Redwood CityRedwood CityBy Kari GuntonBy Kari Gunton

► It was mid October in San Francisco, and everyone It was mid October in San Francisco, and everyone seemed to have lost track of time. After the global war, the world seemed to have lost track of time. After the global war, the world had turned into a dark and dangerous place. There was no had turned into a dark and dangerous place. There was no working technology; food and water were scarce. Mya walked working technology; food and water were scarce. Mya walked outside the abandoned orphanage to see what she could find. She outside the abandoned orphanage to see what she could find. She looked across the ocean, but could not see past the dark smog looked across the ocean, but could not see past the dark smog and dust. Mya saw no signs of the world getting better. She and dust. Mya saw no signs of the world getting better. She sighed and headed back to her group in the orphanage. Mya and sighed and headed back to her group in the orphanage. Mya and a few of her classmates were some of the few survivors. They had a few of her classmates were some of the few survivors. They had

been living together ever since the war had ended.been living together ever since the war had ended.

► ““I suppose you didn’t get any food?” Alexis rudely questioned. I suppose you didn’t get any food?” Alexis rudely questioned. Alexis had never been nice to Mya. Alexis had never been nice to Mya.

► ““No I did not,” Mya responded. “I didn’t even know I was No I did not,” Mya responded. “I didn’t even know I was supposed to be looking for food. Anyways, there is nothing in supposed to be looking for food. Anyways, there is nothing in sight.”sight.”

► ““So once again we are left hungry.” So once again we are left hungry.” ► Mya did not know why the group and herself put up with Alexis. Mya did not know why the group and herself put up with Alexis.

They really should just kick her out.They really should just kick her out.

► ““Don’t worry about her, she just doesn’t know how to handle this Don’t worry about her, she just doesn’t know how to handle this situation,” Jayden whispered to Mya. Jayden had been Mya’s best situation,” Jayden whispered to Mya. Jayden had been Mya’s best friend ever since kindergarten. He always knew the right things to friend ever since kindergarten. He always knew the right things to

say.say.

► Keith suddenly burst through the door.Keith suddenly burst through the door.► ““Guys did you hear?!” he screamed.Guys did you hear?!” he screamed.► ““What is it?” Jayden asked anxiously.What is it?” Jayden asked anxiously.► ““Redwood City was unaffected by the war!”Redwood City was unaffected by the war!”► ““That’s impossible,” Alexis smirked.That’s impossible,” Alexis smirked.► ““But it’s true. I guess it’s the way it was hidden by the trees.”But it’s true. I guess it’s the way it was hidden by the trees.”► ““Then what are you suggesting?”Then what are you suggesting?”► ““I suggest we get over there now!”I suggest we get over there now!”► Mya thought about it. It almost seemed like it was too good to be Mya thought about it. It almost seemed like it was too good to be

true. Then again, what did they have to lose? true. Then again, what did they have to lose? ► ““I agree with Keith, I think we should go.”I agree with Keith, I think we should go.”► ““Are you serious Mya? Do you know how dangerous it is to travel Are you serious Mya? Do you know how dangerous it is to travel

now?” Jayden questioned.now?” Jayden questioned.► ““Yes, it may be a little risky, but honestly, our lives aren’t going to Yes, it may be a little risky, but honestly, our lives aren’t going to

be getting any better. It’s up to you, but I think that we should be getting any better. It’s up to you, but I think that we should leave.”leave.”

► Jayden thought for a moment, and said “I’m with you guys.” Jayden thought for a moment, and said “I’m with you guys.” ► Everyone looked at Alexis, and waited for her response. She Everyone looked at Alexis, and waited for her response. She

sighed, “Fine, I’ll go too.”sighed, “Fine, I’ll go too.”

► They woke up early the next morning to gather the supplies they They woke up early the next morning to gather the supplies they needed. Mya’s eyes began to water as she packed the picture of needed. Mya’s eyes began to water as she packed the picture of her parents. Her parents had died when she was ten, only five her parents. Her parents had died when she was ten, only five years back. She remembered the time when she was happy, years back. She remembered the time when she was happy, when everything was going well. when everything was going well.

► ““Come on everyone, it’s time to go,” Keith said as he hurried Come on everyone, it’s time to go,” Keith said as he hurried everyone along. They opened the door to the dark, grim world. everyone along. They opened the door to the dark, grim world. Keith looked at his map. Keith looked at his map.

► ““This way,” he said as he pointed. This way,” he said as he pointed.

► Mya smiled, they were finally going to get out of this dreadful Mya smiled, they were finally going to get out of this dreadful

place.place.

► It was 4:00 p.m. when it started to get dark again. After the It was 4:00 p.m. when it started to get dark again. After the war, the days kept getting shorter and shorter. They got war, the days kept getting shorter and shorter. They got out their lamp and lit it with a match to guide their way. out their lamp and lit it with a match to guide their way. Mya’s stomach grumbled. She had not eaten for a couple Mya’s stomach grumbled. She had not eaten for a couple of days. of days.

► ““Maybe we should try to find some food,” Jayden Maybe we should try to find some food,” Jayden suggested.suggested.

► ““Ugh, my feet hurt. You guys can get the food, and I will Ugh, my feet hurt. You guys can get the food, and I will wait here,” Alexis whined.wait here,” Alexis whined.

