My fingertips sunk into the sand; my palms, burned by every grain. I crawled out, back into the suck of the Californian desert. I steadied myself against a rock as the sun settled on half my face. I closed my eyes and breathed for what seemed like the first time in days.

There was a place, about a minute away from here, I passed it before. It was abandoned, ransacked. I'm sure they'll have something there I can have use of, something I could drink, maybe eat. Stumbling one foot in front of the other, out into the blistering heat, I went on my way across the wasteland.

I approached the shop, panting, out of breath. I rubbed my eyes and opened the front door, a bell above it rung and two people appeared before me within a moment from the floor. I tried to turn, to run, but they grabbed the back of my shirt. I was too weak, too tired to fight them off. They dragged me on my heels, sitting me down on the floor; they bent down in front of me.

A young guy, with red hair and goggles settled on his forehead spoke first, "Who are you?" he said as the other guy, a kid with blonde hair and a scarf covering the lower part of his face, handed me a bottle of lukewarm water. I unscrewed the cap and took a gulp and replied to the red head "... Frank. My name is Frank"

"What are you doing here, Frank?" I lifted the bottle towards him "I was thirsty"

"This is no place for you, go home" he ordered, then stood gesturing me out of the building "I... I haven't got one" "A home?" he asked and I nodded, the red head sighed and looked at the blonde kid, then grabbed my hand, "Come with us" he said softly.

The red head walked me to the back of the store He opened the door and gestured me in, I hesitated and he said "Don't worry, it's okay... my names Gerard and this is my brother, Mikey" who turned towards me and pulled down his scarf "Hey" he said in a low voice and smiled lightly.

They walked me down into a supply room, the basement, which had a dirt floor and concrete walls. Mikey, from behind me, points out a hippie guy sitting in a wheelchair, next to some radio equipment "We call him Dr Death Defying, it's his radio name... he owns this place" he got a little closer to me, almost whispering "he's kind of like the leader around here" I let out a small 'ah' and watched as Gerard walked to the 'Doctor'.

A man with a beard grabs my attention from the floor, "Sit down and eat" he says and passes me a plastic bowl with soup inside. I lifted the bowl to my lips and sipped the broth, as I sat down on a large old couch by a tall guy with curly hair, who offered his hand to me and said "My names Ray"; I took his hand and shook it "That guy over there" Ray told me as he pointed to guy who gave me soup "... is Tim, he's not really the talkative type. The guy next to him is Preston." My eyes switched Preston, who was half asleep.

The room, although quiet, seemed full of activity. Dr Death Defying rolled over to the group and exclaimed, "Some people from BL/ind, the exterminators have been seen nearby. I think we should get some supplies, as soon as possible. Stay underground for a while" the group nodded in agreement. I turned to Ray, and asked "What's BL/ind?" he opened his mouth to respond, but Dr Death Defying beat him to the punch.

"Better Living Industries. Its runs Battery City, in the heart of California and they want to expand. They have been killing in some towns on the outskirts, in attempt to convince people that the only way to fix the senselessness of the world is for them to follow their rules... they want people to break them"

"What do you guys do then?" I bit my lip.

"Well, we are the fighters for all who cannot fight for themselves. Try to get to those who have not yet been affected by BL/ind, try to get some to fight against them, to save themselves"

Dr Death Defying then turned to Tim and Preston, "I want you guys to go tomorrow to get supplies. You've done it more and we need experience now it seems that BL/ind is sniffing about" they both nodded at him, and agreed.

I sat in silence as everyone around me started to rest. I sat thinking about my life as it was, barely three days ago. My eyes watered and I buried my head into my knees to muffle the crying, to try and not wake up my saviours. I heard a voice beside me, "Hey, calm down" I looked up to see a tuft of red hair, Gerard. I muttered "Sorry" and he sat down beside me, "Don't apologise, what's wrong?" Gerard put his arm around me and placed my head on his shoulder, and then he asked again "What's wrong?"

I caught my breath and then, managed to tell him my tale "I... I heard gunshots at the front door... at my home. I saw people in white suits and masks inside. They killed her, they killed my Mom; she screamed and... I ran... I shouldn't have left her; I should have done something, anything..." I let out a small howling cry.

Gerard whispered into my ear, softly "It's not your fault, Frank. It's not your fault. There was nothing you could do, trust me, okay?"

My eyes fluttered up to meet his, he rubbed my side, to comfort me. I wanted to believe him, but I couldn't, I should have stayed and fought to save her. She may be gone, but at least, I can still try and fight.

As soon as I woke up the next morning, I did my best to help. I went up the staircase to the top floor, to which I saw Mikey sitting on the counter with an opened can of peaches, eating with his hands. Gerard, from across the room, noticed me "Hey, sleepyhead" and smiled wide at me "What you doing up here?"

