Light shone in my face, my vision blurred. My muscles felt frozen, and refused to move. Suddenly, tingles rushed down my body, spreading from my shoulders to my feet. Finally, my vision cleared, filled with walls with splotches of mold and peeling paint. The building creaked, beeping noises slow like a dying heartbeat. My breathing slowed as debris clogged up my nose. A voice filled my ears.
“Sweetie?”
I looked up and focused my eyes. It took me a second to realize that it was the woman next to me. She looked like a doctor, but her clothes made her seem homeless. Her clothes were ragged, her hair pulled in a messy bun. Her name tag was rusted and almost unreadable.
“Natalie?” I guessed.
“You can call me Nat,” she said. “It’s a miracle you’re awake. I thought you would never wake up.”
I would never wake up? That thought jumped around every crevice of my brain, and finally settled on the one solution. I was in a coma. Questions flooded my brain. Will I be paralyzed? How long?
“It’s been three years,” Nat said, practically reading my mind. “Don’t worry, it’ll take a little time for you to get used to moving around again, but you’ll be fine soon”
“What happened to my family?” I questioned.
“They died fighting for freedom. Two years ago, the rich took over, and now rule the world from Europe.”
The statement hit hard. Three years gone. The world was different, but I was still the same. I couldn’t even remember my age!
“I need to get out of here,” I conclude, stumbling off the hospital bed.
Nat screamed, “Wait, you haven’t-,” but her voice cut off as I stormed out the door.
The world outside was a wasteland, dust swirling like birds. The smell of ash filled the air, and sounds of riots intruded my ear.
“You look like you haven’t been outside in years.”
I turned my head to the voice, and saw a boy with brown hair, the gaze from his teal blue eyes shining like a beam of sunlight. His smile was warm and he was dressed in a faded shirt and cargo shorts.
“I haven’t,” I responded. “Coma for three years. Everything’s changed.”
“Huh. I didn’t think I’d actually be right. Everything is now run on oil, and the only place to get oil is central Europe, where there is the master oil plant.”
“Where even are we right now?” I ask, dying to know.
“Turkey, but not the side in Europe. We’re near the border though. Lots of riots happen there, but none of them are successful,” he says. “I’m Jackson, what about you?”
“Evelyn,” I hesitated.
“Well, Evelyn, you should come over to my house. I doubt you would get anywhere like that.”

* * *

After a long walk, Jackson’s house was finally in sight. At first, I didn’t believe it. It was a rundown shed, which barely fit his family of four. It was a sad sight, and I was wondering why the rich wouldn’t give some money to help the poor. How come people couldn’t do anything about it? While walking back, Jackson told me how the system works. He said the world relies on a singular oil plant, and if it was destroyed, everything would fall apart. He also told me about the monthly supply givings, where a plane drops off supplies, and one was happening today. I found this a great way to take control of the rich. I would hijack the plane and bomb the oil plant!
I proposed this plan to Jackson’s family, and they called me crazy. Only Jackson seemed to listen. After that, I decided I was going to leave, and commit to my strategy. As I started walking, a familiar voice spoke behind me.
“Don’t think you’re going to get around with a guide.”
It was Jackson. He must have followed me.
“Why are you here?” I demanded.
“I heard your plan. I want to help,” Jackson smiled.
I was shocked. I never thought that anyone would agree with me, let alone him, after his family mocked my idea. But I was glad for the help, and didn’t complain as we walked to the supply givings in silence.
* * *
The plane was finally in view. It felt like a year to get there on foot, but the small white plane was right there. Jackson and I crept to the unguarded plane, going in. As we turned on the engine, the pilot finally noticed us. He yelled and screamed for us, but we were already flying.
“Do you know how to fly a plane?” I yell, terrified for my life.
Jackson replies with a laugh. “Absolutely not!”
He pushed the accelerator, and we shot forward, soaring through the sky.
“Ready to bomb an oil plant, Evelyn?” Jack grinned.
* * *
After about an hour of flying, the oil plant was finally in view. It was in a dome, surrounded by a thick sheet of golden glass. After landing the plane, we walked closer. The outside was guarded, but they soon left duty for a lunch break. We went in, and there I saw the true oil plant. It was enormous, around the size of the Eiffel Tower.
Jackson brought a lighter, and we set our plan in motion. We’d light the oil, then run back to the plane. Jackson lit the lighter, flames flickering out. Alarms blared. They knew. Suddenly, someone hit the back of my head, and everything went black.
* * *
Light shone in my eyes, and I was being stared at by a pale man, with slick gray hair.
“Didn’t go as planned, did it?” he laughed. “Heat sensors. Gave you away instantaneously.”
“Let me go!” I cried.
“Don’t strain, you’ll only make it worse. You’ll be here a long time.”
“How long?” I yell, trying to break free.
He walked out the door, whispering one word as the door shut.
“Forever.”