RUN

The footsteps pounded around me as I jogged around the gym. Mundane assignments like this given to us by our gym teacher who never left his chair in the corner was one of the reasons I hated school. I dreaded this hour but was grateful that it was my last of the day. The sound of the blaring whistle knocked me out of my trance as he signaled that it was time to change back into our uniforms. 

The starch white shirt contrasted violently with my green tie and matching skirt. It made me cringe from how bright it was. I swear this thing could outshine the sun on it’s best days. I straightened out my tie as I ignored the boring gossip around me. The bell then rang as I shoved my hair into a high ponytail. 

The way I stalked out of the school, people must’ve thought I was on my way to commit a murder. I kept my face straight and unamused as I strode my way through the crowded halls. It was way too loud for anyone to think or do anything but scowl.

The sun blinded me for a second when I finally arrived outside. The fresh air gave me a burst of energy as I began my trek home. I kept my eyes on the dull concrete, only raising my head to make sure I wouldn’t run anyone over. 

As soon as I was off school grounds I heard screaming. Terrifying and ear-shattering screams. I looked up and spun around, searching for where it was coming from. I could barely think with all of the cars charging past me, like angry bulls. When my eyes found the source of the screaming, my blood ran cold. 

Right in front of me were a bunch of people dressed in black riot gear. Armored from head to toe with guns strapped to their bodies. In front of them were a few of my teachers, but their head shad been sliced off. The blood gushing made me gag. My head was spinning and I could barely stay on my feet, but my mind was screaming at me to run. 

One of the armored people started giving orders in a language I couldn’t understand. I spun on my heels and started sprinting towards my house. The fastest route was past the preschool and through the woods behind the schools, so I started that way. The sound of shooting spurred me on as adrenaline shoved me through the air. 

The preschool came into my view, and oh my god there are children. Two little girls stood screaming above two women who weren’t moving. Two women who looked like mothers. Two women who had blood oozing out of their skulls. I shook as the shots came closer and I didn’t know what to do. I ripped my tie off as I made the split-second decision and made my way over to the girls. 

“Hi. I’m gonna help you guys, okay. It’s gonna be alright. You guys are gonna be okay.”, I coaxed as I tied the fabric around their wrists, and shoved their backpacks off of them. I pulled each one onto one of my hips and made my way for the woods. As I held them I whispered soothing words to them as I ran as fast as I could.

After what felt like hours we made it to my neighborhood. I set the girls down and held onto the tie that connected them both. We walked steadily until we got to my house and then I let myself breathe for a moment. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I shook as I shimmied the key into the lock. The door opened easily after I undid both locks.

I ushered both girls in and locked the door behind me. For good measure, I shoved our entryway table in front of the redwood. My head was spinning and I couldn’t breathe. I had to think of something. I needed to figure something out. 

I looked down at the girls, who looked terrified and were covered in blood. I assumed blood from their mothers. I smiled at them as I bent down to untie them. They both started to cry. I was not fit for this. I hugged them both close and whispered sweet nothings to them. 

As I held them I thought of what to do. I needed to get us into a less populated area. I had to get them safe. I had to figure out what was happening. All of this stress was fogging up my brain. God, what was I going to do? What could I do? I needed to talk to the girls. 

“Hi. My name is Mae. I need you guys to answer the questions I’m going to ask you as best as you can. I promise I’m going to protect you, but I need to figure out what to do first. Okay?” I said slowly so they had time to process what I was telling them.

They both nodded. I led them over to the couch and told them to sit while I got the water. I quickly ran to the kitchen and filled cups with cold water. When I got back, they chugged down the water. I then sat on the coffee table in front of them and prepared myself to ask the horrifying questions I had to ask.

“First, I need to know if those women you were standing by were your parents. Can you tell me what happened when you got pout of school?” I asked. 

Both girls looked at each other, then back at me. I could tell they were each working on finding the words to use. The one with the red hair scooted forward a bit and raised her hand. I smiled at the small action and nodded at her.

“My mommy and her mommy picked us up like always. We always play together after school. When we got outside, there were people running and screaming all around us. Then there were loud sounds, and our mommies fell over and wouldn’t get back up. Then you came and saved us.” she remarked in a small voice. I didn’t know what to say so I pulled them both close.

After a minute, I released them and started working on a plan. When I was in the kitchen, I saw the news on our tv that was always on. No one knew what was happening, but the government and military were unresponsive. Many said that Russia was controlling them and forcing them to slaughter innocents. I had gagged at the thought. It was all I had for now though, so I knew I needed to get out of here. I knew I could take them to our farm in Massachusetts, but that was a 24-hour drive from where we were now. I could do it, even though it was illegal for me to drive without my mom. I’m pretty sure the law was bust at this point, though. 

“We’re gonna go somewhere. I’m gonna need you to listen and cooperate. I can’t do this without you guys being obedient, okay? Now, names. We know I’m Mae, but I need to know your names. Can you tell me them?”

“My name is Winnie, and her name is Daisy.”, the little redhead said. Redhead was Winnie, and blondie was Daisy. Pretty easy to remember. I told them to stay there while I went and got ready to go. 

