Cold Reality

Alone

"Now what? What do I do? ", she asked herself. She wished her mom was there. She wished her dad was there. She wished someone was there. Hours had passed since her mom called. The TV had faded to snow on every channel. Rachel could hear sounds outside but could not make out what it was. Gunfire? Screams? She wrapped her arms around herself and hugged her knees up to her chest. She was not prepared for this. No one told her something like this could happen. What will she do? What if her mom or dad don't make it home?
She slowly rocked back and forth. Her mind raced with thoughts. She suddenly remember the radio. She searched the room and found it in a box. She checked for the batteries. Yes. They where there too. After she got the batteries in she turned on the radio and nothing. Nothing but dead air. Great , she thought. No news. She pulled her knees up to her chest again and wrapped her arms around herself. Slowly she rocked back and forth. Think, she told herself, think.
Thinking was all she could do. She didn't know what was going on. She was safe for now at least. All alone there in that small room. She had the basics. Food, water, toilet, and sleeping cot. She looked around. This room wasn't meant for long term. Just a night or two in case of emergency. There was enough food and water for 4 people for 3 days. So for just her it was enough for 12 days. If she rationed plus what she took from down stairs in her back pack maybe she could get it to last 3 weeks. She didn't eat much anyway. Maybe everything will be ok by then. Rescue will come? But how will they know she's there!
No one knows I'm here, she thought. I could do up some notes and leave them outside the door? That will also mean going outside. I'll make them anyway, she thought, it will give me something to do for now. She opened the storage box marked Paper and Pens and started to write a note. I am alive and upstairs in the master bedroom. I am in the safe room located in the master bedroom closet. Please help me. Knock 3 times so I know you're here to help. She then made 3 more similar notes. She thought about signing her name then changed her mind. They don't need to know I'm a girl, just in case. Now what? Should I leave the safety of the room to leave the notes? She stood there for at least 20 minutes with the notes in one hand and duct tape in the other.
She put her ear up against the panic room door and listened. She couldn't hear anything. She knew the doors and windows to the house where locked so the chance of someone getting in was low. She took a chance. Punched in the code and waited for the door to open. She left it open and quietly made her way downstairs. She crept down the stairs. No noises could be heard so she was certain no one was in the house. Quickly and quietly she got to the front door and peeked outside. She didn't see or hear and one or anything except far off gun fire. Opening the door she quickly taped the note onto the door then closed and locked it again. She then put a note on the inside of the door, the table and the fridge. While she was there she grabbed a few shopping bags and filled them with as much as she could carry. She flew up over the stairs and back into the panic room. Punched in the code and breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed and she felt safe once more. For now at least.