Secret of the Night

Chapter 1

*Girl's POV*

I can't fathom the true mass of the situation. Yes, I might be only 16 years old, but I understand a thing or two. This is not one of those things. My city, my friends, my family, gone. Everything is gone. How it happened, I don't know. If anything happens to me, or my pet, I couldn't find someone to help. I am living in a city of barren wilderness, and I am all alone. Or so I thought.

*Boy's POV*

What happened to everything? It's like everyone just left. Why? I wouldn't know. I pick up my last possession. It's a small ball about the size of my hand. Why I kept this, I don't know. I could've kept my phone, or a blanket, but no. I chose a ball. Of everything that's happened in the last few weeks, this isn't even the most confusing. It all happened so fast I didn't have time to process it. First, I found out that I was supposed to serve our country, with no training what-so-ever.

*Girl's POV*

Second of all, this war was nuclear. I was the only one to have been given the immunity shot when the explosion went off. It was like black smoke had covered everything, dissolving everyone it touched. Except me. I picked up my emergency backpack and slung it over my shoulder. Crying ain't going to give me shit right now... I think. I take a short swig of my water bottle and keep moving. I whistle, and my grey tabby cat runs up to me, following. I'm pretty sure I've been wandering around here for days. I'm hungry and tired. I sigh and say.

"All right, Flint, we're off again." Flint meows in reply, looking up at me with his bright green eyes. I see a shape in the distance, through the abandoned, leaning skyscrapers. Another person? I think with joy. I don't run to them though. For all I know, he could be a mutant. I just walk cautiously, toward the shape. As I get closer, I can identify features on the boy, and confirm that he is indeed, not a mutant. My head feels light at the rush of relief that flows through me.

*Boy's POV*

I look to my left, and see a girl, my age, with a cat, walking toward me. I cautiously wave, and she waves back. She's pretty, with long blond hair drawn up in a tight ponytail, and green eyes.

"I'm Caliana." She says, smiling. I smile back.

"I'm James," I reply. "You got the immunity shot too?" I ask. Caliana nodded.

"I thought I was the only one." She says, furrowing her brow. "But I guess we were the first in our groups." She adds. I shrug.

"Who's he?" I ask, pointing to Flint.

"He's my cat. It seems he somehow got the immunity too." Caliana picks him up, petting his head. He let out a happy purr and jumped down to the broken pavement.

*Caliana's POV*

I'm just glad he's not a douche bag. I think, amused.

"So, what do we do now?" I draw out the words, confused. He ponders for a moment.

"Try to find somewhere not infected." His reply made me roll my eyes.

"Well obviously, but where do we go?" This stumps him. "Let's just pick a direction, and start walking, I guess," I say, after a moment of silence. James shrugs and picks up the ball.

"I guess so." He murmurs. All I can think as we walk down the pavement is that there's nothing left for us. There's nothing left at all.