An Angel From My Nightmare, chapter 1
It was a fine, spring day in America. Hardly any clouds in the sky, and the noises of the traffic far below the hotel seemed distant and could hardly be heard.
'These are the days worth living...' thought April. A light, warm breeze flowed through her blonde hair, before falling back into place.
She picked herself up off the plastic chair and walked inside from the balcony. As she just finished pulling on her shoes, all the lights and electricity went out. This was followed by a tremendous 'BOOM!' that seemed to reach every part of New York City.
"What the he-" but before she could finish she was cut off by another 'BOOM!' that seemed a lot closer than the last. April's heart started to race. 'What's happening?' she thought desperately. She chucked a few essentials into her shoulder bag and flew out the door and into the dark hallway. She scrambled down the stairs and into the lobby. It seemed that all the hotel's residents had flocked here as everyone was standing around, making phone calls, crying and hugging each other. April needed to know what had happened so she asked a woman standing nearby.
"Excuse me, can you please tell me what's happened?" said April, as politely as possible.
"Oh dear! Its horrible, more terror attacks I'm afraid. They say that more have died than any other attack." she said before starting to cry.
April stood in shock. More terror attacks? She ran to the lobby door and threw it open, causing people to glance in her direction. As she stepped out into the now dust polluted sky, she could see the damage. Several large skyscrapers had fallen, debris was everywhere. The smell of flesh burning met April's nostrils. Police were running about trying to get things sorted.
Without warning, a bus parked a little way down the street exploded. The force of the explosion knocked April off her feet. Bits of bus and glass flew through the air dangerously. She could barely feel a few shards pierce her skin. 'How many had died?' she thought sadly. Over the next block, another explosion, then another. Anything was likely to be a bomb. By now, the city of NY was nothing but rubble, death and screams for help. April ran down the street, nobody stopped her. She had nowhere to go so she bolted to the nearest building, which was a recording studio.
She pulled on the doors with all the strength she had, but it wouldn't budge. A car parked less than 20 meters away exploded unrepentantly. April fell to her knees in pain as she cradled her left arm. A large piece of glass was protruding dangerously out.
"Oh my god!" yelled someone not to far away.
"Mike! Hurry, just bring her in!" screamed another man.
The man named Mike picked up April in his strong arms and carried her to the side of the building and down into a 'bomb shelter'. He placed April, now in tears of pain, onto a couch.
"Let me have a look at that." said Mike kindly. April opened her eyes for the first time. Her breath was caught in her throat when she realized that Mike Dirnt was by her side. April didn't want to ruin anything so she pretended like she didn't recognize Mike. She gingerly lifted her left arm. Mike examined it for a moment.
"Ok, Billie, we need a first aid kit and some water," said Mike.
Non other than Billie Joe Armstrong ran from his position on the couch to fetch what Mike had ordered.
"Hey, I'm Mike." said Mike.
"Ap-April." she said with a little difficulty.
"Right." said Mike, taking the first aid kit from Billie.
Mike could have been a doctor. He gently as possible removed the shard of glass and wrapped her arm up well. He also cleaned April's other cuts.
"Alright. You should be in working condition!" said Mike happily.
"It's more than I can say for thousands of other people out there." said April sadly.
"I know, T-" Mike said but was cut off by a sob from Billie. His face was pale and he held his head in his hands.
"Bill, we'll find Tre. I'm sure he's just fine!" said Mike, putting a hand on Billie's shoulder comfortingly.
"Tre's missing?!" said April desperately.
Both Billie and Mike turned to look at her. She mentally kicked herself for blowing her 'cover'.
"You never.. Never said you were a fan.." said Billie.
"I just didn't want you to chuck me back out there." said April, looking at the ground.
"Hey, we would never do that." said Mike, April smiled shyly.
"I think you should get some rest April, you look like shit." said Billie smiling.
It was true, she did look like shit. She was covered in dust and her clothes were torn here or there. She felt exhausted all over her aching body.
"May I?" she asked politely.
"Yeah, there are beds in the next room." said Mike.
"Thank you! Oh, I hope that Tre turns up soon.." she said before walking into the next room and collapsing on a spare double bed.
"God, this place has everything.." she though. She closed her eyes and drifted off into a sleep filled with dreams of her idols.
When April woke several hours later, the only noise to be heard was Mike's snores to her left. She got up and felt her way to the door. As she waddled out to the lounge room of the shelter she saw Billie sitting on the couch. He was staring into space, his eyes glassy not to mention he looked like a mess.
"Billie?" said April uncertainly. He didn't make any sign that he had heard her. She moved over to him. He didn't move an inch.
