Lost But Not Forgotten (NaNoWriMo 2013)

13.

*Flash Back*

“Catch me if you can!” a blonde haired boy shouts at the girl with wavy black hair. She giggles and races after her brother who runs for his life around the large back garden in the quiet suburbs of Chicago. They were as happy as can be, they were kids being kids without a worry in the world.

2025 was a year to remember; technology had grown so much and was a high point. Everything seemed so perfect for the Thorne kids but they knew nothing of what dangers were to come.

Two worrisome parents were in the kitchen discussing a very important matter; they earlier had seen news of an invasion starting thousands of miles away in England but there was a big threat of it moving to the US.

 The mother stood tall and lean, she was skinny but at this time her belly was protruding outwards, giving a sign of pregnancy. She had the same jet black hair and green eyes which had attracted her long time husband in the first place, her daughter; April had also inherited the beauty of her mother.

The father was a strong, brave man with a strong posture that suited expensive suits. He had balding brown hair which was once a dusty blonde.

The two were screaming and shouting about what to do, they had sent their children aged 11 and 14 outside; they had no clue of the oncoming threat of a war starting.

“We need to get out now Joe, or we are going to die” the mother spoke in a southern accent while her husband was a northerner, born and raised in Wyoming.

He placed his hand on her shoulder and look at her sympathetically, her eyes bore into his, they were so beautiful and vibrant, she was so beautiful and vibrant, it was love at first sight. “Jillian, let’s wait a little bit, this could all be a hoax or it might just die down after a few days” his voice was shaky and unsure and the both of them knew it. Joe wanted to stay; he didn’t want to believe that a war was upon them.

But Jillian would not take no as an answer “Please Joe” she took both his hands and stared deeply at him, all she wanted to do was keep her family safe “please...” A tear rolled down her cheek but Joe’s gently finger was there to catch it.

“Okay honey. If it’s so important to you, we’ll leave tomorrow”

“No Joe, we leave tonight” she stated firmly. “Get packing”. The father rushed upstairs and grabbed the largest suitcases they had, threw all his belongings in and hauled the heavy load down the steep stairs. His wife had gone to fetch the kids.

April saw her mother approach and ran to her arms complaining and pointing at her brother “Mama! Mama! Jesse put a spider on my arm!” Jillian smiled at her eleven year old child and picked her up as if she weighed like a feather. She ignored her daughters moaning and enjoyed the family moment. Jesse came out from behind the bush and ran to his mom, giving her a big hug.

“I didn’t do anything Mama!”

“Liar! Mama he’s a liar!” the two quarrelled and fought until there was nothing left to say. She then put her daughter down and crouched so she was head height with the two of them.

“Kids we’re moving tonight” April was young and didn’t understand the whole concept so she just smiled and cheered but her older brother looked at their parent questioningly.

“Why?” he asked.

She decided to tell them the truth, they would find out soon enough anyway, she couldn’t always protect her little ones from danger; they had to grow up sometime. “Kids, there is a war starting, we need to evacuate now before it gets too crowded”. The children both nodded their heads, meaning they understood. Jesse wore a worried look, he understood the danger they were in but April just stared at the two blankly. Something then clicked in her and she knew she wasn’t a child anymore; a huge pile of bricks had just been lifted onto her shoulders.

“It’s the robots isn’t it?” she mumbled to her elders. They stared at her with shock, how did she know? They never thought that she paid so close attention to anything. From that they one April felt as if she was the lone parent taking care of everyone, not the other way round.

They left that night and travelled into the darkness, heading as far north as they could in their small car packed with essentials and belongings, they didn’t have a clear idea where they were going but they knew they were heading for safety...