My8amalarmgoesoff,anditstimeforschool.

Todayisourfieldtripto
thechemistrylab,soIputonmykhakishorts,redtshirt,andmyblackvans
withapairofstancesocks.Ithengodownforbreakfast,whichisaneggon
toast,thenIhearthebushonkthehorn.Iknowitsgoingtobethebestday
ever.Ihoponthebusandeverybodysayshitome,whenIlookforanempty
seat,Iseethisgirlinmyclass.IthinkhernameisJenny,shesveryshybut
everyoneknowsshesthesmartestgirlinourgrade.Beingaguythismakesme
feelinferiortoher.IlookaroundandtheonlyemptyseatisnexttoJenny,soI
walkovertoherandaskher,Isthisseattaken?
Shethenrespondswithaslyremark,Doesitlooklikeitis?
IlaughalittletoshowherIhaveasenseofhumor,eventhoughIdidntthinkit
wasthatfunny.Yousee,beingthemostpopularguyinourgradeleavesmewith
theresponsibilityofmakingeveryonefeelliketheyrelovedbyme,evenpeople
likeJenny.IknowtomakeherlikemeIhavetotalktoher,soIsparkupa
conversationwhilewereonourwaytoschool.
Sohowsschoolgoingforyou?Iaskherveryswiftly.
OtherthanthefactthatIhavenofriends,IhaveallAs,probablymore
thanyoucansaysherepliedsassily.
IguesswehaveourownstrengthsItriedtoreplyasniceasIcouldso
shedlikeme.
Theconversationwasoverandwearrivedatschool.

Whatdoyoudo?
ContinuetotalktoJennysoshewontbealoner
.Gotopage2
LeaveJennyandgohangoutwithyourfriendsuntilschoolstarts
.Gotopage3

IcontinuetospeaktoJenny,sothatshewilllikeme.
Whodoyouhangoutwithduringlunch?,Iasktryingtostarta
conversation.
I...Istayinduringlunchand...justreadbooks,Jennyreplysinashy
manner.

Itrytohidemylaugh,butitjustcomesout.Iapologizeandtrytocontinue
theconversation,butitsnotthesame.
Imsorry,Idontknowwhathappened,IdontknowwhyIlaughed..,Isay
inareallyawkwardvoice.
Jennyjuststaresatmewiththemostdisappointedlook.Ithendecideto
walkawayfromher,Icanseehergointotherestroomholdingbackhertears.
Itrytochaseafterher,butitstoolate.Iheartheschoolbellringanditstime
togotoclass.

OkayJennyitwasnicesittingonthebuswithyou!Isay.
Oh,yourenotgoingtohangoutwithmesomemore?Jennyrepliesina
patheticway.
Nosorry,myfriendsarewaitingoverthereformeIsayinthenicest
waypossibletocontinueherfriendlylikingtowardsme.
FiguresShesays,andIknowshewontcontinuetobeafanofme.

IwalkovertomyfriendsandgreetthemOutofthecornerofmyeyeIcan
seeJennywalkintothebathroomwithherjacketcoveringhereyes,Idontthink
anythingofit.

Heyguysexcitedforthefieldtriptoday?Iaskpolitely.
WhywereyoutalkingtoJennyMyfriendRebeccasaidtomeinaswiftand
sassyattitude.

