The Girls in the Shattered World

By Ben Patchett

Five years ago, two girls were trapped underground when the USA launched a full scale gas track on Canada in an act of war. Today, the girls are reunited, and they now travel the country looking for means of survival. When they meet an odd man with a promise of salvation, Alex and Alice set off on a journey for a new start in life. However, the further they travel, they discover more and more bizarre people and locations that suggest that Canada is not as lifeless as the two girls think. With one sidetrack leading to another, Alex and Alice are faced with several dark surprises along their desperate journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Aug 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098329457

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Acknowledgement

Chapter One

October 20th, 2032

It is an era of emptiness.

Canada is a country of peace Alex! They will not succumb to the broken rule of The American Alliance! They will survive! So Alex’s father told her over five years ago. But unfortunately for him, he was proved wrong.

Canada had always refused to make a forceful impact in The Great Atomic War that had lasted for no more than a year. They had always prioritized keeping safe, and protecting the people. They did not increase their military. Instead, they built absolutely massive nuclear shelters underneath each major Canadian city. The idea was that should North Korea, Russia, or whoever was out for radioactive blood launch a full-blown missile attack on the nation, that a portion of the population of Canada could be forced into these subterranean environments, and live down there until the radiation above them cleared out. But it didn’t work at all.

Canada, the country of peace, backstabbed the country that they were the closest ally to, America. Or as they now called themselves, The American Alliance. Betraying the Alliance was Canada’s last mistake. The moment it was found out, America pounced on the first chance to wipe Canada off the map. Without the resources to destroy Canada with conventional and more effective nukes, the Americans turned to chemical missiles designed specially by their scientists; The Orbital Chlorine and Hydrogen Rapid Exterminator bombs. (O.C.H.R.E bombs for short) These bombs contained large amounts of gas hydrochloric acid, strong enough to dissolve metal. The OCHRE bombs, along with anything else that America hadn’t lost in skirmishes with the enemy, failed to completely destroy all of Canada. But with all life now moved to the country’s underground nuke shelters, Canada as was long gone, with nothing but the dead, lifeless bodies of cities to be seen, nearly everything but the buildings dissolved to dust by the acid. Whatever was up there now days, there surely wouldn’t be much.

Now, everyone was trapped beneath the Earth, beneath the streets they used to drive along. They all panicked, and sure enough, Canada’s population slowly turned on each other. With more and more chaos erupting around the country’s depths, their numbers rapidly dropped over the course of five years.

That would bring Alex up to date. Here she was, walking a barely lit hallway that looked like something out of an ancient castle. It wasn’t well lit, for this shelter was not well powered anymore. It was bright enough for you to see your surroundings, yet dark enough to that you couldn’t see what was ahead of you. It was very disorienting, but it didn’t stir Alex. She was in a mood to do things today.

Right now, she was in the middle of visiting every place she thought could have someone left. She had been very busy, and had already checked half the shelter. Something which was not an easy task without proper lighting. Even though she still had much of the shelter to cover, Alex already had the feeling that there was nobody down here. Just the bodies of the people she didn’t even get to know.

Alex felt she had to be the last one alive. Everyone else had been killed when stone fell from the ceiling during the OCHRE attack, gotten diseases, or simply killed each other in fights for food. But, none of that mattered now. Those who had put them down here surely were dead now, and Alex had a feeling that Canada was dead with it. She’d last a little longer though, that was for sure.

She had quite a few tricks up her sleeves to keep herself going just a little longer each day, and did have quite a few special skills. How she’d gotten her skills, nobody knew. That was of course because nobody ever approached Alex or tried to talk to her, but even if they did, Alex would only tell them over her dead body. She’d never dare talk about what happened before the shelters, even if lives were in danger because of it, and because nobody cared enough to approach her and ask, she never had to. As long as she avoided all social contact and never made friends or enemies, she had to worry about nothing.

