Dance Moms - Lorelei (2) Finding Clara

Chapter 12 : Intruders

Rain began to fall, so the idea of heading for the library was abandoned. Instead Chloe took blankets and pillows from the fire department and placed around the filing room. It was the only room without a window, and could withstand a tornado.

Chloe made a bed at the corner, lighted a flashlight and told Clara children's stories. She put on a strong face and kept her smile, speaking softly until Clara fell asleep. But Chloe couldn't sleep, her mind kept thinking how to bring Clara the unfortunate news.

The rain was falling so hard she could hear it through the walls, along with blazing thunder and powerful wind, so strong she could hear debris knocking on the exterior wall.

Something else struck out loud, banging at a regular pace, not by nature. Clara jumped from her sleep, but not before Chloe covered her mouth, signaling her to be quiet.

"You stay here. I'm going to take a look."

"Don't leave me!" the little girl grabbed onto her shirt.

"I won't. I promise."

"But that's what Mommy said!"

Chloe's heart crushed again, the girl sees her as part of her family now.

"I will only be out for a moment. You stay here and protect Stark. Don't go out at all cost. Promise me that and I promise to be back as soon as I'm done. Okay?"

"I promise." little Clara bit her lip and nodded.

Chloe placed the stuffed bunny to Clara's heart, guided her arms around it.

"I love you." she kissed Clara and got up.

Chloe put on her hiking boots, picked up the axe she kept nearby, instructed Clara to turn off the flashlight and not to make a sound, before exiting through the door.

She went pass the front lobby, beyond the broken window parked two pickup trucks, their trunks filled with all kinds of bags and containers.

There were bad men breaking things... She remembered what Clara told her. They have probably been robbing all over town.

"Trap them. Break the tires!" her reflection indicated the long axe in her hands.

"Not yet. We want them to leave, not stay."

The banging came from the other wing, beyond the dispatch center where she stopped searching after finding the radios. She quietly stepped into a corridor that bent right, behind the corner she saw four shadows.

Two men were carrying flashlights, one had a hunting rifle over his shoulder, they were providing light source for their buddies. She recognized them from the gas station, trying to break open the ATM machine.

The other two were hammering against an iron gate that marked "ARMORY", beating the lock with all their strength.

"We should leave!" the reflection said.

"And to where? It's too risky to go outside now."

"Go to the fire department!"

"They'll find us, with all the guns in the world!"

"They already have all the guns they need!"

Ignoring the warning, Chloe stepped into the corridor, now directly behind them.

"You should leave." she addressed her presence, gripping the axe in both hands.

"Stupid!" her reflection cursed behind her.

Her words startled them, the one closest to her brought the rifle around, but the long barrel turned awkwardly in the narrow corridor, Chloe knocked it out of his hand with her axe, stepping on it like claiming her own belonging, her swift movement brought them to attention.