They arrived into the city of Alba two days later. Even though it stood only 30km away from the frontline, the city was overcrowded with people who had come from everywhere. Many were begging on the floor.
After driving through the crowds for ages, the bus stopped at a petrol station. David ran out to use a public phone and found a long queue. He was hoping he would be able to reach his father. He did have a mobile, but it had been useless ever since the phone towers had been targeted. It was his turn in the queue. He dialled the number and hoped it would connect. He heard a clicking noise at the end of the line.
"General Finch speaking, who's this?"
"Dad, it's me," gulped David.
"Son, is everyone ok? I heard you got moved."
"No, where are you, we got moved to Alba, Noa is getting worse because of the journey!!"
"I'm sorry David, I was put on code red, the enemy have redoubled their efforts, if we win this battle, we win the war."
It was silent for a moment before Finch spoke again. "Look, I'll try and come as soon as this is over, but something has just come up, goodbye son."
The receiver went silent. David angrily put the phone down, and went back to the bus. He saw Scarlett glance at him as he sat back down in the bus. She had a slim face, and strands of her blonde hair gathered at the edges of her scarf. Her skin was darker then his, more of a permanent tan. Hard times had moulded it into a worried look, which looked very pretty with her...
"Aarg! Stop it David, she's from the enemy, don't forget!"
Soon after, the buses left for their final destination, Alba General Hospital
***
When they arrived everyone waited in the bus while their hospital chief entered the building.
David saw him return soon after, hot and dishevelled, everyone else saw it too, and strained to hear what he said to the nurses who had gathered around him.
Someone must have heard, because news was rapidly spreading.
"They have no water!"
"There's no more medication!"
The patients and other passengers started to frantically talk to each other, and began exiting the buses to see themselves.
Noa groaned feebly, his pale skin sticking on his cheekbones like he hadn't eaten in months, his mother looked up at David expectantly. He sighed, he knew what he had to do. He got Noa to put an arm around his shoulder, and they got up and pushed their way out of the bus to the center where the hospital chief was being assaulted by questions.
"I already said ma'am, supplies come from the area that is currently the war zone, while there's fighting there it cannot be accessed."
"Sir, I have a sick person of national importance with me. Do you know who I am? I'm David, son of General Finch," spoke David, Noa leaning heavily on him.
The chef gazed at him with a startled look, his glasses sliding down his long nose, but David saw recognition in his eyes.
"I'm very sorry young man," he gulped. "But we really have nothing left, I can try contac-"
Noa's knees suddenly buckled. David struggled to put him down easily as he began to convulse violently. His mother screamed as he began to cough up blood.
David looked up from his brother at the doctor. "Please, save him!"
The doctor was already beside Noa, but it was too late. He lay still in David's arms.