AsIwasgoingtoreplytohertheschoolbellrangandwewalkedto
class.Whenwearrivetotheclassroom,theteacherannouncessayingthatthe
busesarehereandthatweareleaving.Westartwalkingtothebuses,whenI
seeJennyshehasredpuffyeyes.Irealizethatshehadbeencrying,butI
continuetowalkawaywithmyfriends.IseeJennysitbyherself,andIfeelbad
butIstillsitwithmyfriends.Thebusstartstoleave,andsoonerthanlaterwe
arrivetoourdestinationwhichisaChemistrylab.Therewasascientistatthe
frontofthelabwaitingtogiveusourtour,fromtheannoyedlookonhisface,I
couldtellthatwewererunningalittlelate.Wegotintogroupsandthetour
began.Welearnedaboutthermonuclearbombsandhowtheywork.AlthoughI
wasntreallylisteningIheardsomethinglike,
Recentlywehavebeenworkingon
athermonuclearweapon,forthoseofyouwhodontknowwhatthatis,itisa
nuclearweaponthatusesenergyfromanuclearfissionreactiontocompressand
catchfireasecondnuclearfusionreaction.Inresultofthisyougetgreatly
increasedexplosivepower.
IseeJennystandinginthebackwithourteacherMs.Wabanoodle,Ifeelslightly
bad.Allofthesuddenawomaninawhitelabcoat,thatIpresumeworksatthe
lab,walksuptoourtourleaderinanurgentmatter,andstartstowhisperinhis

ear.Okay,changeofplans,ourtourguidecontinues,therehasbeenan
unexpectedoptiontothisfieldtripthatisnowavailabletoyou.Youcaneitherstay
hereatthelaborgotothemoon.Choosefastthoughbecausewecanonly
takesevenofyou.

Whatdoyoudo?
Stayatthelab
.Gotopage5
Gotothemoon
.Gotopage7

Ichosetostayatthelab,sinceIseethatJennystayedtoo.Isawher
standingtherebyherself,soIdecidedtogotalktoher.
Whydidyouchoosetostay?Whydidntyouchosetogotothemoon?I
askedher.
Imean...,themooniscoolandallbut...saidJenny,notfinishingher
sentence.
Butwhat...?Iask..
Well..,yousee...Imscaredofheights...Sherepliesinanembarrassed
voice.
Istandtherestaringathernotknowingwhattosay.
oh,yeaIguessheightscanbescaryIreply.
So,Whydidyouchosetostayhere?sheasked.
Istandthere,staringather.Idontknowwhy,butimembarrassedtotell
herthereasonwhyIstayed,butItellheranyway.
IguessIgetmotionsicknesstoo,Ireplytoherinaquietvoice.

RightwhenJennywasgoingtospeak,thelabscientiststartedtalking.
ThroughoutthetourIwaswithJenny,notpayingattentionatalltowhatthe
scientistwassaying.IdontknowwhyIdidthis,butIfeltsomesortofconnection
toher,IdontknowifitsbecauseIfeelbadforherorbecauseIlowkeylike
her.Imgoingtohavetodosomeselfreflectiontofindout.
Anyways,Icontinuedlisteningtotheboringthingsthescientistwassaying,
whenIheardThespaceshuttleisreadyforlaunch,letgoseeittakeoff,said
thescientist.Weheadedtowardsasecludedroomwherewecouldwatchthe
takeoff.Allofasudden,IfeltthissickfeelinginmystomachbutIjustthoughtit
wasmystomachhurtingbecauseIwashungry.10,9,8,7...,asIheardthe
countdownallIcoulddowasstareoffintospaceinthedirectiontowhereIcould
seethespaceshuttle.Andtheyreoff!saidthescientistinaveryexcitedvoice.
Iheardthescientistswhisperingwiththeteachers.Icouldntreallyhear
anything,butwhatIdidhearthescientistwhispertotheteacherssomethinglike
Ihavebadnews.Somethingwentwrongwiththespaceshuttle,andifitblows
upthewholecitywillbecoveredinradiation.Igetaworriedlookonmyface,
whenJennyasksmeWhatswrong?

Nothing...Isay.AssoonasIfinishmysentenceWhathappensnextis
unbelievable.Asthespaceshuttleisintheairtakingoff,itexplodes!!!Everybody
startsscreaming,andallhellbrokeloose.

Whatdoyoudo?
Gooutsideandtrytohelptheothers
.Gotopage8
Stayinsidethelab
.Gotopage12

Imsoexcited!IexclaimtoJenny.
Idontknowifthisisagoodidea,Iamscaredofheightsafterall.Jenny
sayswithnervousdemeanor.
Dontworry.IputoutmyhandforJennytohold,shetakesitandwesit
inthewhitecushionedspaceshuttle,awaitingthecountdown.

