The Slightly Chipped Teacup

Good Morning!

It was 7:30 am, everyone was going about their day. Kids going school, and adults to work. The news was on, talking about the current events. Devi was sitting at the table in the dining room, eating some frosted flakes. "Good morning dear." Her mother Aubrey chirped while she walked into the kitchen. "Morning mom." Devi smiled, and Aubrey ran her fingers through Devi's short black hair. "What are you going to do with your hair today?" She asked, trying to avoid the dandruff in her hair. "It's a windblown look. You like it?" Devi laughed, and Aubrey patted her head. "Well if you say so."

Blaise walked in the kitchen from the bathroom, wearing his neat button up shirt and slacks. "Good morning da-" As soon as Devi opened her mouth, the alarm system of their house started to go off. Blaise motioned for Aubrey and Devi to stay quiet while he went to investigate. He walked to the control panel where there was a small screen which showed the feed from all the security cameras. It simply said, 'Reach the Stars' which was the brand of the system. "What the hell?" He yelled, trying to speak over the alarms blaring.

Blaise walked out of the house to see if this was happening in any other house, since everyone had the same system. And surely enough, every house on the block was in panic mode. People were standing outside, on the phone with customer service or the police. Blaise walked back up the porch stairs and into the house, where Aubrey was running around frantically. "What's wrong?" He asked, and she pointed to the TV.

"This is not a drill. Please travel to your local aircraft station, and prepare to leave the country. There has been a glitch in the security system. Security robots are attacking people across the nation. This could be a result of hacking by terrorists, everyone needs to be evacuated to our safe haven in Canada. Please pack your things and leave, now!" The news anchor's hands trembled while she read the briefing on her papers.

At the time Devi was really confused, having her mother sit me on the couch in sweatpants and a T-shirt that said: "HEY HEY HEY!" in sparkly red letters. She picked up my phone, but it was all the same, a screen with a just the company logo on it. "Devi, run in the extra room and grab the safe." Aubrey ordered, and Devi sighed. She hated when her mom called it that, because it was her brother's old room.

"Alright, let's go." Her dad said, pulling a suitcase, her mother with a back pack. Devi walked out the room and gave the safe to her mom, then put on sneakers, and a coat. Aubrey held her hand tightly, and they ran through the door, not caring to make the bed, or turn out the lights.

"Mom, where are we going?" Devi asked as they ran, along with hundreds of other people. The sky was smoggy, filled with smoke. They ran past people who were screaming, pushing trying to get through the streets. They continued running until there was an explosion of the building to the right into orange and red flames, smoke surrounding it.

Some people on their knees praying. Others were jumping over dead bodies in hope of escape. At this time, no one thought of anyone but themself.

The small family continued, and a few blocks down until they could see people lifting off on aircrafts, made by the REACH THE STARS Systems Corp, made by Mr. Quinn Cavat. There was a low rumble, then a huge hole created by something coming out the ground. "Please remain calm." It was a blue eyed, stainless steel security bot, repeating that same phrase all while shooting people down. The robot turned, aimed, then shot a man right through his chest, blood flying everywhere as the man fell to his knees, then to the ground, lifeless. More security bots bursted through the ground, shooting people down.

Blaise lifted Devi into his arms, then began running with Aubrey faster than before, leaving the suitcase behind. For the entire journey, no one has spoken. There was nothing to say in this situation. It was do as you see, follow along with no comments or questions. Devi looked up at her father, who was determined to reach those aircrafts safely. Aubrey was also quiet, it was if they were talking telepathically, making sure Devi couldn't hear anything they said. They didn't want her to know they were as afraid as she was.

"We're almost there." Blaise sighed in relief, holding Devi in his arms like she was made of gold. "Really? I can't see." Aubrey said, looking down the road. Blaise put Devi on his shoulders, and from there she got the perfect view. "I can see the aircraft's lifting off, so we're in the right direction." She announced. In front of them, there was a small bridge was approaching. It went over a small river which lead into the sewers. Past that is where the aircrafts were, a few of them already taking off. When they reached the bridge, they joined the group of people that were trying to cross. "Excuse me- sorry-" Blaise tried to push past people, until he accidentally elbowed a man in a black suit. "Excuse me!" The man turned around sharply, and out of reflex, pushed him back.

Blaise's back hit the railing, and Devi fell backwards, falling from his shoulders. It happened so fast that she didn't get a chance to react.  Aubrey turned to the railing and reached her arm out, trying to grab her step-daughter. Blaise turned around and his eyes widened in fear. Her few seconds of free falling ended quickly, and she splashed into the river below. She went under the surface, the cold water stinging her face and hands. She got back to the surface, and the smell of poop and pee slapped her in the face. Devi coughed up some of that nasty water, then looked up to her parents. "Help me!" Devi screamed. They were so close to leaving, she was so close to leaving. Her coat helped to keep her above the surface while she screamed for help.

"Someone help me!" Devi yelled, flailing her arms in the air. Blaise screamed and held his hand out, as if she could reach it. Devi was about fifteen feet below, bobbing up and down in cold sewer water. People behind them started yelling for them to move, and Blaise looked around desperately. "Someone, help! My daughter fell inside!" He yelled, but nobody seemed to care. Meanwhile, Devi began floating towards the pipe that emptied into the sewer. "Help me!" She screamed again, and a few people glanced at her before continuing running. Blaise and Aubrey looked at each other in understanding. Aubrey looked at the aircraft was everyone was filling up in, and she grabbed Blaise's hand then turned and continued running.