I awake as the sunlight pierces through the makeshift curtains and shines onto my face. The sun warms up the left side of me, and the sand grains make their way into my ears and nose as I frantically toss my head to get the sun out of my eyes. It didn’t help. I sit up; looking around trying to get my bearings. The cloth is still covering the holes in the tank. The opening at the top of the tank is exposed, this worries me but to my left still lies Sammy, which meant we were okay.

As I walk over to the opening, I feel a sharp jolt pierce the ball of my foot. I must of stepped on a nail was my first impression, but once I looked I realised it was one of Sammy’s Lego bricks. He never picks them up, ever. Like debris. I then clamber to the top with a soft throbbing sensation coming from the ball of my foot. I search for any signs of movement. All I can hear is the noise from the birds which is normal for this time in the morning. I decide to sit; my bum resting on the hatch with my feet swinging as the daylight shines on the back of my neck. I ponder to myself thinking this tank must have been here well before we moved in, it was covered in rust, well the side we could see. The other was submerged in the sand riddled with holes. The sun was surprisingly comforting.

I miss my life before. Life without responsibility. Life where I wasn’t responsible for someone else. I miss my life.

We all woke up the same. With only the ability to clutch at distant memories, but they were all hazy and you can only remember certain things. You can see a person but never a face, we could only remember a building but never where it was, we could remember a conversation but only certain parts. I hear rustling and footsteps as the sand grains scraped against the metal under someone’s feet. I jump down quickly looking around. It was Sammy, he was looking through the bags.

“Have we got any more apples?”

“No, but we’ve got an orange.”

The look on Sammy’s face told me he wasn’t impressed with my choice. I laugh as I throw him an apple from the bag of fruits. I ask him if he is okay and he nods as he takes a huge wet crunch. I Lay down again, I can’t  sleep. I cant let Sammy be by himself. I take an apple out of the bag and sit up. Sammy had a look of bewildered amusement as if I had done the most bizarre thing in the world. “What?” I ask.

“Usually you would go to sleep. What’s wrong?” I could see him worrying, but I wouldn’t want him to.

“Nothing I’m just not tired.”

He frowns and looks down at his apple.

“Can I go to the hatch?”

No valid reason as to why he couldn’t go came to mind, so I nodded, and he climbed up like a little monkey. Once he reached the top, he put his bum on the edge of the opening and pulled himself out. He sat how I had sat this morning, legs swinging sitting on the edge of the opening. I Tell Sammy to get back in. He doesn’t reply. This time I shout

“SAMMY GET IN!”

Again no answer. I climb to the hatch to see where he is. There he is. Trying to shout but his mouth is duct taped and his hands and legs tied.

He is trying to wriggle free from two figures in all black with tops that read M.O.C.D . One guy is waiting in the driver seat of a truck ushering them to hurry. I jump off the tank immediately sprinting towards them. As I run over, I begin to feel as though everything is slowing down, even me. As I get close I can see their grip loosening on Sammy. The individual holding Sammy’s feet can’t let go fast enough. This means I am able to land a solid punch to his jaw. He falls straight to the floor. I spin around feeling sluggish. The other one has already dropped Sammy and is halfway through the process of kicking me. His boot is going to hit me but where is most important? It is headed directly for my stomach. So I continue to spin and allow the boot to hit me in the hip. It hurt a lot. I begin to swing my fist towards it, but I was grabbed from behind and my arms held back. Another slow but equally painful boot lands in my abdomen.