► Mya was frustrated with how lazy Alexis was.Mya was frustrated with how lazy Alexis was.► ““No, you’re coming with us.”No, you’re coming with us.”► Jayden shook his head. “Forget it, she will be no help to us Jayden shook his head. “Forget it, she will be no help to us

anyways.”anyways.”► The three of them left Alexis, and walked down towards the The three of them left Alexis, and walked down towards the

ocean.ocean.

► They had made fishing rods earlier. They were made from long They had made fishing rods earlier. They were made from long sticks with a piece of string tied on, and a metal hook tied on to sticks with a piece of string tied on, and a metal hook tied on to that. They threw their lines into the murky water, and waited. that. They threw their lines into the murky water, and waited. Two hours had gone by, when Keith yelled “I got something!” He Two hours had gone by, when Keith yelled “I got something!” He reeled it in, and on the hook was a giant fish. reeled it in, and on the hook was a giant fish.

► They were smiling the whole way back to Alexis. Alexis jumped off They were smiling the whole way back to Alexis. Alexis jumped off the ground.the ground.

► ““Wow, we’re going to be eating well tonight,” she said. Wow, we’re going to be eating well tonight,” she said. ► They were able to make a fire, and placed the fish on a metal They were able to make a fire, and placed the fish on a metal

sheet they had found. Mya never knew fish could taste so good.sheet they had found. Mya never knew fish could taste so good.

► ““I think we should stay here for the night,” Mya suggested. I think we should stay here for the night,” Mya suggested. ► They took their stuff and went down closer to the shore. Here They took their stuff and went down closer to the shore. Here

there were big rocks they could use as shelter, and hide from any there were big rocks they could use as shelter, and hide from any danger.danger.

► Everyone went to sleep, except Mya. She was the first one to Everyone went to sleep, except Mya. She was the first one to keep watch. She sat and listened to the waves crash against the keep watch. She sat and listened to the waves crash against the shore. She took the picture of her parents out. Ever since they shore. She took the picture of her parents out. Ever since they died, life had been unbearable for Mya. At least she still had died, life had been unbearable for Mya. At least she still had Jayden. He was one person Mya could always count on. Jayden. He was one person Mya could always count on.

► Keith woke up, and signalled Mya that it was her turn to sleep. Keith woke up, and signalled Mya that it was her turn to sleep. She fell asleep almost instantly.She fell asleep almost instantly.

► Mya woke up to footsteps. Mya woke up to footsteps. ► ““What was that?” she asked worriedly. What was that?” she asked worriedly. ► Everyone’s faces had turned white. A man appeared beside them, Everyone’s faces had turned white. A man appeared beside them,

carrying a baseball bat. carrying a baseball bat. ► ““Give me everything!” he screamed.Give me everything!” he screamed.► Alexis stupidly grabbed what she could and ran. The man chased Alexis stupidly grabbed what she could and ran. The man chased

after her. Mya and Keith safely made their way to the woods. after her. Mya and Keith safely made their way to the woods. ► ““Where is Jayden?!” Mya shrieked. Where is Jayden?!” Mya shrieked. ► They looked towards the man. Jayden had pushed him, and the They looked towards the man. Jayden had pushed him, and the

man was now on the ground. Alexis, unharmed, joined them in man was now on the ground. Alexis, unharmed, joined them in the forest. They looked back outside, and Jayden was now on the the forest. They looked back outside, and Jayden was now on the ground. With a few hits across the head, he was dead. Keith and ground. With a few hits across the head, he was dead. Keith and Alexis sprinted further into the forest. Mya stood frozen, gasping Alexis sprinted further into the forest. Mya stood frozen, gasping for air. She was in shock, she could not believe it. She turned for air. She was in shock, she could not believe it. She turned around, and followed the last of her group.around, and followed the last of her group.

► They had fallen asleep under a tree, and woke up early the next They had fallen asleep under a tree, and woke up early the next morning. They silently kept walking. No one had spoken a word, they morning. They silently kept walking. No one had spoken a word, they were all devastated.were all devastated.

► ““What if we don’t find it?” Alexis asked.What if we don’t find it?” Alexis asked.► ““We will. We are actually almost there,” Keith responded. We will. We are actually almost there,” Keith responded. ► Mya still kept silent. After the loss of her best friend, she was left with Mya still kept silent. After the loss of her best friend, she was left with

nothing.nothing.► ““I think it’s just around the corner, and we are there!” I think it’s just around the corner, and we are there!” ► They looked at each other and raced around the corner. They were They looked at each other and raced around the corner. They were

excited, but nervous at the same time, like a child’s first day of school. excited, but nervous at the same time, like a child’s first day of school. They turned the corner, and they were finally there. Their bright They turned the corner, and they were finally there. Their bright smiles turned into devastated frowns. The town had been completely smiles turned into devastated frowns. The town had been completely destroyed. Everything was demolished. It was a town of dust, nothing destroyed. Everything was demolished. It was a town of dust, nothing in sight. in sight.

► ““We came all this way, for what? A destroyed town, like every other We came all this way, for what? A destroyed town, like every other town here.” Tears rolled down Mya’s cheeks. Keith trembled as he town here.” Tears rolled down Mya’s cheeks. Keith trembled as he spokespoke

► ““What now?” What now?” ►