Downtown New Jersey (9:58am)

[Carlie Anne Gibbons]

Carlie left her house like anyother day with her brother Tristin, who always took her to school. She was very close to her brother, and she always enjoyed him around. They reached just outside of school doors and entered in. Tristin walked her to her class and then gave her a hug. "I'll see you after school, you know where to wait for me...just like everyday" he said to her. "I know...I know" she said to him as she hugged him back.

Carlie went to class and started her day. She was given assighnments to last her until the first reccess. She continued to do her assignments, and looked up at the clock and it read 9:57am. She was already tired of these assignments, and she put her hand up to be excused so she could go to the bathroom. The teacher alowed her to go, and Carlie left the classroom.

She closed the door and headed down the hall to the girl washroom. She just got to the outside of the door and the hallway started to turn black. It was like all the sunlight was leaving the world. Carlie watched as the blackness grew near to her, and then all of a sudden there was a loud bang, as the ground began to shake. It started to get worse and worse, and Carlie headed for the safest place she could think of...the basement.

She ran and ran as debries was falling everywhere, there were screams and frolic around, and it made her terrified. She made her way down and found a custodial room that was fairly far back in the wall. She tucked herself inside and waited for whatever was going on to end. After a few hours there was no more sounds, that she could hear anyways. She opened the door and she was shocked about what she had seen. She made her way upstairs and it was a mess, and everyone was crying and there were bodies everywhere.

Carlie was so scared that she just ran away from there. She was scared for her brother, whom she didn't see anywhere and of course her home and her family. Carlie started to leave and ran to go and find her house. she was young and she never really paid attention to how she could get home, because her brother was always there. She was now lost, there was disaster everywhere, and she was alone. The earth began to shake, and things began to fall from the sky and she slid and hid into a sewer pipe until it passed. She was so scared, she didn't know what she was going to do all alone.

[Chase Walters]

Chase left the building slowly. He was still not sure what had happened but what ever it was, it had done a lot of damage. Actually, a lot was not even a good term for it. Everything he could see was destroyed. Chase stood there for a long time breathing hard from fear and looking around. The sky was a overcast of black smoke. People lay dead on the sidewalks and road. Vehicles were crushed against others and pole or turned over on their sides. Windows were broken and there was not a living person to be seen.

"Hello!" Chase called out loudly. He prayed that someone, anyone would answer him. There was no reply. Then it hit him. The Nuclear bombs...they had not just been a threat. Chase paled. His mother... His sister... He was still here and they were in Jersey. He started to run now. He was dress in his military combats and his boots pounded against the pavement. The Rifle slung across his back bounced as he ran.

Chase moved around cars and bodies. He stumbled a few times and before long, he was covered in sweat. He took off the jacket leaving him with a forest green t-shirt. He was terrified and confused. It was nearly forty-five minutes before he reached the Tunnel leading to Jersey. Chase entered but only got a few feet before he realized that the tunnel was clogged with cars.

He turned and headed down the separate walkaway to find more bodies. Chase did his best to get through without touching anyone but it didn't work. He fell a few times and by the time he reached the other end, he smelled of the dead and felt that he would never get the scent off him. He came across a sewer pipe and having tried to wipe the scent from his hands onto his pants, he crouched at a puddle of water from the pipe to try and wash the smell away.

[Carlie Anne Gibbons]

Carlie was scarred, there was no denying. Even at such a young age she was concerned about her family and she just wanted to go home. She hid there in the sewer pipe and shivered as she was so cold.

While waiting there and holding her bear, which was one of the only possesions she had with her, she heard a voice. She listened further and then didn't hear another word. She preyed for herself and her family while she was stranded there in the sewer pipe, as it was one of the only places that seemed safe enough for her.

She then seen a figure, crouching almost right next to her. She noticed the army clothes right away and knew that she would be safe. She squirmed out of the sewer pipe a bit and whispered at the man. "Excuse me?", she asked with tears in her eyes. "Can you please help me find my family...please sir?" she asked him begging for his help.

[Chase Walters]

Chase was lost in his own thoughts as he continued to move his hands in the water. He had to get back to base. He had to find his family. He could not be the only person left. This was insane it was like something out of some horror movie. He wiped his hands on his pants and then ran a hand through his blond hair. "Excuse me?" Chase heard the whispered words.

They might as well have been yelled right in his ear for the reaction Chase had to the human voice. Chase flinched away from the voice and tottered off balance before falling to the side. He twisted and then fell onto his arse. Chase glanced at the girl with wide blue eyes and a thoroughly surprised look on his face. It took him a good ten minutes to actually be able to speak.

Help? She wanted help? Slowly he got control of himself and scrambled to his feet. Chase nodded his head now. "Of course." He said finally being able to speak. He cleared his throat. "How did you survive?" He asked her. "Where do you live? Where are parents?" Chase brushed off his clothes and then gave a embarrassed smile.