(Back with a new chapter! Thank you so much for all the support. I hope you enjoy this chapter too!)

I wake up with a gasp. My hands are shaking and I feel anxious. I can't remember what I was dreaming of before I woke up, but it must have been upsetting. My alarm clock reads 5:07.

I take a deep breath and steady myself before I try to stand up. I get up out of my bed slowly, careful not to make a lot of noise.

I go downstairs and outside to get some air. The air feels light and delicate on my skin and works to cool me down. I take a breath and notice our mailbox is open. I look inside and see a card with "Today at 5 AM" on it in small handwriting. Below it is an address.

My eyes widen and I quickly start to wonder if I should go. I look out at my small street and quiet community. I notice the location is two streets away, so I decide to go. I peer out at the dark street once more. I run cautiously across it and to the next one.

The location is a house identical to mine. I stand still in front of it as I realize it's the house of a couple whose children disappeared a few weeks ago. I walk closer to their slightly open front door. Part of my mind knows this is risky, but the other parts beg to find out what is going on.

I reach to open the door when someone grabs the other side of the handle. As I start to fall through the doorway, they grab my arm to prevent me from completely falling down.

I turn around in a hurry and meet the tired eyes and soft smile of the mother of the vanished kids.

Her voice is sweet and soft. "I'm so sorry, love. Are you okay? Hurt at all?"

For some reason, I can barely speak. "I- I'm okay."

She beams at me and releases her slight grip on my arm.

I smile back at her. Her presence is warm and inviting. She reminds me of my mother in a way and my heart begins to ache. I can't imagine my mom losing her children. I can't imagine it happening to anyone, but here I was in the presence of someone who was facing this reality and I couldn't bear it.

She looks at me. "Are you Gwen's daughter?"

I nod. "Yes."

"Are you here for the meeting?"

"Uh, I didn't really know it was a meeting. I just received a card in the mail."

"Oh, that's okay. We welcome new recruits all the time."

"Recruits for what?"

Before she can answer, someone comes out of the back room. She's a teenager as well, a little younger than me, who has bright blue eyes.

She stops in her tracks when she sees me and looks puzzled. "Is she a new recruit?"

"I don't know yet, but I think she'll become one." She grins at me.

I can't think of what to say, but it doesn't matter because I'm already being shown to the back room where the meeting is being held.

I get introduced to the group and I'm prompted to sit on the last remaining chair in the room. They are discussing several ideas regarding some sort of rebellion.

The girl with blue eyes looks at me. "Do you want to help?"

Before I can answer, the father of the vanished children runs through the doorway. The expression on his face is horrific and my heart sinks. I know that expression too well. Something is happening to the community.

I get up out of my seat and quickly run through the doorway and run out the front door. I continue out and stand in the middle of the street, frozen in place.

Ash falls rapidly from the sky. I can hear the whispers, screams, and shouting coming from my small little community behind me. I'm staring at bright flames, engulfing everything in its path.

It's heading in our direction.