"Billie?" she said again, this time giving him a slight shake. Billie slowly turned his head to April. He was crying. Seeing his tears fall down his pale cheeks killed April inside.
April leaned in and hugged Billie tightly. He just sat there, letting his tears fall down.
When April let go, she sat beside Billie. He just sat on the couch, lost in thought.
"I never got to say goodbye." said Billie. April was shocked that he had even spoken. She turned to face him as he continued.
"We were arguing..then the bombs hit, and we were cut off.. I never got to say goodbye.." said Billie, lowering his head into his hands.
"Billie, Tre will be fine." said April, knowing this was probably not true.
"No! He wont be! He's like my brother, and I'm sick of sitting around not knowing! I'm going- to find Tre." said Billie. He jumped up and started to collect his things.
"Billie! No. Listen!" she screamed, grabbing hold of Billie as he pulled on his jacket. Tears were in her eyes.
"I've been out there. Its not pretty. Please, don't go!" April pleaded. Billie seemed to be tossing the two options in his mind.
"I have to go." he said simply.
He started back around the shelter, then writing a note to Mike, explaining his whereabouts.
April decided that her only choice was to go with Billie. She pulled on her jacket and grabbed her bag. Billie finished his note and started to the door, April in tow.
"April-No." said Billie, turning to her.
"Billie- Yes. I want to find Tre too." said April seriously.
Billie searched her eyes for a moment. He pulled open the door and held it open for April.
Outside was a massacre. A war zone. As Billie and April stepped onto what was the road, they received first hand the real impact of the terror attacks, 2007. Around them, buildings were left in ruins, nothing was left. A strong smell of decaying and burning flesh hung about the entire city. Up in the sky was dust and smoke. It was only afternoon in NY, but it could have been evening. Small fires burned in the distance.
"We have to find Tre." said Billie, lighting his torch.
"How? We don't know where he was before the attack!" said April.
"I do. He said he was in front of our hotel. He must be there, he wouldn't have had time to run.." said Billie, walking down the street with April.
After walking through the war zone for about half an hour, seeing things that most people would never see in horror movies, they came to the ruins of the hotel. The hotel was now the size of a house, slowly falling into nothing. Not to far away a couple of people got up off the ground and hugged each other, happy that they were ok.
"There's still hope." said April. Together, Billie and April moved forward amongst boulders of buildings and rubble.
"Tre? Tre!" called Billie. Both Billie and April called out while moving amongst the debris.
"Its no fucking use! Tre's gone." said Billie, crying into his hands. They had been searching for over 2 hours with no sign of Tre. April joined in with the crying, knowing that Tre was probably gone- forever.
As he lay on his back trapped under what looked like a desk, Tre prayed. He has never been a religious man, but it was his only hope. His arm was broken under a huge rock and he couldn't move an inch. So he prayed to the being in the sky. He closed his eyes and hoped that someone, an angel, could help him.
Suddenly a voice broke his thoughts.
"Tre?" it called. He started to cry. He didn't recognize the voice, but they knew him.
"Tre!" it called again.
"He-" but he found that his voice was barely a whisper.
"Its no fucking use! Tre's gone." came Billie's voice.
"Bill." called Tre. It was hopeless. They would never hear him.
"Lets spilt up, we'll cover more ground that way," said the girl. They spilt up, Billie one way, the girl another.
Tre was pretty sure the girl was coming his way.
"Tre?" she called out. She came closer still. She stopped less than a meter from him.
'Now or never' he thought. He used his good arm to tap on the desk above him.
"Here. I'm here!" he called out as loud as he could.
"Oh my god!" said the girl as she dropped to her knees and lifted the desk off Tre.
Both Tre and April were crying.
'My angel..' thought Tre.
"BILLIE!" screamed April. "Don't worry Tre, I'm here.".
Tre closed his eyes as he heard Billie come running not a moment later.
The rest of the day seemed to pass by in a blur. Tre was taken to the packed hospital for a check-up and plaster on his arm, while Billie went and got Mike. April stayed with Tre. When Tre came out, he found April by herself.
"Hey" said April.
"Hey. Look, I just -" started Tre, who had been doing some thinking about April and how she had saved him.
"Tre, its ok." said April looking up at him.
"What's your name?" Tre said curiously.
"April" she said, giving him a faint smile.
Tre sat down beside April. He sighed as he thought about what had happened that day in front of the hotel.
*Earlier that day*
"Billie, I didn't!" yelled Tre into his phone.
"Sure."