Today, she planned to use such skills. It had been five years since the mass attack on Canada had forced her and everyone else into the shelter, and in that time, the place had become desolate. Food was almost gone, water too. The place was becoming weak, and was falling apart. Alex had made the personal decision to try and find a way out of the nuke shelter, and relocate herself to a part of Canada that wasn’t going to cave in on her someday.

Alex let out a long yawn, and she realized that starting this search early in the morning wasn’t the best idea. That’s what she got for making progress. At this point though, this didn’t really feel like progress. Maybe it was time she gave up and continued her mission. It wasn’t like she wanted to put a team together. She did of course, dislike company. On that thought, Alex firmly decided to turn around. She stopped dead in her tracks, sighed, stretched a little, and turned around with her flashlight in hand.

Then it happened.

As Alex stabilized her flashlight, the back of someone disappeared past another hallway at a four-way intersection. Alex froze the moment she saw them. Who it was, she didn’t have time to make out. But that was little of the matter. Someone else was down here! Alex didn’t want to try approaching this person. Her initial plan was that she’d slowly approach anyone she found in case they were hostile. But now, she’d have to meet this person right off the bat. Alex really wished there was another way to go about this. She stood there for a good while, before finally deciding to go meet this person.

Lifting her flashlight once more, Alex slowly moved forwards, and turned down the hallway where she’d seen the person. Once she’d emerged into the hallway though, she found nobody there. Deep down, this relived Alex. She stayed quiet to make sure that the mystery person wasn’t lying to sneak on her, then she continued forwards under the mindset that she was alone. She wandered through this hallway, and rejoined on the one she’d originally been through. She then returned to the bench where she usually slept or sat on, which she’d been led to decide was her property now. She slumped down onto this bench, admittedly tired. This wasn’t a good start to her plans. Clearly this would be a long day. Alex tried not to think about that right now, and leaned up against the wall of a quick breather. Now, she felt as though she could try a more preferable approach to this person.

But Alex had left her guard down. Still tired, she accidentally let her eyes shut. She sat there for a moment, thoughtless for what might have been the first time in a while. Then…

BOO! Came a squeaky voice. Alex squealed, and jumped so high she made a THUMP! as she landed back on the bench. She scrambled for her flashlight, not noticing it had rolled off the bench and onto the floor. In her panic, the figure that the voice had come from picked up the flashlight. Alex was then pulled from her panic as a bright light blinded her.

Sorry! Sorry! I was only joking!

That’s my flashlight you idiot! Alex barked, not knowing what else to say in a situation like this. Then, the light moved downwards out of her eyes, and Alex’s vision readjusted. She now could see her flashlight in someone’s hand, being offered to her. Without hesitation, Alex snatched it from the person’s arm.

Thank you. Alex spat. Then, in the somewhat better lighting of this hallway, Alex realized who this mystery person was. She stared in disbelief. Of all the people she could have met right now.

Well look here! Alex exclaimed. You’re still here after everything?

Chapter Two

What were the chances! This one surviving girl did have a certain degree of history with Alex. Not much though. Alex only knew her because she had helped her into the nuke shelter when the alarm went off. But that was five years ago, and they hadn’t seen each other since. Alex wouldn’t admit they knew each other.

It’s you! the girl cheered. I haven’t seen you in ages! I thought you were dead!

Well I am still alive, clearly. Alex said, getting up.

Do you remember me? the girl asked. I was that one girl who you-

Yes, yes I remember you! Alex interrupted. You were that girl I helped way back when.

So you DO remember me! the girl exclaimed. I knew you would!

The girl suddenly hugged Alex, who winced backwards. This girl had clearly just finished wiping something dirty off herself based on the look of her clothing, and whatever it was, it didn’t look fresh.

Hey, personal space kid! Alex barked. She wiggled an arm out and gently tried pushing the girl away.

Oh, yeah. Sorry, the girl said, letting go. It’s just, I haven’t seen someone around here in ages let alone someone I know!

You don’t say. Alex said sarcastically, brushing off the mystery dirt with what clean parts of her she had left. Neither have I.

