My name is Harriet Fontaine and this is my story.
A year passed since me and my family left our hometown, Coleshire, Zone twenty, before World War III in 2111 started. Arcania was once called America. But after the Hydrogen bombing that ended the war and wiped almost one-fourth of the population of the earth, the state government decided to change the names of the destroyed cities and move on from the traumatic event that the world mourned for eighty years.
We arrived at the Basil airport, Zone four, on May 17, 2191. My father and I had an argument before we packed our bags because I never wanted to leave my friends and the house I used to live with my whole life just to move here. I understand that my father wants to move on from the pain that he suffers after my mother died of cancer but I still wished we did not have to sell the house and start a new life in an unfamiliar town.
Mothers death was a hard blow to our family and it was a hard decision for dad to sell the house and buy one, here in Basil. He told me the house reminded him of her. Every corner of it, every room, he sees her. And before he gets insane because of his sorrow, he had to make us move to a brand new house, a new town where he could move on from the grief of losing her.
My family had a middle-class type of living. My father is a Mechanical Engineer working in a Power Plant in Coleshire. My mother was a doctor and was always busy working on some projects that she never told us. She was a very secretive one, my mother. I had a very normal but exciting high school life, thanks to my good friends there that have been with me since my grade school years and my ex-boyfriend, Greg, who was once my best friend first before we decided that we should date.
I knew a long-distance relationship won't work for us so we both decided to split and focus more on school. I never wanted to be selfish with Greg. He"s a good guy and he deserves someone better than me although we both felt that we still love each other. He promised to visit me here in Basil though after we both graduate from Senior High School. I wish he would still remember that but I didn't want to get my hopes up. But if he would, then I will be the luckiest girl alive.
"Harriet, I'm going to miss mom… and home," Carl said sadly, his lips forming a pout.
"I know. Me too." I whispered to him as I hugged him gently.<br />Dad had made the greatest regret of his life after we arrived at the airport.
We got stranded inside for three days because of the news of new bomb threats from the new Terrorist group rising and claiming to control the whole of Arcania. After World War III, countries have been struggling for every resource of primary human needs especially food and water since so many lands have left discarded because some parts were still radioactive from the atomic bombs released during the war in several parts of the northern countries Aisea.
There was an angry mob that's been yammering on the management of the airport for holding them back from wanting to return home. Armed soldiers were marching around the place, search dogs busy sniffing bags and any objects that were suspicious enough to contain a bomb.
Exasperated and disappointed, I held my five-year-old brother closer to me as I watched the people shout at the clerks. I tried to hide Carl's face on my shoulder, away from the scary scene of frustrated people so he didn't get too scared. Some were mumbling complaints while there were anxious and stressed parents consoling their wailing child.
There were no beds and we've been stuck in the lobby so I and my father decided to place one of my blankets on the cold floor for Carl to sleep with while I and dad struggled to sleep while sitting upright, leaning our backs on the wall of a fast-food chain restaurant that was already closed and out of service. The management of the place gave us bottled water and foods stuffed in a plastic container instead. Some look edible, some aren't.
The authority's response to the angry mob was for them to make sure that no one from the inside of the airport caught the mysterious disease that's been rumored as deadly to people who will make contact with the infected. I thought about bird flu or something. They called it maximum safety measures. Our disappointment only roared louder because we were informed that such a hazardous disease had been spreading and we'd been here for days. We're all terrified it might have already spread among the people here.
"Are you not convinced enough?! We've been here for days and you have already searched every baggage here in this area!" yelled one of the men wearing a suit and was standing in front of the exit gate.
I was trying to make Carl fall asleep after his crying for hours because of the rising outrage of the adults. Then to our horror, a terrifying sound of a gunshot echoed in the vast hall of the lobby area full of a distressed mob of people.
"Where is Col. Morgan? I want to talk to him." said the guy about my age, blonde, blue eyes with hair a little longer than his bangs almost reached his eyes.
He made a quick glance at me and our eyes met, his haughty gaze shifted quickly towards the uniformed soldiers guarding the exit. The guy was reeking of arrogance as he marched past me and dad while his two bodyguards who were wearing formal black suits followed behind him, pushing the crowds away from their boss.
"I'm the son of Gerard Flitzenberg, CEO of the Flitzenberg Corporation. I just arrived from vacation and I need to get back to the City for urgent business." the aristocrat guy informed the soldier, who flinched from his presence after he claimed that he"s the son of the Billionaire Car Company owner.
I recognized that he has a resemblance to the man after he mentioned his last name. He was very popular and has been on some covers of magazines. Dad bought his book about how to run a proper business that he didn't even read and just left untouched on the bookshelves.
"I apologize for the huge inconvenience sir, but we can't allow anyone, even the son of a business tycoon to leave the premises of the building." the soldier answered.
"What?! Are you being serious?!" the guy scoffed incredulously. "I can't stay here!"
