Title Credit: Modest Mouse

~ How It Began ~

It was a bright autumn afternoon. Everyone was outside raking the colorful orange leaves or having a delightful barbeque. As for me and Daniel, we were on my porch sharing lazy kisses and jokes. It was just another ordinary day here in Lynden.

Daniel leaned back and sighed comfortably, and I rest my head on his shoulder.

"We should do this everyday," he whispered as we both gazed at the sky.

I laughed. "We do."

He grinned. "How could I forget?" His nose brushed against mine as he leaned in for another kiss, but we were suddenly interrupted by my brother bursting through the door on his skateboard.

I sighed in annoyance. "Where are you going?" I asked. "It's almost dinner."

Ian turned. "I know. Tell Mom I'm going to Mark's house."

"Do it yourself," I said and leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

He merely shrugged and sped down the road. I sighed. Why couldn't I have a nice, cute little brother? Instead of complaining, I just got up and stretched a bit. Daniel got up as well.

"Kids?" chimed my mother and peeped her head through the door. She smiled as she saw Daniel. "Oh, hun, would you like to have dinner with us? You know we don't mind."

He grinned. I knew what he was thinking. Eating at our place was one of his past times. "I'd love to." My mom smiled warmly at him. She loved him like a son. I guess he made up for what Ian was lacking... charm, kindness, a brain...

My mom stepped back inside and Daniel and I walked over to our yard. It was one of the few yards around that had managed to retain its green color. Daniel picked his backpack up and swung it over his shoulder. School started today. We were both juniors at the Lynden Academy - a private school in the outskirts of town.

"That's strange," I said and looked up into the sky. The color rapidly changed from blue to orange, then a dark red. Daniel squinted and looked up. I instinctively moved closer to him as the sky went black, and I felt an arm wrap protectively around my waist.

Though we couldn't see anything, our eyes focused on the blank sky.

"What's going on...?"

"An eclipse?"

I felt him shake his head.

Suddenly, we heard a faint explosion and our gazes were pulled toward the bright light being emitted from one point on the horizon.

This wasn't right...

Like the rippling effect a pond has when a pebble falls into the water, the wind whipped us backwards, away from the red glow.

Daniel gasped and wrapped both arms around me. "Don't let go!" he yelled over the howling wind. I felt a sharp pain beneathe my thigh as we crashed to the ground. We struggled as we crawled to the nearest fence, grasping it tightly.

I could hear the wind chimes at are neighbors front door and several crashes from pots breaking. A flurry of leaves blew past us as the wind continued to sweep across Lynden. I couldn't help but look around. As I lifted my head slightly, my hair whipped back and I had to squint to look around. Trees were bending dangerously back, and the sky was still black. An eerie red light cast shadows everywhere. I gasped as I saw flying debris heading our way and ducked.

What was going on?!

But as quickly as it had happened, it ended almost instantly. The black sky turned back to blue and the wind was reduced to a light breeze. I hesitantly opened my eyes only to find Daniel staring at me with wide green eyes. He was breathing rapidly against my chest. Niether of us moved.

"Are you okay?" My voice was barely over a whisper.

He nodded and we slowly stood up. After glancing quickly at each other, we scrambled inside the house and locked the door behind us.

My mom suddenly embraced us. "Oh my god. Kids, are you okay?"

"Yeah, are you?" I asked.

She kissed my forehead. "Yes. I heard this noise and suddenly the lights went out. I thought there might have been an earthquake, but I knew something was wrong as soon as I looked out the window! Everything was black! I was so scared! I'm so glad you two are okay!" She was going fifty-eight miles per hour. Her eyes went wide. "Where's Ian?"

Daniel answered. "He's at Mark's house, don't worry." I nodded.

"I'll call your father..." she said quickly and ascended up the stairs.

Daniel and I looked at each other, the same question running through our minds:

What just happened?

~ Chapter 01 : The World At Large ~

"LAST NIGHT, A HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL SIGHT--"

"A STRANGE PHOENOMENA--"

"FROM 7:18 TO 7:21 LAST NIGHT--"

"WHAT SCIENTISTS ARE SAYING--"

I turned the television off. Every channel was airing something about last night's horrific event, and I was sick of it. I was scared enough. Daniel left last night ot make sure his family was okay, and I was left alone as my mom picked Ian up. I don't like to be alone.

That... that thing... Whatever it was, it made me feel uncomfortable, and I didn't like it.

I grabbed the morning paper in hopes of reading comics. I suddenly felt sick as my eyes went over the headline:

THE END OF THE WORLD?

