~Ken

"Mark, watch your six!" I shouted as loud as I could over the sounds of people screaming wildly and explosions from nearby vehicles occurring around me. Mark fluidly swung around on his heel and punched a burly guy in the stomach before the guy could shoot him in the back of the head with a shotgun. Everything had gone so horribly at a surprising rate. And all it took was one announcement, I thought bitterly as I ran over to where Jack, Bob, Wade and Felix were crouching behind an overturned semi truck that was blocking most of the road. "Can you tell me what the hell is going on?!?" Jack yelled to me in confusion as his eyes flew open at the sound of the people screaming. His hand was held tightly over the bullet wound in his shoulder. He winced whenever a nearby clothes store went up in flames, sending wisps of smoke spiraling into the air. "Out of all of the days in the year, the president chooses this one." I growled under my breath. Mark jogged over to us, his faded red hair matted to his forehead with sweat. "We should raid some stores and try to find supplies." Bob suggested. "Lets go to Walmart first, it's a little further down the street!" I vaulted over the semi we were hiding behind, followed closely by Wade, Felix, Bob, then Mark who had to help Jack walk around it. "Seriously, what is happening?!?" Jack panted. "Welcome to your first Freedom day." I barely heard Mark reply as he helped Jack speed up so he could catch up with me. I skidded to a halt a few feet shy of reaching the doors. The large pumpkin colored roof loomed over our heads, covering our shadows. Two muscular guys with black ski masks were already there, one was pouring lighter fluid and gasoline all over the dull red brick walls and the other had a rifle slung over his shoulder. "Hey!" Mark led Jack over to Wade, tapped the man with the gun on the arm, then punched him hard in the face while he was distracted. The guy reeled back, dazed from the blow. The other guy noticed Mark and charged towards him. I intervened by pushing Mark out of the way and tripping the guy by sticking my foot out in front of him. He stumbled and fell on his knees to the empty road. "I'll go get supplies, I'm the fastest!" Mark offered. I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say a word, he had already dissaperared through the automatic doors. I glanced over at Wade and Felix, each of them were battling the guys on their own. Bob and Jack were keeping their distance since Bob couldn't fight and watch over Jack at the same time. I hit the guy that was attacking Felix first, knocking him out, then I turned to help Wade, who was pinned in a corner by the gasoline and flame thrower. On Wade's face, I could see pure terror and determination flicker in his normally humor sparked dark brown eyes. "Wade-" I started to warn him about the flame thrower, but before I could finish my sentence, the guy that was attacking him had picked up the flame thrower and he sent blue and orange flames in his direction. He narrowly dodged out of the way by ducking. Thankfully, he didnt get burned, although I could've swore that the top of his head got slightly singed. Instead of Wade getting caught on fire, the gasoline and lighter fluid soaked wall did. The fire started slowly, then gradually grew bigger and bigger as the seconds passed by. "Jack, what are you doing?!?" I looked out of the corner of my eye and saw the green haired Irishman tear away from Bob, then run past me and through the doors just before the fire spread across the doors, separating Mark and Jack from Felix, Bob, Wade and I. Soon after, the doors exploded in a shower of glass. I threw myself down onto the concrete sidewalk, dragging Bob, Felix and Wade down with me to avoid the razor sharp pieces of glass that were flying towards us. "You okay?" I gently put a hand on Felix's shoulder as u helped him up. "Y-yeah, I'm good." He stammered. "Bob, Wade?" I inquired. "Fine." Bob flashed me a thumbs up as he pushed himself off of the ground. "All good." Wade huffed. "But what about Mark and Jack?" Bob gestured over at the flaming building. I could see concern for his friends shimmer in his light brown eyes. "Just pray that they find a way out." I sighed. I couldn't risk getting anyone else hurt. From behind me, I saw the two guys wake up, then start running like maniacs out of the parking lot. "Morons." Bob yelled at their retreating forms, then smiled smugly.

~Mark (24 hours earlier)

         "Okay, have a good night everybody!" I waved goodbye to my friends Jack, Bob, Wade, Ken and Felix as I gingerly closed the hotel door shut behind me so I didn't bother anyone who was asleep. We had all just finished up at Pax Prime about a couple of hours ago and Felix invited us to his hotel room he was staying in to play board games and just hang out. The time on my phone read that it was nearly eleven and I felt completely drained. My hand still felt sore from signing so many signatures, but I didn't really mind. "Guess I'm not used to the time change yet." I muttered to myself as I shuffled down the beige carpeted hallway. I suddenly tripped over my own feet and fell face first against the white painted walls. I was literally falling asleep while standing. After a moment or two, I managed to heave myself off of the floor and shuffled a little further before stopping to lean against the doorframe to my room, room 46, which was only a few rooms from Felix's. Before we left for Pax Prime, we all skyped each other and agreed upon which hotel we wanted to say in, and we all chose this one, mainly since it had free breakfast, a hot tub, and a pool. I slid my key card through the slot, which unlocked the door with a loud click that echoed through the deserted hallway. Pale moonlight shone in through the crack in the crimson red curtains from the giant window by my bed. I stumbled inside and let the door slam shut behind me as I removed my shoes and denim jeans, gently tossed my phone on the white bedside table, then sleepily crawled under the duvet. I still kept my black t-shirt and red flannel on since it felt warm. I could barely see the moon hovering over the balcony of my room, casting its reflection on the large pool below. "Ah Seattle, such a nice change of scenery." I remarked with a yawn as I rolled over so my back was facing the window and took off my glasses. I sat them by my phone and promptly fell asleep.

~Jack

"I should probably go too, see ye later!" I left the room shortly after Mark did because Felix was already starting to fall asleep sitting up. Once, his head even slipped from where his hands were holding his head up and he smacked face first down on the stack of Uno cards, scattering them all over the coffee table and carpet. "Hey, wait up!" Ken beckoned me back with a sharp whisper. I turned around and walked back towards Ken, who was sticking his head out the doorway. Soft lamplight was lit up behind him, giving off a comforting glow. "Is it alright if I come with you since my room is right across from yours?"Ken asked politely. I gave a nod in response, too weary to say anything that wasn't a yawn. Ken grinned happily in response and fell in step beside me as I walked to room 53, which was Ken's room. "Have a good night." Ken winked before softly closing the door in my face. I turned on my heel and walked to my room, which was room 61, directly in front of Ken's room. I slipped my key card out from my blue hoodie pocket and slid it through the slot, unlocking the door with a loud click. I stepped inside, forgetting to stop the door before it slammed shut behind me. I jumped in surprise at the loud noise, barely keeping my voice from yelling, which would only annoy everyone else on this floor further. I grumbled a few curse words under my breath as I slid my shoes off by the giant flat screen t.v so I wouldn't forget where I put them, then changed into a pair of green plaid pj pants and a white t-shirt after removing my new glasses and putting them down by my phone on the bedside table. I flung the crimson duvet back and shifted around in the king sized bed until I got comfortable, then I glanced over at the black digital clock sitting on the bedside table. It was already 11:34. I gave a content sigh as I allowed myself to finally fall asleep for the first time since yesterday morning.

Okay, I don't know what made me want to write this, but I really felt like writing something (hence the reason why I asked you guys) and I figured since nobody seemed to have suggestions, I'd just write a new book just for the heck of it and because I can't think of any good updates for my other books. But anyway, I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far!