I Slept Through The Apocalypse

Footsteps echoed through the dark stairway as an average looking teen strolled further down. The only thing keeping the darkness from swallowing the carefree teen was the bright orb floating beside him.

The boy and the orb finally reached the bottom of the bunker. What greeted them was a scene unlike anything they imagined.

"The vault door… was pulled out from it's hinge?" The teen exclaimed in shock. "Pringles, any idea on what could have done this?"

The orb floated over to examine the door. "There are energy signatures on this door with a similar to the Valiete ore that we absorbed. It seems more crude though, the user of the energy was clumsy and overexerted his strength, causing the vault door to fly and plunge into the wall."

"Hey how do you know it's a 'he'. It's 2019, women can break down vault doors too." Clover teased at Pringles's diction.

If Pringles could roll his eyes he would have. Instead he settled for a sassy sway. "Well first of all, you've been sleeping for a year so it's actually 2021. And second, I deemed it to be a male from the large human handprint on the side of the vault where it was pulled from. The handprint has a longer ring finger than pointer finger which is a male trait, as females' pointer and ring finger are around the same length."

Clover fell silent. He wanted to kneel to Pringles. Brother, I was just joking. You didn't have to decimate me with that finger fact. Just who has the time to memorize this stuff anyways?

*Cough* "Of course I knew at least that much. Common knowledge. I was merely testing you." Clover quickly changed the subject. "Can you trace the energy signature?"

"Of course, it'll take some time though. This signature is new to me." Pringles began analyzing the door.

Clover walked towards the doorless iron vault frame and peered inside.

Clover's eyes scanned inside of the vault. It was empty as far as he could see from Pringles's light. "At least we know that there might be survivors." He went over and examined the vault door which was plunged halfway into the wall. "Depending on whether the 'guy' that opened this door was friendly or not."

Wanted a more detailed look around the bunker, he walked into the bunker and fumbled to find the light switch again. With Pringles's help, he located it and flipped the switch.

Click!

The bunker was illuminated. It was approximately the size of two living rooms. Bunk beds were placed around the outside perimeter. Grey blankets and pillows were scattered messily on a few of the beds. Most beds were missing their blankets and pillows.

Pringles floated back to Clover after circling the room a few times."I've fully analyzed the energy signature. There is a similar energy signature leading―"

"―North?"

"H―how'd you know?" Pringles was surprised. Could it be? This kid has developed spiritual sense already? This is too fast! Have I encountered a freak?

Clover pointed at the bathroom mirror. Written neatly in lipstick was: CONNIE HIGH SURVIVORS. WENT NORTH.

"Whew!"Pringles relaxed. He looked over to Clover and noticed that rather than looking at the message, Clover's eyes were fixated on the small writing under the message.

Signed, Lillian Kemil

"Someone you know?" Pringles asked.

"...used to." Clover replied. Pringles could feel a huge wave of emotions flowing chaotically within Clover through their contract. He decided not to inquire any further.

After a while Clover finally spoke again, "I suppose you know a part of it from reading my thoughts."

"I can sever the connection at will. I know when to give someone their privacy." the ball of light responded.

"Thanks." Clover appreciated Pringles's consideration for his privacy. His impression of the little ball of light that almost killed him improved by a lot.

Pringles shuddered. He thought he felt a faint signature coming from the lipstick writing. But it disappeared right after. Impossible.

Just in case, he went closer to the lipstick writing and searched for any traces.

Nothing. Just lipstick.

Weird.

After reminiscing about his past for a bit with Pringles patiently waiting for him, Clover finally came back to the real world.

What happened in the past is an old chapter, only to look back on. This is a new world now, with nothing tying me down, I'm free to roam the skies and travel the Earth.

"North we go!" Clover declared, his voice echoed up the stairway towards the open starry skies. As if the heavens heard his declaration, a pinkish-orange glow slowly revealed itself in the horizon, eventually transforming into a bright sun.