The girl then took note of the fact that Alex didn’t seem to enthusiastic at the moment.

What? Alex asked, confused by the sudden silence from the otherwise nonstop conversation this girl had to offer.

You look exhausted. Like you’ve been somewhere. Look at your face!

That might have just been your hug. Alex corrected.

How long have you been awake? The girl asked.

No idea. I don’t have a clock on me. Alex said, rubbing her left leg.

Honestly, I don’t think anyone’s got a clock on hand anymore, the girl laughed.

Alex wasn’t in the mood to chat, but she felt like she could use an extra pair of hands if she wanted to get anything done today. Just this once. She looked up at the girl and tried to sound like she had actually talked to someone during her time underground.

Alex came up to this other girl. She was almost her height, maybe just one inch shorter than her. That likely meant that she was about her age too. She looked slightly thinner than her, and had long brown hair. She looked like an average cool kid girl, except for the fact that she was covered in dirt because of the conditions she was living in. Even so, the girl seemed to have made a half hazard attempt to fix herself up. The multiple dirt marks on her face seemed to show where the girl had tried wiping the dirt off. She was either not a fan of hard work, or someone who wanted to try her best to stay alive. Alex wasn’t sure if she was of use or not.

Can’t believe we’ve only just met up again now. Alex said. You mentioned you went looking for me. Did you see anyone else alive down here?

Not that I can tell, the girl sighed. I tried searching for other people the whole day yesterday, and I didn’t see even one person! I think we’re the only survivors!

Alex groaned. Well, that means time is running out for us. It would seem that the two of us need to act on these matters!

What do you mean? the girl asked, sitting down on the bench.

We’ve got no food, our nuke shelter is dirty and probably full of diseases, nobody is coming to save us now that Canada has been OCHRE bombed, so we’ll die down here like everyone else If we don’t get out of this shelter, so we need to leave this place!

Leave?! gasped the girl. Alone?

You yourself said there was nobody alive down here kid. It’ll have to be alone.

That’s absolutely ridiculous! Canada was only just attacked by the OCHRE bombs five- Five? Yeah, five years ago! The country is probably still full of gas! Plus, even if it was safe to leave, what would we do? We’re both like, what? Twelve? We barely know anything!

Alex gave a sly smirk.

You guessed wrong there, kid. I happen to know quite a bit about survival myself. Given time, I could find safe shelter, clean food, and anything else this shelter doesn’t have!

The girl crossed her arms.

You? What do you know? You’re like, what, eleven years old?

Thirteen! Alex corrected sharply. You aren’t the tallest tree in the forest either kid!

The girl then stared at Alex for a moment, which, though discreet, clearly showed that she was comparing their heights. That wasn’t something Alex was fond of, but she felt she’d given this girl enough grief already.

Alright, thirteen, the girl said, brushing Alex’s insult off. It’s been five years since we got sick down here, and you’re thirteen right now so you’d be about seven or eight years old before the bombing.

That’s math for ya, said Alex.

Okay, so, what the heck would you know at the age of seven or eight that would help us survive the apocalypse?

Alex froze for a second. She wouldn’t tell anyone about her skills, and she especially wouldn’t tell them why she obtained them at such a young age. This was why she tried to avoid conversations. But she stood her ground. She could tell this girl wasn’t as smart as she sounded.

Listen kid. Alex began. That’s something I’d rather not talk about. All you need to know is that I’m a smart girl, with survival skills, who’s willing to take someone with me on my travels.

The girl stared blankly at Alex for a moment. She clearly didn’t get any of this. Alex hoped she wouldn’t have to dance around a real answer for too long.

That makes absolutely no sense, the girl said. Alex glared.

Well, I guess this is the question: said Alex. You want to die down here?

No! The girl answered quickly.

Good! Alex smiled. So, if you don’t ask questions about me, then I’ll let you join me on my journey to the outside!

No questions what so ever? the girl asked, tilting her head. Alex held back a groan.

Just nothing about me personally, she answered. You can ask me anything else, just don’t question me and my talents.