Ilookoutthewindowtoseemypeersstaringatusinamazement,Igive
themawave,butfeellikeanidiotafterwardsbecauseIknowtheycantseeme.
Ihearthecountdowncommence,10,9,8,7...
Charlie,IdontthinkIcandothis.Jennysaystomesqueezingmyhand
tighter.
JustholdontomeandyoullbealrightIsaytryingtocomforther.
Letgoofeachother!!!Myteacheryelledatus.
WeletgoofeachotherandIstartedtolistentothecountdownagain,...3,...2,
...1IheardallthekidsyellBLASTOFF!AndbeforeIknewitwewereblasting
off.
Ohno,something'swrong,Iheardthepilot'swhispertoeachother.
Aredlightstartedtoflickerandeveryoneknewsomethingwashorribly
wrong,througheveryone'sscreamsIcouldhearthepilotssayonelastthing,
Thespaceshuttlerunsoffanuclearreactor,ifthespaceshipblows,that
shouldbethelastofeveryone'sworries,ifthisthingblowsupthewholecitywill
becoveredinradiation.Cancer,mutations,everyoneinthiscitywhostepsoutside
theirdoorswillbeaffected.
IlookoutattheimpendingmoonandthatsthelastthingIsee,beforethe
spaceshipblowsintoamillionpieces.

Whatdoyoudo?
Gooutsideandtrytohelptheothers
.Gotopage8
Stayinsidethelab
.Gotopage12

AssoonasIseethespaceshuttleblowup,everybodystartsscreaming.Istand
there,frozen,speechless.Someofmyclassmatesimmediatelyrunoutthedoor.I
heardscientistsscreamingNO!DONTGOOUTSIDE,butitwastolateforthose
ofwhowereoutsidealready.Ithendecidetorunafterthescientisttotryto
catchuptohimwhenIseehimrunningtowardsthedoor,andclosesit.
Whyareyouclosingthedoor?!Can'tyouseethattheyrecomingback?I
sayinthenicestwaypossible.
Imsorry,buttheycantcomebackinside!Thereisradiationoutsidethat
willcausethemtogrowextralimbs,andtheywilldieinamatteroftime!!IfIlet
thembackin,thewholeplacewillbecoveredwithradiationandwewillalldie!
saysthescientistinastressed/scaredvoice.AsIheardhimtalking,Ispacedout
again.Ididntknowwhattodo.Beforehehadtimetoclosethedoor,Iran
outside.Jennysawmeandtriedcomingoutsideaswell,butthescientistclosedthe
doorbeforeshecouldescape.Iwasoutherenow,withtherestofmyfriends.I
decidetowalktothespaceshuttle,totrytoseeifanyonewasalive.AsIm
gettingclosertothetragicscene,itseemsasiftherewasnobodyonthespace
shuttle.Likeifitwasemptysinceitleft.Therewasnosignofmyclassmates
thatwereonthespaceshuttle.Iwassolost,empty.Itseemsasifthisplace
thatIminisaplaceiveneverseenbefore.Afireinonesection,darkcloudsin
thesky,thingsburning,thereisnobodyelsebesidesmeandtheotherpeople
thatranoutofthesciencelab.Idontknowwhattodo,ImeanImightdiesoon
soIguessthereisntmuchtodo.Idecidetowalkaroundwiththeothers,when
weseesomethingstrange.Oneofthekidshadanextrafinger!Ithen
rememberedwhatthescientistsaidaboutifwewentoutsidewecouldgrowextra
limbs.Forreasonthiswasarelieftome.Ifeltthatmaybeifhegrewanextra
limb,wewouldallgrowthemtooandwecouldgobackintothelab,andIwould
bewithJennyandeverythingwouldbefine,butitwasallthecompleteopposite.I
wasspacingout,whenIseemyclassmatesinacircle.Itseemedasiftheywere
surroundingastrangegreencreaturelookingthing.AsIgetclosertothegroup,I
seeoneofmyclassmatesrollingaround,butitdoesn'tlooklikehimanymore.He
looksreallypale,witholdgrungytypeskin.FromthemomentIsawhimIknew
whathewasbecoming.Zombie!Iyell.Allthekidsstartedpanickingandrunning
around.

