The Third War [EDITED VERSION]

Chapter Three: Zoe

Sirens shrieked from around me. I spun around in the darkness unsure of where to run, where to go, what to do.

"Kris!" I cried out in desperation. "Dad!?"

A low growl came from behind me. My body stiffened in terror. The creature came closer dragging its claws across the floor as it took steps toward me. I covered my mouth with my hand only to jerk it away when the strong scent of iron hit my lungs.

I looked down to see both of my hands covered in blood. Stumbling backward, I gagged from the overwhelming smell.

I yelled out again, "Kris!" As the creature growled in response once more, I felt the floor sway beneath me and cave in. The creature leaped in after me but right as its jaws clamped around my wrist I jolted awake.

My body lay still, paralyzed by fear. Then it hit me. A pleasant smell, not like the blood from my dream, but a soft fragrance, and I recognized it. I sat up with eyes wide and a heart full of hope.

That hope came crashing back down as I saw the old, worn army jacket of my father. That's where the smell of his cologne was coming from- his jacket, not him. Tears came to my eyes as anger rose in my heart. He was gone and never coming back.

I pulled the jacket into my arms taking what little comfort I could from it. Gabe cried down the hall, so I mustered the will to get up after putting the jacket on. He continued crying until I appeared in his doorway and the sobs turned into sniffles.

"Zo!" He screeched at me while raising his arms. I pushed back the sleeves which went well past my hands and picked him up. Gabe seemed to get the same comfort from Dad's jacket as I did because his small sniffles turned into coos.

I was able to manage a small smile, "Hi there, you hungry?"

He gave a shriek signaling: yes, he was in fact, very hungry, and if that hunger was not satisfied there would be more shrieking to come.

"To the kitchen we go," I headed downstairs listening to him babble away about whatever interesting things happen in baby's dreams. Once settled in his chair, he got quiet in order to better inspect me as I made his breakfast.

The options were slim thanks to war time rations, so he ended up with applesauce and a bit of cereal. I sat down with a bowl of cereal myself and talked to him between bites, "Well, I had a scary dream. I was lost and all alone calling out into the darkness for Kris and Dad, but neither of them answered."

Gabe listened intently as he smashed the cereal to bits while giggling.

My fingers subconsciously started tapping on the table, "You don't think Kris is gonna follow Dad or anything right?"

Gabe's response was to throw his spoon at me.

"You're right, I am being dumb," I returned the spoon and coaxed him into actually eating his food instead of just playing with it. "He's not gone yet you know. There's still a chance he'll come back. We just gotta hope."

Deciding he would only get messier, I started cleaning up Gabe's face and hands before setting him loose in the living room. I watched him play with a few toys while sitting on the couch.

After a while, I heard someone come down the stairs.

"Hey..." Kris softly spoke. My spirits sank in disappointment that it wasn't our mother. I feared she wouldn't get up at all.

I responded without turning to look at her, "Hi."

"I see you found the jacket," she commented as if she hadn't put it there.

"Meaning you didn't go to bed when you said you were going to," I turned to give her an annoyed look.

Kris smiled trying to break the ice, "Weeeeell, you didn't catch the lie so..." When I didn't return the advance she let out a sigh, "Sorry, I went to Dad's office."