Left to survive.

Fractures and Foundations

The next morning, just as the first light of dawn began to filter through the bus windows, Avery's eyes fluttered open. She glanced around and saw Sophia already awake. With a soft pat on the seat beside the driver's chair, Avery whispered, "Hey, what are you doing? Come sit here." Sophia, a bit sleepy, got up and took the seat, mumbling, "Morning."

Avery noticed the worried look on Sophia's face and her brows furrowed together in concern. "What's wrong?" she asked gently.

Sophia sighed and said, "I'm not really up for driving today, and I'm not sure where we should head after we pick up Asher."

Avery assured her with a comforting touch on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I spoke to Kyle; he'll take over the driving. And once we get Asher, we can head over to the Williams' place. My uncle lives there, and it's not too far. That area is upscale, so there should be plenty of food available. The internet might be spotty here, but I'm pretty sure it'll be more reliable there."

Sophia's expression brightened a bit. "Oh, I know that area. If we go a little further, there's a military zone. It might be safer there, too."

As the sun climbed higher, the rest of the people in the slowly woke up. Avery went over to Ivy, gently picking her up. Ivy giggled as Avery handed her over to Grace, who smiled warmly at her.

Everyone freshened up, and Grace gathered the group to discuss their next move. "Alright, everyone," she began, "our plan is to head towards a military base where we should be safer. On the way, we'll also pick up my brother, who's currently stuck in a nearby neighborhood. I know it might seem like a hassle to wait, but we only have one bus, so Sophia, Avery, and I need to go together. We'll stop for the night once we reach the base."

Sophia chimed in, "If any of you can get in touch with your family or siblings and they're headed in the same direction as us, we can take them along too. But if they're not on this route, we'll inform them about the situation once we reach the military base."

The group nodded in agreement, and everyone began preparing.

Kyle turned the key, and the bus engine roared to life. With a steady hand, he started to drive down the road while Avery quickly set the destination on the GPS. After handing it to Kyle, she leaned back on the seat. Meanwhile, Sophia sat quietly by the window, her eyes fixed outside, but her mind elsewhere. She tried to blink away the tears forming in her eyes, but the overwhelming thoughts about her family tugged at her heart.

Noticing her, Grace, who was sitting beside her, leaned over and gave her a comforting hug. "What's wrong,  Are you Okay?" she asked softly, her voice filled with concern.

Sophia quickly wiped away the tear that had escaped and forced a small smile. "Oh, it's nothing. Just... thinking about my family," she whispered, trying to brush off the heaviness in her heart.

Avery, crouched down to Sophia's level, her face playful as ever. She gently patted Sophia's shoulder and said with a smirk, "Hey, it's okay. But seriously, if you start crying, who's gonna be left to fight with me?"

Sophia couldn't help but laugh at that, shaking her head as her mood lightened. Avery's infectious energy seemed to brighten the air, and soon the three girls were laughing and chatting, their faces slowly warming with smiles—smiles they hadn't worn in what felt like forever.

As the sun began its descent, casting golden lines across the horizon, Kyle pulled the bus over to the side of the road. They decided it was time to take a break, stretch their legs, and eat. Everyone washed their hands with water from the bus, the coolness refreshing them after a long day. They sat together and shared their food, a peaceful silence settling over the group.