Surviving the Apocalypse in Steinbach, MB

By Celesta Thiessen

June Westcott has her life planned out. Graduate high school, get married and become a successful author. She feels that she’s going to be able to live the dream. Her books are actually starting to sell and she’s dating Caleb, the best guy ever. There’s just one problem. It looks like it might be the end of the world.

A Christian science fiction adventure that takes place in the near future, Surviving the Apocalypse in Steinbach, MB, is unique among Christian fiction novels. This story, based on the theme of hearing God, is set in motion by a continent-wide apocalyptic event and propelled towards a dramatic conclusion as June and Caleb listen to God and learn to follow His leading.

This book is rated 12+

• Language: English
• Publisher: Celesta Thiessen
• Release date: Dec 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310846762

Celesta Thiessen

I live in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada with my husband and two young daughters. We're homeschoolers and entrepreneurs. My husband and I make iOS apps and I write stories. Being a writer is magical - spinning nothing into stories - stories that can light the way to a different world.You can connect with me on Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCelesta

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SURVIVING THE APOCALYPSE IN STEINBACH, MB

Celesta Thiessen

Published by Celesta Thiessen at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Celesta Thiessen

Smashwords Edition

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my friend, Alecia Kehler. If it weren’t for you, I never would have thought of writing about living in Steinbach during an apocalypse. You have the best ideas! Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement!

I also want to dedicate this book to for King & Country. I love your music video, The Proof of Your Love! After watching it about a hundred times, suddenly I knew what the apocalypse would look like!

Chapter 1

Caleb, said June, looking at her boyfriend. The tall, brown-haired teen was staring intently at his phone as they leaned against the wall in the hallway, waiting for the teacher to admit them to their next class. Hey, Caleb! Still, he scrutinized the small screen on the phone. Caleb Billy Thiessen! she half-shouted. The other teens standing nearby looked over to see what was going on.

Hmm? What? he asked, finally looking up, his brown eyes locking with her glare.

Look, do I have to strap your phone to my head so I can pretend you’re looking at me when we’re talking?

Caleb chuckled. We were talking?

June playfully punched him in the arm. I’m trying to tell you how I don’t feel respected at home. My mom keeps referring to my writing as a ‘little hobby’.

This again. Caleb sighed.

Yes, this again. It’s important! Writing is my life! It’s who I am!

I know. He pulled her small frame into an embrace. It felt wonderful to have his strong arms wrapped about her, shielding her from the world. Just then, the door to the class opened and students in the hall started shuffling towards the open door.

Thanks, she whispered.

But Caleb wasn’t ready to let her go. He held her hands and looked down into her eyes. I love you, June Westcott. I believe in your writing. We’re seventeen, in Grade Twelve. It won’t be long until we can be together and make a life of our own. Then you won’t have to worry about your mother anymore.

June blinked away the tears that clouded her vision and followed the crowd into class.

Math. June tried to pay attention to the examples as she copied them down. She hated the subject but she liked getting good marks. Their teacher, Mr. Stevens, was very old. He wore a white, buttoned shirt to work everyday, probably the same one, as, whenever he lifted his hand to write on the board, yellowed spots under his arms became visible. Eww… June tried to focus on the example. Soon, Mr. Stevens would set them loose to try the practice questions. Some of the students never bothered doing the homework because it wasn’t worth marks, but June always did it because she wanted to be ready for the test and for the final exam.

What the… Everyone turned to look at the guy who had spoken. He was sitting near the back of the class, openly staring at his phone.

I’ll have to confiscate that, said Mr. Stevens, slowly walking towards the student.

No. Mr. Stevens… Winnipeg just got nuked!

What?! Everyone in the class with a smartphone pulled it out. Shakily, June tapped open the web browser and typed Winnipeg in the search bar. Sure enough, the first page of results was headline after headline. Winnipeg had been bombed. Shock rolled through her and she hesitated to click on one of the articles, her finger hovering over her phone. Who would bomb Winnipeg? It wasn’t a large city, not compared to Toronto or New York. And it was practically in the middle of nowhere. Winnipeg was only about 60km away. What would happen to their little city of Steinbach? If it was a nuclear strike, would they die of the fallout or just get horribly sick and not be able to have kids? Or would their deaths be prolonged, lasting over the span of months or years? June tapped the first result.

It’s not just Winnipeg! someone called out. Almost all the major cities in North America have been hit!

Mr. Stevens was watching a news video on someone’s phone. He wasn’t saying anything. Wasn’t someone going to tell them what to do? She scanned the article she had called up on her the screen. There had been widespread destruction in Winnipeg. The initial assessment of the debris had not revealed any radiation.

I don’t think it was nuclear, June said to Caleb.

What does that mean? he asked, looking up from his phone.

It means we might not be going to die.

