Chapter 1
It was 10:00am Monday morning. I got up and did my usual morning things: I read the paper while I ate breakfast, I went to tidy up my room and I watched TV. "The Morning News" was showing, as usual. Rover, my German Shepherd pet dog, sat down next to me as I watched. I watched the people talk animatedly about a new movie release. It's been awhile since I've seen anyone, I contemplated.
After awhile, the show moved on from the movie release to do a special story on family. In the show, everyone was smiling and happy. There were a few tears but soon they were all gone. I patted Rover and looked out the window. I noticed a weird tightening sensation in my chest.
All of a sudden, Rover started barking loudly. What is it? Who could it be? I thought to myself. There were no signs of life that I could tell. I put on my oxygen mask and grabbed a gun, telling Rover to stay inside. I walked outside and looked around. From the corner of my eye I saw a shadow.
I hid against a wall as I crept slowly towards the figure. No one is supposed to be here, I thought. I'm supposed to be all alone. I took a few deep breathes to calm myself down and glanced once again at the shadow; but it was gone. I panicked and ran out from my cover. I looked aimlessly not wanting to lose the person. And there, crouched down and holding their arm, blood trailing slowly down, was a young boy I had never seen before.
"What’s your name?" I asked.
"M – m – m – y – y name is Mark” he replied shyly.
" Where’s your family?" I asked again.
" They ... They ... were killed by ... by ... these robots" the boy replied " I was with my friends and when I went back home, I ... I saw these robots attacking my family, I didn’t know what to do so ... so I ran ... ran away”
The boy started bawling, as if bad memories were once again resurfacing.
I stilled, unsure of what to do. I could tell this was the truth. My army training had prepared me for liars and this little boy was not one.
"Would you like to come inside and having something to eat?" I couldn't just leave him here. I didn't know where he had come from and how he had gotten here, but leaving him was out of the question.
He hastily wiped his eyes, embarrassed to have been caught crying. "Y-y-yes please."
He quickly stood up and followed cautiously behind me. We both hung up our oxygen masks and I put away my gun. He stood behind me the whole time, unsure of what to do. I smiled at him, "This way," and pointed him to the kitchen.
Rover ran madly towards us. He was happy to see someone new in the house and he stopped right in front of the boy to lick his face. The boy was laughing and it brought tears in my eyes to see someone so happy. After, I grabbed a packet of 2 minute noodles, cooked it and gave it to the boy. Then I showed him his room, and grabbed him some new clothes. it was weird with someone else living in the house.
"Tomorrow's going to be a big day” I said to the boy, “We’re going to get some food”
"But how are we going to that with ... with ... all those ... robots everywhere?” asked the boy
"You will see tomorrow” I replied “But for now, get some sleep”
I closed the door behind him and leaned against it, listening. I suddenly heard snuffling sounds. I got scared that he was crying but then decided to leave him alone- at least for the first night.
I went into the kitchen and cleaned the two bowls. Rover walked beside me the whole time I did these chores. I was stern about him not sleeping in my bed, but sometime during the night I felt the familiar presence, and just like I usually did, I let him stay there.
