Samantha James's Story

I walked down the hallway. There had been an accident in my classroom so I was sent to go fetch the Janitor Robot... The Janitor stayed in the supply closet.. Some kid had decided to be sick in the back off the class... I felt bad for him... He was sent to the infirmary to be checked on but I was sure it was just the common flu. As I neared the closet I began to have a weird feeling... Like something was going to happen. I came up to the closet and knocked on the door. I heard some noises and backed up. The robot came out the door and started down the hall to my class. The robots these days had impeccable skills at mind reading. They just needed to scan you for a second or two and they were off.

On the way back I decided to go stop at the washroom. I walked down the hall and into the bathroom and I made sure to close the stall door. I did my business and came out. I went to the mirror, beginning to wash my hands when I noticed the lights flickering. It went out for a second, then it came back on... I finished washing my hands and went to dry my hands when it went out again. I expected the lights to come back on. But they never did. I started to freak out. I had to find help... Maybe... Somehow! If somebody knew what was happening?



I was sitting in the middle of class watching a video on the latest unit in our science class. Everybody was talking in the back but there was me, front row, watching intently. It had been 30 minutes since the video started and I was fascinated... I wondered if my little brother would find this interesting... He loved science.... I watched as the screen suddenly started to flicker. The class went silent and I looked around... What was going on? I looked up and now the screen was dark and the lights were beginning to flicker... Something was wrong... I got up and started to call for the teacher but the robot wouldn't respond. Soon people were starting to freak out.. "Be calm!" I yelled but it was hard to stay calm when suddenly it was dark and all the electronics didn't work anymore... The electricity was shut off.

Cara

I was breathing heavily, fear coursing through me. "Help! Whats going on!" I yelled. This had to be a joke.... This was not happening... "Hello!" I yelled, as I forced myself to keep walking. I walked until I felt a wall and I touched it as I walked along. Then I could hear voices as I went down the hall. "Hello?" I whispered.... I was scared... Should I talk or not? I had no idea what was going on and I didn't even know if these people were students or others... I hoped they were students. "Please help me..." I said, walking towards the voices. Then I remember my phone was in my back pocket. I slid it out and pressed the home button, allowing for a little bit of light. I shined it on the people and they were just kids. I felt myself relax. "My name is Cara... Does anybody know whats going on?" I asked.

Samantha

As people screamed I tried to calm them down. "Shhhh!" I yelled. "Its gonna be alright! I'm gonna go try and find some answers... Stay put!" I yelled and I felt my way to the door. The electricity usually locked the doors but now that it was off, it was open.. The only doors that locked were the outside doors... So it looked like no escape... I twisted the door knob and walked through the hall... I didn't know what I was expecting to find... Maybe people? But I'm sure they wouldn't know what was going on. I started to hear voices but I guess I veered off to the right too much and walked into a wall. I fell, yelling out in pain as I landed on my leg the wrong way. Tears threatened to fall down my face but I wasn't a cry baby. I wiped my eyes and felt my leg. I winced as my fingers barely touched it... I didn't know if I could walk... But I sure couldn't stay here... My class mates were depending on me. I lifted my leg up so it wouldn't touch the ground and pushed myself up with my hands. I hopped on 1 leg over to the wall and started to hop to the voices. "Help! I'm injured! I need help!" I yelled, hoping maybe somebody could hear me.

Allen was fine with not acknowledging the straggler he'd inadvertently picked up while exiting the classroom, carefully making his way down the darkened halls. Really, he'd just hoped that if he ignored her for long enough then she'd leave and he could be off on his merry way. That hope was, however, dashed, at her clumsy attempt to remember his name. Well, at least she knew it on the second guess- he had no idea what her name was even if they sat next to each other in class.

"Yes, it's Allen. And I've no id-" His response was cut off when she ran into...something? He couldn't quite make it out in the darkness, but whatever it was had obviously caused her to fall over and drop whatever she was carrying, a swear finding its way out.

"Still here," He said, prompted by her nervous 'Hello?'. That's when the screaming began. It was like an explosion of noise had hit the hallways and, even worse, it wasn't the entire school shrieking like banshees, oh, no. It was a select few people in the halls. There was someone shouting angrily, another shrieking for help.

