Where am l? So... my comrades finally threw me out.
I can no longer see my submarine, but land isn't in sight either...
It's been 3 years since I had seen the land and the light of day.
Three years ago, a war broke out between the nations of this world: the first nuclear war. Now, not much of the earth we knew is left. Getting food is difficult, half the fish we catch are mutated. And at the surface, it's even worse.
Most of the human population is dead. Many died in the initial blast, some died due to the nuclear radiation. The rest must be barely alive.
I don't think I'll survive even if I make it to land. Air and earth are likely polluted. Even acid rain might be enough to kill me.
I'm on land now, which looks like it was once a beach, but now there's nobody here.
Well, at least I can move more easily.
The nuclear war started an apocalypse, which hasn't stopped yet. The world is changing every second.
The buildings here are all ruined. The moss and trees have mutated so much, that it's like an alien world now.
As I was walking through the city while viewing the devastation, I noticed something... a sign?
It was destroyed but it's still recognisable. It's a place my parents used to take me to very often, a hotel. It was a long time ago. That means I'm at my home town - the place where I was born to lose everything that I had.
This city was not ruined by the nuclear explosion. The earthquake that shook the entire globe. It happened a year after the initial war. This is one of the less radiated areas; guess it's my lucky day...
Though the radiation somehow mutated the insects here. They are enormous and could easily kill me.
As I was wandering about the city to find anything useful, I heard something unusual: A child crying. Here? With curiosity and concern, I followed the voice.
A child survived a situation like this? Even though the possibility is low... why does this voice feel so familiar?
As I followed the voice, I stood in front of a lone basement door, in the middle of all the rubble. It looked almost cared for.
I slowly opened it, to be greeted by a weeping girl in the extreme darkness of the basement.
As I entered the darkness, the girl turned to look at me. Seeing her for the first time, I got lost in the familiarity I felt from her. I asked, after snapping back to reality, "Why are you crying?"
She had stopped crying, and looked at me, for a moment. Then she pointed at something covered with blankets in the dark room.
When my eyes finally adjusted to the dim lighting, the large, empty room was littered with some empty containers. On closer inspection I discovered a pale old man lying under the heap of blankets.
"What happened to you?" I asked, shaking him gently to wake him up.
He awoke and looked at me, ''I ate this fish I *cough*, I caught from the ocean, and afterwards *cough*, I felt sick, I don't *cough*, think I can go on much longer. She was with me; I gave her *cough*, the food that I stored for hard times like these. *cough*, It was enough to go for *cough*, three years, but now there is nothing left of it. I *cough*, am too ill now, I don't know if *cough*, she can survive without care." He began to cough intensely.
When he was able to suppress his coughs he pleaded, ''Please save her.'' Without even a single cough he begged continuously with his hoarse voice.
As I considered the man's request, he repeated one last time, ''Please save her, then I can go in peace.''
Even I couldn't say no to that request.
After speaking so much, he could no longer suppress the cough. The series of coughs after, were more violent than before.
At this point, the girl came near the bed and started crying again.
I can't leave this little girl behind. Not when she reminds me of her...
I put my hand on the girl's shoulder and asked, ''Will you come with me?''
She nodded without hesitation, trusting me even though I was a complete stranger.
I held her hand, as we left the room. She stopped and looked back for a moment; the man is still coughing, but I could hear a whisper like voice saying, ''Go... don't look back.''
So where should I go next? Doesn't look like I'm going to get anything that I need here. If I remember correctly there should be a farm nearby, maybe I'll find something there.
I think if we could save the crops from acid rain, they should be good to eat. There might also be some animals that aren't affected by this radiation just yet. Now I have another mouth to feed. I need to be extra careful from now on.
I now have something that my comrades might think of as a burden, but for me, it's my duty.
As I examined her, she appeared well fed. She should be able to walk for at least an hour.
We will survive at least one more day.