Chapter 200
- Evan -
I couldn't feel my face anymore. The blood pressure in my head rose well above my brain, which should have exploded by now, and I am sure of that.
I was so close to her, my lips on her cheek. She wasn't passed out, and I was giving her air to breathe before our watery death or in a state of the Abyss, where she wouldn't remember anything.
The farther we walked, the more examples we found.
One family refused because they thought the power would be back by morning.
Another insisted the governor would solve everything; we just needed to remain calm and patient.
Others refused to abandon their homes because they had already survived this long, so it should be fine.
Micah huffed.
"If I didn't know any better, I would say the governor planned this. He just wants to ensure that his banks remain secure. Money over people's lives."
Baby had her hand on her chin.
"If no heirs are found under state 'intestacy' laws, which allow the state government to take ownership of the assets."
Becky caught on.
So, you think that if he can't fill his wallet with their earnings while they are alive, he will fill it with their money after they are gone?
"I can't say for certain," Baby replied. "But based on this man's greed, I wouldn't put it past him."
"Fear has become denial," Duke added. "That denial became paralysis for them."
Elisa stepped forward.
"Let's go ahead and head to my adopted family. It is only my mom and dad left, but we need to get them out of here."
Micah asked Elisa.
"Are you sure they will cooperate? Most of this city is hopeless."
She nodded her head. "My family may be within the wealthy group, but they are not as ignorant, and over time, they even help me when they found out I was helping others. They are a diamond amongst the dirt."
Elisa hurried, leading us down the quiet residential street.
It fit the rest of District Five's perfect persona. The trimmer hedges large homes with stone walkways. But this street was quiet, as if the disaster had never happened here.
Elisa stopped in front of a two-story house that still had every light on.
For a second, she just stood there, staring, thinking about something.
She took a deep breath, then knocked.
A woman with silver hair opened the door, then froze.
"Elisa?"
The next second, she was wrapped in her daughter's arms. The woman hugged her so hard I thought she might never let go.
"Mom, I can't breathe."
"Oh, sorry, dear."
A tall man appeared from behind her.
His eyes widened.
"Elisa? Your home."
"Dad."
He pulled her in for a big, quick hug, then let go, looking back at us.
After everything we'd seen lately, it felt strange in a surreal moment that almost felt unusual.
Something good for once.
The man's gaze stopped on our faces, confused.
Then surprise.
"Is that Jakeh?"
Jakeh stepped forward.
"You know me?"
The man nodded. You were only a few years old when we met your family and adopted your sister, so I understand if you don't recognize us."
"I can't believe it is really you."
The woman covered her mouth.
My goodness, how time has passed.
Mary shifted the newborn higher against her chest.
The toddler hid partly behind his mother's leg.
The couple lost it looking back at Elisa.
"Wait," her voice softened.
"This is your family, Elisa. I mean this—if Jakeh—oh my, I can't get my words together."
Jakeh smiled.
This is my Mary, my son, and my newborn daughter. She's almost a week old.
For a brief moment, the street became quiet.
"Oh, where are my manners? Come inside. Get warm; I will get tea."
"Mom, we can't stay long; they are starting evacuations in City District 6."
"You have been gone for a week, Elisa. Well, leaving is going to be hard. We can talk more in here."
She walked us to the kitchen. Dozens of people occupied every available room.
Children slept on couches.
Elderly citizens rested beneath blankets.
Several injured civilians occupy a dining room that has been turned into a temporary medical station.
Becky immediately moved toward them.
Instinct. As she always did.
The older woman noticed.
"You kids have been helping people?"
Josh laughed.
"Unfortunately."
Becky elbowed his gut.
Once in the kitchen, she went to work making the tea.
"Mom, you know you will have to evacuate soon as well. I can't lose you and Dad. Aside from my Jakeh and his family, you're all we have left."
CRASH.
A teacup fell to the ground.
"Oh, my lord, my hands are shaky. I am so sorry. Elisa, you mean your birth parents are no longer living?"
Jakeh helped her pick up the pieces.
"They passed away a few years ago, right after my wife and I got married. They gave us the house, which is how Elisa was able to find us, but now it is all long gone underwater with the other cities."
"My condolences." The older lady nodded.
Frank was leading in the kitchen with Elisa's dad.
"Honey, look who I found."
"Frank, I haven't seen you in almost 5 years since you and Elisa stopped talking."
Elisa put her arm around Frank's neck.
"He has been traveling with us and helping others. So don't worry, we made up! It also helps that he has seen the light!"
"Speaking of light, look outside," Frank said, pointing out the window. "I saw it when I did a check of the area before coming in."
Arthur grabbed his walkie.
"Team 8, Team 8, come in?"
Radio silence.
"Team 9, what happened to Team 8 on the west side of City District 5!?"
"We suffered casualties and injuries with Team 8."
"Why did you not report this?
"We are still looking for the official cause, which is still under investigation. A massive power spike likely overloaded nearby commercial generators, causing structural damage, as well as damage to anyone nearby."
"I see I need updates, no matter how small or unsure you all are."
Some other radio feeds reported it.
Arthur put one of the blueprints on the island.
"What are you thinking?" asked Duke.
He started marking areas 1 by 1.
"You're seeing a pattern?" I asked.
Reports of fires, emergency systems shutting down or short-circuiting, and generators failing came from all across the city, one after another.
"No."
Arthur whispered under his breath.
That was the first time I saw genuine emotion from Arthur since this whole thing started.
Arthur walked to the door and grabbed his coat.
The skies grew more and more orange.
"We need to move. Now!"
The room erupted into questions.
Family # 1 "What happened?"
Family # 2 "What is going on?"
"The winds are carrying embers from the areas that have been hit. It is only a matter of time; it will come here soon."
That was only half the truth he was telling us.
Arthur wasn't the kind of man who panicked over a few drifting embers.
Something else is bothering him.
I quietly leaned into Arthur to have our own sidebar.
"You've seen a pattern, didn't you? This isn't just about fires. How bad is this, and how close are we talking?"
"There are gas lines that run under this very house and another large generation not far off at one of the 3 mega-estates. If we don't get everyone out and to city 6 regardless..."
His jaw tightened.
I added to his words, hesitant.
"Death by fire or death by water awaits us."
Arthur nodded.