"Oh, Lord," He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. But what else was he supposed to do? "Look, I'm going to check on whoever's asking for help. You can come or you can do whatever." With that small explanation to his classroom neighbor, he started to make his way towards the sound of the girl asking for help. Even in the dark, it wasn't very hard, her shouts drawing him towards her like a moth towards a flame.

"Calm down just a minute," He ordered with slight exasperation, raising his voice so she could hear him over the sound of her own voice. His eyes were adjusting now and he could see her- younger than he was, hopping like a madwoman on one leg as she guided herself against the wall. "I can't help if you're shouting and flailing around like that."

Cara

I felt the young boy hold me. He was frightened. "Shh its gonna be okay." I said, giving the boy a reassuring hug. I guess the boy hated the dark... A lot. “Hi...I’m Nicole Johnson form class 21, and this is my brother Danny Johnson...from class 20...are there any other kids you’ve found?” the other young girl said. I shook my head. "I was on my way back to class when the lights came off... I didn't see anybody else..." I said. I watched as another boy produced light from his phone... He was closer to my age but still younger. “Hey.” The boy said. "Hello..." I said to him. “Cal?” a voice said. I turned and shoned some light on a girl. She looked about my age. “Hey Cal, we can get out of her now.” The girl asked. I watched as she saw the 2 children now. “Oh, uh, hey?” the girl said. "Escape would be nearly impossible... All of the exits are locked from the outside without the power... Were kind of stuck... I think we'll have to stay the night... We'll have to try and plan... I suggest we go see if there are any food supplies in the cafeteria and some people set up rooms for people to stay in." I say.

Samantha

"Calm down just a minute," a voice said, interrupting my calls for help. I felt relieved and continued hopping to where I heard footsteps. "My name is Samantha... I injured my foot when I tripped... It hurts badly." I call out into the darkness. Samantha could now make out a figure in the darkness. "I can't help if you're shouting and flailing around like that." A low voice said. It was a boy. "Oh I'm sorry... Its just the blackout... I didn't know if anyone would find me." I said, hopping over to the boy. I needed some crutches... I couldn't just hop around until my leg got better.

Allen nodded slightly before, recalling that she probably couldn't see him, let out a little humming noise to say that, yes, he was listening. She seemed younger than him which wasn't all that surprising- he was in the older group of students, after all, in a school that even included eleven-year-olds. As she hopped closer- and, really, why was she still hopping? It wasn't like he was going to leave- he realized that she was shorter than him as well. Again, quelle surprise, he was taller than most people anyways.

"Oh I'm sorry... Its just the blackout... I didn't know if anyone would find me."

"Well, it's not like you're surrounded by rooms full of people," He said, the sarcasm slipping out as it tended to do when he was irritated, and this entire situation? It was beyond irritating. Lights out, panic on, doors probably locked. "Here, stop for a minute." He finally made the few steps towards her and took her by the arm to balance Samantha, acting as a human crutch. It was really more for his benefit than hers- if he was going to find out what was going on, find other people, or, better yet, find a way out, he couldn't very well do it as he waited for a girl hopping wobbly behind him.

"Hold onto me. We can find some other people and a place to look at your foot," He instructed bluntly, steadying her and helping her move towards the obvious group of people forming not far away.

Samantha
"Well, it's not like you're surrounded by rooms full of people," The boy said. I sensed his irritation. "Here, stop for a minute." he said and I did, Standing still next to the wall, leaning for support. I felt hands grab me, they felt rough, ones of a young man. He helped balance me and I used him as a sort of crutch, a support. "Hold onto me. We can find some other people and a place to look at your foot," he said. I nodded, although it probably didn't make a difference since he probably couldn't see me so I just said a quiet approval. We started to walk down the hall, towards voices.

