The World We Use To Know

Prologue:
Americahas been at war withRussiafor over a year now. When the Soviets invadeTorontoto spy on theUSsome of the students atDegrassiCommunitySchoolhave to flee for their lives. Surviving in the wild is their only option…

Ch.1 Not So Average School Day

"Ugh, I hate Monday Mornings" A girl with long black hair and tanned skin said to the girl sitting in the desk next to her.

"Huh? Ali what did you say? I wasn't listening" The girl with the auburn locks and sparking Blue eyes replied as she continued to doodle in her note book.

"What are you doing that is more important than listening to me? Ali asked swiping the notebook off of her friend's desk. "Clare hearts Eli" she read in a childish tone. "Cute!"

"Ali give that back" Clare whispered

"You know Clare you should just tell Eli how you feel."

"Easier said than done; I get so nervous when I'm around him I'll probably forget to speak or I will say something stupid and he with think I'm a total spaz'" Clare stated, closing her notebook

"Well we will never know until you at least try"

"Shhh, Ali he's coming this way"

The two girls watched as a boy with piercing green eyes and neck length dark brown hair stepped into the classroom. He was dressed in a pair of black jeans with a grey and white striped long sleeve shirt. He had a black vest over top and a red scarf on. You could see traces of eyeliner under his eyes which seemed almost natural.

"Eli, Clare has something to tell you" Ali said as he walked past the two girls and took a seat behind Clare.

"It's no…Nothing" Clare managed to stutter before turning to Ali and shooting her a death stare.

"now class, we have a two major writing assignments due next week I would like for you all to work with a partner and go over what you have so far, We will be working with partners alphabetically so since Fitz is no longer in this class Clare I would like for you to work with Eli" Ms. Dawes said

Everyone in the room spread out into pairs and started working on their assignments.

"So?" Clare asked nervously as Eli sat there silently reading her paper.

"It's good…"

"Good? What do you mean good? I put a lot of time and effort into this paper and all you can say is it's good?" Clare was starting to raise her voice

"Well to be honest it's lacks heart and emotion. It's too cold"

Before Clare could open her mouth to argue the entire class turned their attention to something that was going on outside. Five or more military vehicles were heading straight for the school.

"Attention students this is your principal Mr. Simpson speaking" a voice said over the intercom. "I need you all to remain calm Coach Armstrong will be heading outside to see what is going on. For right now please stay in your classrooms"

A few moments later the students gathered around the window as they watched Coach Armstrong approach the vehicles. Loud shots rang out and Coach Armstrong fell to the ground lifeless. Students started screaming and running out of sheer terror. As students darted from the building more and more gun shots went off. Eli in frenzy grabbed his bag off the floor and headed for the back door to the classroom the one that led towards the teachers' lounge. He knew that if he made it to the parking lot he would be safe; he also knew the school like the back of his hand. After all he was a master at sneaking out and skipping class. As he touched the handle he noticed someone huddled in the corner of the classroom.
"Clare, what are you doing down there? Get up we have to leave NOW!" He shouted at her. Clare looked up at him her eyes filled with shock. The classroom was empty now but they could hear soldiers in the distance signaling when a room was cleared out; and they weren't far away. Eli reached out his hand toward Clare's.

"Come on I know a way out" He half shouted, trying to keep his voice down so that the military personnel wouldn't hear him. Clare grasped onto his hand for dear life as he hoisted her to her feet. The two then headed into the teachers' lounge, locking the door behind them.

"I have to find my brother" Clare said as Eli peered around a corner of main doorframe leading into the hallway.

"See that door over there?" Eli asked pointing to the boys change room. Clare nodded her head.

"Im going to dart for it and make sure it's safe when you see me signal to you that mean that it's clear for you to run over. Inside is a window that leads to the back corner of the parking lot. We are going to crawl out that window and make a run for it. My hearse isn't far away." His voice was starting to sound shaky but he was trying to be brave. "Alright here I go…don't make a sound" and with that Eli was already across the hall and in the boys change room.

Eli had been in there a while and Clare could hear guys who she assumed wear part of the invaders in her English classroom. Her body was starting to shake as she could hear them nearing the door. Thankfully it was locked and that would buy her at least a few seconds time. She glanced from the door of the locker room back to the door handle of the teachers' lounge.

"Come on Eli what's taking so long?" she whispered to herself. She noticed the door handle move out of the corner of her eye.

"It's locked" she heard a young voice say. It sounded no older than twenty. She closed her eyes tightly gripping her cross necklace she said a little prayer before opening her eyes. She was relieved to see Eli in the doorframe of the boys change room. He nodded his head and Clare made a run for it.

As soon as Clare was inside the locker room Eli locked the door behind them. Clare took a deep breath for a moment as Eli led her to the open window.

"Eli, are we going to make it?" She asked looking up at the window "I mean we don't exactly know what's going on out there"

"Clare we will be fine. I will get you home in one piece I promise" he said making a bridge with his hands. "You go first, once you are outside stay low to the ground I will be right behind you"

Clare placed here foot into Eli's hands as he hoisted her up to the window sill.

"Do you see anything?" he asked as she flipped one leg over the window edge.

"Coast is clear, I can see my brother's truck it's a lot closer then your hearse." She said

"Ok, then once we are outside we make a run for the truck" Eli stated. Clare gave him a nod and disappeared out of sight. Eli secured his bag to his back and then climbed out the window himself. Clare was right there was no one in sight, although they could still hear gun shots being fired letting them know that it wasn't completely safe. As calmly and as quietly as they possible could the two of them scooted along the wall toward the edge. Both of them know that once they stepped past that corner there was no turning back, they had to run with full force.

"Alright Clare, whatever you do don't look back and definitely don't stop running." Eli said giving her hand one last tight squeeze. "On the count of three we run"

"Wait! There's Jake! He's safe." She said pointing to the boy who had just cranked up the truck they were going to run for.

"Jake" Clare screamed as loud as she could. He had seen her.

"Stay there I'm coming to get you!" he shouted as he threw it into drive. Clare noticed two boys jump into the truck bed just before Jake took off. Swinging around in front of Clare, the truck came to a halt.

"What are you waiting for? GET IN!" Jake shouted as Clare and Eli hopped into the cab.

They were almost at the front of the building when Clare noticed her best friend and the schools editor huddled into a corner of the wall; Terror written all over their faces.

"STOP" Clare screamed as soon as they turned the corner. "It's Katie and Ali". Jake gave the brakes a quick tap as Eli leaned out the window yelling at the girls to run for it. The two boys from the truck bed were able to help the girls in just as Jake floored the acceleration, this time not stopping for anything or anyone.