One Apocalyptic Love Story

He glanced down at the locket in his hand. “I will never let go of this locket.” He immediately placed the locket inside his pocket. It had been days since the first missile had been launched. It had been days since he had seen her.

“I need to find her.” He thought as he kept pushing.

Zussia launched a missile on America. Since then, air strike missiles have been going off back and forth. Nuclear missiles have not yet been used but threats have been made. Nuclear attacks have not been spared due to kindness, but due to each side’s fear and understanding that whichever side makes the first attack will receive a nuclear attack of their own. Still, it has been difficult for the people to survive and the world is on the verge of the end. Cities stand at half of what they used to be if they’re lucky. Most are just remnants of what they used to be. The world does not resemble what it used to at all, and for once, America has not escaped punishment. If an agreement is not made between battling sides, the American dream will turn into the American nightmare.

The man kept walking forward, his grip on the locket tightening with every step. He flashed back to when he had given the love of his life the locket. He reminisced as he rubbed his hand along the silver outlined heart.

“Jane”

“Yes?”

“I have something to give you.”

“I thought you told me you didn’t have time to get me anything?” Jane asked.

“Well, you know I couldn’t give it away.”

Brad smiled and walked towards the closet in the bedroom that they shared. He opened the doors and reached on the top shelf in the very back. Finally, he pulled his hand down. He was holding a container.

“What’s inside?” She asked as she grabbed it out of his hand. Before he could even ask for it back, she had opened it. Her eyes were beaming with excitement. She was rubbing the silver outlined heart ever so peacefully.

“Thank you so much. This is so sweet. I always wanted a heart shaped piece of jewelry.”

“I know. You know I listen when you speak.”

It seemed like it was so long ago. Brad continued to reflect as he walked forward. Suddenly, he heard a bang. He rolled behind the remains of a grey Toyota that was big enough to hide him. The car was so worn down Brad couldn’t tell if it was originally a four door or a minivan.

Brad held his revolver at his side. He just wanted to see Jane again. The last time he saw her, she seemed upset. It wasn’t like their normal interactions. Still, it could be fixed because he knew she still loved him, and that was all that mattered. He just needed to get to her before anything happened to her. He had to protect her, if anything happened to her-

BANG.

Brad heard a gunshot so he ducked. He waited a few seconds. Then, he poked his head out from above the debris and saw that the person shooting was wearing the Zussian army uniform. They had a shotgun in their hand. Brad realized that this guy must have been sent as a part of some ground team to hunt down any surviving Americans. If that was the case, then he needed to put his guard up even more. He ducked once again as he took a sip of his water.

“This is getting crazy. Shit, what do I do?” Brad didn’t know if he should wait for the man to leave or he should attack. Brad also didn’t know who this soldier was shooting at.

He only had 5 bullets left in the chamber. He was a pretty good shot since he was in the army for a couple of years, but that was about 5 years ago now. He knew he needed to focus but he couldn’t stop thinking about Jane, even at a time like this. “I just want to see her brown hair, her pretty face-“

Suddenly, he realized it was quiet. He heard no more footsteps or moving around. Brad poked his head up and realized that the man was no longer there.

Then, Brad started to hear movement. He turned to his right towards the sound and saw the Zussian soldier rushing him. Brad reached for his gun but the Zussian was already aiming.

BANG!

The body hit the ground. Brad stared forward in confusion. Who had shot the Zussian? The soldier’s body fell forward only a few feet in front of Brad. Then, he noticed someone standing in his peripheral vision. They had a gun too. Brad aimed his gun.

“Wait! It’s Fine!” The man shouted.

Brad stared at the man. “Are you an American?”

“Yes, I’m an American!” The man exclaimed as he put his weapon on the ground. Brad put his revolver down to his side. He took a deep breath.

“That’s great, I’ve been running for my life out here,” Brad said.

“I bet.”

“Are you with others?” Brad asked.

“Yeah. They’re all hiding about a block away. I have food and water. Well, canned food some snacks and water if you want some.”

Brad looked at the man. Now, he was paying more attention. The man looked to be into his 30s, was about 6 foot 3 with a fairly athletic build. The man looked American and definitely did not look Zussian. He figured that he could trust the guy, also considering he had just saved his life.

“What’s your name? And how many are you with?

“I’m Paul. I’m with two others. Follow me and I’ll take you there. We’ll get there in two minutes.”

Brad nodded his head in agreement and followed Paul as he started walking. They walked past a couple more broken down cars and some streetlights that were on the ground now. Finally, Brad started to notice a little abandoned store. It looked like it would’ve been a gas station or something like that before the war had started. He began to sip his water as they pulled up to the door. The door was clear and Paul opened it easily. He stepped inside and Brad followed.