AfterIcatchedmybreath,Itoldthemtostaycalm.Ithencameupwitha
plan;averyhorribleplan.
Wehavetokillhim..Itelltheothers

AREYOUCRAZY?!theyyellatme.
LookIknowitsoundssosobad,butthinkaboutit,ifwedontkillhimthen
hewilleventuallybiteusorsomethingandwegettouchedbyhimwewillbecome
Zombies.YouguysdontwanttobecomeZombiesdoyouguys?Iaskthem.
TheyglanceateachotherandtheyrespondwithNo...
Okaywellwehavetodowhatwehavetodoifwewanttosurviveout
hereIsay.Itrytofindsomethingsharpsothatwecankillhimwith.Theres
stillfogfromtheexplosion,soIcantreallysee.Iwalkaround,anddecidetouse
asharppieceofmetalfromtheairplane.Isecretlytellsomeofmyclassmatesto
holdthezombiefromthearms,buttobecarefulbecauseiftheygetscratched
theywillbecomezombiestoo.WhenIseethattheyareholdinghimdown,Irun
upfrombehindthemandIstabhimintheheadwithasmuchstrengthasI
could.Iseethisnastygooeygreenreddishliquidcomingoutfromthewoundon
hishead.AsIwalktowardswheremyclassmateswere,Irealizedsomethingabout
thedeadbody.Irealizedthatthisguywaswearingthesameshoesasmyfriend
thatwasonthespaceshuttle.AftertakingacloserlookIrealizethatIhadjust
killedmyfriend!Istandthereindisgust.WhathaveIdoneIthoughttomyself.I
stoodthereinshock,Icouldntprocessthisthroughmyheadbuttherewas
nothingIcoulddoaboutit.
Heyareyouokay?somekidasksme.
Yea...Imfine..Ireplywithasmileonmyfacepretendinglikeeverything
wasokay.
Doyouhaveanyfood?Werehungrytheyask.,astheirstomachswere
growlingreallyloudly.
Ilookatthemwithaworriedlook,No,ImsorryIdonthaveanyfood.
Dontworry,wecantrylookingaroundtoseeifwecanfindany,Ireply.
Aswearewalkingaround,Idecidetolookaroundwheretheairplane
landedtoseeifthereisanythinguseful.AllIcanseearepiecesofmetal,and
whatseemtobedeadbodies.Thereisntreallyanythingwecanuse,soIstart
walkingaway.AsImwalkingawayIseeabook,withburntedges.Idontpay

closeattentiontoituntilIseeanimageofwhatlookslikeanexplosionorabomb.
Ipickitup,openitandstartreading.ThisbookisaboutChemistry!Ifeelsuch
reliefthinkingthatthiscansaveus.AsImreadingthebook,Ireadasection
whereitsaysthatsoilfroma1omileradiuscanbeaffectedbecauseofthe
radiation,sowewontbeabletoeatanythingnearus.Icontinuereadingandit
saysthatfromadistanceof4050milestherearenolevelsofradiationwhich
isthesafesttolookforfood.Thereisasectionfromthebookthatcatchesmy
eye.Wheneatingcontaminatedfoods,theradioactiveparticlescontinuetorelease
radiationthroughyourbodywhichcausesmutations,and/orcancer.Thatswhy
thatkidgrewanextrafinger!,Ithinktomyself.Afterreadingabitmorefrom
thebook,Idecidetotelltheothersthatweshouldfindanotherplacetorelocate
ourselves.
Wedontwanttogoanywhere,wewanttostayhere.Cantyouseethat
everyoneweknowishere?!Whywouldyouwanttoleave?theyaskconcerned,
andupset.
Wehavetomoveinorderifwewanttosurviveandfindfood,Irespond.
Theytakeaminute,juststaringateachothertryingtofigureoutwhattodo.
Areyouguyscomingwithmeornot?Icantwaitmuchlonger.Iplanto
leavetomorrowmorningtogettoasaferareabythenextday,Isaytothem.