I got up quickly. No... my mind just couldn't take all this... The end of the world?!

I downed all the orange juice left in my glass and headed towards the bathroom to wash up. My face had gone pale, but I shook the thought from my head. I brushed my teeth and left, walking to school slowly.

Was the world coming to an end?

That couldn't be right. What a silly thought. I laughed nervously as I walked down the sidewalk, clutching my bag tightly. All of it was nonsense. C'mon, who'd believe anything like the world blowing up into smithereens?

Apparently, they did.

Every studen on campus looked extremely paranoid. Some girls were crying, hugging each other. Some of the macho football players I befriended didn't look as confident and strong as they thought they were. No one felt safe. Even though our parents told us everything was going to be okay, we knew something was going to happen. Some of the teachers that were trying to calm the students down were failing miserably, and all they could do was fret themselves. A male by the oak tree was kneeling and reciting his prayers.

Was Daniel here?

Was anyone sane here?

"Hey..." I tapped Elizabeth on the shoulder. "Is your brother around?"

She jumped and hugged me. "Oh! Taylor! I just want you to know that you're the nicest person in the world!"

I hugged her back. "Um... thanks?"

She sniffled and let go. "Daniel's waiting for you inside." She smiled slightly and walked off to her friends. I sighed and looked around one last time at the insanity of the people on campus before I set foot in the building.

Daniel was sitting on the staircase, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees. His eyes went wide as he saw me walk through the doors.

"You weren't attacked, were you?!" I gave him a puzzled look and he laughed. "Some girl jumped me and said she wanted to marry me before she died..."

I laughed and sat down next to him. "I don't know what's going on... but I know for sure that it isn't the apocolypse. We shouldn't have to worry." I paused and thought for a moment, not thoroughly convinced with what I said. "But we can't let it get to us, or wild things are going to happen."

But wild things did start happening.

You know that kid who always wanted a dog? Well, he got one. Six of them. And that quiet old lady who lived down the block? She was speeding down the streets with wild rap pumping through the speakers. What was scary was she was rapping along.

Daniel and I almost died on the sidewalk from laughter. We were holding on to each other's arms, laughing over the old lady singing to 50 Cent. Daniel accidentally snorted and I laughed even harder. I think we managed to scare a little boy away...

A male our age, dressed in black, walked over to us. "Can I have some pot?" Eric asked.

A moment of silence...

We burst into another fit of laughter. He looked at us confused. "Fine - don't share. 'Cause I'll be laughing when the world is consumed by flames." He walked away.

Daniel let out a low whistle. "Seemed to have lost my composure, there..."

I straightened my skirt and blushed. "That was embarassing..."

"Maybe this end-of-the-world thing isn't so bad," he stated. "Life's become a whole lot more interesting."

I raised an eyebrow. He knew how I felt about this. It was ridiculous. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"Um..." Daniel looked nervously into my eyes. "There's going to be a bonfire Friday... wanna come?"

"What's it for?" I asked. Of course I wanted to go, but I just liked to watch him prompt me.

"I'm not exactly sure." He grinned. "But everyone's invited, and you're coming with me."

"What makes you so sure?" I asked. His expression dropped. I laughed. "Of course I'm coming!"

He sighed in relief, and we continued walking home.

"Wanna do something?" I asked. "Go to the park or hang out with the guys?" I suggested.

Daniel looked nervously at his Converse before answering me directly. "Sorry... I can't... I've gotta do stuff later."

Something told me that he was hiding something, but I didn't question him. "Oh. Okay. I guess I'll see ya." I crossed the street and walked towards my house, my fingers tightly clutching my bag.

~ Daniel's Point of View ~

This time, Taylor didn't smile when she said bye. I knew she wanted to hang out, but what I said earlier was true. I had something important to do.

I watched her walk up the hill she lived on until I was convinced she was safe on her own. I kicked a rock on the sidewalk and made my way home.

Today, I realized all that was at stake. When Leigh Parker jumped me earlier, her eyes were full of fear and bout. And it was contagious. 'Cause now I'm starting to worry that it could be the end of the world.

Yesterday, during that massive wind storm, I honestly thought we were going to die. I've never had to face anything that frightening. I don't know how Taylor can stay so confident about the end of the world being "shit the media feeds us". But I know she felt the way I did while we held on to that fence in desperation.

This is stupid. Why am I so worried? The world wasn't going to end. I'm going to die when I'm seventy, not seventeen.

...I hope.
"Ice age, heat wave - can't complain. If the world's at large why should I remain?"

~ Results ~