After Tomorrow: A CHBB Anthology

by Samantha Ketteman

  Earth was a new planet, a dry and desolate rock. The solar flares had been expected by the academia of the time, but they could never have imagined the extent of damage that those solar flares had done. Nora tried to remember how the Earth had looked when she had been a child, but she had only been six when the flares had destroyed the planet and most of the population.

  Those citizens of Earth had only survived by living underground, seeking shelter when the first effects of the solar flares had begun to appear. People had been warned to stay inside, but in such high temperatures, modern technology hadn’t been able to keep up. Families roasted in their homes, the abodes turned into a virtual oven. Most went to sleep and never woke up. Nora’s parents had seen her neighborhood die off, and had retreated to the caves and caverns used for tourists throughout the region. Her family was one of the last accepted, before the other citizens had been turned away.

  The temperature changes had been the hardest to acclimate to once they returned from the bowels of the Earth. The landscape had been scorched, everything changed and foreign. Nora remembered losing so many of the citizens to the heat of the day and the bitter cold of the night. She had learned to build a fire early enough for the flames to have time to battle the frost as it moved in.

  Nora shook her head, letting the past slip away. Get your head in the game, Nora! The sun was setting, and the temperature was beginning to drop. She needed to find shelter and start a fire before she froze to death.

  Walking towards a small patch of dying trees, in what was probably once a lush and flowering forest, Nora rounded up twigs, sticks, and some dry pine needles. She picked a spot on the ground and got her fire going before digging the food provisions from her pack. She had plenty of MRE’s and water, but she really wanted some fresh meat. Unstrapping her crossbow, she sat by the fire and waited. It never failed, when the frost came calling, animals were drawn to the warmth, so she waited—weapon at the ready.

  Chills skittered up her spine from the scream in the night. A big cat was in the area, and they were unpredictable. Nora didn’t mind the challenge, but the competition had much better night vision than she did, and weren’t as eager to walk into danger as some of the other nightlife. Nora hunkered down, pulling a sock hat from her pack and snuggling deeper into her fur-lined leather jacket.

  As she waited, another scream pierced the quiet, and the sounds of cats fighting echoed in the night. Well, maybe they will kill each other, and I won’t have to hunt, she thought with little hope. Watching the darkness for movement, she studied her breath puffing in the cool air, blowing back to warm her face. She could no longer feel her nose, the slight wind freezing it on contact.

  Slowly, a snake emerged from her left, and Nora took aim. Just a little closer. Just a little closer. Suddenly, with a high pitched scream, a group of Landers emerged from over the hill, no doubt having seen the smoke from her fire. The snake forgotten, Nora snuffed the small blaze with her boot, threw her pack on, and took aim.

  Nora’s first shot rang true, finding a home in the chest of one of the landers, dropping him like a stone. Five more continued to close the distance, and Nora only had two more arrows. Usually, she retrieved them from the prey once they were used because they were precious. Weapons had all but disappeared from the world. They were hoarded when the apocalypse began, and it had been more than two decades since factories produced ammunition.

  Taking aim once more, she targeted the closest Lander and released her arrow. It sank into the woman’s arm, but she still advanced. Shit. Five left and one arrow. Wonder if they will stop and stand in a line for me? Releasing her last arrow, she watched as the wounded woman finally fell, the arrow protruding from her chest. Sighing, Nora laid down her crossbow and readied herself for a fight.

  They attacked with the ferocity of a rabid animal. Nora swung and kicked, connecting with flesh and bone each time, but she was fighting a losing battle, and she knew it. Fuck. Avery is going to be crushed. Thoughts of Avery pushed her to continue fighting, escaping every time one of the savages attempted to grasp her.

  Avery was the only man Nora had ever let near her heart. She didn’t love him in the way that he professed his love to her, but he was the only confidante she had, and he knew all of her secrets.

