( oo. before )

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UNDER THE WARM afternoon sun, the beach seemed like a playground straight out of a child's dream. Madelyn, who wore pigtails that bounced as she moved, led her little brother by the hand across the soft, powdery sand. Oliver, with wide eyes full of wonder, toddled along beside his sister, his tiny fingers clutching a colourful bucket.

Their parents, a few paces away on a blanket, watched with affectionate smiles as their children played. The rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing backdrop to the scene.

Suddenly, the distant roar of jet engines pierced the tranquil atmosphere. Madelyn glanced up, her gaze drawn to the sky where a formation of sleek jets streaked across the horizon, leaving behind a trail of white contrails.

Oliver's eyes widened in alarm, his lower lip trembling as he clung tightly to Madelyn's hand. Sensing her brother's fear, Madelyn knelt down beside him, wrapping her arms around him protectively.

"It's okay, Oli," she murmured soothingly, her voice gentle and reassuring. "They won't hurt you. They're just planes."

Oliver sniffled, his small frame trembling with anxiety, but he took comfort in his sister's comforting embrace. Madelyn gently wiped away his tears with her thumb, offering him a warm smile.

"Do you want to make a sandcastle with me, Oli?" Madelyn suggested, trying to distract him from his fear. "We can build the biggest sandcastle ever!"

Oliver's face brightened at the idea, his fear momentarily forgotten as he nodded eagerly. Madelyn grinned, taking his hand and leading him back to the spot where she had been working on a sandcastle.

Together, they set to work, their laughter mingling with the sound of the waves as they scooped up handfuls of sand and moulded them into turrets and walls. Madelyn showed Oliver how to shape the sand and decorate the castle with seashells and pieces of driftwood.

Their parents watched from a distance, their hearts swelling with pride at the sight of their children playing so harmoniously together. But they heard the news, moments like these wouldn't last, so they tried to make the most of it.

۶ৎ

After that day at the beach, news of disease spread like wildfire. For weeks now, the mysterious illness known as the Flare had been sweeping through the town, leaving a trail of sickness and despair in its wake. At first, it had seemed like nothing more than a common cold or flu, but as the days passed, the symptoms grew more severe, more sinister.

Those afflicted by the Flare experienced intense neurological symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and uncontrollable tremors. As the virus ravaged their bodies, victims became increasingly erratic and aggressive, their minds consumed by a primal madness that left them unrecognisable to their loved ones. And as the days stretched into weeks, the symptoms only grew more severe, pushing the boundaries of human suffering to their limits and soon enough they would die, and be left in a zombie state.

Somehow, Madelyn and her family seemed to avoid it for a while, surviving by rationing their food and locking themselves inside the house. Ensuring that no one with the flare could reach them.

But soon enough food had run out, and that meant going out to get more.

Madelyn and Olivers mother believed it was best that she go out to retreive the food, knowing that their father could protect them more than she could. So that's what she did, but unfortunately food wasnt the only thing she brought back.

Their mother had been bitten.

At first, it was just a cough here, a fever there, but soon she was bedridden, her once vibrant energy replaced by a weary lethargy. Desperate to protect her family, Madelyn's mother locked herself away in her room, hoping to contain the illness before it spread to her children.

But despite their efforts, the Flare continued to spread like wildfire. Madelyn's father did his best to care for her, but he too soon succumbed to the illness, leaving Madelyn and her little brother Oliver to fend for themselves.

Nights were the hardest. Madelyn would lie awake in bed, listening to the sound of her parents moans and groans echoing through the house. It was a sound that sent shivers down her spine, filling her with a sense of dread and helplessness.

And then there was Oliver. Just five years old and already burdened with more fear and uncertainty than any child should have to bear. Madelyn would often wake in the middle of the night to the sound of his soft cries, his tiny frame trembling with fear.

Unable to bear the thought of her brother suffering alone, Madelyn made the decision to share her room with him. Together, they huddled under the covers, seeking comfort in each other's presence. In the darkness of the night, with the world outside plagued by the Flare, they found strength in their bond, a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.

As the days stretched into weeks, Madelyn and Oliver's bond grew stronger. They spent their days playing games, reading books, and exploring the corners of their home that they had never noticed before. But as the nights grew longer and the sounds of the Flare grew louder, their sense of safety began to wane.

One night, as they lay huddled together in bed, Madelyn heard a new sound. It was the sound of scratching, like nails against wood, coming from the direction of their parents room. Oliver whimpered in fear, clutching Madelyn's hand tightly as they listened to the eerie noise.

Heart pounding, Madelyn made a decision. She couldn't bear to sit idly by while her parents suffered. With a determined expression, she rose from bed, gently coaxing Oliver to follow her.

Together, they crept down the hallway, the floorboards creaking beneath their feet. The sound grew louder with each step, until finally, they stood before their parents door.

With trembling hands, Madelyn reached out and turned the handle, pushing the door open slowly. What they saw inside made their blood run cold.

Their parents lay on the bed, body contorted in agony, and eyes glazed over with fever. But it wasn't their appearance that chilled them to the bone. It was the sight of their hands, clawing at the walls, leaving deep scratches in their wake. They were unrecognisable.