Theydidntrespondtome,soIjustleftandwenttoanotherplacefrom
wheretheywerestaying.Therewasntmuchtodo,soIfindaplaceandgoto
sleep.ThroughoutthenightIcouldntsleep,Ikeptthinkingifwhetherthiswas
realornot.Everythingfeltsurreal.Istillcantbelievewhathashappenedthe
pastcoupleofdays.Whocouldofeverimaginedthatafuntripcouldturnintoa
terribletragedy?Afteralongnight,Ifinallyfallasleep.
Thenextmorning...,Iwakeuptoanotherdisaster.Mostofmyclassmates
aredead!!Theradiationgotothem,andkilledthem.Scaredformyownlive,I
grabimportantthingsthatImightneedandIleaveasfastasIcan.Ifeelbad
forgoingthroughtheirbackpacks,butIneedtofindfoodiftheyhaveany.With
disgust,Itouchthedeadbodies,andmovethemsoIcangetintotheirbackpacks.
Someofmyclassmateshadfood,soItookwhateverIcouldfind.AsImleaving,I
hearsomebodywhisper.Ilookback,andoneofmyclassmateswaslaidupagainst

10

atree.TheyregonnadiesoonIthinktomyself.Withoutasecondthought,I
turnaroundandstartrunningaway.Iwasrunningsofast,thatIcouldntbreathe.
Ihadtodrinkwater,butIcouldnt.Iwasntfaryetsoifthereisanywaterhere
itsstillcontaminated.Hourspassby,anditseemsasifIhaventwalkedasmuch
asIhaveto.ImsotiredthatIcantwalkanymore.Itrytofindanysticksand
branchestomakemyselfateepeetypetentforthenight.After45minutesor
so,IchecktoseemyprogressandwhatIcreatedseemstobealittlenest.I
giveuptryingtobuildmyselfatent,soIjustlayontopofthenestofsticksand
branches.
ThenextdayIwakeupinthemorningandcontinuemyjourney.IthinkI
havewalkedfarenoughfortheday,soItakealittlerestandeatlunch.I
haventeatenindays,soimexcitedaboutlunchtoday.Icheckinmybag,andI
findasandwich,chips,fruit,andawaterbottle!Istarteatingmylunch,anddrink
mywateraswell.Afteralongday,andsomedeliciouslunch,Idecidetotakea
napbeforemynextwalk.Iclosemyeyes,andfallintoannicerelaxingsleep.
Iwakeup,andImassmallasaparticle!Ilookaround,andIcansee
atoms!Icanseewhatatomsaremadeofandtheyaremadeofprotons,
neutrons,andelectrons.Iwasinthecenteroftheprotonsandneutrons.Allofa
suddenIfeellikeifIwasbeingpulledawayandtowardssomethingelse.ThenI
rememberedthatoppositesattract,whichmeansthatI'mbeingpulledtowards
otherprotonsandneutrons!NooooooIcantdoanythingtostopthisbesidesmove
aroundlikeacaterpillar.AsIfeelmyselfmovingandwigglinglikeacaterpillar,I
wakeupandrealizeitwasjustalladream.

