[u]Two years ago…[/u]

“I don't wanna to do this anymore.” Tia grumbled as slumped lower into her chair and pushed the textbook she was reading away from her. “We've been working on this textbook for days now and it's boring. I hate it.”

“It will come to great use one day Tia.” A woman in her early forties said as she grabbed the chair next to Tia's desk and sat down. “I know learning some of this can be bothersome and trust me, I know. Just a little secret between you and me, I've fallen asleep in a few of your parent's lectures before the war but nonetheless, this information is important and you need to learn it.”

“But why Annie? Kimber said that her momma and dad said that the we are all going to die and then that's it. They said that there isn't going to be a future and the world won't be rebuilt and that the world is nothing but a hellhole that...”

“TIA MAE PHILLIPS! Watch your mouth! What would your parents think if they heard you cuss like that?” Annie exclaimed, cutting the girl off before she could continued. “Don't let anyone make you lose hope. Humanity has been hit hard but we are not eradicated. Your parents and I might not be alive when that time comes but when they do they will need help when it comes to rebuilding society and we are giving you and all the kids here that knowledge. You are the hope for the future.” 

[u]Present…[/u]

“Little giiirl, where are youuu? Don't think you can hide foreeever.” The man said in a singsongy voice as he walked in the direction Tia was hiding in as he dragged the metal bat he was carrying so that it scrapped the tile beneath him with a loud grinding sound. “Little giiirl, why don't you come on out and I promise I won't hurt you too much.” 

Wedged beneath the display table of what appeared to be a clothing store at the edge of the city before the war Tia could only see the man's boots and knee length pants as they slowly made their way towards her. She could feel her heart pounding but at that moment there was no opportunity to make a run for it and fighting wasn't an option. All she could do was stay as quite as she could and wait.

“Come on, I've asked nicely. I promise that you don't want to upset me kiddo.” The man took a few more steps and stopped as he looked around the room. 

Gripping the baton tightly, Tia watched the man carefully. He was close enough now that he was within range of using her weapon but that also meant that she was in danger of being clobbered by the bat. She had to time things just right if she were to escape. A loud crash was heard which caused Tia to jump but she made sure to stay put.

“Fine, if you won't come out I'll just have to swing my bat around until I scare you out or hit your pretty face.” The man said as he swung a second time, this time in the opposite direction from Tia and knocked down a clothing rack.

With the man facing away from her, the man's calves exposed, Tia rammed her baton into them and sent an electric charge out. Although it wasn't enough to knock the man out, it was enough to send the man tumbling down and taking this opportunity, Tia took another swing towards the man's head and ran out of the store. She hoped that she knocked the man out and not just dazed him but she didn't want to waste any time seeing the result of her swing and get as far away from the man as she could. 

Rushing out the door, she ran into something hard as her eyes struggled to adjust to the daylight but feeling a hard grip Tia knew she was in trouble.

“Going somewhere missy?” A man asked.

Clawing and twisting away, Tia tried to get out of the man's grasp but she wasn't strong enough. Yelping in pain as the man twisted her baton out of her hand, Tia listened as it fell to the ground. Her only hope of fight the man off was now out of reach. She was screwed.