I worked as quickly as I could, grabbing essentials. I grabbed extra clothes for all of us, food, plastic utensils, knives, and guns from under my mother’s bed. When I shoved all that I thought we’d need, I ran out to the shed and grabbed a rope. I needed a way to keep us together without using my tie. I carried the bag into the room with the girls and ushered them to the front door. I tied them together and ran outside to get my dad’s truck out from under its tarp.

This thing hadn’t been used since my dad overdosed in it. My mom had only saved it because we wouldn’t have been able to afford another car. I ripped the grey tarp off and shoved the bag onto the floor in front of the three front seats. 

I ran back inside and grabbed some blankets and pillows. I grabbed some more things to shove into the bed. My heart could not be beating faster as the flashlights, lamps, batteries, and gas-filled up the back. Sleeping bags, ponchos, shoes, and camping gear stashed in the back made me feel a bit better. I checked my pockets for my phone, charger, and map. It was all there.

After I was certain I had everything, I tied myself to0 the chain connecting the girls. They followed me out and into the truck with ease, and I was thankful they didn’t argue. I made sure we were all buckled and headed out onto the backroads to get to Massachusetts. 

Both Daisy and Winnie stayed quiet while I was driving, only asking for me to play a different song, or how much longer. Besides that, they kept themselves busy. As I drove I thought back to what I had seen on the news. My heart clenched at the thought. 

My mom had been right at the top of a pile of bodies. 

I had managed to keep the tears down, but every time I thought of her beautiful, wild hair being drenched in blood, they threatened to spill. I just knew she had rushed to help someone and got killed for being kind. I knew I didn’t have time to mourn or let the sobs be purged from my aching body, but I kept thinking back on the image. The horrifying image. 

᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭

I finally stopped driving when I could barely think. The girls had been asleep for hours. I pulled over and parked the truck. 

For a few minutes, I let myself cry. I laid my head against the steering wheel and let the silent screams of sadness fall from my lips. I wasn’t supposed to be going through this. I’m 15. I’m supposed to be going to the mall, or the roller rink. I wasn’t supposed to see my dead mother on the local news or be responsible for two little girls. 

A soft voice broke me out of my thoughts. I looked over at Daisy, who had woken up.

“Mae? Are you alright? Do you want a hug?”, she asked in a murmur. I smiled as an audible sob escaped my lips. I nodded and opened my arms for her to crawl into my lap. 

She carefully crawled over Winnie, who was out like a light and situated herself into my lap. Daisy wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face in my neck. My arms wrapped myself around her back and clutched her as tight as I could. My chin rested on her head as I felt her stroke my head like I had done for each of them. The action just made me cry harder. 

I wondered how this small child could go through such a trauma, and still be so full of love? Her warmth forced me to drift off into a dreamless sleep.

  ᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭

I awoke to the sound of gunshots. I whipped my head towards Daisy and Winnie, to make sure they were still here. They were. I took a deep breath and forced myself to move. 

The keys seemed to shove themselves into the ignition as my body moved on autopilot. I started the engine and buckled both girls in a split second, then shoved my foot onto the gas. 

Daisy and Winnie clutched each other as I sped away from the sounds. My panic eased when we were far enough away, then I reverted back into my normal state. My hands shook as I pushed play on the music for the girls. I had created a playlist for them while we ate dinner yesterday. They chose most of the songs but I added a few in it for me. 

They danced and sang nonsense along with the music as I drove down the road. I stopped and read to them during lunch. We talked. I kept them busy and distracted, so that they wouldn’t think about anything else. So I wouldn’t think of anything else. 

The backroads turned into deserted highways as we neared Massachusetts. I became even more nervous as we neared Boston. Who knew what would be waiting for us. I didn’t want to think about what could happen.

The fields turned into buildings, and bodies appeared. I pulled both girls closer to me as more people in armor appeared. More sirens were sounding. More sobbing from the girls. More tears from me. I knew we weren’t going to make it. Then, we came across a blockade. 

A man yelled for us to get out of the car. I turned to the girls and told them to get out of the car, but to stay behind me. We slowly got out, and I put my hands up. I walked us in front of the truck.

They yelled for us to stay put and I yelled back. I told them I had kids with me. I asked them to let us pass. I asked them to have mercy. They laughed and cocked their guns, so I asked them to do it quickly after I turned around.

I moved slowly and kneeled in front of the girls. They were shaking and tears were rolling down their faces. I moved them to their knees and pulled them close.

“Don’t look at them. Close your eyes, okay? Don’t move, and focus on my voice. I’m right here and I’m going to protect you. I’ve got you. It’s going to be okay. Daisy, you’re going to be okay. Winnie, you’re going to be okay. I’m gonna be okay. It will all be over soon.”, I sobbed as I spoke to them. They clutched me close and I stroked their hair. 

Then it all ended after the blasts shrieked through the air. 

᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭᙭

When I opened my eyes I felt two pairs of arms hugging me close, and two pairs of small bodies pressed against my legs. My eyes opened slowly, and I hugged the figures back. All I could hear was two warm voices thanking me, and I let a tear roll down my cheek.