The two bodyguards of the guy stepped forward, intimidating the soldier but the man didn't falter, yet, I saw him swallow a lump on his throat, a nervous reaction.
I shook my head and I know it was evil but I laughed silently at the guy who acted like a child as he stomp his feet away from the guarding soldier. His bodyguards followed him once again like American bulldogs that must have a sack of patience to tolerate such behavior. I could not believe he thought of using his privilege as the son of a wealthy man and using it as a threat to the soldiers, hoping they would treat him differently.
I felt sorry for him though.
"Kid, I'm sorry for dragging you both in this situation." dad apologized and pat my shoulder. "I didn't expect this would happen. We were so ready to start a new life here..."
"It's ok dad. No one wants this to happen." I said to him and sadly smiled at him while we both watch with a sigh the disarray and confusion happening inside the lobby.
Then a sound like an approaching helicopter stopped everyone from everything they were doing.
"I think there's nothing to worry since—"
Dad's next words were cut by the sound of an earsplitting explosion that made the whole building tremble and the glass panes on the wall cracked, threatening to shatter and burst towards the people near them. I screamed in terror and closed my ears with my both hands and when I opened my eyes to look for Carl, he was already in dad's arms, protecting him from anything. People were all scared and started to panic.
I saw the fear in his face as he pulled me against his side while he was clutching Carl, his arm over my brother's head. The lights in the lobby flickered as the people screamed and cried for the names of their family members who strayed too far from them when the explosion happened.
The whole place was filled with shouts of women and hysterical cries and wails of children. Some of them were still lying cautiously on the cold ground. The soldiers abruptly moved and ran towards the place where the explosion happened and checked the damages it has done and if anyone got injured. Some went to check for the civilians in the lobby for safety and the medic team and nurses that were working in the airport immediately rushed towards those who got hurt from the flying debris and shattered glasses.
I felt like my whole world trembled by the intensity of the explosion. My body was shaking terribly until I realized that the sounds of flying machines hovering above the building were fighter jets mercilessly dropping bombs all over the place.
"What's happening?!" A woman screeched while holding her crying baby, her face so red.
"LET US OUT!" the panicking people demanded, a horde of desperate men and women flooded the exit gate of the lobby.
"Dad, I'm so scared." Carl cried his hands in a tight embrace around dad. My mind was in shambles, my heart pounding fast. I was more alarmed when more explosions were heard not too far from the building like the attackers were aiming to destroy the runways and the airplanes stuck in the airport.
"Harriet, listen. Take care of Carl while I check what's happening. Here." he gave Carl to me and I embraced my brother as I sat in a corner, horrified, with our rucksacks and suitcases around me. "I'll be back."
I anxiously nodded at him, worried for my father's safety and terrified of the crowd that kept on pushing their way towards the gate.
I knew my dad went to proper military training but that was not enough reason for me to not feel scared for our lives. It appears that the rumors about the bomb were true and the terrorists have already initiated their dreading threat against Arcania.
"Harriet what's going on?" Carl's small, quivering voice made me almost cry. But I didn't want him to see that I was also scared so I faked a smile on him, my eyes were too wide. Then I realized it's useless to lie to him when I'm also terrified of the situation. "E-everything's going to be fine. L-let's just wait for dad, ok?"
Carl nodded and hid his face again on my shoulder.
After half an hour, dad came back and was gritting his teeth in anger, looking agitated. He snatched our belongings from the floor and took Carl from me. He bid me follow him in an angry voice while I struggle in a hurry to carry my rucksack on my shoulders. I seldom see my dad this angry and it made me nervous about the reason behind his sudden vexation.
The atmosphere around the place was covered with tension and fear while the soldiers tried to calm the people down. It sounded absurd and ridiculous to me, especially in a situation like this, where anytime a bomb might drop down on any of us and blow our bodies like disheveled chunks of meat.
I stopped Dad, grasping his hand before we squeeze ourselves into the mob of people forcing their way towards the exit. "What's happening outside?!" I couldn't hide the panic in my voice.
"I'll explain later, kid. We must get out of here first." He answered back, his face full of desperation.
While we squeeze ourselves between the mass of moving crowd, dad held my hand tightly just so I won't get pushed away from them and I caught the glinting of fear in his eyes.
"Dad—"
"Harriet, listen to me. I-I'm sorry for all of this. I think this place is in serious danger aside from the bombs."
I frowned, confused about what he was trying to say. My heart was still beating so fast and my head was starting to feel dizzy with the adrenaline caused by the distressing shouts of people.
"What do you mean?! I can't understand you, dad." I sob emerged from my throat.
Dad lowered Carl to stand between us and held me both on my shoulders, his eyes wild with fear. I winced from the uncomfortable feeling I saw on the expression on his face. "I heard from one of the soldiers that the aerial attack happened in random places here, and—" he almost choked when he tried to swallow the lump on his throat. "and it happened that your grandma's house—"
"NO!" I cried, and stomped my feet in disbelief, my hands automatically covered my face that was already smeared with tears. Not grandma. It's not real!
