The Wasteland That Was Earth

11: Loss

"Hey! It's Mika and Clay, open up! Are you guys okay?!"
Banging loudly on the door with both fists, Clay had never seen Mika so distressed. Her expression twisted into a heart-wrenching mix of sadness and panic.

The whole journey there, she wouldn't stop talking about how it was her fault. About how she hurt this innocent family.
And of course, nothing Clay could say had made her feel any better.

Parth stumbled up the steep cement stairway, throwing the door open and calling the two down while Latika was sat on the floor, her back leaned against the wall, holding a semi-clean towel down on her bleeding leg.

Shepherd whimpered, limping toward Parth and nuzzling against him.

Mika didn't hesitate, she leapt into action before anyone could say a word. Tending to both Latika and Parth professionally, putting her many years of intense training to good use. Even fixing up Sheperd as best as she could, though she had never treated a dog before.

Clay could only stand back and watch at that time, knowing pretty much nothing about medical care.
While he was glad their injuries didn't seem too severe, there was one thing that tightened his chest every time he thought about it.

Vivaan was nowhere to be seen.

Latika's leg had been shot while they fled to the bunker and Parth had thankfully only been grazed by a bullet to the back while trying to shield her. She scolded him over and over again for it while wincing as Mika bandaged her with gentle hands.

Parth didn't say a word. He sat on the sofa, facing away from them all and silently petting a distressed Shepherd. Mika had already tended to him, and he was clearly trying to act tough. However, they could all see that quivering lip and those teary eyes from a mile away.
Poor kid.

"Latika, I'm so sorry..." Mika began, still knelt before her, "It's my fault they showed up."

"What on earth do you mean?"

"The buggy we used to travel here, I didn't know, but they had some sort of tracking system attached. It belongs to our headmaster, we stole it to find you. I should have thought about this, I should have checked."

"Oh dear, hush now. You couldn't have known." Latika soothed, lifting Mika's chin, "Don't blame yourself. Those men would have found us sooner or later. Besides, we'd be far worse off hadn't you shown up today. Oh, but, how did you get here if your vehicle was trackable?"

"Mika took apart the front of the buggy before we left." Clay explained, "Removed the tracker and buried it in the sand beside the school. Now, they'll have no idea we even left. Not this time, at least."

"I see...smart girl."
Latika sighed with a small smile.

Knowing the question would have to be asked sooner or later, Mika took a steadying breath and looked straight into the kind woman's eyes.
"Wh...where's Vivaan?"

Parth reacted to those words, only slightly, turning away a little more with a hard exhale, trying to keep his tough exterior intact.

"They...took him away..." Latika's head lowered, "We were lured out, a fake distress call on the radio after they figured out it was us hiding here. Vivaan went to check. When I heard yelling, I ran after him. Parth too, even though I begged him to stay. Before we could do anything, he screamed as us to run while they beat him down, throwing him into one of their vehicles...we were barely able to seal off the bunker in time."

"Took him away...and then they just left? So, they weren't trying to kill you?"
Mika frowned.

"I...I don't want to say it, but..." Latika looked away, "...I fear they may have already...oh, my poor Viv...I'm sure they'll be returning for us soon enough...we'll have to find somewhere else to-"