The Breach

Part 1: Abnormal

Charlie/Dejected

1, 2, 3… I try to focus and set my mind on counting how many folders there were stacked on the principal’s desk as I sit in his office for the eleventh time this week.

“Charlie? Too much talking in class, again?” The principal, Mr. Brown came out of his office, frowning at me.

“Yes, I’m so sorry. I just can’t seem to stop my mouth from talking. I always seem to….” I bite my lips to curb myself from speaking too much again.

“The rules are simple. Talk less. I don’t want to see you come here every single day,” Mr. Brown said sternly and walked away.

I glimpse towards the windows of my school, Reticence Academy, as I walk back slowly to class. For the first time, I notice the dejected person in the reflection staring back at me. He had messy brown hair and hazel eyes, dressed in the classic light tan uniform with a name tag on it. He never fit in with anyone else in class, inside or out.

Esmé/Panic

I glance over at Charlie’s empty desk. He was sent to the principal's office just a few minutes ago. I feel bad for him, since he has already been sent there countless times this week. Although, his urge to talk can be annoying. He sits at the same table as me and Lily, so I’m constantly afraid we’ll get in trouble because of him.

“Sustainable energy is a large part of our lives today. All of the electricity and technology we use are powered by that nuclear power plant outside,” my teacher, Ms. R, explains, pointing to the large tube-like power plant located just a few miles from us.

Beep. Beep. Beep. I zone out and hear a sharp sound from outside drifting into my ears. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. As the sharp sound becomes clearer, I realize it is a siren. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. Suddenly, the power plant starts glowing red and the sirens seem to come from that direction too. Everyone looks frantically at each other, then outside. Cold sweat sends chills up my spine as the sharp sounds of the siren pierce our ears.

“Everyone, stop what you’re doing and follow me!” Ms. R directs as she flips up the rug and reveals a secret entry to a bunker-like place.

How did we never notice it? My heart thumped at the same pace of our frantic footsteps, as we one by one, climbed down a set of stairs into an underground corridor. There was an inauspicious silence in the atmosphere as the whole school was packed inside such a small area.

“Students! Please sit in a group with your tablemates,” Ms. R instructs. I quickly locate Lily standing in a corner, still struggling to process what had just happened.

This is when I realize, “Hold on. Where is Charlie?”

Lily/Impulsive

The deafening sounds of the siren drill into my ears. What was going on?

Clumps of students gather together in their table groups. I look around and find Esmé, the new student, walking towards me, but Charlie is nowhere to be seen.

He must still be on the way back from the principal's office! If we don’t find him now, it will be too late. My heart skips a beat at this thought.

I turn to Esmé and whisper, “Did you see Charlie?”

She doesn’t reply, but the look in her eyes tells me what I wished wasn’t true: No.

As a sociable person, sometimes I wish people would respond to me. Imagine if anyone could start a conversation with you when you talk to them! Charlie is the only person I’ve met who just replies back and disregards the rules, other than teachers.

It's not right to just leave Charlie out there having no clue what is going on.

Suddenly the craziest idea pops into my mind. Without a second thought, I bolt towards the staircase and run.

Esmé/Dumbfounded

Everyone stares, dumbfounded, unable to process the bizarre incident that just took place. It’s almost as if time stops as I watch Lily dash up the stairs and through the exit of the bunker.

Teachers exchange astonished looks between each other. It is their duty to support students, but they chose not to chase after her. I kind of understand them; if it was me, I would probably prioritize my own safety too, even though it is a bit selfish.

However, my concerns for Lily and Charlie overpower my thoughts. I stand awkwardly, with no one around, now that both of my tablemates are gone. The teachers have gathered around discussing whether to wait for Lily or to close the door. This is my chance! It’s now or never!

I look back one last time at my classmates, my teachers, and most of all, the world I may never see again, and then quietly slip through the doorway.

Part 2: Seperated

Charlie/Abandoned

The loud wailing sounds of sirens blast into my ears. What is going on? No one is here to answer my question. I am alone, in the empty hallways of my school, clueless of what is happening.

