Chapter 14

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The helicopter's blades whirred deafeningly as the team flew across the country to the scene of the attack. Charity sat with Tori, Anthony, and Einmyria - all the others were in a second copter. Up front, her dad sat dejectedly trying to look busy with the controls and buttons. They had been flying for hours, but to Charity it could have been a minute, or it could have been a lifetime.

Charity could barely think straight as she stared out the front window at the cloudy sky. She tried to take her mind off her mom and Peter... but she couldn't - every thought she tried to put into her head was redirected back, and only ended up reminding her of her family. Peter could have been in Portland - he would have gone to her mom's right after she was kidnapped... if he'd survived that head injury... A few days ago Charity had thought her dad was dead, now he was probably her only family she had left.

Charity heaved a sigh and rubbed her eyes with her fingers. She wasn't religious, and had never wanted a god in her life - but now she prayed. "Please, God..." She muttered under the sound of the blades, not even sure what name to use "Don't let them be dead..."

A staticky voice came in over the intercom as she prayed, and she recognized it as Sharon Rogers.

"Bus, this is Spangles. I have a code 328, copy? Over." Her voice was monotone, like what she was saying was only routine, but Charity noted that her dad's face went a little paler than it had already been.

"Spangles, this is Bus. I copy." He responded "Hang in there... not far. Over." Charity didn't know what was going on, but it only made her more nervous.

Looking around the copter, Charity deduced that the others were just as terrified. Einmyria sat straight in her seat, but her lips were tight and her chest heaved slightly with calming breaths. Tori and Anthony didn't even talk to each other, they simply glanced back and forth every so often - communicating with their eyes like only siblings can.

After what seemed like forever, Coulson flicked a switch and informed Agent Rogers - AKA 'Spangles', apparently - that he was above Portland. Charity craned her neck to try and see what was left of her city, but they were either too high, or the clouds were too low. She almost didn't want to see - but she knew she'd have to look.

Finally, the clouds separated as the copter descended, and the painful reality was uncovered. Every structure was in ruins - Charity couldn't even make out where she was. Roads were destroyed, trees were nonexistent- there was nothing but rubble and waste.

Phil landed the helicopter and unharnessed himself from the seat, so the kids silently followed suit. They exited the craft and stood in full awe of the destitution around them.

"...Where are we, Dad...?" Charity whispered. She didn't dare speak too loudly for fear that everyone would hear that she was choking back tears.

"1200 Northwest Marshall Street." he said quietly.

Charity repeated the words in her head, hoping she was wrong. "But that's..."

Phil nodded solemnly. He crouched down to pick something off the ground.

Charity peered at what he held in his hand, and her lip quivered as the others looked over her shoulder.

"What is it?" Tori asked, sensing the importance of the item.

"'Tis beautiful." Einmyria said in a hushed voice "Fine workmanship."

"It's my mom's engagement ring." Charity said between quiet sobs "This is my house..."

"...she wore this...?" Phil asked. His voice was a mixture of joy and pain as he held the delicate ring.

"Every day." Charity said "She never took it off... Never-"

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