"Fuck you! Why cant you ever trust me?!" yelled Tre.
"Fuck you too arsehole, you back stabber!" screamed Billie.
"Billie, I-" He never got to finish. The hotel behind him exploded into a million pieces and the conversation was cut short.
"Tre? Tre!" screamed Billie.
After several more bombs had been dropped onto the city of NY, everything turned to chaos.
"Tre?" said April softly.
"Yeah?" he said slowly, still caught up in his own thoughts.
"I'm glad that you're ok." she said kindly.
"And I have you to thank. I... I thought I was going to die in there." said Tre sadly.
April hugged Tre tightly as if to never let go.
"Thank you." whispered Tre. April felt herself starting to cry.
"Don't cry.." said Tre as they parted.
"TRE!" shouted Mike as he ran towards him. Tre jumped up and hugged his best friend. They didn't part for some time. Mike was also crying. While Mike and Tre were talking, Billie went and sat next to April.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
"Uh-huh. Just need some time to think.." she said, brushing her hair out of her face.
"I think we all do. We're going to head back to the shelter now. Are you going to come?" asked Billie kindly.
"Am I allowed to?"
"I think Tre would really want you to come back.." said Billie smiling.
"Why?" April asked.
"He said that he doesn't know how he can ever repay you for saving him." said Billie, looking at his hands.
April was silent for a moment. "Ok, I'll come back."
"Good. Let's go." he said, pulling April to her feet.
The walk back to the shelter was pretty quiet. Everyone was just taking in the full extent of the damage. By now, security, police, ambulances and fire fighters were swarming the city, trying to restore peace.
Once inside, everyone sat on the couch.
"So April, how old are you? We never got to ask you yesterday.." said Mike.
"How old do I look?" she asked sarcastically.
"I'd say 19" said Billie.
"I'd go 22" said Tre,
"Hmmmmmmmmmm." said Mike, eyeing April closely.
"Well?" she said.
"Well, I'm 36... So I'm guessing you'd be about.. 26." he said finally.
"No way!" shouted Tre. "She doesn't look that old!"
"But Mike's right. I'm 26" said April smiling.
"Well you look a lot younger." said Billie while April laughed.
"So what brings you to NY?" asked Mike.
"Ahhh, I just needed some time away." said April, trying to imply that she didn't want to talk about it.
You see, life at home wasn't the best of times for April.. I guess you could say, it started with her twin brother...
'These are the days worth living...' thought April. A light, warm breeze flowed through her blonde hair, before falling back into place.
She picked herself up off the plastic chair and walked inside from the balcony. As she just finished pulling on her shoes, all the lights and electricity went out. This was followed by a tremendous 'BOOM!' that seemed to reach every part of New York City.
"What the he-" but before she could finish she was cut off by another 'BOOM!' that seemed a lot closer than the last. April's heart started to race. 'What's happening?' she thought desperately. She chucked a few essentials into her shoulder bag and flew out the door and into the dark hallway. She scrambled down the stairs and into the lobby. It seemed that all the hotel's residents had flocked here as everyone was standing around, making phone calls, crying and hugging each other. April needed to know what had happened so she asked a woman standing nearby.
"Excuse me, can you please tell me what's happened?" said April, as politely as possible.
"Oh dear! Its horrible, more terror attacks I'm afraid. They say that more have died than any other attack." she said before starting to cry.
April stood in shock. More terror attacks? She ran to the lobby door and threw it open, causing people to glance in her direction. As she stepped out into the now dust polluted sky, she could see the damage. Several large skyscrapers had fallen, debris was everywhere. The smell of flesh burning met April's nostrils. Police were running about trying to get things sorted.
Without warning, a bus parked a little way down the street exploded. The force of the explosion knocked April off her feet. Bits of bus and glass flew through the air dangerously. She could barely feel a few shards pierce her skin. 'How many had died?' she thought sadly. Over the next block, another explosion, then another. Anything was likely to be a bomb. By now, the city of NY was nothing but rubble, death and screams for help. April ran down the street, nobody stopped her. She had nowhere to go so she bolted to the nearest building, which was a recording studio.
She pulled on the doors with all the strength she had, but it wouldn't budge. A car parked less than 20 meters away exploded unrepentantly. April fell to her knees in pain as she cradled her left arm. A large piece of glass was protruding dangerously out.
"Oh my god!" yelled someone not to far away.
"Mike! Hurry, just bring her in!" screamed another man.
The man named Mike picked up April in his strong arms and carried her to the side of the building and down into a 'bomb shelter'. He placed April, now in tears of pain, onto a couch.