Caleb slid his desk across the aisle, right up against June’s desk. Then he took her hand. Should I tell you everything’s going to be okay? he asked.

I’m not sure that would help this time. It was surreal. How can this be happening? Questions with no answers.

At least we don’t have family in the city, said Caleb. From what I’m reading in these reports, there’s not much left.

June stared at him for a moment. Except for my father.

Oh. I forgot. I’m so sorry, June.

It’s not like he’s a part of my life anyway. I haven’t even seen the guy in over a year. June’s eyes filled with tears. She turned her phone off and shoved it into her pocket. I don’t want to read about it anymore.

He might have survived, said Caleb, taking her hand again.

June heard sobbing from some of the girls around her so she, too, allowed the tears to come, burying her face in Caleb’s shoulder.

Some people caught the bombs coming down on the city on video with their cell phones. Is it okay if I watch? I can use my ear buds if you want.

It doesn’t matter, said June. I just want you to hug me. You can watch. It’s fine.

He shifted his phone to his far hand to watch so he could still hold June with his other arm. She wouldn’t watch the videos. If only it was some elaborate prank.

These are the cities that have been bombed, said Mr. Stevens from the front of the class, as he began to write on the whiteboard.

Can we go home? asked a guy from behind them.

No. You’d need parental permission to leave school early.

Just then, Caleb’s phone buzzed in his hand. It was ringing.

Caleb answered it, Hello? Yup. Okay. He tapped the phone off. It was my dad. He just saw what happened. He wants me home.

June nodded as he disentangled himself from her. Stay safe, Caleb.

Of course. He patted her shoulder before walking towards their teacher. Mr. Stevens, that was my father on the phone. He wants me to come home.

Mr. Stevens nodded vaguely as he continued to write city names on the whiteboard. Caleb waved at June before he disappeared through the open doorway. June wiped her face and then dried her hands on her jeans. She didn’t like crying alone.

No matter what happened to the rest of the world, June was sure she would be at school right to the bitter end, seeing as her mother was a teacher at one of the local middle schools. The value and priority of education. How often had she heard that phrase? Yup, there’d be no early dismissal for her, even during the apocalypse. Unless her school got bombed. Would more bombs be dropping? It would be great if they bombed the school during the night. That way, she’d never have to come back. Who were ‘they’ anyway? Who did this to them? She hunched over her desk and rubbed her forehead with her palms. God, please let Caleb be okay. Even if the whole world collapsed, as long as she had Caleb...

Mr. Stevens paused and looked out over the class. Did you want me to finish the Math example first or continue on with this list? He motioned to the board.

The list! shouted several students.

What does Math matter now, anyway? asked some pale girl sitting in the front row.

Math is a life skill, intoned their teacher, the phrase coming out on autopilot, as he turned back to the board and started writing the name of another city.

He was just like her mother. A life skill. June flicked on her phone again; drawn to it, she couldn’t help herself. She watched videos uploaded by people who had captured the bombs coming down and the chaos that occurred shortly afterward. She watched a bright light - a ball of flame - descend on the snow-covered city from a variety of angles. It was weird that people were able to upload their videos - that the Internet and electricity could still be functional after all that had happened. She watched firefighters battling the city going up in flame. Then she watched the looters.

June watched another video that opened to a scene of the devastation - Winnipeg’s downtown buildings. There was rubble everywhere. Splintered wood, broken bricks, rebar - even the concrete was broken up in large chunks. Snow was lightly falling. The camera panned and there, in the snow - bright red blood. It was a brighter red colour than she remembered it. Almost too bright for real blood. How June wished this were just some stupid movie. The video angle shifted again and she saw the source of the blood. A young girl with dark hair, lying still in the snow. There was no one with her. No one to help her…or to mourn her. The clip went black. June hoped that whoever had been recording had gone to check on the girl. She closed her eyes and a tear squeezed out. June clicked off her phone and shoved it back into her pocket.

Class ended and June shuffled to her next class. She pulled out her phone again. Whatever that teacher said, June didn’t hear any of it. No one told her to put her phone away. The fires were out of control. Anyone who survived in Winnipeg would soon be homeless. It was just so terrible. It was January 15, the dead of winter in Manitoba. If the survivors couldn’t find shelter, they would freeze.

The rest of the day passed in a haze. Caleb didn’t come online. Most of the students got to go home. The teachers didn’t teach anything. They were watching their own phones. Mrs. Sumac wasn’t even in her classroom for last period. Someone said she had gone home. She was from Winnipeg. That’s it, I’m going home! June didn’t want to fight with her mother. Not today. Her mother would ask if she stayed at school all day and then…but surely she’d understand.

June went to her locker. She pulled on her parka, mitts and toque and slung her backpack on. Trudging home through falling snow, her thoughts turned again to her father. Why hadn’t he contacted her? And now… Tears stung her eyes and started to freeze on her eyelashes. She rubbed a mitt across her eyes. Why should she cry for someone who clearly doesn’t care about her?

