The Timer

Chapter 1: Endless Pit of Darkness

An endless pit of darkness. It felt as if the sky surrounded and swallowed me. The sky engulfed me in a never ending blanket or pure emptiness. "Everyone stay indoors," A newscaster said.

I quickly turned around from the window I was facing to find my family sitting in the living room. A timer was planted on the bottom of the screen reading 0:2:30.48. This was not the first time that this has happened in the small country of Bymerrow. In fact, the country was so small that almost everyone knew everyone and knew almost everything about them. The only thing they did not know, was how much was left on their timers. From the moment you are born, everyone is given a timer. The timer has a specific time counting down to a major life event. We are not told what it is, all we know is that it could be a huge benefit, or something terrible. Only the owner of the timer can see it, and you are not allowed to tell anyone your time. When your time is up, your timer starts buzzing and your event begins. My mother told me her timer buzzed when she had me, May Willows. When the president is in office and his timer is down to 2 days, he is allowed to tell the country, in case of an emergency. "0:2:11.23" The TV read, that was how long until the presidents timer ended.

As the day went on the timer got shorter. Now, my Mom, my Dad, and my 9 year old sister Vivian, sat in front of the TV. There was only 10 minutes left. As the time got shorter and shorter, my family hugged each other and silently whispered prayers. We vowed to never lose each other, even if it was something bad. With only 30 seconds to go, we began to hear strange noises from coming outside our house. We hugged tighter, knowing that we may never see each other again. The TV started counting down, 10, 9, 8, 7... it was like new years, except nobody was celebrating. 4, 3, 2... 1. The whole house began to shake. Vases fell off shelves, floor boards were cracking, Vivian screamed. We managed to escape the house just as the second story collapsed.Outside, dust filled the air. I took a look around the neighborhood. Every house looked as if it came straight of a horror movie. Some of them were even on fire. As I was looking around I realized something, I had no idea where my family was. I began running around, but frantic people everywhere. After about 30 minutes, a soft sobbing was heard from behind me. I dismissed it for a neighbor and began running again. But again I heard it around the same spot I had heard it the last time. I turned around to find no one. I was alone, I thought. Then I heard it again. This time I heard a bush rustle. I knew that cry. It was my sister. I quickly ran over to the garden and began searching through all of the shrubs. I moved my hand through a boxwood shrub. Peering in, I saw my sister, ashy and caked with dust. I reached even further into the bush and picked up her small frail body. I wiped away her tears as I returned to the sidewalk and away from the house. I tried to find people I knew. Someone shouted, "Cover your mouth and nose with your shirt! You can protect yourself from getting any ash or dust into your lungs." I quickly placed my coral sweater up the bridge of my nose. I was expecting Vivian to do the same, but she did not move, all she could manage was a weak cough. A placed my gray scarf over her small, fragile mouth. She needed help. Fast.

A quickly found a group of people who were heading into the dog park that was directly across the street from my house. I recognized many of the victims. There were many sad, crying, people sitting on the benches and the walking around the muddy field. Without hesitating, I began asking if anyone was a doctor, or if anyone could help my little sister. Victims of the attack were too worried or afraid to even hear me. I settled on a bench and placed Vivian by my side. "Will I die tonight May?" A weak voice asked.

" Vivian, you will be ok. I know this all seems dark and scary but I know both of us will pull through. All you need is a little hope." Her response was a raspy cough. Tired from yelling and crying, I laid my head on the bench and tried to get some rest. Although it was a struggle, I managed to close my eyes.