“I’m back and I’m thirsty! Come out with some water and some snacks! Bring some Ritz if you have them please. Oh, and I’ve brought a friend.” Paul said.

Footsteps began to come closer. People were coming close.

“Does this friend have a name?” One of the people asked. Paul turned to Brad. “I didn’t get your name, did I?” Brad looked back at Paul.

“It’s Brad.”

Immediately, Paul’s eyes widened. “Wait, not..”

Right as Paul was speaking, the two other people Paul had mentioned appeared. One was a teenage boy, about 14 years old. He was about 5 foot 6 120 pounds. This first person was a complete stranger. But, the second person….

“Jane?” Brad asked as he locked eyes with her. He immediately raised his gun.

“Paul!” Jane screamed. As she finished screaming his name, Brad had pistol whipped Paul in the temple which knocked him out on the spot. Brad began to approach Jane and the boy slowly.

“Who the hell is that boy??! Is that his kid??!” Brad yelled. Jane began to back up.

“How did you even find me?!”

“We’re meant to be together, Jane. I was thinking about your brown hair, your smile, your face, just you… this entire war. Nothing could stop me.”

“Brad, I told you that I was with Paul…we are in a war and you’re coming after me? Aiming a gun at me? Are you crazy?”

“Am I crazy? You’re the one who left me! Left me to be with your mature Paul! Is this his son?” Brad screamed as he pointed the gun at the teenage boy.

“IS THIS HIS SON?”

Jane was standing still and shaking. The boy was shivering from fear.

“Don’t shoot!” Jane screamed.

“Why not? The world is already ending anyways. My world ended when you divorced me for this Paul guy. It’s only right that I end his world now. By the way, I didn’t follow you here. That dumb ass boyfriend/husband/whatever saved my life from some Zussian. If he had let me die, maybe you would have lived. So think about that.”

“The last time I saw you in court and got that restraining order I thought would be the last! Don’t tell me you still have that locket on you too!”

Brad’s eyes widened. He lowered the gun and pulled the heart-shaped locket out of his pocket. “You said you would never leave me when I gave you this!”

“Why do you think I gave it back to you?” Jane mocked.

Rage filled Brad’s eyes and he pointed the gun.

BANG!

The bullet went straight through his forehead, just like she had been practicing. Jane brought the gun almost instantly from her hip to her hand. Brad was dead the instant the bullet hit his brain. He had not expected Jane to shoot because she appeared frantically afraid in the moment. But, he took for granted all the time that had passed. The war had been going on for months but Brad had lost track of time. In all that time, Jane had been practicing shooting with Paul. You see, Paul had been in the army before, which was why he was such a good shot. And he had heard stories about the deranged and erratic behavior of Jane’s ex Brad from the source herself. Brad was sweet at first, but he wanted to control Jane. He wanted to control where she went, who she hung out with, what she wore. If she didn’t listen to him at first, he would yell. If she didn’t listen to him later, he would hit her. So, once Paul started dating Jane, he began to teach her self-defense, only using her body. But, as the war started, everyone needed a gun just to be on the ground. So, Paul taught Jane how to shoot. During the war, Jane had to shoot Zussians and kill for food, kill enemies and kill to survive. The Jane that Brad ran into was not the same Jane he knew. Yes, he still had an immediate effect on her. But, once he started rambling, Jane knew she was going to shoot him. She just had to get him disoriented. Once she saw the locket hanging out of his pocket, she formed her plan. She was not nearly as afraid as she let on.

“I know that was scary and I’m so sorry.” Jane said as she went and hugged the teenage boy. Go wake up your father, Dexter.” Jane told him. He was still staring at her in shock. After a few moments, the boy went over and woke up Paul. Paul woke up dazed and shaking his head.

“What happened? Where’s Brad? OH!” Paul screamed as he saw Brad’s body a few feet away from him. He looked at Jane.

“I’m sorry, Paul. He was threatening Dexter. And you know our history and with the war going on..and-“

“HEY!! You don’t have to apologize. Thanks for protecting us. You saved our lives.” Paul took a deep breath. “Do we have time for dinner or do we have to get moving?”

“I’m not sure. The Zussians just dropped a missile so we should have time for a dinner. I think that is the least we can do, considering everything.”

Paul smiled. “Dinner it is.”

“Thank God, I’m starving.” Dexter said.

“But right after, we’re back on the road.” Paul said.