One by one, the teens began to wake up from their sleep, still sore and tired from the long day before.

Jade climbed up the ladder and opened the shelter door to let in some light and fresh air.

Finally, everyone except for Silver was awake and chatting quietly.

"Something's off." Ryft said to Fang, looking around nervously. "It's too quiet."

"Yeah, you'd think with that generator, we'd never sleep!" Atlas added, barging into the conversation. Then her face changed from joking to serious. "Hey, why isn't the generator running?"

Everyone listening looked up at the single light on the shelter ceiling which was still burning brightly despite the lack of generator power.

"That's weird." Cricket muttered, squinting at the light. "The power lines are mangled. I would know, one almost fell on me."

"That's it. It's too weird." Fang said looking around at everyone. "Anyone else find it odd that our small town in the middle of nowhere is so well prepared for a nuclear fallout?"

"Yeah," Spirit exclaimed from the corner, startling everyone. "Sirens, warning systems, shelters, and now apparently a backup power system?"

"And the fact that the fancy hotel is intact despite being a giant target." Soul spoke up beside Spirit.

No one had really thought of it that deeply. Sure, it was strange that the one giant skyscraper was more intact than the rest of the small buildings, but no one had really thought farther than that.

"Anyone else feel like this was intended?" Ryft asked out loud. "It's so weird how.. I don't know, but there's something off."

"It makes me more certain that we should leave Sioux Rapids." Fang stood up, leaning against the ladder.

"What?" Cricket exclaimed. "That's just-" she broke off, unable to find a good argument. "W-we grew up here!"

"What are you guys talking about?" Silver mumbled, sitting up sleepily and stretching.

"Silver!" Atlas squealed. "You're alright!"

"I feel fine." Silver smiled. Her eyes were brighter and alert, as was her position.

"Wow, uhh.." Jade watched her. "You healed fast."

"I guess!" Silver grinned widely.

"Let me see your wound." Raven said quietly, startling everyone. She had been pretty quiet since last night.

When Raven pulled Silver's pant leg up enough to see the wound, everyone let out a shocked gasp.

Where a giant bleeding gash had been only twelve hours ago was now a small scab.

"That's impossible!" Ryft stuttered loudly.

"How?" Atlas sat down from being on her knees.

Silver looked just as surprised. "I- mutations?"

"Mutations don't work like that." Fang stared the scab down like it was a final exam. "Well, not usually. Like Ryft said, this is impossible."

"Anyone feel different or weird?" Cricket asked the group, eyes wide with wonder.

"Well my hands, mostly my fingers, feel really weird and itchy." Fang spoke, uncomfortably scratching his hand against the cement on the ground.

"My back really hurts." Raven said, looking down. "Like, a lot. But I thought it was just from sleeping on the cement."

"Oh my god you guys." Atlas squealed. "Were mutating!"

"But this shouldn't be happening with radiation." Ryft looked worried. "What should be happening is-"

"A whole lot of death." Atlas interrupted Ryft. "I'd take this over that any day!"

"I know, but this isn't right! This isn't logical!" Ryft appeared more troubled now. "The gamma rays should be taking out our tissue and killing us cell by microscopic cell. But we show zero signs of radiation poisoning. Zero!"

"Then what kind of bomb was that?!" Silver was starting to look scared.

"We may never know." Fang shook his head. "But one thing I do know is we need to leave Sioux Rapids."

"You said that already." Ryft looked irritated.

"Now?" Raven asked.

"Yes." Fang looked grim. "Everyone, start putting food and water in your school backpacks. We're leaving."

"I'll take water." Raven stood, dragging a bag out from behind the card table.

"We'll grab electronics and miscellaneous items." Ryft said, gesturing to Fang.

"I'm gonna start tearing these broken cabinets apart for firewood." Cricket moved to the back of the shelter, Jade following. "What happened to those anyway?"

"Long story." Raven snorted and Atlas giggled.

"I can carry something, too!" Silver looked around. "Uh, blankets!"

"I call food!" Atlas shouted excitedly, reaching for a can of tomato soup.

The soup can seemed to have mutual feelings about Atlas, as it flew to her outstretched hand and into her grip.

Atlas stared at it for a moment in awe and confusion, the rest of the room taking notice and falling silent, too.

"Woah..." Atlas finally spoke, her words awestruck. "I have the force."

"Mutant buddy!" Silver squealed.

The room began to cheer, except for Fang and Ryft, who wished everyone would take this more seriously.

"Quiet down!" Jade suddenly shouted with urgency, dashing up the ladder like a squirrel and slamming the shelter door shut.

She then slid down the ladder, putting her index finger to her lips. "I locked it." She whispered. "It's them."

Raven flinched and cowered behind the card table, Silver and Atlas following with everyone else. Even the raiders huddled close.

There was banging on the hatch door, and then jostling, as if they were trying to open it.

Then, after what felt like hours, silence.

Jade broke away from the group, to Ryft's protest, and climbed up the ladder again, unlocking the door and peering out.

"They're gone." Jade said after a few seconds, letting a sigh of relief overtake the room and let out the tension.

"I see why we have to leave now." Cricket spoke, her voice shaky.

"It's decided." Fang nodded.

"Where will we go?" Raven looked anxious.

"We should go to Des Moines." Ryft said. "It's a long way, but it's the capital and I'm sure there will be people who are willing to help us."

"Alright." Jade looked at Soul and Spirit. "Are you too coming with us?"

The two raiders looked at eachother for a moment before shaking their heads. "We want to stay." Spirit said. "I'm going to find my house."

"Me too." Soul added.

"Alright." Jade smiled sadly. "Thank you for helping us."

"Alright everyone, keep packing!" Fang called.

-> <-

They were on the surface now, looking out over the wasteland that was their home for all their lives. All had bags slung across their shoulders or objects in their hands. The sun was still rising, the sky shades of brown, orange, and some pink.

Among the group were two mutants, two leaders, two wanderers, and one murderer.

And behind them, two silent raiders.