The Journal of Memories

We have began to dig through the rubble. Most of it was burned or crashed but you can still make out some lab equipment, paperwork, computers, and desks. Surprisingly, we haven’t found any bodies or remains yet.

You would think there would be at least one person here. They must of evacuated or something, but why would they leave all their paperwork behind?

I picked up some books that had their corners burned and beaten up. I threw back down only to pick up a whole bunch of ash that was on the ground. I coughed, trying to get it out of my lungs.

This place is huge. If my dad left he would have taken the book with him. It was like his third arm.

Luna yelled out to me, “Have you for anything yet?!”

“No! Not yet! I don’t think it is going to be here though... no one is here. Nothing showing that humans were ever here.”

Luna threw a book at me, “You are not quitting on me. Keep searching!”

I laughed easily dodging it, “I am just saying it is weird that we haven’t found evidence of anyone. They probably all left. After all, my dad did know about the bombs before this happened.”

“Well good for him... that doesn’t mean we don’t keep searching.”

Okay I will keep looking then.

Luna picked up a book, showing it to me, “Is this it?”

I shook my head and she sighed digging through more rubble. I picked up a piece of cement and got almost scared to death as a rat ran out from under it. Macy barked and chased after it. Then, she caught it, killed it, and began eating it.

“Gross!”

Luna started laughing, “Your face was priceless! How are you that scared of a little rat?!”

I put my hands on my hips and shook my head, “Aren’t you supposed to be looking? Like I am doing.”

She went back to looking but I could still see her holding in a laugh.

And she says I am the mean one.

I let out a breath looking through some burnt wood that left black dirt all over my hands.

I could totally used another shower after this.

I noticed when we left the gas that we had dried blood and dirt all over us from the mob attack. Luna hair was messy but she managed to straighten it out a little. We did really have time to stop somewhere for a shower so this is what we are stuck with. Now the ash and soot from the building was getting all our us. My skin felt like I had another layer on it.

I don’t even know where this journal could be. The only thing I know about it is that it might have something to help these people.

Luna yelled out again, “Ben! Come over here! I think I found something.”

I left the spot were I was at and walked next to her, “What did you find?”

She pulled out a see through box that had papers inside, “I found this under a desk and I thought there might be something useful in it.”

I looked down at it, “Yeah, it looks like it should have something useful in it.”

My head started hurting, and I felt my body drop to the ground.

Not this again...

I heard the world begin to fade out my vision becoming blurry. I felt Luna sit down next to me, pulling into her. My eyes closed.

I was in my dad’s lab, spinning on the stools. One of his colleagues, I can’t remember his name, spotted me from across the room. He pushed up his glasses and moved some of his brown hair away from his eyes. He walked up to me with a warm smile, “Hey Ben! It’s been awhile since you have visited.”

I nodded, “Yeah I have been busy with school and helping around the house. My dad asked me if I wanted to get lunch, so I am waiting for him. I couldn’t find his office.”

He smiled again, “Oh... his office actually moved down to the first floor since he is working on an investigation right now. I can show you.”

I hopped off the stool, “Yeah that would be great.”

I followed him into the elevators. We both kept up small talk like ‘how school was?’ and ‘what he was working on’.

The elevator opened on the first floor and he pointed down the hall, “His office is right there with the door open.”

I smiled, “Thanks, umm... I am sorry I forgot your name.”

He laughed, “Don’t worry about it... I am Dr. Cory. We have only met each other once or twice.”

I nodded, “Well see you around, Dr. Cory.”

He nodded too, “See you.”

My eyes shot open.

Dr. Cory was working with my dad!

Luna saw my panic and tried to soothe me, “What’s wrong? What did you see?”

I wiped some blood off my face, “Dr. Cory... he was working with my dad in this building... He even knew me.”

She shook her head, “If he was working with your dad why was he so crazy and wanting to kill us.”

I shrugged, “I don’t know... let’s try that box you found. Maybe there is something in there.”

She pulled the box over to us, “It’s locked.”

I looked around grabbing a piece of metal, “Here... this might help open it.”

She jammed the metal in and popped it open. We both began pulling out the papers. Her eyes widened, “These papers are covered in random letters and numbers like what we found on the tablet.”

“Do you think they are the same?”

She shrugged, “Probably we can check it. Let’s look through the other stuff first though.”

She removed another stack of papers, “Hold on there is a book here.”

She pulled out a small, worn out book with a black cover.

Shock.

My dad’s journal.