The snow, the ruins of what humanity used to be. I never knew what humanity was like before this. I am alone with my best friend, who is a dog. I am 11 years old and my name is Koji, the dog's name is Dono. I rescued him a few days ago and then it happened. Almost everyone I knew is gone, my parents, my family, my friends, I and Dono are what remain. This is my story.
My boots crunched against the solid snow, it was nearly impossible to break. The snow fell down onto the solid snow, my breath was visible as I looked at Dono, he was wearing a very defensive winter coat the bunker survivors made for him days prior.
This is my second time outside of the bunker, having grown up inside of it. I only heard great stories about what we used to do. Cars, phones, electronics, television, video games, music, dancing, school. I have heard all about that, and then I heard about the violence. The shootings, stabbings, crime rates, child labour, world war one and two, corrupt governments. I heard it all from people in the bunker, it seems like the world before wasn't any different other than it was green, bright, rich in nature. I wish I could see that.
Around 76 years ago, a place called Yellowstone erupted. Killing billions and putting us into this thing called the ice age in which we experienced before. Yellowstone wasn't the only thing that brought us to our knees, the climate change the governments never bothered to help fix. The pollution, using fuel that harms the planet. They all went through that; I heard that the first 15 years were horrible, people were dying from the cold everyday until an intelligent being Elon Musk created these winter suits for everyone to wear, he was the one residing in our bunker.
Then there are the outcasts, the ones sent in the cold to die for doing horrible crimes that we wanted to avoid and purge. Some of them were lucky to survive the first few weeks, though outcasts are still around. It is very rare to come across them. I had my rifle on my back, it was heavy but my dad gave it to me for self defence on my 10th birthday if anything were to happen. I haven't killed anyone yet, I don't want to become a monster or an outcast.
It fears me that someday I may be forced to do something horrible to survive, my bag was extremely heavy. It was filled with ammunition, food, and water. I had a map and it said that there is another bunker around the city. I looked at the city ruins, the skyscrapers were halfway covered in the snow.
I walked onto a trail that was created by another human. Dono followed closely, his tail wagged slowly. "Hey Dono, do we need to sit down?" I looked at him, Dono barked almost instantly and wagged his tail faster in response. "Okay. Let's take shelter here." I walked inside of the skyscraper I spotted. There was barely anything standing, Dono laid in the snow as I pulled out a snow resistant blanket, it auto warms you.
I pulled out a can of food and pulled out my knife, I cut the can open and threw away the lid, I pulled out an old dog bowl my mom gave me and smiled, pouring half of the can into his bowl. I ate out of the can, watching Dono sniff the food and then eat. I smiled a bit and petted him.
I unveiled my sleeve and winced in pain, I was stabbed in the arm. It hurt worse when it happened, I tended to it all by myself. I unwrapped the bandage to check on it, I teethed and sighed. "It looks infected." I looked at Dono. "If he can make it and live the rest of his dog years in peace then I will be happy dying." I chuckled to myself and tried to stop the infection by gently putting on rubbing alcohol and wrapping it again.
"Whatever it takes. I will try and save you." I petted Dono as he finished eating and wagged happily, he snuggled into me, leaning his body. "Hey there Dono." I smiled and wrapped the blanket around us, I closed my eyes as I heard the gunshots and screams play in my head all over again.
"KOJI! UP HERE!" An older man waved as the bunker was on fire but an outcast shot him in the chest, blood splattered across the wall, the alarms in the bunker were going off as everyone was fighting to the death against these animals. I teared up, there was a blood splatter on my left cheek. I looked behind me, my friend. She was dead, on the ground and a bullet in the back. She was the first one to get shot.
Fire spread throughout the bunker as I walked slowly out of the room. Outcasts were chasing survivors around the bunker, 4 outcasts aimed their guns at cornered survivors and shot them up while cheering.
An outcast sprinted towards me while giggling, he tackled me to the ground and pulled out a knife. He raised it into the air and swung down.
I opened my eyes, breathing in and out. "Shit…" I panted and looked around. It was daytime. Dono was awake and licking me, he was making sure I was okay. "Hey Dono." I smiled. "I am okay." I sat up and put the blanket back in my bag.
I looked around, the sky was covered in dark clouds, they have remained there since the eruption. "Let's go Dono. Our journey continues." I packed up and walked out of the skyscraper, the world is a terrible place now that I think about it. I want to be back home…I want my warmth to stay…. I want my story to continue.