The Ascent

Chapter 7

After hours spent searching through the different news outlets and videos on the Internet, Jasmine and Isaac didn't find more than what they already knew. There were a few videos with animals behaving rather oddly and then nothing. One of the live feeds from the city square did show some strange shadows, but everything was very vague, so it didn't get them any further in their quest to determine what was going on.

Suddenly, as Jasmine was loading what felt like a promising page, the Internet stopped working. No matter how many times they tried reloading, nothing happened. They were left to ponder what had occurred.

"When you checked the shelters, are you sure you didn't see anything unusual?" Jasmine asked as they gave up the futile quest of restoring the Internet.

"Besides the lack of people or animals, no. I don't think so," Isaac said, carefully studying her with his big blue eyes sensing that she wasn't telling him everything. "Why? What did you see?"

For a second, Jasmine contemplated if she was supposed to burden the child with things she didn't even understand. Furthermore, she didn't want to admit to the things that could have served to confirm his theory.

"Right after I realized that something was off, these bald men were coming my way," Jasmine said, carefully choosing which information to share. "But something felt off about them. So, I ran away. Then I saw them again, just walking around as if they owned the place. I hid again, but they were the only people I saw walking about. It makes me wonder if they somehow caused all this."

"You mean like terrorists or something?" Isaac asked, clearly more familiar with the world's brutalities than any regular ten-year-old was.

"Something like that," Jasmine said, unsure, while the strange image of the creature behind the mask crept through her mind.

"I don't know. It feels like they would have just killed everyone, not vanished them," Isaac said thoughtfully. "Whatever happened, I think we shouldn't stay here. We shouldn't stay in one place for too long."

"I was actually thinking about going back home to gather some supplies," Jasmine said now that she had time to think things through.

"That's the dumbest idea ever. That's how they always get them in the movies," Isaac said, fear creeping into his, until that moment, calm voice.

"Maybe. But maybe they will think it's a stupid idea for me to go back, and they won't be looking for me there," Jasmine said, smiling proudly.

"Like a double bluff type of thing?" Isaac asked, his eyes lighting up at the idea.

"Exactly," Jasmine said, smiling at Isaac for catching on quickly. "How did you get so smart?"

"I watch a lot of TV dramas," Isaac said, eliciting another smile from Jasmine.

It was nice to be able to even smile with their fates so dire. For her, finding another person felt like a miracle that she planned to cherish no matter what else happened.

"Bring as much food and water as you can. We might have to change our plans as we go depending on what happens," Jasmine said as she gathered some more supplies in her rucksack.

Isaac went to his apartment while Jasmine stood guard in the hallway. Soon he returned with his backpack filled with food, water, clothing, and a few sentimental items. Just in case he never got to go back to his apartment.

Giving his home one last look, Isaac followed Jasmine down the stairway, slowly navigating it, checking every corner, jumping at the quietest sound.

This time around, Jasmine had a plan that, in theory, would make things safer for them. But there was still an element of danger present, and she felt horrible that she was dragging a little kid with her. Still, she thought like some of the things she had at home could go a long way to keep them safe or, at least, help out a bit.

The route they took veered around houses and a few trees, and there were a lot of cars to hide behind. And, whenever they were in a clearing, they ran as fast as they could to reach another safe place.

As they were resting from one of the longest dashes they did, Isaac sat down on the ground to rest, and Jasmine peered around on all sides to check for danger. Then it occurred to her that she forgot to ask what she planned to ask so they could try and establish what was different about them.

"Isaac..." Jasmine said, breathing heavily. "What were you doing when your fam...at the time all this happened?"

Isaac raised his head, a fresh amount of pain in his teary eyes.

"I had an argument with my parents," Isaac said, swallowing a lump in his throat. "They were angry because I broke a vase, so they yelled at me. They didn't even let me explain. So, I ran away to my room to listen to some rock music to calm down."

"What would you have told them if they had allowed you to explain?" Jasmine asked, knowing well how much she wished that someone had asked her that question, that someone had inquired about what she thought.

"You know, you are the first adult to ask me that. They usually just tell me that I should listen to my parents," Isaac said, surprised. "I would have told them that sometimes I can't stop myself from playing too hard but that I am trying to be careful. It just usually doesn't work."

"I guess that's the most we can do, children or adults, just try our best," Jasmine said understandingly.

"Exactly, you get it!" Isaac said, thrilled that someone was listening to what he had to say, even if it was just a stranger in a world that seemed to have been swept away by a silent apocalypse. "My parents never listen. I always try to be what they want me to be, to do the things that make them happy, but I can't. They don't make me happy."

Seeing so much pain in such a small child made her wonder if some people should wait to become parents until they were more mature. Until they were ready to put someone else's well-being, wishes, and dreams before their own.

"I can understand what you mean," Jasmine said, uncertain what else she should say.

"Thanks," Isaac said.

"For what?" Jasmine asked, perplexed.

"For listening," Isaac said, his tone full of appreciation and respect, unlike when they first met when he was far angrier.

Jasmine nodded her head, and after scanning the surroundings, they were off running. If Jasmine's plan was to work, they needed to get there before dark, so speed was of the essence.

"Alright, when we get there, I'll help you climb on top of the roof so that you can be my lookout," Jasmine said, trying to think of every potential problem.

"How would I let you know if something goes wrong?" Isaac asked, already down for the mission entrusted to him.

"Do you have a cellphone?" Jasmine asked.

"I have a smartphone. Who is still using cell phones?" Isaac said.

"Me," Jasmine responded immediately. "Anyway, I'll put my number in your phone, so if you see something unusual, just ring me up, and even if you can't speak, I'll know something is off."

"Or I can text you, and the loud ringing of a phone won't give you away," Isaac said as they continued to run.

"Yes, that might be even better. Although I was planning to put my phone on vibrate anyway," Jasmine said as her eyes caught sight of the unique blue and red colors of her building.

"We are almost there," Jasmine said as they stopped behind the large garbage can near the building. "Give me your phone."

As she quickly typed in her number, Jasmine prayed he wouldn't need it. She hoped they would get everything they needed and get lost in the nearby forest before the bald man saw them.

They came upon her building from a different side, and Jasmine helped Isaac climb on top of the roof she had been hiding on without making any noise. However, when she pulled out her keys to open the building's front door, she realized how loud the rattling of her different keychain decorations was.

Trying to keep them from making too much noise, Jasmine unlocked the doors and started climbing slowly, only one thing on her mind.

Stealth.