Chapter 11: Normality Fleeting

--- Harper Everette, Before The Event ---

(She lashed out with her blade cutting down another of the bandits that dared to raid her settlement before drawing her gun and shooting out another.

Behind her the sound of a raging beast drew her attention to her mutated war hound Berry the bloody, ripping through a bandit that had managed to sneak up on her.

“Good boy!” She called, earning a bark of acknowledgement from her only true companion in the radioactive wastes of the world.

Seeing that there were no bandits left here she instead turned in the direction the raiding party had come from before climbing onto Berry’s back and ordering him to, “Hunt!” as she pulled down her goggles.

Her war hound let loose a proud howl that would inspire those who followed her while terrifying those who fought against her, before setting out across the desert wastes in search of his prey.

With every stride of the great beast they tore through all that stood before them as the air swept through her hair, as they grew ever closer to the abandoned apartment building that the bandits had set their base inside of.

“Shh, we need to be quiet so they don’t hear us.” She told her faithful companion.

As quietly as they could they snuck through the building, their heads on a swivel in search of the remaining bandits, knowing that even if that raiding party had made up the bulk of their forces there was no way their cowardly leader would dare risk himself.

Following the various signs of life she made her way to an apartment on the third floor, and began to quietly open the door so that she could launch a sneak attack on the bandit lead-)

“Hey, Harper!”

She jumped half a foot in the air as she was snapped out of her day dream, before turning to find her neighbor Leo -a tall thin latino boy with angular features- waiting behind her.

“Uh, hey, Leo.” She greeted back as she tried to fight down her embarrassment at being caught in one of her fantasies by one of the few friends who didn’t know just how much of a daydreamer she really was.

“So, um, you’ve got a sec?” Leo asked. “Or, uh, are you busy right now?”

“Uh, yeah, I’ve got a sec.” She nodded before holding up Berry’s leash. “Just let me get Berry inside.”

“Sure, sure.” Leo nodded back

Once she’d gotten her good boi stashed back in her apartment she turned back to her newest friend. “So, uh, what’s up?”

“Well, um, you know how I’m kind of new to town and stuff?” Leo checked.

“Yeah,” She shook her head. “Still can’t believe you just upped and moved at our age like that. Don’t think I’d have the stones to do that myself.”

As much as she might dream about a life of adventure, she knew she wasn’t the kind of person who could just up and start over on a whim or dream like Leo, whatever his dream may be. (And I’m pretty sure Leo is still a couple years younger than me.)

“Heh, uh, thanks.” Leo smiled bashfully. “Well, the thing is, um, I was kind of wondering if uh, you’d like to hang out sometime? I mean, maybe catch a movie or… something.”

“Oh!” She blinked, feeling a bit of heat in her face. “Are… are you asking me out?”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“Um.” Leo swallowed before nodding. “Yeah, yeah I am.”

“You mean, like… a date?” She hadn’t actually had anyone just walk up to her and ask her out before. Her few ‘romantic ventures’ had just been her making out with someone at a party in high school and then maybe hanging out once or twice outside of them, but definitely nothing since she graduated. (Heh, he really does have a pair on him.)

“If you want, though if you don’t we could just hang out like friends… I uh, don’t have many of those in the city.” Leo admitted, running a hand over the back of his neck. “No pressure either way, it’s just you’re kind of uh… cute and uh, hot and… yeah…”

“Oh, uh, thanks…” She blushed. “Heh…”

(You know what, I shouldn’t just leave romance to my dreams… If Leo is willing to take a chance on asking me out, then… I can give him a chance…)

She nodded to herself. “Yeah, you know what. Yeah, I am free and I uh, I-I want it to be a real date!”

Leo’s eyes went wide. “R-really! I, uh, that’s, that’s great! When, when are you free?”

“Um, how about, how about this Sunday?” She had Monday off… (Not that that means anything…) (It does.)

“Then I’ll uh, I’ll pick you up on Sunday at say… eight?” Leo offered.

“Yeah, eight sounds good.” She agreed.

“Great!” Leo smiled as he started walking backwards towards his apartment, “I’ll uh, I’ll see you then!”

“Yeah.” She smiled back.

Leo bumped into his door before giving her one last wave as he retreated into his home.

Not even ten seconds later she heard a loud “Yeeesss!!!” rip through the air, forcing a giggle out of her. (He’s such a goof.)

--- Max Miller, Before The Event ---

“This is my fault.” Her dad told her after several minutes of awkward silence in the car.

“Uh, I’m the one who started the fire.” She felt the need to point out. “That was kind of my choice.”

“Maybe but you wouldn’t be acting out like this if I was around more.” Her dad argued. “I’ve been so caught up with work stuff that I’ve been neglecting you ever since my promotion.”

“It’s whatever.” She shrugged. “I’m old enough to watch myself.” (Always have been.)

“But you shouldn’t have to.” Her dad sighed, running a hand over his graying mustache before sitting up straight. “Which is why there are going to be some changes.”

(Oh, god…) “What kind of changes?” She grimaced.

“For one I’ll be pulling fewer all nighters so I can be home for you more.” He promised.

“Okay…” She couldn’t tell if that one was good or bad, because while she enjoyed the nights he came home she wasn’t sure if she’d react the same if it was a more frequent thing.

She knew she wasn’t what you’d call a ‘people person’.

“Next I’ve made an agreement with your principal to keep you out of detention.” Her dad continued. “Instead we’re going to sign you up for one of our youth programs meaning you’ll be spending your after school time down at the station with other kids learning more about how the police operate.”

“Ugh, I already know how cops work.” She groaned. “Remember you used to drag me down to the station all the time when I was a kid.”

“True but this time you’ll actually be getting involved in some of the nitty gritty stuff we couldn’t let a ten year old get involved with.” Her dad explained. “We’ll bounce you between a couple of departments, and if you do well enough in any of them we might be able to fast track you into the station when you graduate.”

“And if I don’t want to be a cop?” She asked, beginning to feel yet another headache.

“Nonsense, you’re smart and you love helping people, I mean your principal was just telling me how much you help the school with maintaining their computers.” Her dad laughed. “In fact I’m sure you’d do fantastic in IT or ooh, you love science, maybe forensics is in your future!”

“That’s… Ugh…” She groaned, leaning her head against the cool glass of the window as the throbbing grew worse.

“Uh, Maxy you okay? You’re looking a little pale.” Her dad frowned.

“Yeah, just… just a headache.” She’d gotten them often enough that it wasn’t a big deal for her anymore.

Her dad didn’t look entirely convinced. “If you want I can pull over, grab you some ibuprofen or something.”

She waved him off as she closed her eyes. “No, just… Let’s just get home… so I can… I can lie down…”

“Alright, if you’re sure.” Her dad reluctantly agreed.

“I a-” The air itself screamed as a thousand ice picks drove themselves into her skull.

She faintly heard her dad scream, “MAX!” before her head thumped lifelessly against the dashboard as everything faded into the silent scream that sounded far too familiar.