It was admittedly slow going, carting the younger girl around like a human crutch. His normally long stride was basically cut in half as he helped her hobble along, towards the voices. Allen had never been happier that the teenagers at this school were such chatterboxes- they never stopped talking the entire time he was making his way over to the growing group. There was a pair of cellphones as well which beaconed to him like a lighthouse, making the path clear. Even the girl from his class's soft attempt at an enthusiastic, "We’re over here" helped just a little bit.

As they got closer to the group, he could begin to make out people. There was that girl, of course, then another teenage girl, a boy probably a little younger than them, and two children( who were, in all likelihood, the ones who'd started the screaming). He wasn't quite sure what to say- a common problem for the socially awkward teen- as he stopped, still supporting the younger girl.

"She's hurt her foot," He said, more to the girl from his class, the only really familiar face, than to anyone else, nodding towards the girl he was supporting. "Is there some sort of plan?" It was by all means far from a friendly, 'How's everyone?' or even a sensible 'Is everyone all right?', but he didn't have the patience for shenanigans and small talk today. Well, he had even less patience than normal, and that was saying something.

Nicole: i then turned back to the boy on the floor... "are you ready to accept a helping hand this time?" i ask holding my hand out, "i get it...youre trying to act tuff...but doing that..is only going to make things hard and youre goignm to get paranoid....trust me...if youre scared be scared....if youre happy be happy...it youre brave..be brave...dont pretend to be something youre not..."

Danny: i was still hiccuping, but i gently let go of the girl still clutching to her shirt but no longer hugging her...my eyes where open but i was staring at my feet, "thank you..." i whisper quietly. i then notice a group of kids is forming..

Elise Fleane
I frowned when I saw Allen propping up the girl with his body. My brow furrowed and my lips dipped down in slight pout of concern. Was the girl injured? What if she had a broken leg or, even worse, was disabled? What if she needed a wheel chair? What if everyone else really WERE robots and this girl was short circuiting, or something? Or something, I told myself as I took a few deep breaths. I tended to have panic attacks and I hated myself for it. Usually I could control myself before anyone noticed, but sometimes I would actually start speaking allowed and, in bad cases, start screaming. My frown deepened when I realized my pills were still in my purse which was back in the classroom.

Allen’s voice brought me out of my thoughts when he told me the girl was injured and asked for a plan. I was glad for it since it brought my mind back around to the bigger problem; the Blackout, as I had deemed it in my head. I looked back at Allen, trying to look like I knew what I was doing. “Someone will have to care for her and if the injury is serious she should be taken to the hos- infirmary. I’m sure there are some bandages there.” I had almost said hospital before realizing that, one the injury probably wasn’t worthy of serious medical attention (Unless she had a broken bone) and two, the school was under lock down. Hoping everyone would ignore my slip up I continued with the “plan” that was more of Cara’s plan with me adding words.

“So far I think we’ve agreed to round all the students up. And I guess we have to stay overnight so we’ll need food and rooms. And the showers, if there are any, should still work, even without electricity.” I started to falter and finished with a lame, “So yeah.” I really wasn’t sure of the plan but it would all work out in the end, right?

Calliber Fleane
Now standing up the little girl seemed small and short. She turned to me and offered a hand which I supposed was figurative since I was already on my feet. “Are you ready to accept a helping hand this time?” She asked me. “I get it; your trying to act tough…” At that time my anger engulfed me and my hearing stopped for a moment. Who was she to tell me how I was trying to act? She was not me. She did not know me. She was not an aquatint, much less a friend. I did not need her little hand to help me up, figuratively or not. I much preferred my little shell, I lied to myself.
However she was still a little girl, even though I figured she probably didn’t want my pity. I remembered when I was younger, getting annoyed when an adult spoke to me as if I was a child. Okay, I was but still. Even so I forced a weak smile on my face. It probably turned out as more of a grimace, but whatever. “I’m fine.” I forced myself to speak “Thanks for the offer, though.” I walked casually away, closer to the group, as if nothing had ever happened.

Nicole:

i just shook my head as the boy walked away from me...he may not be ready to accept help...but i can tell hes nice....when he wants to be...i walked over to Danny and wraped him in a hug my chin on his head...to tell you the truth....im actuly scared all the time....but...Danny freaks out enough when it comes to everything, so i need to stay strong..for him...

