Found Obsession

Chapter 126: Group Talk

March 29, 2006 | 9:00 PM

Panic rose like wildfire as the news broadcasted chaos. Reports of robberies, fires, and widespread destruction filled every channel, interspersed with grim updates on escalating global conflicts.

The President's address played on every station, urging citizens to prepare for the worst. "Stay home," he advised. "Only leave if absolutely necessary." Strategic locations were being evacuated, their occupants sent to bunkers. 

Airports had been shut down from the very beginning, it was clear that information on the war had been covered up and that is why from one moment to another things had escalated so quickly.

In a dimly lit living room, Riley and Teresa stood huddled with their daughter around the television, their faces pale knowing that in a small amount of days things had turned gruesome.

Everyone had gathered here, united by their responsibility for the 108 children in their care. Among them were Lillian and Chance's adopted baby, as well as Brianna. The gravity of their situation weighed heavily on the group.

"Did you find any private airlines?" Riley asked Samuel, holding his phone tightly to his ear.

"No," Samuel replied, his voice tense. "It seems all private flights have been sent away. I even tried to find an illegal one, but nothing. Even if we tried since the war escalated so quickly, anything in the air is being taken down. "

With a quick thanks soon they hung up.

Riley and Teresa exchanged worried glances after the call ended, their fear mirrored in the faces of those around them. Teresa clutched her daughter tightly, her arms wrapped protectively as if shielding her from the world's collapse.

Elijah, Lucas, Chance, Lillian, Riley, and Teresa sat together, glued to the news. The flickering images of destruction were a chilling reminder of what they were up against.

"I grabbed everything I could," Lucas said, his forehead furrowed in frustration. "If we'd taken Rose more seriously, we could've been better prepared." His words carried a heavy weight, and the room fell silent.

"What we have," Lucas continued, his voice strained, "won't last a month. Not with 108 children to feed and everything else, is probably already in the campsites."

Everyone stiffened, the reality of their predicament sinking in.

All eyes turned to Elijah.

He had prioritized other matters-setting up those ten murder scenes, kidnapping others and assuming Rose's warnings were a ploy to sidetrack them. Now, guilt coiled in his chest, constricting with every passing second. He had miscalculated. Gravely.

"Those concerts Rose did to find adoptive parents for the children won't be happening," Teresa said quietly, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"She warned us for a reason," Riley said, his eyes fixed on Brianna. His worry was palpable.

The room was thick with distress. Lucas paced, his phone pressed to his ear, dialing his brother's number over and over. Each unanswered call added to his growing despair.

Everyone sat with the same thought, unspoken yet undeniable. Guilt tightened its grip on them as they hesitated to admit the name that lingered in their minds.

The one person who could possibly help them now. That one person who was filled with work right now.

Roselyn Hansley.

The news continued, relentless in its grim updates.

Mexico, Iceland, and parts of Canada had not entered the war. They had opened their borders, accepting refugees and offering fleeting hope to those desperate for safety.