His eyes were red as he fought himself not to cry too when he saw me bawled after hearing the grave news. There were beads of sweat formed on his forehead. "We need to get out of here. It's too dangerous if we'll let these soldiers stop us from leaving this place."
"But where are we supposed to go? Isn't it safer here that there were soldiers ready to defend us if the rebels suddenly decide to come down here?" I reasoned out, trying to weigh things because it's too risky to decide when you're afraid.
"You don't understand! They have biochemical weapons ready to release here, Harriet!"
It seemed like my mind went loading for seconds and his words become too incomprehensible to me. The crowd was too loud; the chaotic surrounding made my head feel dizzy. If we step outside that door exit, who knows if those armed soldiers won't place holes in our bodies? They were standing like boulders blocking the exit against the angry crowds, guns ready in their hands. There was no way they would let anyone out without any order from their superiors.
I could still hear the buzzing sound of the planes over the building.
"Why won't you just let us pass and get the hell out of here?!" an old, pudgy guy yelled, hands were already curled into fists, and was trying not to throw a punch on the soldier in front of him.
"Please stay calm! The Evacuation Unit is almost here! We beg you to fall in line for you to be transported safely and orderly. Please don't push each other!" a soldier informed us using a megaphone.
Another explosion happened and this time, I felt the floor trembled under my feet. The lights had totally shut down and everything went dark as the left side of the building cracked and large chunks of the walls and debris fell. The people screamed in unison after seeing the wreckage and exposed the starless sky above. We all saw the jet plains circling the place. Five? Seven? I wasn't sure.
Then I felt violent hands push me forward as I got squeezed in the middle of cramming adults desperate to move and get away from the destroyed part of the building. I saw how people become wild animals in a matter of seconds.
"DAD!!!"
I cried for dad when I no longer felt his hand on my wrist and searched for him among the crowd. I was squashed against the people in front of me; my hands were pushing desperately to give myself a little space to breathe as the people behind me kept on ramming forward.
I tried to tiptoe my feet to see what was happening on the outside because I heard roars of engines approaching the front of the exit area. I tried to stretch my neck to get a good view and saw huge military trucks lined outside the Exit gate. Their headlights illuminated the dark lobby.
The soldiers did their best to control the situation and assisted the people to form into four lines. I cried for Dad, hoping he'll hear my voice and pull me away from this crowd but it seemed like he disappeared in the sea of people and I the loss of electricity made my dilemma more stressful.
I tried to squeeze myself more and searched for him but it was no help. I wonder if he and Carl were already in one of those vehicles.
Still, I didn't give up and called for him while pushing through the crowd.
Then a firm grip pulled me and a tall soldier ordered me to stand on the line along with the strangers who mostly were adults with children. Every line was composed of ten people. A tiny spark of hope ignited in me but when I looked at their faces one by one, my heart suddenly felt like it would explode next out of dread of being separated from my family.
"Hey! Get in line! Women and Children first!"
"HARRIET!"
My head sharply turned toward the familiar voice and I saw dad on the other line, Carl still in his arms. He waved at me and talked to the officer near him.
I smiled as I cried and pushed my way towards them.
"Oh, Dad! You scared me!" I said while crying.
"Come on, we're next to get on the truck." He said a little happy from a newly found hope.
Dad was the one hoisted up first because Carl won't let the soldiers touch him. I waited down while our belongings lifted in it one by one. It was the last truck to transport civilians to a safer place but the soldiers promised there will be more to come.
And then, out of nowhere, a jet dropped a bomb near enough our spot to send me flying away from the truck. I felt the violent impact of my body against the rough surface of the road; my back hit the hard ground, almost knocking out all the air inside my lungs. I groaned in indescribable pain, the muscles in my body aching. My ears were ringing so bad that I thought my eardrums were shattered by the explosion.
I squeezed my eyes and blinked several times as I saw the unfortunate ones who were at the exact spot where the bomb was dropped had blown to bits. My brain must have shaken badly from the inside because it seemed like everything around me was in slow motion, my eyes too blurry to focus.
"HARRIET!"
I heard the screeching sound of tires. I had to squeeze my eyes so tight and then open them to steady my vision. I felt the sky fall upon me when the truck where Dad and Carl were in had already started to leave the area.
"No, no, no, no… WAIT!!!" I screamed and tried to run after the truck but my knees were wobbling, my body was still trembling from the shock of the explosion. I saw Dad scream something to the soldiers inside but it was too late for him, too late for me to get to them.
I brushed my hair with my hands out of fear and dismay as sobs emerged from my throat.
"DON'T LEAVE ME HERE, PLEASE!" I begged Dad but I doubt that he heard me as the last truck drove away from the airport.