Carefully, I peek into one of the classrooms, and not a single person is inside; the mat is flipped open and beneath lays a large metal door. Locked.

I run into the classroom and pull desperately on the door, kicking, knocking, and shouting, but the door is too tight and my calls for help remain unheard. Panicking, I glance out the window, and notice strange gray colored air coming out of the power plant. Is that thing poisonous? Help! If I don’t get into the underground bunker soon, I might not survive. My head spun at the thought and I could hardly stand still.

Keys! I need keys to open the lock! The only person who would have them is Mr. Brown; after all, he is the principal.

I race to the principal's office, running past the deserted classrooms. How could they have left me behind? Was this all just a scheme to get rid of me? The only impulsive student in the whole school?

The blazing sounds of the alarm echo through the halls, making all of this feel too sudden to be real. It’s almost as if I am living in a fantasy story. Now I wish this is all a dream, a dream where the world is about to end and I’m stuck outside, helplessly.

Lily/Hesitation

My footsteps echo through the empty large hallways. What if I don’t find Charlie? What if he already went in the bunker and I’m the only one stuck outside?

My blood runs cold at the thought of being eaten up by nuclear toxic air surrounding my school. I will never be remembered as the girl who risked her own life to save Charlie. Instead, they will think of me as the stubborn girl who gave up her life the second she ran out of the safe bunker.

“What would I do if I was Charlie?” I ask myself, accidentally saying it out loud.

I hear footsteps behind me. “Lily?” a familiar voice asks.

“Charlie?!” I turn around, facing him. A huge wave of relief rushes over me, as if a stone was lifted off of my shoulders.

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in the bunker?” Charlie asks me.

I pause. For the first time, I wonder if I really did the right thing.

Charlie/Reality

It felt like an eternity had passed before Lily replied at last, “I noticed that you didn’t return from the principal’s office when the alarm went off, so I went out to find you.”

My face flushes red. I couldn’t believe my ears. Someone would actually do that for me? An annoying, talkative troublemaker? Feelings of doubt began to rush over me as thoughts raced in my mind.

Obviously not. Didn’t you notice how long she took to answer that question? I can’t believe you would even believe it. A teacher must have told her to come up and find you.

Oh really? Why don’t you ever have any confidence in yourself? Also, stop staring, say thank you!

No! You should say: “Really? Why would you do that?” She is clearly lying!

No! That would be really rude! She risked her life to save you, no matter forced or not!

“Really…?! Thank… you!?” I stutter, struggling to get the words out as my left mind argues with the right side.

The sounds of the siren snap me back into reality. We are in a life or death situation, a state of emergency, and there is no time to argue about small things.

We need to find the keys, before it is too late.

Esmé/Disaster

The hallways are empty with a scent of fear. I don’t see Lily, nor Charlie. This day is starting to become a series of bad decisions and disastrous events.

I scan the classrooms until I approach a door with no windows that I never knew existed. Could they be inside? With hesitation, I open the door and step in.

SLAM. CLICK. The door behind me closes and locks. I pull on the door but it doesn’t budge, there’s no use, I’m stuck inside. Lily and Charlie don’t even know I’m here. I can’t possibly imagine how this day can get any worse.

I turn around and approach the room. It is a small space with bookshelves on both sides of the wall. A wooden desk is located beneath a tiny window which now gives a view of the threatening orange color of the sky.

With a greater sense of urgency, I scan the shelves for anything that could help me. Teacher’s Guide to Teaching…Art of Writing…The Giver…History…Safety Precautions…. Safety Precautions! That might be able to help me! I flip through the manual until I reach the section: Nuclear Bunker.

There are bunkers installed in every classroom of the school. These bunkers are designed so that they aren’t easily opened. There are only two possible ways that the bunkers can be opened once they are locked. One is to open with the keys, the other one is when all three safety switches are turned off. The safety switches are located in the principal's office, cafeteria, and --------. The third location is blocked out by a black marker that was drawn over the text. How am I ever going to get back?!

(To Be Continued....)