We slowly drove up the the checkpoint on the empty highway. Were were so close to freedom, I could see green grass and trees lush with leaves. A few moments afterwards men came from the checkpoint and exported us out of the van. Me and Raymir were taken to a medical room, splitting away from the others.
I now had a bandage around my face, which was soaked in blood. Raymir also apparently had a gun shot wound on his shoulder, and a shard of metal caught in between his ribs. We were patched up, and we were taken to D.C. and put in a hospital.
I got stitches and more bandages, and Raymir got a bullet wound to his shoulder and had to get surgery to get the bullet out. Overall we had to stick around America a little longer than thought. A few weeks extra before we could leave the hospital. When we did, all three of us lived within a military base until we left. As we sat in our assigned tent, Josh brought up news on the group.
"Mostly everyone's left. America I mean." He said. "Teejay moved to Montreal or somewhere up there. Aaliyah kind of just disappeared. We're the only ones here still."
I looked at the wall. All my friends were gone. I had no clue when I'd see them again. Shit, I had no clue if I'd see them again. Talking still hurt the cut, so Josh knew my nod was all I could do.
He stood up from his seat and walked out of the room.
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Finally, my month in the hospital was done. I was let out and saw the streets once more. It was chaotic. It was louder here than the wasteland. Guns could be heard in the distance, police sirens, screams. Me and Raymir got in Josh's car and drove the hotel he'd been renting for the past month. He gave us all the information.
"World war three is on." He said as he began to drive. "Russia, China, and Germany are the big three bad guys, but pretty much all communist states are fighting."
"Wait, if its a communist alliance then what Germany doing fighting?" I asked.
"They're no longer just Germany. They are the PRG, or People's Republic of Germany. They just can keep their nose out of a damn world war." Josh explained. "Anyways, they declared war on every single country, eventually making everyone join an alliance. Like America, Canada and Mexico are the three brothers. Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are the Nordic alliance. That kind of stuff."
"What about Africa?" Raymir asked.
"Nobody knows." Josh said. "South America and Africa cut off all ties with the outside world. Borders between Egypt and Saudi Arabia are blocked by a thick wall and troops. All plains and boats are sunk or shot down."
"Well, this is where it ends, I guess." I said. "Humanity is gonna kill itself off."
The rest of the ride to the hotel was silent. Once we got there, we all went up to his room, wondering what to do.
"We have to get out of the country." I suggested out of the blue. Josh and Raymir looked at me.
Josh nodded. "That would be best case scenario. But to where?"
I thought for a few seconds. "You know more about the country's than I do. Who is not fighting any wars?" I asked Josh.
He also thought a little bit. The Celtic alliance, not only has an alliance with the Nordic alliance, but is only at war with the new Comintern. But they are at war with everyone, so their eyes probably aren't set on the British isles just yet."
Then I got a smile on my face. "You're saying I could finally move to Ireland." I asked
Josh nodded. "Honestly, Its a good idea. They have a good, and strong, meat shield in front of them in case Germany makes an invasion."
"How about you, Raymir?" I asked him.
Raymir had a nervous look on his face the entire tall. "Well... I don't want to leave." He said. I looked at him, confused. "A soldier told me they were hiring people as rescue workers for emergency's in blast zones and other stuff like that. Im going to join them. Im sorry but... Im not leaving."
I realized I had not been breathing the whole time he was talking. Inlet all the air in my lungs out with a big puff.
"But... You have to come with us. We've come so far together. You can't leave now." I pleaded to him, but to no avail.
"I'm sorry Xander, but I can't leave people out in Florida and Texas just on their own. Starving, dying, shooting each other. And what if something even worse happens? I have to help."
I was speechless. I sat down on my bed and just looked at the ground for a bit. "I-I'm going to bed."
And thats what I did. I laid down, closed my eyes, and rested for the night.
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I was at the airport. Josh had drove us here like always. Only this would be the last time the three of us would be together. Josh went right in but I stopped to talk to Raymir.
"Im gonna miss you man. We've... We've come so far together. Its honestly hard to even think of us being so far apart." I said. He took a deep breath, placed his hand on my shoulder and looked at me in the eyes.
"Just because we're so far apart doesn't mean we aren't herr for each other. I am still with you, in spirit. In the memory's. I swear, one day, we will rejoice. After thus all blows over. And that day, the world will see me smile." He held back a tear. One had already began to roll down my cheek. We hugged each other and when we separated, we looked at each other for a few seconds before turning away from each other, and making new steps.
I met uo with Josh, and we quickly moved into our plain. Lots of people had moved to countries that were strong, such as Australia, or Sweden. Not many took the British isles into view, let alone Ireland. I was seated in the window seat of the plain, Josh next to me. When it was finally night, I cried myself to sleep. My dreams were of my new life in the emerald island.