The sun was just starting to make its way down the skyline in the small town of Helster, Iñiel. The few people that were still out and about were quickly making their way toward home. I stood in line with about fifty or so others my age waiting till they could get to me. The VDs, or Virus Detectors, were dressed in what looked like a weird space suit.Big gray boots, white pants and shirt, and a gray helmet totally obscured their face. They had taken great pains to make sure that there was no possible way for them to get the virus. Ever since the brief nuclear war had taken place almost a year ago, things had been a bit shaken up. The missiles and bombs that had been launched and released had totally destroyed a number of various towns. The war would have lasted longer had a deadly virus not been discovered.When the virus had been discovered, a peace treaty was made so that the scientists could try and find a cure. No one knew exactly where the virus came from but most guessed it was

I woke up and saw the number 363. Then I opened my eyes. I expected to see a big green 363 on the ceiling but nothing was there. There wasn't any numbers anywhere that I looked. Thinking it was just a dream I closed my eyes to get a few more winks of sleep.After a few minutes the number 363 slowly appeared. It was a bright green color yet it didn't hurt my eyes to look at it at all. I realized that my eyes were still closed. Wait a minute. How am I seeing 363 with my eyes still closed? I quickly opened and then closed my eyes. Nope. No number. I waited a while and slowly the number came back into focus. Man, I think I must be going crazy.I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Maybe it was just an after effect of what had happened yesterday. I thought back to the events of yesterday. I remembered hearing haunting screams coming from somewhere and then meeting a strange woman named Helen soon after. She hooked me up to some strange machine and then—I couldn't remember anything after that. Try

"Good morning!"I bolted upright and didn't even see how many days I had left even though I knew it was 361. Lea sure sounded cheerful this morning and I figured I better answer her because sleep was out of the question now."Good morning, Lea. How in the world can you sound so happy? What time is it? Like 5:00?""Seven thirty-four actually!I slapped my forhead and then grimaced at the sharp sting it had caused."Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?""No, I just like my sleep and right now it feels way too early for me.""Oh, you poor baby!""Shut up.""Fine, fine, I just popped by to say good morning and to ask how your test went yesterday."I cringed as I remembered how painful it had been."How do you survive going through that every day?""You get used to it.""I don't think I could ever get used to it."The VD came in carrying a tray and after setting it down he left without a word. What is it with that guy?"Hey Lea, what are you having for breakfast?""Sp

I hurriedly ate my breakfast and headed for the door. I wanted to explore the place completely. I jogged down the street heading for the perimeter. Someone had said that the place was about two miles long with the same width.The wall in front of me was about sixty feet high and I could see guards at the top patrolling it so I knew the wall itself was quite wide. I knocked on the wall with my fist. It was concrete and I wondred how it had been put up so quickly. I had only been gone for six days."Who are you?"I felt a knife against my throat and didn't dare move."Lance Pendleton."The knife was removed and I turned to see a guy my age slip the knife into a holder on his belt."Sorry about that but we have to be careful around here. I'm Michael by the way.""Nice to meet you, I guess. Why do you have to be so careful?""In case you were an intruder."I looked at the wall."I don't think anyone can get in this thing easily.""Yeah but in case someone does...""Then what?""We'd kill

"Hey Eli, I don't exactly know how to control one of those..."My ear piece cackled and I heard Eli's voice."It's easy, just copy what everyone else is doing and if you need help I'll be right in front of you."I stepped onto the platform and rested my arms on the flat poles which I guess wouldn't be a pole since it's flat but whatever. The little green button at the end had on written above it so I pressed it. There was a slight whirring sound as mine and everyone else's helipods started up.I was wondering how exactly we were supposed to fly out of here when there was a roof on the building when I heard a loud creaking noise. I looked up and the roof was actually opening up outward like a double door. It stopped with a boom and the team started lifting off.Since I didn't know how to fly my helipod, I waited till everyone was already out of the building in the air. With my left hand I pressed the one joystick forward and my helipod rose off the ground. I pulled it back and the grou