"I want to help"

"Alrighty, then... come over here" I sat beside him and asked "So, what you guys doing up here?"

"Well, Tim and Preston left about an hour ago; they should be back soon. So, we are on lookout" he passed me some binoculars "... take these. Just keep your eyes open to the West, I'll do the East" he started to stand "Um, Gee?"

"Yeah" I opened my mouth to speak, but Gerard interrupted "Did you just call me 'Gee'?" his face contorted slightly.

"Yeah, sorry, do you mind?"

"No, it's just, my dad used to call me that" he forced a smile.

"I just wanted to ask you something... how did you get to be here?  You and Mikey, I mean"

"Uh, well, I lived in Battery City, around when BL/ind took over. They started making us take these drugs. After a while, I stopped and I started seeing what they were doing to people, what the drugs were doing. I came across Dr Death Defying on the radio and I couldn't stand by anymore. I got Mikey off the drug, but my parents wouldn't... so, Mikey and I ran away to here. That was about a year a-"

From across the room, Mikey whispered harshly "Get the fuck down! Draculiods, the exterminators..." We slowly lay on the ground, but I couldn't help but peek to see these 'people'.

I lifted my head, which felt like dead weight, and I peeked out of the window. It was clear, for a moment. Suddenly, a white mass passed. I jumped back down, panicked, trying not to be seen, but I peeked up again. He was further away this time, and I could finally see. He was tall, about 6ft and wearing a white suit and a vampire mask... shit... my head smacked into the ground.

I came around, about three hours later, in the basement. As I opened my eyes, Gerard was hovering above me "Shit, are you okay? You passed out..." he asked. My eyes fluttered and tears poured, I brought myself up and to his ear, I whispered "It's them... It. Was. Them... BL/ind... my mom" I looked into his eyes as I laid my head back down to rest.

I'm not sure how long I shut down for, a minute, maybe twenty, but when I did awake, Dr Death Defying was speaking to the others. He sat solemnly in his chair and the guys were sitting on the floor, like the lost boys listening to Peter Pan. He told them they needed to leave. To which Gee said "Don't you want us here?"

"Gerard, I want you all to stay, but it's dangerous. For the good of the cause, you need to leave. They got too close; Draculiods were on our doorstep. And God know where Tim and Preston are" Ray, then asked "Why can't you come with us?"

"I need to transmit let people know its okay to fight. I need to stay here for as long as possible and if I have to leave, I can contact Show Pony on the other base" he paused for a moment as I sat up, then holding back tears said "You should leave now, just in case. Take the car in the garage"

They all stood, waiting for him to tell them to stop, but he didn't. Mikey picked up the car keys and whispered out to the Doctor "'Bye" to which Dr Death Defying smiled lightly as Ray grabbed a bag and filled it with twenty or so canned goods. He looked at Dr Death Defying, saying "Been a good run, man" and he turned around and up the stairs, followed by Mikey, who was standing awkwardly behind him.

I stood against the couch as Gee looked towards Dr Death Defying, he tried to speak, but his throat kept stopping him "I... I want to... thank you... for looking after, uh, Mikey and I... you're a great man" he ran up the stairs and out. The Doctor looked at me "Frank, could you tell him, that it's all going to be okay..." I nodded at him.

"Frank, that jacket..." he said, pointing at a coat rack "It was a friend of mines, but they don't need it anymore. There's a scarf in the pocket as well... take it" he said sadly. I looked at him, not sure what to do "Just take it" he ordered. I grabbed the green, sleeveless jacket. I smiled lightly "I guess, I'll see you around" I said before I made my way up to the store floor.

Looking into the store floor, Gee was sitting on the floor, wiping away tears. I moved a piece of rubbish from beside him and sat down beside him, "It'll be okay" I promised him.

A car pulled around the front, a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am with a spider printed on the front. Mikey leaned out of the window, "Hey, Come on Guys... We gotta go" Gee puffed out his chest and wiped his face, then brought himself to his feet. He smiled and helped me up then, we both walked out of the store, then he started shouting "Hey, I'm driving... get in the back"

"Why can't I drive, Gerard?"

"Because you, my dear brother, don't have a license"

"Neither do you!"

"Yeah, but I'm older" Gee smirked. Mikey sighed at him and reluctantly got out of the car. I walked around the car, which had parts of the American flag printed on the sides and doors, and followed Mikey by getting in the back of the car. Gee sat in the driver's seat and twisted the key and slowly pulled away from the store, trying to hold back tears. I put my hand on his shoulder, to comfort him.

