The Purity Project

Chapter 14

Halona pulled her hoodie over her head, protecting her hair from the rain. She and Jada were walking down a street in Middleton. They had managed to ditch the old woman from the bus, who had followed them around the town for a while. Now, they were looking for a place to stay.

"We need to ask someone for help," Jada said, pulling Halona toward a man that was walking down the street. "Excuse me sir, but do you know where the nearest hotel is?"

The man looked down at them and rolled his eyes in annoyance. He checked his watch and sighed. "Down the street to the left, and I would hurry if I were you. It's not safe for two kids your age to be wandering around." The man rushed away, the sound of his shoes hitting the pavement fading away.

"Well that was rude," Halona huffed. She walked down the street, Jada beside her. They were about to turn left when Jada shrieked.

"What?" Halona jumped and put her arms up, ready to attack.

"Don't hurt me!" a high pitched voice squealed.

Halona looked down and saw a little girl holding on tight to Jada's leg. She was wearing worn out overalls and her dark wet hair was sticking to her face. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her hands and nose were red from the cold.

"I didn't mean to scream, Halona. She just startled me, that's all." Jada knelt down and turned her attention toward the girl. "What's wrong?"

The girl looked up at Jada. She couldn't have been more than five. "I-I'm lost! I can't find my mommy!" The girl started to cry.

Halona stared at the girl. She didn't know what came over her, but she walked over to the girl and got on her knees, placing her hands on the girl's shoulders. She brushed the hair off of the girl's face and gave her a warm smile. "There's no need to cry. We'll help you find your mom."

"Yeah, we will! Where did you last see your mom?" Jada asked. She pulled out a dry hoodie from her bag and put it on the girl, tying the bottom so the girl wouldn't trip on it.

"I don't know, I think over there." The girl pointed down the street to their right.

"Well, that's where we'll go." Halona stood up and let the little girl hold her hand. Together, the three of them marched down the street. "So, what's your name?"

The little girl looked up at Halona and smiled. "My name's Millie. My mom says that it was my grandma's favorite name. I love my grandma, even though I never got to meet her. Whenever I think of her, I think of a princess that lives in large castle!" 

"Is that so? Millie, does this place look familiar?" Halona pointed at the fountain that was at the end of the street.

"Halona," Jada said quietly.

"What is it?" Halona looked over at Jada. Her eyes were wide in fear, and her hands were shaking. She pointed at the fountain. Halona squinted and realized that there was a group of people gathered at the fountain. They were all dressed in ragged clothes, and they huddled together in fear. Standing in front of them was another group of people, dressed in all black. They all carried guns.

"I see my mommy!" Millie exclaimed, and she tried to run toward the crowd.

Halona grabbed the girl and pulled her back into an alley, Jada close behind them. When the girl tried to protest, Halona pressed her finger to the girl's lips. "It's not safe over there. Just stay put and be quiet, okay?" The girl nodded and sat down on the floor.

"What do you think is going on?" Jada asked Halona, her voice shaking.

"I don't know, but it can't be any good." Halona peeked out of the alley and saw the people in black spreading out around the crowd. One of them appeared to be speaking, and whatever they said caused the crowd to erupt into shouts. The person in black, who appeared to be the leader, shot a bullet into the air to silence the crowd. The leader put their hand into the air, then closed their fist. The rest of the people in black stepped toward the crowd and aimed.