What should I do now?

What should I do now?  The voice in my head replied instantly; do what you're best at, Nick: keep running. So that's what I did. I left everything behind me, all those nameless, hopeless people, and ran straight out of town.  There was nothing left for me there now. Not my family, not my friends, not even my house.  I used to see those dramatic disaster movies all the time. You know the type- chaos and catastrophe left, right and centre and the world marshalling against some god-awful threat, but when something like this does happen, there's no-one to blame. No warning, no hero to save the day, just confused, helpless people. And one teenager, running.

Maybe I'm exaggerating. There were still people around- a few, here and there, mostly packing up their belongings and heading inland, away from the city. I sped up, leaving them behind. That's when I saw her, coming out of a side road with a dusty rucksack on her back. She had a determined, scared look on her face, a look that I probably mirrored. Perhaps that's what made her walk up to me and smile tentatively.

"Hi. I'm Eleanor."

One of my teachers in grade school was called Eleanor. We were so pleased with ourselves when we found out. I realised that she was still standing there, smiling.

"Sorry...off in my own world!" I attempted a half-laugh. "Which way are you going?"

It turned out she was headed roughly south as well- where else was there to go, anyway? She was going back to her house in the suburbs; from what she'd heard, her family should still be safe. She kept babbling on and on about them, about her dog, about her friends and how she really hoped they were all ok. I didn't say much to keep the conversation going but she seemed to have and endless well of drivel to go on about. Every so often she would lapse into silence and I would breathe an inner sigh of relief, but then she'd be off again: about her favourite food; or class at school; or a million and one other pointless things- anything to distract herself from what was really going on. I guess she was quite pretty in a sort of uncut way- rough features and tousled hair; but I hardly noticed because of her voice. It was nasal and at just the right irritating pitch that stopped me tuning out. Still there was one thing amongst all the rubbish she said that's stuck in my mind, even now.

"Where do you think everyone is?"

I just looked at her, and I guess she thought I didn't understand, or didn't want to. But, hell, I did. Where were all the helicopters and ambulances and willing volunteers? Was the whole country simply ignoring the East Coast? Now, I realise that they weren't ignoring us-the half of the country that was alive was desperately trying to save themselves. At the end of the world, selfishness rules supreme. As for the rest of the planet... all our so called allies were glad that we were no longer a threat.

I realised it was getting dark when Eleanor touched me lightly on the arm.

"Shall we find somewhere to rest for a bit?"

So polite in the face of disaster.  I wanted to shake her, shake her until she stopped pretending this was some big adventure. Instead, I took in the surroundings. We were in a fairly respectable district with tidy front lawns and neat houses. But now the pavements were cracked and some windows were smashed. I made my way over to the house with the largest smashed window, and shouted across to Eleanor.

There were two couches on either side of the living room. Neither of us felt like going upstairs. Eleanor was asleep as soon as her head hit the cushion, but I just couldn't drift off. Too many images were flashing through my mind. I thought of my old life, earlier this morning. I thought of Eleanor desperately babbling on about her family. I thought of my mom.

***

I was woken by the sound of Nick trying very hard to sneak out silently.

"Where are you going? It's not even light yet..."

He turned around, and he looked like I'd seen him first- determined to just go, anywhere, whatever happened. Well, he wasn't getting away that easily. I hadn't been trying to connect with him all afternoon for nothing. I picked up my rucksack and headed for the door, but Nicolas grabbed my arm and glared at me.

"Eleanor, no."

I don't know what made me turn away and let him walk out the door. I think it was the pain and fear, but most of all the anger in his eyes and voice. I still wish I'd followed him.

***

I don't need her. I don't need anybody. I just need to run.