Chapter 3
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One year later.
"As your president I would first like to say, Congratulations. Country Q has finally completed it's final ship. Command General has inform me that all the ships have been put through their final testing; with passing results. This is a big accomplishment for Country Q. We have struggled since the war. Now we can see hope. As all of you know, we were able to produce twenty ships. All able to hold 8,000 people each. Though out of the three countries that survived the war, we are the smallest in population. This still doesn't cover everyone. we have known this for over 50 years, but it doesn't make it any easier. Right now what we need is hope, not anger...."
"Easy for him to say, considering he has a front row seat on one of those ships", Lila thought this while watching the address from her work screen computer.
It been a year since graduating from the academy. A year since being posted to the city office. A year, watching co-workers and citizens receiving their tickets. Especially since her office is the one mailing them out! Lila threw her headphones at the computer screen. Not wanting to listen to the president drone on any longer.
Sitting back in her seat, Lila looked around the dark office. Realizing she was the only left. Everyone else was out celebrating the completion of their salvation.
"3..2..1 Let's eat" Lila flip the soft lid on the ramen noodles cup open. Her face welcoming the steam, fluffy noodles and delicious broth. Slurp after slurp Lila put the piping hot noodles into her mouth. Burning her tongue and lip, Lila finished the sweet torture again and again until all she had left she an empty cup. *Burp* "That was good." patting her stomach, where a small bulge appeared. After eating all the free street food owners were giving on the way home as well as stopping at 24-7. To indulge her favorite snacks. Lila can official claim the title as 'Ms. Potato'.
About to enter into a food coma. Lila turns on the television, stretch out on the only furniture in her gov't owned studio apartment. It wasn't long before her eyelids fluttered closed. Just as she about to enter into a deep sleep, she felt it. A soft but noticeable shake. Lila's eyes snapped open, sitting up no longer in a relaxing mood. Her body was hyper-aware of her surrounding.
Slowing down her breathing, staying still as a statue. Lila waited...
And there it was again. This time her trash on the floor moved. Earthquake. People on the street haven't notice it yet. Lila quick ran to her room. Throwing on her clothes from earlier in the today. Picking up her cell phone, she quickly called the only number saved in her phone book.
Ms. Joy picked up on the three ring. "Hello, Heaven's orphanage." "Ms. Joy there's not a lot of time. You need to get all the children inside the safe house, an earthqua...." Before she could finish, Lila's whole apartment building shook. And this time everyone took notice. "Lila! Lila! can you hear me?" "Ms. Joy just get everyone inside the safe house. Don't waste anymore time. The earthquake is not over." Lila hung up phone, when she heard Ms. Joy confirmation.
Pulling the door to her apartment open, Lila rushed out and ran down the hallway to the closest stairwell. With major of the people outside celebrating the apartment building was majoring empty. Except for a few home bodies.
Lila lived on the tenth floor of her fifteen floor apartment building. So it wasn't til the she got to the sixth floor, that a sea of neighbors who were rushing to get inside stopped her in her tracks.
"Everyone needs to go down not up. This building will not hold. Everyone get to the safe hous-"
"Oh shut up what do you know this building is military made." Lila turned to confront the rude remark, only come faced to face with Tweetle Dumber and Tweetle Dimwit. Just as Lila was going to retort back the fourth tremor hit. Causing cracks and debris to fall onto people's heads.
When the tremor finally stopped everyone in the stairwell turned an about face and ran back outside.
Lila ran and ran but no matter how much she pumped her arms and picked up her feet, she still was being passed by the crowd. Word had pass to the people in the streets. Now everyone was heading to the safe house. Will there be enough space. Lila couldn't run anymore. Even though the safe house was two blocks over, her body was not made for this kind of workout. Her lungs burned, sweat poured down her face and back. Her sight grew blurry. Just as Lila felt she was going to collapse were she stood, came the fifth tremor. And this time it made the pavement look as if it was waves were rolling beneath it.
Starting from the direction of the inner city, and spreading outwards. Lila realize she was heading the wrong way.
"Tur- tur- turn around... QUICKLY EVERYONE TURN AROUND YOU CANNOT HEAD THAT WAY!. IT'S DANGEROUS!...."
No one paid any attention. It was as if she wasn't even there.
