Charlie could usually be found against the back wall in his bunk. The military style base that they have all been forced to call home for the last 6 years has bunk beds lining the 4 huge walls. 20 sets along each, full of underage children who are all similar to Hannah and Emily. Each child comes with their own sad story, their own fights, and their own cries for help. Charlie is one of the oldest here. Over the years he has unwillingly taken on a sort of “leader” role and is usually the first port of call for anyone looking for help or comfort.

Hannah sees he is standing in a circle with some of the other teenagers. As she approaches, she can hear the conversation and the bustling around as others are scrambling for answers as to why they have been awakened at such an ungodly hour.

“….and we need to just stay calm.” Charlie has already begun the ‘there’s no point in panicking yet’ spiel, when they all know there is always a reason to panic.

Hannah jumps in. “Does anyone know anything yet?”. Charlie looks to her. He is kind of thankful for the interruption because even he doesn’t believe what he’s saying. “Not that we know of Hannah, no. The only thing we know is that the doors are still locked. I think we need to prepare for…”. Before he could finish his sentence, the lights shut off. Sounds of worried screams, cries and the alarm, which is still bellowing, fill the large prison like room. Hannah panics. She tries to shout for Emily, attempting to feel her way through the dark. The fear, tension and chaos that has now filled the large, echo-y space is growing and growing. Hannah is struggling, she can sense herself failing and needs to take a moment. She feels for the wall, crouches down, closes her eyes and ears, and screams the kind of scream that you have only heard in horror films. In the Old Society, this would have been an unbearable sight. A cause for concern. But here, in Site C, it’s a very normal occurrence.

Just as tears begin to roll down her cheek… *FLASH*.

The lights come on.

The alarm has stopped.

She is rocking back and forth, unable yet to open her eyes and uncover her ears. If there was a picture in the dictionary of what ‘petrified’ looks like, it would simply show Hannah in this moment in time.

A wave of silence crashes down on everyone. Hannah, breathing heavily, slowly opens her eyes. For a moment, she has blurred vision due to the tears that have filled the well of her inferior eyelid.

She blinks.

She uncovers her ears and begins to stand up, moving slowly using a sloth like technique. She finds her bearings and suddenly, fear strikes her. She begins to run, rapidly. Not like a sloth at all now. Far from it. She reaches hers and Emily’s bunks and with what feels like a stab to her heart is the realisation that Emily is gone.

“Please, no.”