We drove in silence for an hour or two. No one wanted to speak, but eventually Ray broke the silence. He pointed out a suspicious mass on the side of the road, saying it could be anything and that they should check it out. It was hard to see, but I guess that was the point. Gee pulled over.

We started to get out of the car and I put the jacket, which Dr Death Defying gave me, on and put my hand in the pocket. I tied the scarf around my neck and walked along with the others over to the mass. As I approached, I saw two bodies, face down, half buried in the sand. From the bloody bullet holes in the back of their head and the rope, which tied their hands behind their back, it was obvious they had been executed. Gee got n his knees and turned one of the bodies over, it was Tim and the other must've been Preston.

Mikey ran behind a rock and all we could hear was him heaving "It's BL/ind" Mikey whispered; we all looked at each other in agreement. He wiped his mouth and then, stumbled back. Gee, then said "We need to go, before they come back. They would never leave 'bodies' in the open" he started to walk back to the car, trying to suppress any emotion. He needed to be a leader, our leader. He wanted to keep us safe.

As we all went back to the car, something touched my foot. I looked down and there in the sand was a stuffed toy. I bent down and picked it up; it was a bear with an eye holding on by a thread. I held it close to my chest as continued back to the car. I hugged the bear and stepped in and we all sat in a moment of silence, for the loss of Tim and Preston.

"Okay, I think we should stop at the next building... to rest and eat" Gee told us "I think, we need to figure out what we are going to do, now more than ever" He started the car and pulled out back into the road.

My thoughts became stained with the images of my Mom, Tim and Preston. I could hear their screams, what I imagined them to be, tears poured down my cheeks and my knees came to my chest. I hugged the bear tight, not wanting to let go.

I felt someone touch my shoulder, I looked up to see Gee "Hey, time to come inside..." he smiled at me. I looked around and saw that Ray and Mikey were gone "They've gone inside... come on" I grabbed his hand and he brought me out of the car. He put his arm over my shoulders and led me inside. We walked inside the abandoned diner and sat in a booth with four cans from the car: one bean, two soups and one strawberry.

"BUGSY, STRAWBERRY!" shouted Mikey, trying to lighten the mood. I laughed and Gee knocked my slightly "That's what I like to see" he said smiling. He passed the strawberry to Mikey, the soup to Ray and the bean to me. After a moment, I asked "How do we open it?"

"Grab a knife from the kitchen... we'll cut it open" Ray muttered. I stood, still hugging the bear, and walked over to the counter. Something from across the room fell, in the kitchen. My head spun to the guys and they stood to attention, drawing their guns. Gee walked over to me and handed me the spare gun, it was green with white lightening printed on it.

We carefully walked towards the where the noise came from, but there was no danger. A young girl, maybe ten years old, was hiding there. She looked at us, her eyes big and scared. We breathed and looked at each other; I put the gun Gee gave to me into the back of my jeans. I half-smiled "Hey"

"Hi" she said with a small voice

"Do you want something to eat?" she nodded and stood slowly. She points at me, "That's my bear..."

"Oh... I found it down the road" she stared at me and Mikey hits me, "Give her the bear!"

"But-"

"It's hers"

"... Fine" I pass her the bear and she hugs it. Ray picks up a knife, which was on the side in a knife block, then we all go and walk back to the table, Gee asks "What's your name, honey?"

"Grace" she whispered. Ray asks "Grace, would you like some strawberries?" she nods and Ray uses the knife edge to open the top of it. He passes the tin to the young girl. Mikey looks upset "But, I asked for them"

"Well, they're hers now" I pipe up, smiling slightly. He laughs at the irony and then states "I'm going to see if anything's on" he stands and walks over to a portable radio, which is by the kitchen.

Mikey turns it on and twists the dial, static plays and then, a familiar voice. Mikey looks at us and we look at him with wide smiles, through the speakers we hear:

"Look alive, Sunshine
109 in the sky but the pigs won't quit
You're here with me: Dr. Death Defying
I'll be your surgeon, your proctor, your helicopter
Pumpin' out the slaughtermatic sounds to keep you alive
A system failure for the masses, anti-matter for the master plan
Louder than God's revolver and twice as shiny
This one's for all of you rock'n'rollers
All you crash queens and motor babies
Listen up!
The future is bulletproof!
The aftermath is secondary!
It's time to do it now and do it loud!
Killjoys, make some noise!"

We look at each other, our hearts beating out of our chest with adrenaline. Gee looks at each of us and says with a smile "Let's go... Killjoys. We'll eat in the car."

We all stood and I take Grace's hand, who is gripping onto both the bear and the tin of strawberries. Ray grabs the unopened tins and we all walk out towards the Trans Am and into the suck of the Californian desert.