Rebuilding the Future with Paul and Cairo

"We've been walking for three hours," Paul said. He had a voice that always emphasized his words as if he was trying to tell you something important.

"Three hours is nothing," Cairo replied, "My grandparents have walked ten miles everyday since they were teenagers."

Cairo had a Puerto Rican accent, and ceirtainly it seemed like he'd be the laidback one. He was wearing a t-shirt with a picture of The Joker on it, and he'd been holding up his arms for half the walk, as if he was about to do an elaborate dance routine.

"I'm not sure how far we are from my house but I think we should probably ask someone soon. My parents could be in danger."

"Okay, that's cool, but I don't really feel comfortable asking people we don't know where we're going."

"It's just some directions! They won't hurt us!"

"What makes you so sure?" Cairo said, raising his hands again. "You never know, man. You see that lady over there? She knows karate or something."

Cairo pointed at a lady who was walking her dog. Her hair looked like she had just gotten out of bed, and she was wearing sunglasses even though it wasn't sunny out.

"I mean...maybe you're right..." Paul said, looking at the ground and fidgeting with his backpack straps. He tried to change the subject. "Do you think we'll find some internet somewhere? I need to check Reddit."

They walked for another two minutes in silence until a small crowd started forming in front of them. It seemed like everyone else was paying attention to what was happening in front of them.

"What's going on up there?" Cairo asked Paul.

Paul didn't hear him, though; he was too focused on getting past all the people who were blocking their way forward. Finally they got through the last few people and saw why they had all stopped walking: A woman was standing on top of a car holding a gun by her side and yelling into the air while tears streamed down her face.

"...This is my story! This is my life! This is my world! What am I supposed to do now? Where can I go? And what about the children? My son, my husband...everyone I know is dead! What will happen to me?! Please somebody answer me!"

No one spoke or moved for what felt like an eternity before an older woman stepped out from the crowd and whispered something into her ear before walking away again. The woman with the gun stared at her for a moment until she began sobbing hysterically again. Everyone seemed to shift uncomfortably before slowly starting to move around her again and continue walking towards wherever they were going. Soon only Paul, Cairo, and the still-crying woman remained in that place together when suddenly she dropped her weapon on the ground and fell back onto her knees crying uncontrollably into her hands while shaking violently with every breath she took in between each sob.

Cairo turned his head towards Paul's direction with questioning eyes when suddenly everything went dark; The sky disappeared with the ground beneath them along with Paul's backpack and Cairo's shirt -- leaving them floating alone in space surrounded by stars that shone of every color imaginable...and then everything went black again -- only this time it felt more normal when everything returned back as it was before they blacked out: The crying woman still on top of that car with everyone watching silently while holding their breaths awaiting what would happen next -- except this time Paul noticed something different: A bright light glowing from behind his eyes as his body began floating upwards until it disappeared completely into nothingness -- leaving behind a naked body lying face up on top of that car covered in sweat with a shocked look frozen forever on its face...and then everything faded out again -- only this time a familiar voice could be heard screaming far away saying "Please somebody answer me!" which slowly grew louder until finally everything appeared normally once more but this time instead of being surrounded by stars both he and Cairo were standing inside someone's house: Their clothes were laying neatly folded on top of each other next to their shoes underneath stairs leading up to what looked like a second floor -- while they themselves were standing in front of only another person who stood facing away from them wearing pyjamas staring at something through the window facing outside at the street below before turning around and saying: "Oh...hello..."