Underground

50

Estelle
Leeciy was the one who remembered that Willowdale had a lumber mill. He was the one who scavenged the houses in search of axes and guns.
Which is exactly why there is an axe strapped to my back, and a pistol in August's belt, and four kitchen knives in September's.
A lot of Pangaean's Oura konnes helped with fighting, which is why Annaliesee is unarmed.
Leeciy on the other hand had both a gun and an axe. The gun was in his belt while the axe was strapped to his back.
Luca brought his bow and his small mother.
She actually cooks for us, since most of the people that lived here thought Y2K was going to happen, so there were basements filled with imperishable beans and soup.
I let myself into Leeciy's house. "Has anybody even talked about the video?"
No answer.
I sigh and walk through the house, pushing doors open.
The last door I open was the master bedroom, where Leeciy lay, eyes shut.
Cirus is cuddled up to him, as if he were her last source of life.
I look at my phone. 9:15.
"Leeciy?" I say softly. "You gotta get up."
Cirus wakes, shooting up. "Papa?"
"No, it's Estelle." I smile softly. "Can you wake him for me?"
She presses a hand to his shoulder and shakes. "Leeciy, wake up."
Leeciy grumbles. "Cirus, stop."
"Leeciy, it's not just her." I say.
"Why are you here?" He asks, propping himself up on an elbow.
"You told me to wake you up early last night." I remind. "You wanted to strategize."
Leeciy flops back down. "I hate last night me."
"Well, I'm sorry." I say. "But you have to get up."
He sits motionless before pushing himself up.
Cirus huffs softly and buries herself under the quilt.
"I'll see you later, little one." Leeciy says, patting the place where her head was. 
Cirus sticks a hand out of the quilt and waves.
My heart swells at the sight of my friend caring so much for such a small person.
"I have to get dressed, I'll meet you in the living room." He says.
I nod softly, walking away.
***
"The government replied." Ned says, jogging up to Leeciy and I.
"Oh?"
"It was the president actually, the response was only a couple minutes long." Ned explains.
"What did he say?" Leeciy asks.
Ned looks at us somberly. "He said that they accept, and they wish us luck."
"I guess that's kinda what we wanted." I say.
"They don't know where we are, thankfully." Ned says.
"True." I say.
Melissa walks out of their house. "Ned!"
"I've got to go." Ned says. "I'll keep you updated."
"Thanks Ned." I say.
The school had become our central of command, the weapons were stored in the algebra classroom and our tactic and strategy papers were in the English classroom, which is where Leeciy and I stationed ourselves.
The door creaks open and August walks in, two bowls of soup in his hands. "You missed lunch."
"We did?" Leeciy glances up at the clock.
It was 2:45. We had been in here for six hours.
"We didn't realize the time." I say, smiling tightly.
August sets the bowls on the desk we were sat at. "Don't overwork yourself."
"Probably already have." I joke.
August kisses the back of my head. "I'm serious."
"Okay." I say.
"Don't worry, August, I won't overwork myself." Leeciy says, smirking deviously.
"Okay..." August trails off. "I'll see you at home."
"See you." I say, looking back.
He pecks my lips. "Love you."
"Love you too." I say.
August walks out, closing the door behind him.
The small flames in the fire flick when the door close, as if they were waving.
"Anyway, what's our goal with the war?" Leeciy asks.
"Avenge the people of South-side." I say, as if it were obvious. "And self defense and such."
"Let's take a break and eat." Leeciy suggests.
I nod, grabbing the bowl August brought.
"So, how's Cirus?" I ask.
"She's good, excelling in English." He says.
I nod. "You're kinda like a dad now."
"Yeah, they all call me daddy." He says, suppressing a laugh.
I choke on my soup.
He reaches over and pats my back.
Once I regain my breathing, I laugh. "What the Hell, Leeciy?"
"It was a joke, I was making a joke!" He explains. "I didn't know I'd almost kill you!"
I laugh until my sides hurt.
"I was lightening the mood, everyone's been on edge, including you." He explains.
I place a hand on his arm. "Thanks, I needed to laugh before this all happens."
"Let's get back to tactics?" He asks.
I nod. "Back to boredom."
***
I wake up by being moved.
My heavy eyelids lift themselves open.
Leeciy was lifting me up, his blue eyes also clouded with sleep. 
"What are you doing?" I ask sleepily.
"We fell asleep, I was going to carry you home, I didn't mean to wake you up." He admits, lifting me with ease.
I yawn. "I can walk."
"You slept on your feet, they're probably numb. I'll just carry you since you're on the way." He coaxes softly.
"Why'd you wake up?" I ask.
"Hmm?" He hums, opening the English classroom's door.
"We could've slept the whole night here, but you woke up. Why?"
He looks like he's thinking for a moment, then he speaks. "I had a nightmare."
"Oh." I say. "What about?"
"Average stuff, y'know, dying." He jokes. "What did you dream about?"
"Home." I say. "Like Pangaea home."
"Do you miss your sister?" He asks, looking down at me.
I nod. "A little, I miss my mom too."
He looks back up. "Me too."
I look over his shoulders and at the stars. "The stars are so much clearer here."
Briefly, he looks up. "They are really pretty."
I nod.
"Okay, you're home." He sets me down. "Tell August I didn't overwork myself."
I smile softly. "Alright, good night."
"You too." He says, turning and walking away.
I walk to the front door and open it.
August stands there, his hands on his hips. "How was your date with Leeciy?"