Right! the girl chirped, clapping once. I’ll just tell myself that you were a GREAT girl guide!

Alex bit her lip. She didn’t hide it from herself that this girl wasn’t her ideal partner. Especially now that she had to made sure she wasn’t asking too many questions about her own past. But hey, she’d cross that bridge when she got to it.

I like you, the girl said. I think you seem like a really smart person!

I guess I was just good at listening to the stuff the instructors told us during survival drills.

You’d be better than I was, the girl chuckled, and she got off the bench.

This is it then, said Alex. The two of us will be the first Canadians in the last five years to venture the surface! This might go down in history supposing we ever leave!

Cool, the girl said blankly. I never really cared about history though. Anyways, since you’re the girl guide of the room, what we should do now?

First things first: We need food! Alex declared. It’s our main survival means! Now, this shelter was built with enough food for thousands and thousands of people. You mentioned that we were the only ones down here, right?

I said I couldn’t tell if there was anyone else! the girl said There could be someone hiding. It’s a big shelter!

Well, judging by the lack of traffic in these hallways, I’d say there isn’t many left here if any. Now, because so many people have died off in these last five years, there’s been food in the storage rooms that haven’t been used.

How much though? the girl asked. I heard the food storage area was a war-zone! After all, it’s the biggest stockpile of food supplies in the shelter, isn’t it?

Again, everyone but us is dead now. Alex answered. There’s been nobody here but me to go raiding the storage since there’s no competition. As I mentioned, there would be enough food for thousands, so hopefully there would be enough left to support at least just the two of us!

Wow. Wow! You’re right! the girl exclaimed. I’ve just been grabbing scraps around the place and forming a meal from whatever I find! How did I never think of your plan?!

Don’t ask me. Alex teased. Honestly, I wouldn’t even think that wold work. But, if you were able to live off of scraps lying around the shelter for five years, then that probably means that a lot of food was stolen already…

Oh… the girl sighed. That isn’t good…

Cross your fingers I guess. Alex reassured. We need to get moving. We’ll go to the food storage areas, then, grab whatever hasn’t been taken by the others already.

Good plan! Go team! the girl chanted. Alex groaned once again.

Calm it down though, okay? I take it slow when I’m working.

Sorry! Sorry, the girl stammered. Let’s just go! I’m excited!

Alex had only known this girl for a few minutes, but based on the way she acted, she could already tell she would hate her. But she knew she needed at least one person on her side if she was to live any longer, so she decided this was the best she could work with.

The freezers that stored the shelter’s food were a long walk away, but once the two girls made it to the storage rooms, getting into them wasn’t an issue. But that was just what worried Alex. All the food storage rooms had already been broken into, and therefore had already been raided. That meant they’d have a shorter supply of food then she’d hoped for. When they opened the door and walked inside, they found it was now dark, and the lights were flickering.

I swear, you’d think they’d keep this place in better shape if we’d be trying to survive in it! The girl said as she hurried in.

Must have been a big bomb if it impacted the power this far underground. Alex said, trying to show she wasn’t up for conversation without being rude to her. The girl looked around the room.

I wonder if there’s even anything left in here! she pondered.

Have you got the effort in you to find out? Alex asked.

I don’t know, the girl said. I’ve been down here so long that I’m not sure if I’m even ready to face sunlight again!

Alex laughed. That was true.

You seem to have the effort to keep yourself alive. That’s a start isn’t it?

Good enough at least!

Alex realized she was smiling. She hadn’t really talked to anyone in a while, so she seemed to actually be enjoying this. She hoped that this girl wasn’t always this talkative though, there was more to the reason that she hadn’t talked to someone in so long than just the fact that everyone was dead.

Hey, I just realized, when you helped me all those years ago, I never got your name! the girl said.

Of course not! We were running for our lives to avoid being trampled!

I’m Alice.

Good meeting ya Alice. I’m Alex.

Alice chuckled. That’s going to get confusing!