11

SinceIknownottogooutsideofthelab,Istayinsidewithmyclass.Ilook
tothecornerandseekidsfrommyclassmourningthelossofthestudentsthat
wenttogotothemoonbutnevermadeitthere.IgoovertoJennytotryand
comforther,Idontknowwhybecauseshedidnthaveanyfriendsonthe
spaceshipthatblewup,butthenagainshedoesnthaveanyfriendsingeneral.
Evenso,Istillgoovertheretotryandcomfortherduringthehightensionsin
theroom.
Hey,areyouok?Isayhalfheartedlyaftermakingthisrealization.
Imfine.Shesaysseeminglynotcaringaboutwhatjusthappened.
Well,ifyouneedanythingI'mhereforyouIsaytryingtodepictsome
emotionoutofher.
Thansherepliesbutisabruptlyinterruptedbyanemergency
announcementonthetelevision.
Aradiationhasspreadacrossourcityduetothespaceshipexplosiona
fewmomentsago.Everyoneisadvisedtostayinsideandnotletanyonefromthe
outsideintoyourhome.Ifyouareoutrightnowweurgeyoutogetbackinto
yourhomesimmediately.Ifyoucontinuetostayoutsideyouareathighriskofthe
followingduetotheradiation:mutation,whichiscausedbyionizingradiationfrom
atombombsornuclearreactorsanditwilleventuallybreakupyourDNAwhich
causesmutation,cancer,radiationsickness,severeburns,andifyoustayoutside
longenoughyouwilldie.Therearemorethantwodifferentkindsofforcesthat
jointhingstogetherthetypeofbondseeninelementsandcompoundsdependson
thechemicalpropertiesaswellastheattractiveforcesrulingtheatomsand
molecules.ThethreetypesofchemicalbondsareIonic,Covalent,andPolar
covalent.Thisiswhyweareurgingeveryonetostayintheirhomes.Thatisall
andbesafe.Thetelevisionthengoesblackandwealljustlookateachother.
Istarttothinktomyself,ifIgooutsidethentheywon'tletmebackin,but
what'sthepointofgoingoutside,thenitdawnsonmethatthereisnofoodin
thelab.Howarewegoingtoeat?ThenitalsooccurstomethatifIdon'tgo
outsideIwillneverseemyfamilyagain,butisthatriskofgoingoutsideand
ultimatelydyingintheendreallyworthgettingsometypeofmutation?Idon'tthink
so,I'lljuststayhereandstarve.

12


12dayslater

Thebodycanonlygo2840dayswithoutfoodbutIfeellikeI'mabouttodie.
Thepeopleinthelabhavegoneoffsearchingforfood,wealreadyate
everythingthatwasintheemployeerefrigerator.Wait,I'mnotsupposedtothink
aboutfood,itmakesmehungry.Isuddenlyheartheloudfootstepsofthelab
workersscreamingtheyfoundsomething.Thereloudvoicesfilledwithexcitement
wererefreshingtohearafterthedaysofdroopinessandeveryonelaying
everywhere,tiredallthetime.Isuddenlyfeltthisquickburstofenergythatled
meontomyfeet.
Whatisit,whatisit?Isayunabletoholdbackmyexcitement.
Aboxof100CapriSunssaysthelabworkersalmostsimultaneously.
Igrababout5intomyarmandgotowhereIwaspreviouslysitting,Iknow
nottodrinkitallatonce,I'mgoingtotakesipsfromonlyonejuicethroughoutthe
durationofthewholeday,sothisshouldlastmeaboutfivedays.

5dayslater

Welltodayshould'vebeenmylastdaywiththejuicebutIdrankallofthem
onthefirstdaywegotthem,sotherewentthatplan.

23dayslater

Ishouldbedeadbynow,todaymarksthe40thdayI'vegonewithoutfood,not
includingthoseCapriSuns.IusedtoblackoutonlyoccasionallybutnowIdoitso
oftenIwonderifmyeyesareevenopen.Ican'tstandordoanything,Ijustlay
hereanddonothing.Ioftenthinkaboutmyparentsandwhatthey'redoing,are
theyevenalive?IfnotI'llbemeetingwiththemsoon,Iclosemyeyesforthe
lasttimeandfallintoanendlesssleep.

13