Finding Hope In A World That Has Little

1: The Fall Of The City

Sirens were the only thing that could be heard blaring through the few blocks that separated the other houses and Lorelei's 3rd floor apartment. Smoke was pummeling the sky like it was angry, raging and desperate to fill it up. Cars were swerving on the streets where people ran away from a building ready to collapse from the fire. Thankfully, Lorelei wasn't in the crossfire happening down below. Her curtains were closed where the windows faced the mayhem below.

Instead, she was too busy comforting the wailing infant by holding her to Lorelei's skin. She couldn't be sure what was going on outside the safety of her apartment, but her priority was on calming down her 7-month-old daughter. She walked around the living room while gently rocking the bundle of terror. In her bedroom across the quaint kitchen there was a 5-year-old boy playing with blocks and a 10-year-old girl watching Peppa Pig. The tv was loud, at least loud enough to not question whatever was going on.

The bedroom door was open so that they could be watched, but she wanted to keep the two there for a reason. "Shhh... It's okay. It's okay dear." escaped her soft lips as goosebumps rattled her skin. Everything would be okay. The city was panicking, but it should calm down soon. That was what she told herself.

She didn't even want to think about leaving until she was sure it was safe outside. And it didn't seem like it would be anytime soon. Something was going on for sure. She just wanted it to end so she could go about her day normally. But, would it ever be after today?

Her phone exploded with missed calls as if the connection froze and suddenly returned, ringing out in a jingle bells sort of musical tone. The baby was almost inconsolable in her mother's arms. The noises and ringtone continuing to freak the poor thing out. She adjusted her and grabbed the phone off the coffee table to see who it was. Crap. The kids.

She quickly swiped the green icon on the call and held it to her ear, trying to keep her voice down, "John, are you coming to get them?" She didn't want to scare the kids anymore than they might be by hearing her panic.

"I can't. Everything's shut down over here, the street's flooded with people." The man on the other end was naturally gravelly in tone. She tucked her dark hair behind her ears and walked further into the apartment, away from the bedroom. Responding concernedly, "Can't you-" She breathed heavily and stopped herself, "Nevermind. It's not safe to try coming over here with everything going on. Stay where you are."

The situation was stressful because she was meant to give the kids to John for the weekend, it was a part of their deal. She took them for a week, and he had them for the next week to make it fair. She didn't know what to do with all three of them here in the midst of disaster. It would be better if he could get here and not be alone in the upper part of Topeka, Kansas. It was silent for a few solid moments before she heard his voice again, "You'll be okay, right? It didn't get hit as bad up there?"

Lorelei bit her lip. He couldn't see all the fires going on downtown, the screaming and car crashes, the sirens. She hoped he wouldn't worry too much and would stay put. She wanted to tell him how afraid she was because he wasn't here. She spoke with a thick voice, remembering to keep rocking the little one.

She had a thickness of emotion fill her throat, "It's okay, I'm trying to keep Emily and Chris occupied so I have the T.V. on. I'm not sure how much longer it will be on though..." She noticed the noise from outside quieted down a bit. But why?
"Something's happening. It's crazy- People are chasing-" He cut out twice, worry in her eyes now, "What's going on down there?" There was no answer from him, just static. Her heart thumped hard against her chest. "John?!?!"

She rubbed circles around her infant's back as she slept. Partly to soothe her own anxieties that were through the roof at this very moment. There was still only static on her end, and she wondered what he was possibly trying to tell her. Something important, for sure. It had to be.