Danny: i was surprised when i felt arm whap around me, but i relaxed knowing it was Nicole....i was surprised she was hugging me...of course she can be nice, but most of the time...she gets mad at me for being so scared of things....i wish i could be more like her...so that im not alwaise scared, so that i can keep a clear mind when is tough situations...where realy young..in this group...i think..i just want to stick by Nicole....and Cara...she was realy nice to me..

"Then what are we waiting for?" Asked Allen, biting back his own irritation. Plans were all well and good, but all he could see were children huddled together in the middle of the hall, half-heartedly coming up with ideas and standing around. So, really, as much as he hated taking a stab at authority(he was only sixty percent sure they'd listen to him since he was so far down on the popularity totem pole; really, he was just lucky that the group was small as it was), they weren't going to get anything done otherwise. The power may have only gone out a short while ago, but they really had no idea when the power would come back. It could be moments(and, if that was the case, Allen was going home early because he was just done with today. Just done) or it could be hours, or... Days. He pushed the idea out of his mind and hoped that it wouldn't come to that.

"Why don't we go to the auditorium or gym? They're probably big enough. Someone can go tell the classrooms and I can take a look at her foot," He continued. It wasn't a half-bad idea in his own mind. Just enough to prompt other to do something and just enough for him to carefully duck out of the leadership role. He had planned to take a look at the girl's foot anyways, so it was the perfect excuse.

"The auditorium's bigger, so that would be the best," Allen trailed off, fighting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose and stave off the coming stress-induced headache. Here he was making decisions again. Ugh, what he wouldn't give to just not be here, to blend back into the background like a chameleon.

Apparently it was time for introductions now, which was, in retrospect, probably a good thing. If they had to take care of things and be, however reluctantly, the people who got everyone at least in one place, "hey, you" or "them" wasn't going to cut it. That is, of course, until he realized he was talking to. Oh, yes, that headache was most definitely coming. He didn't know Elise, per say, but he knew of her. Lots of friends, disgustingly upbeat... What was there for a person like him, so further down on the totem pole, to like? He hadn't heard of her brother(step-brother, he mentally corrected with some amusement at the insistence) but that was probably by the younger boy's own accord.

"I'm Allen Carraway," he introduced, adjusting his grip on the girl with the hurt foot. Then, realizing that Elise was actually waiting for him to say something continued. "Why doesn't everyone go round up the other classes? I'll take her to the auditorium." He nodded towards the girl using him as a human crutch.

Cara

I smiled as the young boy, danny, pressed himself into my side. I patted his head and kept whispering to him that everything would be okay. "I was on my way back to class when the lights came off... I didn't see anybody else..." the girl said. I heard a voice, distant, calling out to see if anyone was here. I watched as Nicole basically insulted the new girl. "Stop Nicole.. Your being rude." I hushed her and I saw Elise's flushed face. "I'm sorry she made you feel this way." I whispered to the girl. I felt obligated to apologize. “We should round up everyone and get them to a room with a large cappacity. The cafetiria sounds good. Or the autotorium. If we’re gonna stay the night we need supplies and food. And if the gym has some showers we can use those too.” the girl said. I nodded in agreement. "I agree with Elise..." I said. “We’re over here.” Elise said to the voice in the hall.. It was probably meant to be a shout but it was soft... I looked at the boy glaring, wasn't he Elise's brother. I wanted to say something but I just stood there silently.

I watched as a boy and a girl hobbled over to us slowly. As they got closer I noticed the young girl was injured. "She's hurt her foot," the boy said. "Is there some sort of plan?" he asked. I nodded. “Someone will have to care for her and if the injury is serious she should be taken to the hos- infirmary. I’m sure there are some bandages there.” Elise said. “So far I think we’ve agreed to round all the students up. And I guess we have to stay overnight so we’ll need food and rooms. And the showers, if there are any, should still work, even without electricity.” Elise continued to explain... She was calm and sounded sure, a much better leader than Cara. "Then what are we waiting for?" the boy asked, clearly annoyed. I frowned. He needed to chill out. "Why don't we go to the auditorium or gym? They're probably big enough. Someone can go tell the classrooms and I can take a look at her foot," the boy said. "That sounds good." I commented. “It’ll be perfectly fine. I’d say the auditorium is good. Or the gym, whichever’s bigger. I can help round up the students.” Elise said. I watched as Elise introduced herself. "I'm Cara..." I said. She introduced her step brother then as Cal. "The auditorium's bigger, so that would be the best," the boy with the rude attitude said. He continued and said his name. Allen. "Why doesn't everyone go round up the other classes? I'll take her to the auditorium." Allen said. "That sounds good... We'll meet up later." I said.