  Sorry Avery, she thought as she was brought down by the remaining four savages. Her muscles quivered, and her breath came in fast and shallow pants. At least I took two out.

  Nora didn’t have time for any more thoughts. She was hit in the back of the head with something heavy, and darkness embraced her like a swaddled child.

  

  Sirens blared, cutting through the screams of terror and confusion. Nora looked up, her childlike eyes wide with fear and wonder as she watched the orange streak through the sky. The blue of the sky was lost to the fiery shades of orange and yellow, the heat searing the skin of her arms as her mother pulled her along. Running through the streets, only her Dora the Explorer pack on her back, she watched her neighbors standing in awe on their lawns as they passed.

  Nora screamed for Josie, her best friend, as they ran, but her friend couldn’t hear over the rumbling in the sky and the screams of the people. Tears tracked down Nora’s face as she stumbled, and her father picked her up and carried her.

  “Josey! We have to get Josey!”

  Her father never stopped running, the street clogged with vehicles. “We can’t stop, honey. I’m sorry.”

  Nora sobbed harder, afraid for her friend as she was jostled back and forth.

  They ran until they found an abandoned car. Her father shoved her in the backseat and drove, zigging and zagging around the other parked cars in a frenzy, headed for the Big Muddy Cavern. She could hear her parents talking in panicked tones, but they were speaking too low for her to make out what they were saying.

  As they arrived at the cavern, her father hurriedly pulled her from the car and ran, stopping only for the officials blocking the entrance. People were filing by, handing over all of their supplies, before they were allowed entrance.

  Nora cried as she was forced to hand over her Dora backpack, the only things in the world she had left inside of it. Clutching her snuggle-bunny, she watched as the backpack was thrown in a huge bin, one of many, along with all of the other supplies.

  Her small backpack had been their ticket into the underground sanctuary, where they had spent the next fifteen years.

  

  Groaning and clasping her head, Nora awakened in the darkness, the cold rock unforgiving as she laid on the bruising surface. Her head felt as if a lumberjack had taken up residence in her consciousness. Squinting, she tried to discern her location, but could only see more dark and dank cave walls. Directly in front of her, bars made of human bone were lodged from ceiling to floor, effectively locking her in tight. Nora stood and walked to the bars, pulling back and forth with all of her strength to no avail.

  Sighing, she sat with her back against the moist wall and cradled her aching head. Feeling under her hair, she found a large goose-egg. She pulled her hand back, a light smear of dark blood stained her skin, and she winced. Hissing, she prodded the spot once more, using the pain as a natural shot of epinephrine and sharpening her vision and focus.

  I have to find a way out of here. I know what the Landers do with colonists; I’ve seen the aftermath too many times.

  Nora had been the lead tracker on too many cases of missing colonists, and knew that the Landers had no love for the members of the colonies. Steeling her resolve, she slid closer to the bars and attempted to use a rock from the ground to saw at the bone. After an exhaustive effort with little result, Nora threw the stone and hissed with frustration. The sound of the useless tool bouncing off of the opposite wall echoed in the cavern like a bell tolling in a quiet city.

  Footsteps vibrated the cavern floor as the Landers came running at the sound. Three behemoths stood before her on the other side of the bars, their faces twisted into masks of disdain and hatred. “Ke
ep quiet or you’ll be our next meal,” one of the Landers growled. A scar bisecting the left side of his face kept his lips from moving on that side.

  Nora struggled not to stare, but the scar was so pronounced, she couldn’t help but wonder what had happened. What do you care? It’s a shame they didn’t finish the job. Remember that. Ripping her eyes from the stranger’s face, she nodded her assent. Nora knew the man’s threat was not an empty one. She had heard rumors throughout the colonies of cannibalism among the Landers.

  Satisfied, two of the Landers left the way they had come, down a long and dark corridor, lit only by primitive torches. The big guy with the scar stayed outside of her cell, his back against the wall. Eyes narrowed, he watched her every move with interest, as if studying an interesting bug. Nora’s nerves fired, her awareness sparking, waiting for his next move, but he simply sat and watched her. She was unnerved, the knowledge that she was being watched aggravating her and heightening her anger.

