Sawyer! Come down now!" My voice sounded Horse from the way I yelled. Then I heard the dreaded sound I hope I'd never hear in my life. It was the public evacuation sirens in war time.

August, my younger brother, ran down the steps with terror in his big green eyes.

"Where's Sawyer?" He asked. In all honesty, I didn't know myself where he was.
"I'm not sure, do you know where he was last?"

Sawyer was my older/ oldest brother. He was always the guy everyone in school loved. He has always had a girlfriend for as long as I could remember, because everyone loved him. The real question is how could you not? He was 6'0 feet tall, dark brown hair, blue eyes, and he's personable.

"No! He's been gone ever since I came home from school."
"Okay then, I need you to go to the bunker really quick. Don't stay outside too long."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to go find him. If I'm not back soon find someone." And with my last words I ran through the house. I searched his room, the kitchen, living room, everywhere. He wasn't home.

I never could keep track of him. He would always be at a friends house, party, or anywhere but home. He had always been a people person, wanting to meet new people and socialize.

I ran out of the house in terror. The streets were lit up, the sky had become a wall of smoke, and this time I wish I heard the sound of bullets. Instead I heard a bomb. Imediently the huge sound erupted in my ears. I ducked into a ball covering my head. The ground around me was vibrating. Debris was falling all around me pounding on my body. I could feel twigs,branches, ground, and more just hitting my body mercilessly. It caused me a great deal of pain.

But I could only imagine what might be happening to my parents. My parents. They were front line. The bomb happened right there; Right in front of them. At that very moment I didn't care about debris or crashing and burning buildings, I had to find my parents and Sawyer.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, dodging everything in my way. While running through the streets I saw families crying sitting along side their houses now toppled to the ground, or a member of the family; Dead. My heart grew with fear. That could be me. Sitting next to my dead family crying hysterically knowing I was alone.

I pushed the thought out of my mind and ran toward the Capitol where the bomb had occurred. The closer I got the worse. Bodies were now scattered everywhere along with blood and limbs. The sight was enough to make me nauseous but the smell was even worse. It was a mix between death,fire,and dirt.

Along side the road was a boy yelling.
"Help me!" He screamed. I considered just running away to look for my parents but something inside me yearned to help him. Any logical person might weigh the pros and cons of the situation at hand but frankly I didn't have time to compare and contrast.

"What's wrong?" After saying that I felt immensely stupid seeing blood staining his once navy blue t-shirt. He was sprawled out along the side of a ditch with his back arched against the asphalt. Sweat beads rolled down his tanned face.
"The explosion. Shards of glass came from a building and got me along with everything else." He lifted up his shirt to show me where the blood was coming from. His abdomen was spewing blood, a little more than I was comfortable with. While I was trying to compose myself from his wounds he peacefully stared at me. His green eyes roamed mine waiting for a response. The only problem was I was speechless. I wasn't a nurse, in fact I had no drive what so ever to be in the medical field.

"Okay. I'm going to take you back with me to a bunker and I'll get medical help." We were only 2 more blocks away from where my parents would have been front line. Turning back was something I knew they would want me to do. As for Sawyer, I hadn't found him dead on the streets which had to mean something, whether that means he's alive and okay or dead and somewhere else.

As I lifted him up I heard the bombs. We both dropped to the ground but this time it was worse, we were only a block or two away. Instantly our bodies collided on the ground, he winced in pain because I was on his wounded abdomen. Smoke filled the air. But this wasn't smoke. It was tinted blue and smelled of lilacs and hazelnut. An erie peaceful sent that my nostrils had never processed before.

"Poison, cover!" My immediate reaction was to hold my breath. We both looked at each other in that moment, neither of us knew each other, yet we were now bonded over certain death by poison. His green eyes searched mine in fear. That was the last thing I saw.

Hi guys! If you enjoyed chapter one of The Switch please vote and share with others! This chapter alone has taken me a long time to write and it would mean a lot if you would share your input on the story! And as always I hope you all have a lovely day.