Three

Chapter 5

                    An earthquake had struck the town. It was a magnitude of 7.0 the deadliest earthquake the town has ever had. Actually, it was the only one this town has ever experienced. The first of it's kind to ever happen around this area of the United States. Usually, these type of earthquakes would happen in the western or midwestern United States but this power of one is rare to see in the eastern United States especially in a small town like this one. The Winchester building structure took a bit of damage. The inside was trashed mostly with cracks in the walls, damaged computers, desks, ceiling fans, and windows. Lucky enough the building still stood compared to the other structures in town. The Winchester took the less damage out of all of them. Everyone in the Winchester was ordered to go outside in rows of lines for roll call. An hour later after the disaster construction workers, firefighters, and ambulances from town had been ordered by the town council to help clean up and treat the Winchester staff and kids up. Medics brought all the kids inside the ambulance to check for any physical damage or injuries. Firefighters quickly investigated the building to ensure its safety for the staff and kids to go back inside.  

Chester was nowhere to be seen only the Winchester staff helping us foster kids in any way they can from injuries and traumatization. I didn't care that much to ask but wondering if he died with his body lying under a huge pile of concrete somewhere around the building and no one figuring it out yet. I was a little shaken up but mostly fine. I declined the paramedic's help and offered it to others kids who needed it more. A lot of the younger kids were crying and others covered in small cuts that needed stitching but harmless. Jack was trembling a little but was fine. Clover was shaken up as well and had dried tears on her cheeks but overall she was okay. Once the roll call was done and the medics finished stitching up and examine the kids, we were allowed to hang around the front parking of the Winchester before getting approval from the firefighters. Jack and I sat on the sidewalk of the building and offered Clover if she wanted to sit down with us. It's was three-forty five PM and the sun was now high in the sky. The temperature was 85 degrees with a slight breeze. Perfect weather to be outside in but at a wrong time to cherish.

"I overheard some kids talking by the oak tree over there saying they heard the firefighters talk about eighteen people dead in town," said Jack as I looked at the view of the town from where we were sitting. I could see smoke from different areas of buildings and faint sounds of sirens. "I wouldn't be surprised there weren't more deaths especially here. The Winchester building looks like it barely through a storm instead of a  7.0 earthquake. This place would have collapsed so quick tumbling down the hill." I said as Clover glared at me in fear. " . . . But I'm glad it didn't."  

A bunch of the Winchester staff sped off quickly down the road towards town after being checked and treated. Checking up on their families back at home. Wondering if they are safe or not. A couple of ladies from the office and Karen the front desk receptionist stood behind and took care of us. Helping firefighters give out fruit juice pouches and granola bars to all of us. No news yet of when it will be safe yet to go back inside only that they barely finished inspecting the third floor. 

Jack, Clover, and I stood sitting down quietly eating and drinking our granola bars and fruit juice. Hearing the faint sounds of sirens from town, the engines roaring from the ambulances and fire trucks, and conversations happening around us. A lot of questions swept through my mind. One was it was nearly impossible for the Winchester to still be standing after a disaster like that. All the huge buildings in town collapsed. I remember seeing seven huge buildings all the time out here from the parking lot now their only two...and a half. The second will there be an aftershock? If this was a new experienced in this area we can definitely believe that an aftershock is possible. Finally, does the strange occurrences happening around the world recently have anything to do with this at all? I know some of the stuff seen on TV are being debunked or a natural cycle of mother nature but I'm slowly but surely seeing a distinct pattern of natural disasters occurring after that Eclipse weeks ago. Not knowing what to believe I was still jittery and alarmed for anything to happen. I guess we all were.