◦ fading

. . .

              • #CAClesson1

              • word count: 801

              • part [2/3]

17th April 2144

5:02am

She stood just under the trapdoor of the bunker, her hand trembling against the cold metal, the only thing that separated her from the outside. Despite fear, she was determined. Blair was over 70 kilometres away, she had to move out soon to make it there before the sunset. Although she had no idea what would she have to face once she’s out, it seemed less scary when her alternative was to die alone in a cold bunker with just a few candles left.

The trapdoor proved to be stronger than she had anticipated, but she managed to open it eventually. The light blinded her immediately and she felt her lips smile in the warm sunlight. A smile that faded, however, once her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. Everything around her was. . . turned into dust, white dust slightly similar to sand. She stood up and started walking, mentally preparing herself for the longest walk she’s ever had.

8:30pm

Twenty minutes prior, a storm had begun. The wind with a strength of a hurricane, making the dust fly in all directions. Her legs moved without her mind ing, her eyes closing twice a minute, desperate for some rest. Walking became harder with each step she took, her arm tried to shield her head from the dust enveloping her. The tear tracks on her cheeks slowly drying. She wouldn’t make it. She couldn’t.

She wanted to rest so badly, just close her eyes and let herself be taken away from this world by sleep, at least for a few hours. Even sleeping on the cold floor of her bunker seemed more appealing at the moment. She pulled out her map, gripping it tightly. Another round of tears blurred her vision as she realised she should be there now. She was in the right place and yet. . . nothing was there. The sun already on the horizon, slowly making it’s way down the sky. The night was coming, and she didn’t make it. Did she read the coordinates incorrectly? Did she lose the count of her steps?

Her mind was clouded, lips dry, and the last bottle of water empty. The tears kept running as she stood in the middle of nowhere, nowhere that appeared to be everything this planet had now, and stared at the setting Sun.

She was alone, there was nobody who could help her and she failed. How could she believe that she would be able to pull this off, what a stupid, stupid idea that was. She let out a sob, giving up on trying to control her feelings. The night was coming and she had nowhere to go. She would die there, forgotten.

Suddenly, her legs gave up and she screamed in pain as her knees hit the ground beneath her. Ground that felt like. . . metal.

Her dusted hands scanned the trapdoor beneath her, revealing it from under the thousand layers of dust. Trapdoor that was surprisingly opened.

9:13pm

With the last reserves of her strength, she wandered around the small bunker. It was empty, there was no sight of Blair or anyone in there. Something was wrong and she could feel it in her stomach. Her heart screaming, pounding in an attempt to warn her. But it was too late as she heard a loud crack.

Having run to the trapdoor immediately, she punched the cold metal with all she had left, but her efforts were to no avail. Something, or someone, closed it from the outside. Her skin breaking, thin lines of blood running down her palms. As she finally stopped her fight, she could hear a familiar voice outside screaming:

“Sorry baby.” Followed by what definitely sounded like a vehicle.

And just for a moment, her energy came back rushing into her system along with the increasing amount of rage. She re-entered the cold room with loud steps and screamed into the void. Her leg kicked the radio standing on the floor, smashing it against an old desk. She felt like a fool, another scream escaped her lips as she approached the grey wall and threw the first punch. First, for her being so stupid. Second, for believing someone. Third, for letting her emotions take over. Fourth, for her hurting heart. Fifth, for unwanted tears spilling down her cheeks. Sixth, just for the sake of it. The bones in her hand cracked, she opened her mouth in attempt to scream, gasp, breathe even. . . all stopped by the overtaking pain.

Turning around, leaning against the wall, she slowly slid downwards. Sobbing uncontrollably. Her hands aching, but no physical pain was anywhere close to what she was feeling.

Idiot. Naive. Stupid. Weak. That’s what she was.

She let herself fall, again. But this time, she wasn’t planning on standing back up.

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