  “What the hell are you staring at?” She couldn’t help the question that burst forth from her lips. She was on edge, tired, and her anger was beginning to lead her emotions. I really have to pee. Wonder how they plan on solving that little problem. Don’t think they really want me doing my business on the floor of their super-secret hideout. When the Lander failed to answer her question, Nora stuck her middle finger up and made a very unladylike gesture before turning her back to him and sitting on the cold rock floor. I’ll be damned if I beg. I’d rather piss myself.

  Blowing out a frustrated breath, Nora sat facing the back cavern wall, contemplating her escape. She knew the longer she stayed, the less time the colony had without its supplies. The longer I stay, the less likely I am to leave alive, she admitted to herself. Steeling her resolve, Nora stood and faced the Lander standing guard.

  “I need to use the bathroom.”

  “No.” His face never changed.

  “Seriously. I can do it right here, if you don’t mind a mess.” She really did not want to use the bathroom on the floor, in front of a witness, but she would—just to prove a point. She had been in worse situations.

  Shuddering, she tried to block thoughts of those last few years underground from her mind.

  “No.”

  “Okay, then.” She began to pull down her leathers, and his eyes widened. Hiding her smirk and the tinge of embarrassment creeping into her mind, she continued lowering her pants, slowly, in the hope he would change his mind.

  “Stop. I will take you.”

  Nora smiled and pulled her clothes back up as he walked to the bone gate.

  “Stay with me.”

  Nodding, she walked to the open door of the cell and preceded the Lander, noticing every detail as she passed him. He carried a long knife on one side and a sword on the opposite side. Behind him, near the small of his back, was yet another weapon, which she succeeded in swiping without alerting him as she passed. Once in front, she followed his instructions and walked a short distance, turning down all manner of walkways that looked exactly the same.

  Doesn’t matter. I can find my way out.

  Continuing down a long and narrow portion of the cavern, she readied herself to make a move. Just before she pivoted, something caught her eye in one of the openings leading to another small, cavernous room. A large cart overflowing with supplies was guarded by two other Landers.

  Bingo. There’s where our supplies went.

  

  Nora paced the small space designated as the bathroom facility in the underground fortress. How am I going to get the supplies out of here? I can’t. Maybe I can come back with help, if I can figure out where I am. No, that’s not going to work. They will move them by then. Thoughts raced through her mind with the speed of an old world bullet train. Plans formed and re-formed as she discarded one after another.

  “Hey, hurry up in there, or I’m coming in,” the Lander warned in his deep voice. He sounded as if he were gargling rocks when he spoke, but Nora knew her time was dwindling.

  Finally settling on a plan, she faked a moan and small yelp, and waited for the Lander to bound through the small opening. Just as she had suspected, he squeezed his large body through the crevice and stopped above her prone form. Holding her breath and silently counting to five, she flipped over and thrust upward with the weapon she had stolen at the exact moment he was reaching down towards her. She succeeded in slicing his forearm before plunging the sharp edge into his ribcage. Nora heard a bone snap as she buried the blade to the leather hilt and watched as his pupils expanded, swallowing his iris as if they were black holes.

  Grunting, Nora pushed his body from atop hers, and scrambled out into the quiet cavern. Now what? Where am I going to put the body? Should have thought this out better. She pulled the giant of a man by one arm, alternating by pushing his prone body, until he laid in a pile in the corner. That’s the best I can do, she admitted as she wiped the sweat from her brow. It smelled of a bathroom in the cavern, and between the foul stench and the coppery tang of blood, her stomach heaved. Choking back the bile, she crept through the narrow crevice leading to the main cavern and readied herself. She had taken the rest of the dead Lander’s weapons, and had a knife in one hand and the bloody weapon in the other.

