I nodded frantically. We all threw the cards down and jumped off the bed. Trevor moved over to his closet, and Raven went to her bedroom across the hall.

"Don't you guys have a basement or something we could wait it out in?" I fretted.

Trevor shook his head, "We normally go to the neighbor's house during storms. Thought you knew that." He began to throw clothes from his closet and dresser in a pile onto the floor. I didn't know what to do.

"I-I probably did know that... My mind is scrambled right now," I admitted.

"Yeah, this entire thing is a bit much. But I gotta make Mike proud. I gotta make Mom proud. I gotta keep my cool." He tossed a fabric bag at me, and I managed to catch it. "Here, you can take some clothes of mine since we wear the same size." I nodded gratefully and began to sift through his dresser. I felt awfully awkward doing so. A few moments passed, and I had collected a couple of outfits and a stick of deodorant, and even grabbed a spare toothbrush. Trevor had his own bag with similiar items.

Mike burst through the door again, a large military camouflage bag over his shoulder, "Alright, c'mon, let's go now." Me and Trevor locked eyes for a moment before following Mike out of the room and down the hallway, led by a flashlight. Raven, Susie, and my father followed behind us. It was obvious my father had just woken up. For some reason, that made me angry. We stepped outside, and that's when so many things hit me at once. For one, the freezing air was stunning. I pulled my hood over my head and slipped my hands in my pockets. The ground was frosty, and my breath was visible. Second, I could see a crowd of people just down the street. I saw torches and flashlights and even a few vehicles. I heard a few gunshots, some sirens, some cars honking, people yelling. I could see the flashing lights of police cars. I shuddered and turned away from the chaotic scene. It was terrifying and surreal. I told myself that we would be okay. That those people down the street would be okay. I pulled myself into the backseat of the silver car. Trevor, Me, Raven, and Susie all squished in the seat together. My father rode passenger, and Mike drove. We each had bags underneath our feet or on our laps. Mike clicked off the flashlight and handed it to us as he started the car. It was pitch black for a split second, and then the car's headlights flipped on. We pulled out of the drive and began rumbling down the road in stunned, fearful silence.

"Will we ever go back?" Trevor asked quietly.

"No. Its not safe," Mike replied. We swerved around several abandoned cars.

"Trevor, you and Raven should put on your seatbelts," I whispered.

Mike responded, "Liam is right. You kids should wear the seatbelts." I heard a thorough gasp from Susie.

"But- but I need a seatbelt too! Right, dear?" Susie whined. I wanted to roll my eyes. No, you don't. You're a grown woman. Let the kids be safe.

"It's alright, Mrs. Washington. You can wear one, and I won't," I assured her. She smiled.

Mike said, "You're a good kid, Liam." I don't know if that made me feel selfish or good about myself. I wasn't really used to compliments like that... My dad never said much to me. To be completely honest, I didn't pay much attention to that compliment. I just wanted things to go back to normal.

"Where exactly are we going?" I whispered over to Trevor. He shrugged.

"Dad? Mike? Where are we going?" He asked.

Mike answered, "Work."

"The police station?"I asked worriedly.

"Yes."

I nudged Trevor and whispered, "Do you think we're going to get guns?"

He looked at me quizzically, "What makes you think that?"I glanced out the window, but couldn't really see it past Raven's thick hair and Susie's worried expression.

I looked back at Trevor, "We're gonna need more than just a pistol if we want to get through any major cities."

"Why would we need to go through any major cities?" Trevor was skeptical.

"Well... It's stupid, but I was thinking that if we could find that scientist, then maybe we could convince him to turn the sun back on. That would help solve all of the chaos," I explained.

Trevor huffed, "What?"

I tried to explain further, "Well, if we don't do that, then that would mean that this is our new world. A new world of chaos and crime. We will need guns and a safe place to live, either way. Plus, we would probably have to scavenge in cities for supplies, like in the movies. I doubt businesses can stay open in these conditions."

Trevor nodded slowly, his blue eyes narrowed, "Okay... that actually sort of makes sense..." I nodded, grateful that he understood what I was getting at. I shivered, having forgot how cold it was.

"Dad... What if we..." Trevor took a deep breath and spoke louder, "What if we could do something about this? Liam suggested actually finding that scientist and convincing him to turn the sun back on."Mike flashed me a glare in the rear-view mirror, and I wanted to curl up and disappear.

"Why in the world would we do that? I'm not going to risk you kids' lives for a stupid mission like that," Mike said firmly.

"No, Dad, you don't get it. Liam, you explain it," Trevor looked at me. God, I hated that he put me on the spot, and despite my hands being near numb with cold, they got clammy.

"Uhh... Well.. If-if we could maybe get the scientist to turn the sun back on, the- then, we could- or, I mean, he could- I mean, it would help control the chaos and prevent the world from becoming too cold for us," I explained.

Raven piped up, "He's got a point, Daddy."

Susie joined in, "What?! No, no, no, no! I am NOT going on a dangerous journey! Someone else has it covered!"

