Nobody (TW)
Posted March 12th, 2023 by ElizieAngelina
in Inkopolis (jk, it's Texas.)
March 12th, 2023
It's a normal Friday night.
Or, at least, it was until I turned on the TV.
Rather than flashing images of the latest news, my dark living room was instead illuminated by red lights. Rather than happy voices prepared to announce the latest media, electronic, text-to-speech voices stood in their place.
"County of Los Angeles, I am afraid that we will collapse as a city. Because of escalating tensions between the United States of America and the Russian Federation, a bomb has been launched toward us. It will strike in less than an hour. At this moment, we suggest you pack up your belongings, bring friends and family along, and drive as far away from Los Angeles as possible. Wear face coverings at all times to prevent any inhalation of chemical gases. If you are unable to perform any activity, stay close to love ones and treasure the rest of your time. May God bless Los Angeles. May God bless America. Thank you for your cooperaiton."
My skin ran cold. Goosebumps formed on my pale arms, and the room felt ten times hotter. My vision became obscured, likely from panic. I didn't waste any time rushing into the hallway and calling Mia's phone. Ever since my parents had died, I was left to fend for myself. Mia served as my mom, in a way or two. When the phone picked up, a feeling of relief washed over me. "Mia?!" I scream. "Oh my gosh, thank God you're here. Come to my house. Pick me up. Pick Karen and Sylvia up."
The phone didn't answer.
"Mia?!" I yell. "Come on! Respond!"
Finally, Mia spoke, but they were not the words I wanted to hear.
"Olivia," she answered, her tone solemn. "I'm afraid I can't come."
I grip the phone harder. "What do you mean, you can't come?!"
The phone went quiet again, before Mia kept saying, "I want to spend my last moments with my family. I just realized that I didn't spend enough time with them until now. I need to tell my mom I love her. I need to be a good daughter again. Promise me you'll pick up Karen and Sylvia. Knowing them, they wouldn't want to stay in their homes."
Almost hysterical, I can't keep my temper down. "And you would?!"
I hear light sobbing. "I've got to go. Make sure the girls are safe. You've been a good friend, Olivia.. I love you...but maybe it's time to start loving the man above."
The phone hangs up.
Bitter, I slam it down, hands gripping the table. "CRAP!" I scream, tears obscuring my vision. I want to hate Mia. I want to hate her for valuing her family, whom she always vented to me about how they were so terrible to her, and I couldn't help but agree. I want to hate her for leaving us behind. But somehow, through my anger, rage and tears, I can't hate Mia. I love her too much. We've been friends for the longest time.
It's time to save Karen and Sylvia.
I wipe tears out of my eyes and walk upstairs into my room. My closet is open, as if to greet me. Inside, under layers of clothes, rests my suitcase. I brush off dust and pick it up. Surprisingly, it's bigger than I had originally thought it out to be-one of the only remnants of my childhood. Inside, I threw in clothes. So many jeans and clothes. Inside the closet, underneath the suitcase's position, was also a Walmart bag, kept in perfect condition. Hands grabbing everywhere, my shoes fly into the bag. In no time, my suitcase is ready and the bag is tied into a secure knot. Carrying both in my aching hands, I try to be strong and force a smile into my mirror.
Back down the hallway, into the living room, and out my door for the last time.
On my driveway sits my Toyota, fully loaded with gas. I open its trunk and unload my bag and suitcase inside. There, that should be enough room for Karen and Sylvia's things. Right?
I get inside the car, shoving my key inside and looking back at my house which I will never see again. Without thinking, I wave back, closing my eyes before opening them again and forcing the car's handle position from P to D.
Karen isn't too far, just across the street. From outside, I can hear alerts ringing across the town.
Screaming. So much screaming.
People running down the roads. Gosh, why didn't I think about that?
It doesn't matter anymore. Los Angeles is going to be destroyed.
My car screeches onto Karen's driveway. As soon as I walk to the front door and ring her doorbell, she pops out just as quickly. "Oh my gosh, Olivia!" she screams. "You're here! Wait a minute. Where's Mia? Shouldn't she be with you?"
A lump forms in my throat, and before I know it, I buckle to the ground, sobbing. Tears pour out of my eyes, and I'm pretty sure that I look like the embodiment of the waterworks.
"Aww, Olivia," Karen whimpers, reaching down. "What happened?"
Choking on tears, I wail, "M-Mia not c-coming she's going t-to be with her f-family."
Karen looks shocked. "Mia's not coming?"
I look up. "No."
Karen places a hand to her forehead. "No, this cannot be happening. NO. MIA WAS OUR ONLY HOPE BECAUSE SHE KNEW HOW TO GET US OUT OF THIS TOWN!"
That does it. That's all it takes to make my sobs turn into wailing screams.
But even still, the yells of the running people drown out my cries.
"It'll be okay, it'll be okay," Karen comforts.
We shuffle into her house, and Sylvia is there, looking at the wall. I'm still sniffling as we walk inside, our footsteps the only thing breaking the silence. Karen looks at Sylvia. "Uhm, Sylvie?" she asks. "You okay?"
Sylvia looks back, tears streaming down her eyes, gulping. "I heard everything."
I reach for Sylvia's hand. "I k-know. We've got to go. Leave Los Angeles. There's no time to pack up. That bomb is going to strike."
She looks up. "I know."
We gather into a group, walking out the front door. "Who wants the window seat?"
Sighing, Karen nods. I shuffle into the car, buckling myself inside. Karen sits next to me, and Sylvia is in the backseat.
We begin driving through Los Angeles, hoping we can find a way out.
"Dang," Karen mumbles.
Sylvia looks at the clock. "We've only got around 40 minutes left. Drive faster, Olivia!"
I step on the gas. "I'm trying!"
Cars zoom toward my direction, but I am faster. I zoom across open traffic, even more shouts erupting around me. Karen holds onto her seat, screaming. "Aaah! AAAAAAAH!"
After millions of cars, I've made it out alive.
Sylvia screams in happiness.
We all do.
But it becomes a different kind of scream as another car plows into ours and we fall out.
We sit on the side of the road, watching the car tumble over and burst into flames.
Preparing for certain death.
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yo this is pretty solid.
wow.
just wow
sorry im i writer, but i just can't find the words.
okay ill just find the word.
favorited!
Dragon lover? (sorry its going a little slow) plz cc https://www.kidpub.com/book-page-or-chapter/land-dragons-introduction-33...
"Forgive me. I forgot you existed"~Clare