The Fall's Aftermath

I've walked this road a thousand times. After so many trips I came to know this road like the back of my hand, yet this one trip made it seem so... different, as if I was walking a different path alltogether. The path itself remained untouched, but the usual hurried tension of the bustling street along with its neverending rows of cars dampened into an unerving silent atmosphere. Of the few people present many we're wearing black, mourning clothes. Alltough the shockwave didn't impact the infrastructure very much it did quite a number on the people that were blown back by it. I got away with just a few bruises, but others weren't so lucky... even amongst my classmates some had been hospitalised.

I look down and shake my head. ' It'll all be back to normal soon. ' I try to assure myself. I might have grown tired of this road before but now I downright hated it. I fasten the pace.

****

It didn't take long to reach the school. There were virtually no cars on roads so I just beelined trough the crosswalks.

The school always looked impressive. It was a former palace after all, the main building was four storyes tall, which dominated the area since it was mostly composed of small to medium sized houses, and was decorated by various ornaments, some of which were already starting to decay due to old age. Than there was the two meters long wall surrounding the facility interrupted only by an impressive gateway. Right now though, with the addition of a few armed soldiers stationed in front of the gate, the old palace could successfully pass as a castle fully maned for war. A daunting sight to behold.

" Your I'd, please " one of the soldiers said as I attempted to get past the door. " Good, now step inside and wait for inspection ".

I nod and head inside. An orderly cue was formed in the adjacent courtyard. At the end of the line two police officers seemed to be performing checks on the students belongings. As I step to take my place in the cue a hand rises from within the crowd.

" Gabriel, here! Saved you a spot! ".

Violet. I'd recognize that long curly purple hair and green eyes anywhere. She's what people should describe as a conspiracy theorist and... my classmate, one of the few ones that actually acknowledged my existance.

" Hey Violet! Thanks fo- " I couldn't finish my sentence as Violet pulled me closer and whispered.

" So, what do you think this is about? "

" What's about? "

" The armed guards, the convoys, the checks of course! Are you blind?! "

Now that she mentions it, she's right. This past week I started to take anything wierd as the norm so I didn't put much thought into it. The amount of security present was a bit odd even for these times.

" I don't know... maybe they're expecting some sort of attacks by the students... these times have been rough for everyone, you don't know how people are going to react, especially teenagers who don't know how to control their emotions ".

" Oh come on... you're no fun... " Violet said with a hint of exasperation on her face. Than she smirked triumfantly. " That still doesn't explain presence of the military. A couple cops could handle a bunch of enraged teenagers. "

I shrug my shoulders " Than what's your theory about all this? "

" Ok, so I want you to listen to me closely... " She leans a bit forward. " Aliens! "

" Aliens? " I asked as I was holding out a chuckle. My classmate outdid herself this time.

" Yes! The meteor that has crashed in the city must have carried some sort of virus or something like that and it invaded the mind of the authorities, and now they are trying to indoctrinate us too! ".

" Right... so you are saying that that all the police officers are mind controlled by the alliens? "

" Exactly! "

" And you are saying this... in front of said police officers? "

" What? " Violet said before she finally realised that we were now in front of the cue. In front of us the cops that heard most of the conversation were visibly struggling to hold their laugh and maintain professionalism.

After this little incident Violet turned red and didn't say anything for the rest of the way to the class. I felt bad for her but before I could mutter some sort of apology she said.

" I know you don't believe me, but at least... be careful, all right? "

A faint smile appeared on my face " Aye, you take care too ".

And without further delay, we entered the classroom.

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