", that way is toward the epicenter..."
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One year later.
"As your president I would first like to say, Congratulations. Country Q has finally completed it's final ship. Command General has inform me that all the ships have been put through their final testing; with passing results. This is a big accomplishment for Country Q. We have struggled since the war. Now we can see hope. As all of you know, we were able to produce twenty ships. All able to hold 8,000 people each. Though out of the three countries that survived the war, we are the smallest in population. This still doesn't cover everyone. we have known this for over 50 years, but it doesn't make it any easier. Right now what we need is hope, not anger...."
"Easy for him to say, considering he has a front row seat on one of those ships", Lila thought this while watching the address from her work screen computer.
It been a year since graduating from the academy. A year since being posted to the city office. A year, watching co-workers and citizens receiving their tickets. Especially since her office is the one mailing them out! Lila threw her headphones at the computer screen. Not wanting to listen to the president drone on any longer.
Sitting back in her seat, Lila looked around the dark office. Realizing she was the only left. Everyone else was out celebrating the completion of their salvation.
"3..2..1 Let's eat" Lila flip the soft lid on the ramen noodles cup open. Her face welcoming the steam, fluffy noodles and delicious broth. Slurp after slurp Lila put the piping hot noodles into her mouth. Burning her tongue and lip, Lila finished the sweet torture again and again until all she had left she an empty cup. *Burp* "That was good." patting her stomach, where a small bulge appeared. After eating all the free street food owners were giving on the way home as well as stopping at 24-7. To indulge her favorite snacks. Lila can official claim the title as 'Ms. Potato'.
About to enter into a food coma. Lila turns on the television, stretch out on the only furniture in her gov't owned studio apartment. It wasn't long before her eyelids fluttered closed. Just as she about to enter into a deep sleep, she felt it. A soft but noticeable shake. Lila's eyes snapped open, sitting up no longer in a relaxing mood. Her body was hyper-aware of her surrounding.
Slowing down her breathing, staying still as a statue. Lila waited...
And there it was again. This time her trash on the floor moved. Earthquake. People on the street haven't notice it yet. Lila quick ran to her room. Throwing on her clothes from earlier in the today. Picking up her cell phone, she quickly called the only number saved in her phone book.
Ms. Joy picked up on the three ring. "Hello, Heaven's orphanage." "Ms. Joy there's not a lot of time. You need to get all the children inside the safe house, an earthqua...." Before she could finish, Lila's whole apartment building shook. And this time everyone took notice. "Lila! Lila! can you hear me?" "Ms. Joy just get everyone inside the safe house. Don't waste anymore time. The earthquake is not over." Lila hung up phone, when she heard Ms. Joy confirmation.
Pulling the door to her apartment open, Lila rushed out and ran down the hallway to the closest stairwell. With major of the people outside celebrating the apartment building was majoring empty. Except for a few home bodies.
Lila lived on the tenth floor of her fifteen floor apartment building. So it wasn't til the she got to the sixth floor, that a sea of neighbors who were rushing to get inside stopped her in her tracks.
"Everyone needs to go down not up. This building will not hold. Everyone get to the safe hous-"
"Oh shut up what do you know this building is military made." Lila turned to confront the rude remark, only come faced to face with Tweetle Dumber and Tweetle Dimwit. Just as Lila was going to retort back the fourth tremor hit. Causing cracks and debris to fall onto people's heads.
When the tremor finally stopped everyone in the stairwell turned an about face and ran back outside.
Lila ran and ran but no matter how much she pumped her arms and picked up her feet, she still was being passed by the crowd. Word had pass to the people in the streets. Now everyone was heading to the safe house. Will there be enough space. Lila couldn't run anymore. Even though the safe house was two blocks over, her body was not made for this kind of workout. Her lungs burned, sweat poured down her face and back. Her sight grew blurry. Just as Lila felt she was going to collapse were she stood, came the fifth tremor. And this time it made the pavement look as if it was waves were rolling beneath it.
Starting from the direction of the inner city, and spreading outwards. Lila realize she was heading the wrong way.
"Tur- tur- turn around... QUICKLY EVERYONE TURN AROUND YOU CANNOT HEAD THAT WAY!. IT'S DANGEROUS!...."
No one paid any attention. It was as if she wasn't even there.
