NADINE'S P.O.V
The world ended when the sirens blared for the first time.
Growing up, my father told me that the sirens were for show, he told me that they had only blared once before but it was centuries ago when a plague had taken out over a quarter of the population.
To be honest, he didn't believe in the plague. He thought it was a story that was told to keep people in line. My father was a firm believer that being rich meant you had nothing to fear. He said that money could solve anything- including a plague.
When the sirens blared, he was stunned for a full minute. He didn't speak a word for a full minute before making a call to a friend of his. An armored car was at our house within minutes and we were taken to the safe house.
It was a highly protected underground building that kept us safe from the virus- an experiment gone wrong. A group of scientists had been obsessed with the idea of turning people into werewolves but something went wrong and he created something horrible- a monster that was half man and wolf.
They had no conscience, no remorse, they were cold blooded hunters. I had never seen one up close but I always listened to the stories from the soldiers who had been up there. They said the monsters had claws as long as daggers, they had teeth as sharp as knives and they were far taller than any human could be. They wielded the strength of a hundred men and they could-
"Nadine," father's voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I turned to him.
He had a disapproving look on his face and I bent my head in shame. We were at the dining table and someone must have been speaking to me.
I had a penchant for daydreaming, it was something I inherited from my mother. In all honesty, I inherited everything from her, down from my dark brown curls to my skin that tanned so easily in the sun. People always said I looked like her. I guessed that was why my father didn't like looking at me, she was the love of his life after all.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you said," I was forced to admit.
"Mr. Pickett was saying that Joshua had training this afternoon. I was telling him that you had training as well. Perhaps you would like to go with him."
I resisted the urge to purse my lips.
Father and Mr. Pickett had been trying for ages to push Joshua and I together. Sometimes I thought Joshua fancied the idea but other times, he was unreadable. He was only twenty five- two years older than me- and I had only known him for the year that we had been locked down here.
He was handsome in a boyish sort of way, there was no denying that, he had golden hair that was always neatly cut close to his head and light blue eyes. It also helped that his father was just as rich as mine.
"I don't mind if Joshua doesn't," I said simply and Mr. Pickett turned to his son with a sort of eager hunger in his eyes.
Joshua merely shrugged. "I don't mind. It's the same way isn't it?"
"Perfect," father clapped his hand in glee causing me to narrow my eyes at him.
My father was not the enthusiastic sort. He had something planned, I just needed to know what it was.
We spent the rest of our dinner in silence and once we were done, I gathered the plates into a neat pile outside. Everything was carefully managed here, from the water to the food and the utensils. Everything was numbered.
"Are you ready to leave?" Joshua asked after half an hour of agonizing silence and I nodded.
Father waved us off which once again had my hackles rising. He was being too affectionate for my liking but I was too focused on training to care.
It was the only part of this monotonous routine that I enjoyed.
When we arrived, the owners of the safe house demanded that we all trained. They wanted us to be prepared in case of a breach, they said that the human race needed a chance at survival. A few people didn't like the idea- father included- but I loved it.
They taught us everything, from hand combat to using weapons and a vast knowledge of plants. It was a backup plan, knowledge that hopefully would never be used.
"You know they're trying to get us married, right?" Joshua asked and I stopped in my tracks.
"What?"
"I heard from a few friends that the higher ups are concerned. More old people are dying, there aren't any babies. They're offering better privileges to families who have children or get married."
I felt bile at the back of my throat. "That can't be true."
"I'm just saying what I heard. It won't be the worst thing in the world, you know? We have food and water and the child will be cared for."
I turned to him with a raised brow. "Are you trying to convince me to have kids with you?"
Before he could respond, there was an alarm. It usually meant that the guards were returning and it wasn't anything good.
Joshua moved to the side to give them room but I wasn't quick enough. I hadn't seen the guards rushing down the hall and a hard body collided into mine.
"Move," the owner of the voice grunted, his voice like velvet. "Didn't you hear the fucking alarm?"
"I didn't see you coming, you didn't have to push me so hard," I mumbled before adding. "Dick."
The man in question stopped and turned to me. His hair was as dark as night and was tied in a bun at the back of his head but his eyes, they were a kaleidoscope of bright colors, greens and ambers and greys. It was so captivating that I remained fixed to my spot. He had a few scars on his arms and one that stood stark against his neck.
"We're keeping your pretty little asses safe. If that makes me a dick then so be it," he spat before turning on his heels. "Stay the hell out of my way."