“I’ll go get the rest of our class! I forgot my pil- um, purse in there anyway.” Elise said, slipping... I looked at her but didn't question anything. “I can take the hallway that our classroom is in and someone definitely needs to take the elementary and middle school division.” Elise continued. "I heard people wandering the halls so I'll go find them alone.." I said, looking down the hall. “I’ll meet you guys in the auditorium.” Elise continued and I watched her go. "Hey what are you guys gonna do?" I asked the rest of the group.

Samantha
The boy was nice to me... I was sure he'd much rather find help and get out rather than helping me around so I valued his care a lot. We hobbled through the hall, me clutching him as a human crutch. We slowly walked towards a group of voices, cellphone lights helping guide us to them. It took a minute or two though for us to get to them. "She's hurt her foot," I watched the boy tell one of the girls more than the rest of the group.. "Is there some sort of plan?" he asked and I looked at everybody expectantly. “Someone will have to care for her and if the injury is serious she should be taken to the hos- infirmary. I’m sure there are some bandages there.” The girl replied. “So far I think we’ve agreed to round all the students up. And I guess we have to stay overnight so we’ll need food and rooms. And the showers, if there are any, should still work, even without electricity.” the girl said... She sounded sure. "That sounds good." I winced, feeling the pain and nodded. "Then what are we waiting for?" the boy said. "Relax." I whispered. "We just got here and were still figuring things out." I sighed.

"Why don't we go to the auditorium or gym? They're probably big enough. Someone can go tell the classrooms and I can take a look at her foot," he said. "That sounds okay." I smiled through the pain. “It’ll be perfectly fine. I’d say the auditorium is good. Or the gym, whichever’s bigger. I can help round up the students.” the girl said. "That sounds good." I said. “We could all meet up after we do our jobs. I’m Elise Fleane. I suppose we should learn each other’s name.” the girl introduced herself. "I'm Samantha." I whispered. I saw her explain who her step brother was. Cal... "The auditorium's bigger, so that would be the best," my helper suggested. "I'm Allen Carraway," he continued. Allen... That was a nice name. He explained that Allen and I would go to the auditorium. "Why don't we go to the infirmary?" I asked him.

He blinked at the girl he was holding up- no, her name was Samantha, not "the girl" anymore. Of course he was being a bit blunt, or rude, however you wanted to see it, and he really shouldn't inflict that on these people considering half of them were scared out of their wits. At least, he realized ruefully, he acted the same under pressure as he did in normal situations. Which, really, was mixed news since that particular personality trait wasn't actually sought out as a good thing.

Still, he wouldn't apologize. The sooner they got everything in order, the sooner people would start being rational again, and the sooner they could come up with a plan to get the- pardon his biblical reference- Hell out of here. He was about to continue on when the go- no, no, Samantha- asked, "Why don't we go to the infirmary?"

Allen hadn't thought about that before, too engrossed with the situation to even fathom going to the nurse's office. He paused, thinking it over. On the upside, the infirmary did have medical supplies. However, it was also manned by a robotic nurse who kept everything locked and sealed away from the students unless needed. It would take time to break open the storage and more muscle than the lanky teen or hurt girl could manage.

"Everything's locked up there and it'll take time and effort to get what we need," He summarized after his moment of thought. "Besides, I only really need to look at it right now. When we get to the auditorium, I won't have to move you anymore so we can just sit down and take a look, all right?" He really hoped she wouldn't argue, really he did. That would just be more taxing for all of them.