Prologue of the apocalypse Challenge

2. If the young Jennifer Hartley could see herself now, scrubbing away at the sink, in a small two-bedroom bungalow near the town centre of Sunset Valley, she would be very disappointed indeed. As a teenager Jennifer always wished of a large house, a rich husband, fancy art on the walls. As the water warmed her hands she realised she had none of this now. Even as a teenager Jennifer had always sworn she would never had children, she absolutely hated them, but I guess this is also proof that sometimes we don’t get things we want, in fact quite the opposite could occur all together. Jennifer Hartley knew this all too well.

3. “Oh, I see you’re still awake,” she remarked trying not to look at her teenage daughter, Bellatrix. She remembered her last husband, Bellatrix’s father. Bellatrix was their only child and she hated Jeremy even to this day for the birth of her daughter, what made it worse was the small sum of money Jennifer had received from him, her materialistic nature took the $18,000 as a joke, a lamentable attempt in order to prevent further rows. Bellatrix didn’t even look up from her food to acknowledge her mother, she carried on eating and then intended to start her homework for the night.“At least pay attention to me this once, I need to speak to you,” her mother began.

4. “Tomorrow I won’t be here when you get home from school, I’m going to watch a soccer match at the stadium with Brad.” Jennifer announced. Bellatrix was confused, her mother never told her when she was going out, not that she really cared.“Brad?” Bellatrix asked, her mother always had a different man each time they actually spoke, she was a gold digger pure and simple.

5. “Yeah, Bella. You know him I think.. Brad Hurwitz? Well, whatever, it’s not important, actually it’s quite irrelevant whom I happen to be courting, I don’t ask you about all your outings .”The bored expression on Jennifer’s face told Bellatrix the conversation was dead and burried, there was no point in arguing with someone as well spoken as Jennifer Hartley, she could humiliate the best of people in a heartbeat. Bellatrix mumbled about going to bed, she wasn’t tired, but when your house is like a zoo enclosure, the wisest animals try not to step on anyone’s toes and leave plenty of room to the others, at least that’s how Bellatrix saw her home life.

6. It was the day of the sports match, Jennifer had left the house several hours ago and darkness now started to form across the town. Bellatrixwas an athletic girl, she had always been interested in sport ever since she was a child. Now was the perfect time to work out, Jennifer was at the stadium instead of lounging around by the TV.‘Just a few more minutes,’ Bellatrix told herself ‘and then I’ll go to bed’

7. It was the early hours of the morning, usually Bellatrix had heard the door slam shut by now where Jennifer had decided to turn in for the night, or should I say ‘early morning’.Her feet touched the floor yet she sat in bed for a few moments.

8. Bellatrix was still exhausted, she contemplated going back to bed and waiting until morning to phone her mother, but part of her was telling her to get up. It was just starting to get a little lighter, the plants outside welcomed the sun but Bellatrix certainly didn’t. She decided to wake up and maybe get a glass of water and check the answering machine. ‘not that mum would actually call if she was staying at Brad’s tonight’Bellatrix shuddered and pushed that thought far away.

9. No message had been left, but that wasn’t exactly a surprise, turning on the tap, Bellatrix cupped some water in her hands and washed her face, it helped ease the tiredness a little and helped pre-occupy her mind when all she wanted to do was sleep and at least know her mother was somewhere, not disappeared off the face of the earth forever.

10. Just across the street Victor walked up to his wife, Betty. A smile was across his face, no matter how bad things got he couldn’t stop himself from smiling when he saw her. In his mind he still saw the 20-something he had fallen in love with, oblivious to her frail frame that was shaking with fear.“Oh Victor!” Betty sighed “What am I going to tell the people?! They’ll demand answers you know! Look at me, Victor! I’m 67, my body can’t take this stress, I’m underweight, I couldn’t sleep last night, my whole body hurts and aches but I can’t rest because I have the whole of Sunset Valley counting on me! Especially now!” She tried to hold back her tears.

11. “Darling, you’re a lovely, genuine person and the citizens of this town respect that. They don’t care for your age, they love you, Betty” Victor tried to reassure his wife but her mind was still elsewhere, for example, she was currently looking through the window of the door, waiting for the cameramen, and just as she was beginning to calm, they arrived.“Victor, they’re here!” She tried not to panic, took a few deep breaths, and welcomed the media masses into her home.