Oliver let out a whimper of fear, burying his face in Madelyn's side. But Madelyn stood her ground, her gaze locked with her mother's. She had to do something, otherwise her and her brother would be next. She loved her parents more than anything, but she knew their fate was already set.

She slammed the door, locking it and praying that with their confused minds they wouldnt be able to unlock it. Grabbing Olivers hand they sprinted to their room, grabbing the landline on the way that by some miracle still worked.

Desperation gnawed at Madelyn's insides as she dialed the emergency number, her fingers trembling with fear. The voice on the other end promised help, but as soon as the call ended, a sense of dread settled over her like a suffocating blanket. Something didn't feel right.

Before they could make sense of the situation, the door burst open, revealing a group of masked figures clad in dark uniforms. Their hearts pounded in their chests as they were forcibly pulled from their hiding place, their cries drowned out by the chaos surrounding them.

As they passed their parents' room, Madelyn's heart stopped in her chest, a strangled cry escaping her lips. There, surrounded by a swarm of doctors and scientists, lay their parents' lifeless bodies, their eyes staring blankly into the void. Madelyn could feel the weight of their gaze, haunting her every step as they were led away to face an uncertain fate.

۶ৎ

The sterile white walls of the waiting room closed in around Madelyn as she sat among the other children, their faces drawn with fear and uncertainty. They were all waiting, waiting to be taken into the unknown, their futures hanging in the balance.

Oliver, her precious little brother, was the first to be called. Madelyn's heart clenched with fear as she watched him being led away, his small hand reaching out to her in desperation. She fought against the hands that held her back, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded with them not to separate them. But her efforts were in vain, and soon Oliver was gone, leaving Madelyn alone in her terror.

It wasn't long before she was called next. Reluctantly, she rose from her seat, her steps heavy with dread as she followed the masked figures down the sterile hallway. They stopped outside a door, and as it swung open, Madelyn's heart sank at the sight an older man, waiting with a younger boy beside him.

"Come on," one of the masked figures urged, pushing her into the room.

Madelyn hesitated, her gaze fixed on the boy, who offered her a small, sympathetic smile. She reluctantly stepped into the room, the door closing behind her with a finality that sent shivers down her spine.

Inside, the man who introduced himself as Janson, a man she instantly despised, waited for her. His sharp features reminded her of a rat, and she couldn't suppress the shudder that ran down her spine as he spoke.

"Welcome, I understand that you must be feeling all sorts of emotions right now. This is Thomas" he points to the young boy "another child just like you, who lost his mother to the flare."

"You're both extremely special, and because of that we had to move you from your homes so that you would be safe here."

Now, before we talk more. We need to about your new name. How does the name Eleanor sound to you?"

Eleanor bristled at the use of the name they had given her, but she held her tongue as Janson continued to speak. He outlined their plans for her, their expectations, their demands. But as he spoke, her mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of her brother and the life they had left behind.

When Janson finally left the room for moment, leaving her alone with Thomas, Eleanor's defenses crumbled and tears streaked down her face as the reality set in, sobs racked her body and she shook almost violently.

Thomas immediately reached out for her, but she moved away, "Stop! just stop!" she yelled, making Thomas take a step back, letting her have her space.

After a few minutes he finally broke the silence, "I'm sorry about your parents" Thomas blurted out suddenly.

Eleanor's heart clenched at Thomas's words, the pain of loss washing over her like a tidal wave. She had tried to push the memory of her parents' lifeless bodies from her mind, but now their faces loomed large in her thoughts, their absence a gaping wound that refused to heal.

She looked up at Thomas, her eyes shining with unshed tears, but she said nothing, the weight of her grief too heavy to put into words. Instead, she nodded silently, her arms wrapped tightly around herself in a futile attempt to ward off the chill that had settled in her bones.

Thomas understood her silence, but he reached out across the table, his hand hovering uncertainly for a moment before finally coming to rest on top of hers, a silent gesture of comfort and solidarity.

"Where's my brother? I want to see him." Eleanor almost demanding, taking his hand off of hers before pushing back in her chair.

"He's in another room, with some doctors. I'm sure you will see him soon. I promise. But he has anew name too that you should know, it's Charles. I know everything is so weird right now, I felt the same, but trust me when I say we're safe here. You'll be okay."

As Thomas spoke, Eleanor's heart skipped a beat at the mention of her brother. Relief flooded through her veins knowing that her brother was safe, at least for the moment. She clung to Thomas's words about his new name, also disliking it but keeping quiet.

"Thank you," Eleanor whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she fought to hold back tears of gratitude.

With a shaky breath, Eleanor wiped away her tears and turned her attention back to Thomas. His hand was now outstretched hand between them, a silent invitation to bridge the gap between them.

Taking a deep breath, Eleanor reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as they met his in a tentative handshake. It was a simple gesture, but in that moment, it felt like so much more— a promise to stand together against whatever trials lay ahead.

"It's nice to meet you, Thomas, but please, don't call me Eleanor. I hate that name" she said, her voice soft but steady as she offered him a small, grateful smile.

Thomas nodded at her request. "okay, well how about Ellie?," he suggested.

"Ellie.." Eleanor repeated, testing the name on his tongue. "I guess, it's better than Eleanor."

Thomas smiled at her, "Ellie it is, welcome to your new home."

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