War of Peace

Chapter Twenty

Gianna

I watch Camden driving carefully through the forest. I wish he could go faster. I just want to see Hayley. I know it can't be helped though. We'd crash into trees if he went any faster.

"Ballards Farm Road should be right around here," Silas directs in the front seats.

"I think I see it," Camden reports cheerfully.

I have a pit in my stomach. I can't help but think of the worst scenarios. The car is barely intact and I'd be surprised if it survives driving over the curb.

"What was Dylan doing with this government owned van?" Silas suddenly asks after we land on the road with a thump.

"I dunno but it could save us," Alex says after a moment's reflection.

"How?" Kyle asks, he looks a lot better than before.

"Well if you think about it, someone working for the government wouldn't stop to think twice about who we are because it's a government owned van and the windows are tinted," Alex replies smoothly.

I continuously tap my thumb against the car seat. I'm so nervous and can't this car drive any faster?

"You okay Gianna?" Simon, who's sitting next to me, asks.

I wipe my forehead and I realize it's dripping with sweat.

"Yea, just nervous about Hayley," I say, trying to smile.

Simon returns the hesitant smile and I look away. He knows there's nothing he could say to help.

The rest of the drive is silent until we reach the Welcome to Shaewick sign and Silas sighs in relief.

"We made it!" Alex hollers energetically.

"You from Shaewick Camden?" Simon asks.

"No. I'm from Greenville. It's a few miles west of Shaewick," Camden replies, keeping his eyes focused on the road.

Once we reach the city, I start directing Camden where to go. My house is on the opposite side of town. This isn't the Shaewick I remember though. Windows from buildings are shattered, doors broken off, stores and restaurants deserted. The few cars that remain are left untouched in the parking lots. There's trash everywhere and I don't see a person in sight. Usually the streets and sidewalks are bustling with cars and people, bikes and motorcycles. I don't see a single soul.

My stomach does a full three-sixty whenever I think about Hayley. I shouldn't have left her there. How was I that stupid?

"Ana was right about this place," Silas says, staring at the abandoned buildings.

If there were some tumbleweeds flying around with a light breeze, it would have earned its title as a ghost town.

"This is useless. We've seen the state of this place, Gianna, I'm sorry but I don't think your sister is going to be home," Alex says, almost trying to sound apologetic.

"We're not turning around now that we're almost here!" I yell, gritting my teeth.

Alex pisses me off. Why does it matter to him so much?

We zoom past a neighborhood and Alex looks as if he's about to cry. I direct Camden to my house until we're pulling into the driveway.

The door to the house is wide open and I can see furniture that was thrown around indiscriminately. One of the windows is shattered and there's paper and trash across the front lawn.

"They were here too," I whisper, trying to hold back tears, but they come falling anyway.

"It's ok," Kyle empathizes, "We'll search the whole house."