Well, you know who you are, and I know who I am, so I think we’ll get used to it. But enough about names! We need to move if we want to find a way out of here! Check the shelves for any boxes!

The girls both moved to different shelves, trying to find anything that could help them on a long journey after leaving the shelter.

They better have given us good stuff here. Alice fretted, scanning the boxes along the shelves. I’m not living off tofu for the rest of my life!"

Well, cross your fingers. You stay there and check every box along those shelves. Their contents may have rotted. I’m going to find some clothing and weapons.

Sorry, you’re looking for weapons?

Goodness knows what we’ll find outside Alice, just because the hydrochloric acid gas has a chance of just floating away doesn’t mean that bad people will too.

The hydrophobic what now? Alice asked.

The poison air. Alex groaned. You’d know what I mean if you saw it.

Alice frowned as she looked over at Alex.

You’re being really negative about all this Alex, be happy! We might be able to finally leave the nuke shelter!

Alex shot a dirty look at Alice through one of the shelves.

This is a serious situation Alice. I’d say nothing is stopping me from being negative!

Chapter Three

Though much of the food in the crates had rotted, there was enough to get them by for a while. How long? Well, Alex wasn’t really sure about that. She didn’t know how much they’d need per day, and how much was actually there. Sadly, despite having many special skills, math wasn’t one of them. But, considering that the shelter was built with enough food for a solid seven years, Alex felt that they’d last at least two and a half weeks. Hopefully they’d find some more food on their travels on the surface, though. The two cobbled together all the rations they could find, and then left the freezers to continue the search for supplies. On their way to the next room, the girls picked up anything else useful, such as tools of any kind.

Their next stop was a controversial one amongst the two girls. Alex was still pushing for weapons, and so she forced Alice to help her locate any guns and ammo around the shelter. For all soldiers who were meant to be put in charge of the shelter, guns and ammo were stored in a secure room at the far end of the shelter. Unfortunately, two years ago when the remaining shelter residents went to insane of hunger, they figured out how to break into the room where these guns and ammo were held, allowing anyone who wanted a gun to have one. As a result, these guns, and some packs of ammo, were left all over the shelter after their former owners died off, and so they could be found all around the base one they looked hard enough. After a long search, the girls had found a small selection of weapons, and some ammo to go with them. Alice was skeptical about bring guns with them on the trip, for she’d never actually used, or even held one before. But Alex insisted it would be useless charging towards a mutated beast with their fists, and when she told Alice that she once had one of these guns before losing it, Alice gave in.

Alex’s final stop was to gather themselves clothing. But not just any clothing, the attire of a soldier aged 15.

The uniforms will help us adapt hot or cold surrounding easier, she explained to Alice. Only the uniforms will be able to push us forwards in apocalyptic weather. We need to be ready for anything, see?

Alice wasn’t fond of wearing teenage soldier’s clothing after hearing all the stories about people just two years older than her going out to fight, but she finally agreed when Alex told her she could take some of the funny looking soldier’s helmets with the suits. The soldier’s supply room was on the other end of the shelter, near the main exit. The girls dragged their things down to the room, and broke into it using a hammer and saw they’d collected off the ground. No actual weapons were held in this room, so it didn’t contain rock solid security measures, especially with age.

Once in the room, they found all sorts of suits for various age ranges. Some uniforms were neat hung on the wall, while others were ripped and spawned on the floor near the boots, next to piles of boots and gloves. It took a while to find suits their size in good condition, but by the end, Alex felt it was worth the hunt. Not to mention that she was fully right about the uniforms helping them adapt to the cold.

Now that they were stocked and ready, Alex brought Alice to the hallway just before the shelter’s exit. On the ground, Alex had made a rough and pretty inaccurate, but explanatory map of the nuke shelter with various objects. She used this map to explain her escape plan.

Alright, you listening, Alice?

All ears!

Okay, look. Alex pointed to a rock on the map, that was slightly diagonal. This is the radio room. Remember how other shelters would message us sometimes?

Yeah! They kind of stopped that though, didn’t they?

