Children's Games: A Story of Modern Punishment

Chapter 20 - Emilia

~Emilia~

It was another nightshift with Bonnie, silently contemplating Jonny's words. The night air was cool like it always was, but she had started to look forward to Bonnie's hot tea that would keep her warm until dawn. It was around midnight so there were easily six more hours to their shift, but Emilia didn't mind. It was the first night where the sky was covered in clouds and she couldn't see the stars, only a soft glow where the moon would be. It made the night lighter and warmer than usual.

"Emilia, what's your favourite thing about this place so far?"

Bonnie's stupid question cut through the empty air, disrupting the peace. Emilia dropped her head back and looked to the sky to try and think of an answer so they could go back to their silence. A soaring sound rose from behind them

"Is it the food, or the-"

"Bonnie shut up!" she whispered harshly, grabbing Bonnie's shoulder and pulling her down to duck. She instinctively covered Bonnie's head, her heart skipping a beat as the sound grew louder.

Something flew over them and Emilia looked up to see a plane with the speed and sound of a jet, a crimson red streak on its belly and with minimal lights. Both women watched in horror as it headed for the International Airport.

Without a word, they both snapped into action to report the unauthorised aircraft. Emilia hardly took a breath as they swung down the ladder and slid down the side of the slanted building in order to find the quickest route to the bottom. Bonnie was calling for backup through her walkie-talkie as they ran the two blocks back to the Home building. Bonnie had gone through every emergency protocol and Emilia had made a great effort to memorise all of them, practising in her head like a prayer.

By the time they crossed the street and were outside the large green building, someone had already radioed back to them confirming that the aircraft was headed for the airport. They were likely following up on the plane that had invaded their return two weeks ago... so more red hats. Emilia's hands clenched into fists then relaxed, reminding herself to remain calm as chaos brewed.

Bonnie pushed open the door to a side entrance of the building, which allowed Emilia through to push open the second set of properly blacked-out doors. Then they were inside the foyer. Everyone was running around, but there was a calm energy in which they moved, their bodies interweaving around each other like choreography as they bounced off different stations to initiate the defensive and offensive protocols. Emilia gulped, not having gone over those ones yet.

Straight away the people started separating into two distinct groups as they ran in and out of the area. Civilians were ordered downstairs into the basements to prepare to evacuate to the bank vaults if needed. They were mostly children holding teddies and elderly people in dressing gowns. Everyone else, still mostly in their sleeping clothes, pushed trolleys of weapons to the centre, circling around the old fake Christmas tree.

Commander Gabriel Laurent entered the foyer barking orders, organising different groups to go to different places. His orders were short and distinct, loud without getting mumbled, and serious behind no measure as he sent a search party out to check the upper floors to make sure no one had been left behind.

"Safety is our number one priority! Volunteers only! Keep it moving people! Go! Go! Go!" he yelled as two groups departed from the foyer.

She looked around for Jonny and quickly found him trailing close behind Gabriel, grabbing weapons trolleys and outlining his attack protocols. He was identical to the commander, demanding attention and respect with the coldness of his stare. "Yes, sir!" was the crowd's reply. She looked back to find Bonnie, her kind face wrought in worry as she ran alongside Kari as they pushed a cart of explosives. Emilia remained off to the side, her feet unable to move, not knowing what she was supposed to do as Gabriel called out through the foyer, echoing and booming like a drum.