"Let me have a look at that." said Mike kindly. April opened her eyes for the first time. Her breath was caught in her throat when she realized that Mike Dirnt was by her side. April didn't want to ruin anything so she pretended like she didn't recognize Mike. She gingerly lifted her left arm. Mike examined it for a moment.
"Ok, Billie, we need a first aid kit and some water," said Mike.
Non other than Billie Joe Armstrong ran from his position on the couch to fetch what Mike had ordered.
"Hey, I'm Mike." said Mike.
"Ap-April." she said with a little difficulty.
"Right." said Mike, taking the first aid kit from Billie.
Mike could have been a doctor. He gently as possible removed the shard of glass and wrapped her arm up well. He also cleaned April's other cuts.
"Alright. You should be in working condition!" said Mike happily.
"It's more than I can say for thousands of other people out there." said April sadly.
"I know, T-" Mike said but was cut off by a sob from Billie. His face was pale and he held his head in his hands.
"Bill, we'll find Tre. I'm sure he's just fine!" said Mike, putting a hand on Billie's shoulder comfortingly.
"Tre's missing?!" said April desperately.
Both Billie and Mike turned to look at her. She mentally kicked herself for blowing her 'cover'.
"You never.. Never said you were a fan.." said Billie.
"I just didn't want you to chuck me back out there." said April, looking at the ground.
"Hey, we would never do that." said Mike, April smiled shyly.
"I think you should get some rest April, you look like shit." said Billie smiling.
It was true, she did look like shit. She was covered in dust and her clothes were torn here or there. She felt exhausted all over her aching body.
"May I?" she asked politely.
"Yeah, there are beds in the next room." said Mike.
"Thank you! Oh, I hope that Tre turns up soon.." she said before walking into the next room and collapsing on a spare double bed.
"God, this place has everything.." she though. She closed her eyes and drifted off into a sleep filled with dreams of her idols.
When April woke several hours later, the only noise to be heard was Mike's snores to her left. She got up and felt her way to the door. As she waddled out to the lounge room of the shelter she saw Billie sitting on the couch. He was staring into space, his eyes glassy not to mention he looked like a mess.
"Billie?" said April uncertainly. He didn't make any sign that he had heard her. She moved over to him. He didn't move an inch.
"Billie?" she said again, this time giving him a slight shake. Billie slowly turned his head to April. He was crying. Seeing his tears fall down his pale cheeks killed April inside.
April leaned in and hugged Billie tightly. He just sat there, letting his tears fall down.
When April let go, she sat beside Billie. He just sat on the couch, lost in thought.
"I never got to say goodbye." said Billie. April was shocked that he had even spoken. She turned to face him as he continued.
"We were arguing..then the bombs hit, and we were cut off.. I never got to say goodbye.." said Billie, lowering his head into his hands.
"Billie, Tre will be fine." said April, knowing this was probably not true.
"No! He wont be! He's like my brother, and I'm sick of sitting around not knowing! I'm going- to find Tre." said Billie. He jumped up and started to collect his things.
"Billie! No. Listen!" she screamed, grabbing hold of Billie as he pulled on his jacket. Tears were in her eyes.
"I've been out there. Its not pretty. Please, don't go!" April pleaded. Billie seemed to be tossing the two options in his mind.
"I have to go." he said simply.
He started back around the shelter, then writing a note to Mike, explaining his whereabouts.
April decided that her only choice was to go with Billie. She pulled on her jacket and grabbed her bag. Billie finished his note and started to the door, April in tow.
"April-No." said Billie, turning to her.
"Billie- Yes. I want to find Tre too." said April seriously.
Billie searched her eyes for a moment. He pulled open the door and held it open for April.
Outside was a massacre. A war zone. As Billie and April stepped onto what was the road, they received first hand the real impact of the terror attacks, 2007. Around them, buildings were left in ruins, nothing was left. A strong smell of decaying and burning flesh hung about the entire city. Up in the sky was dust and smoke. It was only afternoon in NY, but it could have been evening. Small fires burned in the distance.
"We have to find Tre." said Billie, lighting his torch.
"How? We don't know where he was before the attack!" said April.
"I do. He said he was in front of our hotel. He must be there, he wouldn't have had time to run.." said Billie, walking down the street with April.
After walking through the war zone for about half an hour, seeing things that most people would never see in horror movies, they came to the ruins of the hotel. The hotel was now the size of a house, slowly falling into nothing. Not to far away a couple of people got up off the ground and hugged each other, happy that they were ok.
"There's still hope." said April. Together, Billie and April moved forward amongst boulders of buildings and rubble.