12. Across the street I was watching TV unaware my signal was about to be cut forever, just mindlessly enjoying my programme.“I’m sorry, we have to interrupt your broadcast to bring you an urgent message from Betty Simmonds, our mayor,” the woman’s voice on the television was shaky and worried.

13. I turned up the TV ready for the announcement, instead of being scared I grew more curious. After the few seconds of noise and static electricity flashing across the screen, Betty appeared.

14. “Hello citizens of Sunset Valley, there is no easy way to say this, but I am currently filming from my own home in central Sunset Valley. From now on I am raising the danger level to black. Last night during a football match the nuclear power plant had some faults and there was a small, but deadly, explosion in the north of the town. Due to it’s close proximity to the stadium, everyone inside suffered a quick death, there are no survivors. In surrounding areas the ionising radiation has mutated people, turning them into post-death life forms, otherwise known as ‘zombies’. Some of these people may have been your family and friends, I am very sorry for your loss, but their personalities have completely changed, they have grown violent, and are not the people you previously knew. Please leave them as they will attack. From now on, nobody is to leave their homes. Food will be on strict rations, Television signal will stop very shortly, but there is one more thing I must let you know,”

15. “I can no longer control this town, evil has taken over, the police force, military and government has had to almost stop working altogether or to keep providing secure jobs to a select few families, join forces with criminals and thugs. It is now a terribly dangerous world out there, but I would like to thank the people of Sunset Valley for helping me become mayor all those years ago,” The memories brought a smile back to Betty’s face, “oh, and I do believe your television signal is about to cut right about now.” And with that, Mrs Simmonds’ speech was over and it was the end of sunset valley as people had previously known it to be.

16. There was a fast knocking at my front door, Bellatrix ran through in a hurry with the look of shock on her face.“Hey! What’s going on?” I asked, stopping her in her confusion.“I don’t understand! The sky is a mysterious grey, the streets are deserted, my mum hasn’t been home!” I didn’t know what to say first,“Bellatrix, we’re at the beginning of the end of Sunset Valley, there was a nuclear explosion, people at the stadium all died, others mutated into horrible zombies , we’re the only survivors , I don’t know how much I can tell you, but I have to get you safe.”Bellatrix looked confused, “my mum was at the stadium, is she… dead?” she asked me, I saw no hint of emotion on her face, no concern.“I’m afraid so, being the creator of this town, I managed to get her ashes for you if you’d like, and I can set you up in a safehouse, you’re young, I’m not letting you waste your life.”

17. I was pulled into a hug.“Thank you,” Bellatrix said, “I’ll accept your offer of a safehouse.” I told her to gather 3 of her most treasured possessions and handed her the keys.“It’s by the beach, get yourself straight there, no going into town first, no where is safe anymore, good luck.” and with that Bellatrix left my home, probably more confused than when she arrived.

18. There were a few moments of silence in my house after Bellatrix’s departure, I savoured them, trying to engage my brain and think of a plan to help this town. Bing Bong!Someone was at my front door, Bellatrix again? No, I’d told her to go and find the safehouse. A group of bloodthirsty zombies? I sincerely hoped not but decided to open the door to my visitor nonetheless.

19. I saw Betty standing in my front garden, she grasped my hand and shook it warmly,“Oh, hello Betty,-” I began“Hello Sue, mind if we talk inside? I could really use your help…”

20. I lead Betty through into the hallway, her look of concern changed to a look of pride.“I’ve been mayor of this town for 20 years, Sue. 20 years of my life I’ve spent to help these people and now I’m helpless.”I stared at her confused,“I saw your broadcast, unfortunately I can’t help or control the masses of evil that are about to use this town as a feeding ground, I don’t have that level of power…”I didn’t know what to say, this wouldn’t be the first time Betty had asked me for help over the past 20 years, but it may be the last if I didn’t think of something quick.

21. “Isn’t there anything you can do, Sue?” She asked me. I held my head in deep thought.“Well,” I began, restoring the hopeful gleam into Betty’s eyes “a girl who lives not far from here just visited, she’s now completely parent-less and I offered her a safehouse I had ready, just in case, down by the beach.Her family over the years could re-build the town. She’s a strong girl, Betty.”

22. Betty smiled “She sounds perfect, well, I now entrust you with this town then.. You and, wait, you never told me her name..”I laughed “oh, no I suppose I didn’t. Her name is Bellatrx Hartley.” “Fabulous!” And with that Betty left my house and our story begins.