  Bracing for the fight to come, she charged into the room housing the missing supplies and threw the knife at the bigger Lander’s heart. He took two steps forward as she continued running at the other warrior before he dropped dead. Nora collided with the remaining savage, raining blows as fast as she could, but knew she was no match for the man.

  She doubled over from a punishing punch to her midsection, and used the moment to her advantage. Forcing the man to take a step closer, she huddled low clutching her stomach. As he neared her, she readied her weapon and stood so quickly that her head spun. Striking out with menacing accuracy, she slit the lander’s throat and watched as the warrior clutched at the wound, gasping for air. His eyes bulged and his mouth opened and shut like a fish out of water. Finally, he slumped to the cavern floor and stopped moving, the blood still leaking from the wound.

  Nora felt a pang of regret for the manner in which she had dispatched her enemy, but pushed it down deep as she stared at the mound of supplies on the cart. With no plan in place, she had no other choice but to hope she could escape unnoticed while pulling the cart full of supplies.

  Shit, I don’t even know where the exit from this damn cavern lies. No time now.

  Nora picked up the few items that had fallen from the cart and placed them atop the pile. Checking the pathway leading into the cavern, she found it empty, and began to push the cart as quietly as she could. She had taken one of the Lander’s coats, the stink of the man making her nose rebel. It smelled of musk and sweat, and death still clung to the fur from whatever animal it had been made from.

  Pushing the cart, Nora tried her best to continue on the paths that inclined, hoping they would lead to the surface. She briefly wondered where the rest of the clan had gone before stopping the thought. Just thank whoever is responsible for the distraction, so I can get out of here, she rationalized.

  Continuing as quietly as she could, Nora almost jumped for joy and alerted the savages of her presence when she saw the opening of the cavern ahead of her. There was no light, so she guessed it was the middle of the night, which would explain why there was little activity from the Landers. Using all of her strength, she pushed as fast as the cart would go and burst through the cave opening, mouth agape and breathing deeply.

  

  Nora followed the sun, tired and weary, to the east with no real idea of how far from home she was. She recognized the area as being west of her colony, but that was all she could discern from the unforgiving rocky landscape. I just hope I come upon another colony soon, because I can hardly walk.

  Nora’s strength began to wane, and exhaustion battered her. With each new horizon, her hopes dwindled. The sun baked the ground, and the steam from rains the night before caught a spectrum
of colors, cascading the bleak brown landscape in magenta, purple, and blue hues. Nora wanted to appreciate the beauty, but hopelessness weighed down her heart and filled her thoughts with bleak outcomes.

  Passing over the next hill, she spotted light in the distance. Finally! I’m home! Squinting, she recognized the tall fence made of roughly cut trees, and sighed in relief. Screaming in exasperation, she watched as Landers appeared over the horizon behind her.

  Oh shit! I led them straight to the colony!

  Nora quickly pushed the cart, using all of her dwindling strength and willpower to reach the colony walls before the warriors caught up with her. Realizing they had been spotted, the warriors sped up in their pursuit of her. Nora screamed at the guards as she approached, wildly waving her arms as she stopped a quarter mile from the front entrance.

  “Open the gates! Hurry! I have the supplies, but they are coming! Open the damn gates!” She rushed towards the inward-swinging gates as the crank was turned to allow her entrance. Once inside, she began barking orders despite her exhaustion. “Shut the gates and double the guard! The Landers have found us!”

  Nora collapsed, her mind and body betraying her, and watched through fluttering eyelids as feet ran by her in all directions. Someone picked her up from the ground and carried her, jostling her tired bones, into one of the huts.

  “Avery,” she sighed, as his face came into view. “I never meant to lead them here. I am so sorry.”

  Nora never heard Avery’s response over the battle cries sounding outside the hut. Avery kissed her lightly on the lips and ran out, screaming his promise as he went, “I won’t let them have you, Nora. If I can’t beat them, we will die together.”