"Tre? Tre!" called Billie. Both Billie and April called out while moving amongst the debris.
"Its no fucking use! Tre's gone." said Billie, crying into his hands. They had been searching for over 2 hours with no sign of Tre. April joined in with the crying, knowing that Tre was probably gone- forever.
As he lay on his back trapped under what looked like a desk, Tre prayed. He has never been a religious man, but it was his only hope. His arm was broken under a huge rock and he couldn't move an inch. So he prayed to the being in the sky. He closed his eyes and hoped that someone, an angel, could help him.
Suddenly a voice broke his thoughts.
"Tre?" it called. He started to cry. He didn't recognize the voice, but they knew him.
"Tre!" it called again.
"He-" but he found that his voice was barely a whisper.
"Its no fucking use! Tre's gone." came Billie's voice.
"Bill." called Tre. It was hopeless. They would never hear him.
"Lets spilt up, we'll cover more ground that way," said the girl. They spilt up, Billie one way, the girl another.
Tre was pretty sure the girl was coming his way.
"Tre?" she called out. She came closer still. She stopped less than a meter from him.
'Now or never' he thought. He used his good arm to tap on the desk above him.
"Here. I'm here!" he called out as loud as he could.
"Oh my god!" said the girl as she dropped to her knees and lifted the desk off Tre.
Both Tre and April were crying.
'My angel..' thought Tre.
"BILLIE!" screamed April. "Don't worry Tre, I'm here.".
Tre closed his eyes as he heard Billie come running not a moment later.
The rest of the day seemed to pass by in a blur. Tre was taken to the packed hospital for a check-up and plaster on his arm, while Billie went and got Mike. April stayed with Tre. When Tre came out, he found April by herself.
"Hey" said April.
"Hey. Look, I just -" started Tre, who had been doing some thinking about April and how she had saved him.
"Tre, its ok." said April looking up at him.
"What's your name?" Tre said curiously.
"April" she said, giving him a faint smile.
Tre sat down beside April. He sighed as he thought about what had happened that day in front of the hotel.
*Earlier that day*
"Billie, I didn't!" yelled Tre into his phone.
"Sure."
"Fuck you! Why cant you ever trust me?!" yelled Tre.
"Fuck you too arsehole, you back stabber!" screamed Billie.
"Billie, I-" He never got to finish. The hotel behind him exploded into a million pieces and the conversation was cut short.
"Tre? Tre!" screamed Billie.
After several more bombs had been dropped onto the city of NY, everything turned to chaos.
"Tre?" said April softly.
"Yeah?" he said slowly, still caught up in his own thoughts.
"I'm glad that you're ok." she said kindly.
"And I have you to thank. I... I thought I was going to die in there." said Tre sadly.
April hugged Tre tightly as if to never let go.
"Thank you." whispered Tre. April felt herself starting to cry.
"Don't cry.." said Tre as they parted.
"TRE!" shouted Mike as he ran towards him. Tre jumped up and hugged his best friend. They didn't part for some time. Mike was also crying. While Mike and Tre were talking, Billie went and sat next to April.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
"Uh-huh. Just need some time to think.." she said, brushing her hair out of her face.
"I think we all do. We're going to head back to the shelter now. Are you going to come?" asked Billie kindly.
"Am I allowed to?"
"I think Tre would really want you to come back.." said Billie smiling.
"Why?" April asked.
"He said that he doesn't know how he can ever repay you for saving him." said Billie, looking at his hands.
April was silent for a moment. "Ok, I'll come back."
"Good. Let's go." he said, pulling April to her feet.
The walk back to the shelter was pretty quiet. Everyone was just taking in the full extent of the damage. By now, security, police, ambulances and fire fighters were swarming the city, trying to restore peace.
Once inside, everyone sat on the couch.
"So April, how old are you? We never got to ask you yesterday.." said Mike.
"How old do I look?" she asked sarcastically.
"I'd say 19" said Billie.
"I'd go 22" said Tre,
"Hmmmmmmmmmm." said Mike, eyeing April closely.
"Well?" she said.
"Well, I'm 36... So I'm guessing you'd be about.. 26." he said finally.
"No way!" shouted Tre. "She doesn't look that old!"
"But Mike's right. I'm 26" said April smiling.
"Well you look a lot younger." said Billie while April laughed.
"So what brings you to NY?" asked Mike.
"Ahhh, I just needed some time away." said April, trying to imply that she didn't want to talk about it.
You see, life at home wasn't the best of times for April.. I guess you could say, it started with her twin brother...