They did, but not because ours broke. Ours was working fine last I heard. Therefore, if there is anyone still alive and listening, we can try to message them for a group meeting!

Okay, good. Then we’ll have a group. Then what?

Alex traced their path with her finger.

Then, we go down these halls here, and come to the big ramp that leads to the exit. Now, look at this.

Alex picked up an odd-looking device that looked like a pair of binoculars, without the seeing holes. On one side, it had a wire clipped onto it. It also had a small screen, and a couple of buttons, like a large calculator.

What’s this thing? Alice asked, leaning in close.

It’s a standard chemical detector. Alex said, leaning in to give Alice a closer look. I picked it up from the soldier’s room. We can use this little box on the big exit door to see if there really is any hydrochloric gas left over or not! We’re going have to plug this thing into the wall near the shelter door, which is going to link it with a series of scanners near the surface. Supposing nothing was damaged in the attack, and the scanner detects a clean atmosphere, I plug the detector into the door mechanism, and if the door is still working, we just walk straight out!

Alice stared at the map.

Okay, that’s all good. But if we do make it out, what next?

"We’ll figure that out later Alice. I got one more thing to take care of here.

Alice groaned.

What now? We’ve been walking around the shelter all day!

I want to attempt making contact with other shelters around Canada, said Alex. If anyone else is alive still, perhaps they can tell us something important before we leave. The radio room isn’t that far away, so don’t whine to me just yet.

The girls got up, leaving the map of things behind. Nobody would be asking them to clean that thing up today. They followed the path that Alex had described, and soon, they came to the radio room. It was a much smaller room, and only had one radio system. It was linked by two other hallways just nearby.

This place is a mess too! Alice scoffed, looking at the machinery’s exposed wires and such. Are you sure you trust this thing to work?

It’s the only thing I should trust right now. Alex sighed, getting down to operate the radio. I swear this thing worked fine the last time I saw someone use it.

How long has it been since it was last used?

Alex thought for a moment. It had been a long time since they’d last sent a message out, and she barely even remembered the occasion.

About a year, she said at last, although she felt that she was wrong. But hey, no other options. We’ve got to see if anyone is still alive out there. Even if the government is gone, maybe someone else helpful will pick up!

Alex grabbed the microphone on the radio system. She observed the numbers and words all over the machinery. According to the instruments, it was operating on all frequencies.

Everything seems to be in order Alice, she said, though her voice showed doubt.

Well then what are you waiting for? Alice groaned. Get on with it!

Alex hit the button that said: Transmit. She raised the mic to her lips, and cleared her throat.

Hello? This is shelter 23. Hello?

The girls went quiet for an answer. But after ten seconds of agonizing impatience among the two, there was no response. But Alex wasn’t ready to quit yet. She jumped down, and pulled a cover off of one of the machine’s panels. She leaned into the hatch to examine anything that seemed out of order. Alice stared intently as she watched her.

Hey, could you try helping? Alex nagged from inside the machine.

No! Alice squeaked, almost seeming taken aback. Alex shrugged within the little nook she’d tucked into.

Didn’t hurt to ask, she sighed, though she sounded like she wished she didn’t. Alice picked up on this.

What did you think I could help you with? Alice asked. Heck, what do you think YOU are doing right now? Can you even fix that machine?

Alex stopped dead. She’d only realized right now that she couldn’t fix this thing.

Ah… Well… She began, not wishing to look like an idiot in front of Alice, but that chance had slipped out of her reach. Alice was stifling a laugh.

So, Ms. Survivalist, what now? Can you fix it? she questioned irritatingly. Alex snarled and climbed out of the hatch.

No, I can’t fix this thing!! Its workings are all rustier than the freaking Titanic!

Alex got back onto the stool, and hit the transmission button one more time. She grabbed the mic, and spoke once again.

Hello? Hello? she called. But still, there was no reply. Alex gave the machine a hard kick, making a noise that Alice winced at.

Hello! Alex called again, angrier this time. Is anyone out there? This is…

But