", that way is toward the epicenter..."
One year later."As your president I would first like to say, Congratulations. Country Q has finally completed it's final ship. Command General has inform me that all the ships have been put through their final testing; with passing results. This is a big accomplishment for Country Q. We have struggled since the war. Now we can see hope. As all of you know, we were able to produce twenty ships. All able to hold 8,000 people each. Though out of the three countries that survived the war, we are the smallest in population. This still doesn't cover everyone. we have known this for over 50 years, but it doesn't make it any easier. Right now what we need is hope, not anger....""Easy for him to say, considering he has a front row seat on one of those ships", Lila thought this while watching the address from her work screen computer.It been a year since graduating from the academy. A year since being posted to the city office. A year, watching co-workers and citizens receiving their tickets. Especially since her office is the one mailing them out! Lila threw her headphones at the computer screen. Not wanting to listen to the president drone on any longer.Sitting back in her seat, Lila looked around the dark office. Realizing she was the only left. Everyone else was out celebrating the completion of their salvation."3..2..1 Let's eat" Lila flip the soft lid on the ramen noodles cup open. Her face welcoming the steam, fluffy noodles and delicious broth. Slurp after slurp Lila put the piping hot noodles into her mouth. Burning her tongue and lip, Lila finished the sweet torture again and again until all she had left she an empty cup. *Burp* "That was good." patting her stomach, where a small bulge appeared. After eating all the free street food owners were giving on the way home as well as stopping at 24-7. To indulge her favorite snacks. Lila can official claim the title as 'Ms. Potato'.About to enter into a food coma. Lila turns on the television, stretch out on the only furniture in her gov't owned studio apartment. It wasn't long before her eyelids fluttered closed. Just as she about to enter into a deep sleep, she felt it. A soft but noticeable shake. Lila's eyes snapped open, sitting up no longer in a relaxing mood. Her body was hyper-aware of her surrounding.Slowing down her breathing, staying still as a statue. Lila waited...And there it was again. This time her trash on the floor moved. Earthquake. People on the street haven't notice it yet. Lila quick ran to her room. Throwing on her clothes from earlier in the today. Picking up her cell phone, she quickly called the only number saved in her phone book.Ms. Joy picked up on the three ring. "Hello, Heaven's orphanage." "Ms. Joy there's not a lot of time. You need to get all the children inside the safe house, an earthqua...." Before she could finish, Lila's whole apartment building shook. And this time everyone took notice. "Lila! Lila! can you hear me?" "Ms. Joy just get everyone inside the safe house. Don't waste anymore time. The earthquake is not over." Lila hung up phone, when she heard Ms. Joy confirmation.Pulling the door to her apartment open, Lila rushed out and ran down the hallway to the closest stairwell. With major of the people outside celebrating the apartment building was majoring empty. Except for a few home bodies.Lila lived on the tenth floor of her fifteen floor apartment building. So it wasn't til the she got to the sixth floor, that a sea of neighbors who were rushing to get inside stopped her in her tracks."Everyone needs to go down not up. This building will not hold. Everyone get to the safe hous-""Oh shut up what do you know this building is military made." Lila turned to confront the rude remark, only come faced to face with Tweetle Dumber and Tweetle Dimwit. Just as Lila was going to retort back the fourth tremor hit. Causing cracks and debris to fall onto people's heads.When the tremor finally stopped everyone in the stairwell turned an about face and ran back outside.Lila ran and ran but no matter how much she pumped her arms and picked up her feet, she still was being passed by the crowd. Word had pass to the people in the streets. Now everyone was heading to the safe house. Will there be enough space. Lila couldn't run anymore. Even though the safe house was two blocks over, her body was not made for this kind of workout. Her lungs burned, sweat poured down her face and back. Her sight grew blurry. Just as Lila felt she was going to collapse were she stood, came the fifth tremor. And this time it made the pavement look as if it was waves were rolling beneath it.Starting from the direction of the inner city, and spreading outwards. Lila realize she was heading the wrong way."Tur- tur- turn around... QUICKLY EVERYONE TURN AROUND YOU CANNOT HEAD THAT WAY!. IT'S DANGEROUS!...."No one paid any attention. It was as if she wasn't even there.", that way is toward the epicenter..."
