~Celeste Osborne~ (Chapter 5)

I lay on the couch, munching stale popcorn and ice-cream left over from the birthday party Hunter and I had rigged up for ourselves. Some birthday present the fates have given us: the end of our piece of the world.
But here we are: our fifteenth birthday and we’re stuck in the house, sharing a blanket, wondering when, IF, our parents will get home, where on earth they could possibly be, why they were acting so odd when they left, and waiting for the TV to begin playing a countdown to death.
We were ready hours ago. Right next to the couch our backpacks lay, completely packed with all our necessary items. Beside them, Marta, Hunter’s Husky/German Shepherd mix, sits straight and alert, the same way she has ever since she joined our family.
Hunter could’ve been safely away a week ago, but he’d refused to leave Marta and me behind. After all, we are his eyes…
“Celeste, WAKE UP!”
My twin’s yell pierced my consciousness.
“What?” I ask groggily, wondering why there’s popcorn spilled all over me. Then, I hear it.
“21 minutes, 15 seconds until destruction.” Said an extremely calm voice.
The television. Oh no.
I leap up, completely awake. “Where’s Mum and Dad?” I ask, grabbing my backpack and running to the front door.
“They aren’t back yet!” Hunter replied, and I felt a pang of pure fear, like freezing lead, fill my heart.
“Are…. Are you sure?” I asked, but I knew he was telling the truth. Our parents might be gone for good.
“19 minutes, 52 seconds.” The TV announced.
All three of us ran out the door. Without Mum or Dad.
As we ran, my brain sent terrifying messages. ”We’re gonna die. We’re gonna die. We’re gonna die.” It repeated, over and over until my heart was in my throat, my stomach was in knots (and filled to the brim with butterflies) and I had a splitting headache.
“4 minutes, 38 seconds.”
“We’ll make it!” Hunter said to me, panting. He may be blind, but he runs as well as anyone else would in a crisis. A.k.a.: ultra fast and with enough energy to flatten anything in his way.
Marta barked, apparently agreeing with her master’s statement.
“No… we aren’t gonna make it!” I would have murmured to myself, but I didn’t because it would’ve taken up too much breath.
“2 minutes, 7 seconds.”
And then, we came in view of the shelter’s entrance. Finally.
“1 minute, 32 seconds.”
”Run faster, Celeste! You can do it! This is just another race with Dad, only with more deadly rules!” I tell myself.
“1 minute, 3 seconds.”
“We’re not gonna make it!” I shriek.
Hunter doesn’t answer, and I know why. It’s probably hard enough to run without tripping over Marta, even though she’s trained well.
“0 minutes, 48 seconds.”
I force my legs to go faster, feeling feverish with the effort of running so far, so fast.
“0 minutes, 23 seconds.”
I leap into the elevator and hold it open for Hunter and Marta, who practically collapse into it.
“0 minutes, 9 seconds.”
The doors shut, and we begin to hurtle down to the shelter.
“We’re still alive.” I say, tears pricking my eyes.
“Yeah, surprising, huh.” Wheezed Hunter, taking his backpack off and shakily putting what I call his “Movie Star Impersonator” glasses on.
Tears began to pour down my face and I sniffled.
“Wow, emotional much?” he asked, but he has the worst poker-face on the planet. I can tell that the only thing that’s stopping him from following my weepy example is the fact that he’s a boy, and therefore not allowed to cry in public and still keep his pride.
Man, I’m glad I’m not a boy.” I think, wiping away my tears with the sleeve of my jacket.
Then, we enter the shelter.
A guard dude stares at us. “Oh, the lucky ones.” He said in an awed tone. “You were this close to dying, you know.” He held his fingers two centimeters apart.
“Well, you can wait right there.” He said, pointing to a couple of seats next to 2 kids who were probably siblings.
We sit down, and it finally hits me: it’s just the three of us now, Hunter, Marta, and me.
Without Mum or Dad.
Pardon me while I break down and cry.