Neo-Uranium: A Short Story

It’s funny how some things can be so full of life one day, then become bleak and lifeless the next. This is what had become of New York City. What once was a global powerhouse, with over fifteen million citizens, had turned into a desolate expanse that hardly any human dared to enter. It was almost two years ago that the ITE Nuclear Power Plant mysteriously melted to the ground, which had injured thousands and caused the entire city to evacuate. There were hundreds of New York citizens who disappeared the day it melted. My brother, Evan, was one of them. He was working at the plant as a nuclear physicist, studying the effects of Neo-Uranium. ITE was known for its groundbreaking research in the use of Neo-Uranium as opposed to traditional Uranium. Neo-Uranium is a lab-made form of Uranium that produces less radiation, thus making it safer for human use. Although it is considered to be less toxic, those who come into close or direct contact with it can become severely deformed and mentally unstable. The longer the exposure, the …show more content…
It echoes around me throughout the barren city. I can’t identify was the sound is, but it seemed to have come from a building to my left, an old bakery that is surrounded by broken glass. My heart speeds up, and every atom in my body is telling me to run, but a part of me just has to know if there is any chance that Evan is alive. Before I can listen to the smarter part of my conscience, I move towards the bakery’s door. I thank my lucky stars that I am wearing combat boots, otherwise the glass would ruin my shoes for sure. I try to be as silent as possible, but the door opens with a loud creak. I risk a peek inside, and notice that the room is completely empty. Large cobwebs stretch across the lengths of the room, and I try to maneuver through them without irritating any possibly-deformed