"Don't worry, Susie. We aren't," Mike said decidedly. I cursed myself. I knew I shouldn't have said anything. The drive became silent and rather awkward for me. The car grumbled to a stop in front of a small brick building. Mike parked the car. "Everyone else stay here. Me and Joseph are going to go inside and check things out." Mike told us. We all nodded in agreement. My dad and Mike both got out of the vehicle and slammed the doors. My palms began to sweat. The headlights had turned off when he parked the car, and I couldn't see my dad or Mike as they made their way to the building and entered. It was pitch black. I was only comforted by Trevor's presence beside me, and Raven's presence on my other side. We were smushed together in a backseat that was too small, so our sides were all touching, which made up for my inability to physically see them. Moments of anxious silence passed.

"If we did go find that scientist, then we would be in the history books." Raven whispered. That made both me and Trevor chuckle.

"Be quiet!" Susie demanded. I had to force myself not to groan. For some reason, Susie just always got on my nerves. I went back to worrying about my father and Mike, lots of 'what-if' scenarios being played out in my head. Only the ones that ended badly, of course. It was a relief when I heard them tug at the doors. The lights in the car flickered on at the open of the driver's seat door, which stunned my eyes temporarily.

Mike's reassuring voice said, "It's safe. C'mon, bring your stuff." I let out a sigh of relief. The driver's door closed with a loud thud as I grabbed my bag (well, really, it was Trevor's bag, but he had given it to me temporarily) and followed Susie and Raven out of the car. I walked closely with the group through the dark parking lot. We made our way inside of the building, and that's when Mike flipped on his flashlight. The building was eerie, with cobwebs in the corners, a grey carpeted floor in the main room with tile hallways, and a barren check-in desk. It reminded me of a hotel lobby.

Mike told us, "We'll all sleep behind the main desk so we're close to the entrance. I trust this place, but me and Joseph are gonna go and check things out further, just in case. You guys stay here." We nodded.

Susie started, "Wait! I have to watch the kids?"

"Just for a minute, honey," Mike replied, before walking into one of the halls with my dad at his side. My dad wasn't one of many words, but I don't think I'd heard him talk all day. Was he avoiding me? Maybe he was just still in shock. I know I was. It had been almost a full day, and yet, it was still hard for me to wrap my mind around everything. The sun was fake? Sounded like something straight out of a sci-fi movie on TV. Me, Raven, and Trevor walked behind the main desk and began to check things out. Trevor shined the light at some boxes beneath the desk.

"What's in those?" He asked. I shrugged.

"Probably explosives!" Raven grinned, and got on her knees and began sifting through the various items in the carboard boxes.

"Well? What do you see?" Trevor sat down beside her, and stuck his hands in a second box.

I nervously glanced around, "Guys, maybe we shouldn't just go looking through this stuff..."

Raven flashed me a glare, "Liam, grow a pair and stop being so scared." I didn't know what to say to that, so I just turned and walked back to the front of the desk, inspecting the items on it to distract myself. A few paper clips, a stapler, some business cards... A pair of handcuffs. They had a key with them. I picked them up a bit shyly, and tested the key on them. They opened with a click. I glanced around quickly before slipping them into my hoodie pocket. I just then remembered about my phone, which I had left at Trevor's house. It's battery had been dead.

"Hey, Trevor, does your phone work?"I asked over the table.

He responded, "Naw, no internet. So, I left it at my house." I nodded, although he could not see me from where we were at. I made my way back to the back of the table. I couldn't help but think about what Raven said. I know that she was just being her rude self, and didn't mean it personally, but I had a habit of taking things personally. Maybe I did need to start to toughen up. Maybe I could try and be not so socially awkward, not so shy, and not over-think so much. I didn't want to change myself or who I was but maybe it would be an improvement. But who am I to say something like that? I'm just a teen boy. I don't know what perfect is or how to be it.

I sat on the floor beside Raven and Trevor, "So... are we just supposed to sit here and chill?"

"Yep, just chill," Raven confirmed. I peered over her shoulder (which was super easy. I'm short, but she's way shorter. She's only 11 years old, after all) to look at the items she was rummaging through. I saw ink pens, paper clips, staples, batteries, some scissors, packs of gum, various knick knacks, even a book or two. I jumped as Raven excitedly lifted her hand and yelled, "AH-HA!" In her hand was a 20 dollar bill. I nervously chuckled.

"Raven, maybe you shouldn't take that..."

Trevor piped in, "Nobody's gonna miss it. Nobody is even here." I began to pick at my nails anxiously. Taking money, apocalypse or no, just didn't feel right.

"It probably won't even be worth anything right now," I muttered, thinking of how apocalyptic shows traded items rather than used actual money. I read the room. Then, something popped into my head. "Wait- wait! Where is Susie?" At that, Trevor and Raven lifted their heads from the boxes of goods.

"Mom?" Trevor called. No response. He and Raven both stood, wearing worried expressions. I followed them as they walked to the entrance of one of the hallways.

"Susie!" Raven called.

I yelled, "Mrs. Washington!" Still, silence. Wouldn't Mike and my dad have heard us yelling, too?

Trevor read my mind, "Where's Mike and Joseph? They've taken a while..."

Raven whimpered, "Daddy?"

Trevor decided, "We should go look for them."

"Oh, no. Trevor, that's a bad idea..." I began, but Trevor and Raven had already started to walk down the hall, flashlight in hand. I groaned before following them. There were so many things that I thought of that made this a bad idea. Regardless, we walked down the ominous hall, our shoes clicking on the tile floor.