When June got home, her mom wasn’t there. Good. She pet her tabby cat, Tiger, who was sleeping in a sunny spot on the couch. He opened his green eyes and purred.

June went to take a hot bath. What a day. What would happen now? There was nothing to do but to wait and see. And dread. Slipping into the tub, she lay down and closed her eyes. She still had Caleb. June remembered the way he had looked at her when he had spoken to her in the hall. They loved each other. And they would be together. But what would her life be now? What would she be? Her eyes snapped open. She would be just what she was going to be before. It didn’t matter if it was the end of the world. She was a writer and that’s what she was going to do.

Later, when June came out to the kitchen, her mother was making supper.

Mom. June moved in for an embrace. They clung to each other for a moment.

Did you stay at school all day?

Until the last class; the teacher wasn’t there.

Her mother released her to look up into her face, searching for the truth. Okay. I can accept that, considering today’s events. Thanks for that, June. School’s so important.

Right.

What’s that supposed to mean? her mother asked, sharply.

Nothing. Mom, I don’t want to fight.

Then answer the question.

It means right. Like, you’re right. June raised her voice. Why are you picking a fight with me?

Tears came to her mother’s eyes. June, I’m sorry.

June wanted to storm off to her room, slam the door and then see if Caleb was finally online to chat. But, instead, she hugged her mom again. We still have each other, Mom. I think we’re going to be okay. They didn’t always get along but June felt sorry for her. Her mother had taken it really hard when June’s father had left them.

June, can you cut the onions?

Sure, Mom.

So, how was your day, Honey?

June laughed, maniacally. Then she spoke, mirthlessly, Not that great, actually. And yours? She looked up from chopping the onions to find her mother watching her with concern. What, you think I’m loosing it? June asked. But her mother didn’t answer. Well, I probably am. She now seriously wanted to storm off but June finished slicing the onions instead and then threw them into the frying pan.

Her mother sighed. My day wasn’t great either. They might close down the schools.

What? June tried not to look happy. This was too good to be true! School was nothing but a waste of time anyway.

I don’t know. The school board and the superintendents are having a meeting tonight. They’ll be calling us if school is going to be cancelled.

Oh. June washed her hands. She had to talk to Caleb. Surely, he was online now. I’m feeling kinda stressed. Is it okay if I go and lie down for a bit before supper?

Sure. Her mother gave her a quick hug and a pat on the back. You’re right. We have each other. Everything’s going to be fine.

June smiled and nodded. Doubt it. ‘Okay’ maybe but certainly not ‘fine’. June slipped into her room and closed the door slowly, taking care not to slam it. Her mother was pretty sensitive these days.

She pulled her phone from her pocket and squirmed under the covers. June clicked it on and tapped the chat app. He was online!

June Westcott

Caleb! Finally. What’s going on out there?

Caleb Billy Thiessen

Nothing much. Dad just wanted me to help him secure everything on the farm. Figures there’s going to be looters coming from the city when they realize we still have food out here.

June Westcott

Really? Do you think they’ll come to Steinbach, too?

June hadn’t though about that. Some people would still have cars. And even if they didn’t, Steinbach was only about a day’s walk from Winnipeg.

Caleb Billy Thiessen

Idk. Dad says I’m not going back to school. He watched all those looting videos and he says he needs me to help protect the farm. We have the rifles out and loaded. He’s taking this very seriously.

June Westcott

This is crazy! When am I going to see you again?

Caleb Billy Thiessen

Idk. I’m going to go help my mom with supper, ok? I think she’s crying. But I’ll be back online tonight.

June Westcott

K

And he was gone - offline. June wiped the tears from her own eyes. Then she squeezed her eyes closed and laid her head down on the pillow. Her mother was probably crying too. Caleb was such a good person.

Caleb’s family lived ten minutes south of Steinbach. Any looters would get to Steinbach first, before they reached the Thiessen’s farm. Caleb is going to be okay, she told herself.

June awoke with a start, to the sound of the home phone ringing. She didn’t get up. It wouldn’t be for her. In the darkness, the green numbers on the alarm clock beside her bed read 7:00pm. Why had her mother let her sleep so long? What happened to supper?

June came out of her room to find her mother sobbing on the couch, sitting in the living room with all the lights off.

Mom, what’s going on?

Her mother sniffed and tried to compose herself before answering. School’s been cancelled.

All the schools are cancelled for tomorrow?

No, not all the schools. The elementary schools are still running. But not the middle schools or the high school.

How long’s school going to be cancelled for?

For the foreseeable future.

Wait…what? Closed permanently? What about graduation? I was going to graduate this year.

"I don’t know, June. And I’ve lost my job now. I don’t know how we’re