Road to Clover (The Breanna Raven Series) (13 page)

Shawn is moving out carefully. He’s doing exactly what Agni was doing back in Penny Valley. He’s taking the hidden paths, back roads and side streets. Whenever he gets to any crossing, he’s checking to make sure it’s clear. Shawn sometimes makes us sit still for what seems like forever, but once he’s certain we’re clear, he is moving out.

The kids are brave. They’re quiet, but I can feel their fear. It makes me want to grab all of them and pull them close, but I kno
w there is no safety in my arms. As time goes on, my confidence grows toward Shawn. He has all of our welfare in mind, and he makes every move carefully.

There are a few times
when we are close to soldiers, but they never see us. They never suspect that we are hiding in the darkness behind cars, in people’s back yards, or behind buildings.

When we reach the parking lot of the pier, I try to block Sarah’s view just in case the dead bodies can be seen.
Our vision for the most part has adjusted to the darkness, and I don’t want Sarah to have nightmares. We get down to the dock, and thank goodness the speedboat is still there. We all get in. Shawn is the last to load. He checks on every person, every child.

Shawn
starts off slow. He doesn’t want to draw anyone’s attention from the shore just in case soldiers are lurking around. Once in the middle of the pass, he puts gas to the motor. The boat starts cutting across the water quickly, and it doesn’t take us long to get to the island. Shawn tries to get as close as possible to where Olympus Bridge use to tower over the pass. He doesn’t hit anything below, which I’m surprised, but I am nonetheless grateful.

He docks at a private pier. It goes directly up to
a tall grassy knoll and splits off ending at two houses. Candle light dances from windows within the dark silhouettes of the structures. No one is moving inside, and we all get off without alarming the inhabitants.

It feels great to be back on the island, but it also feels incomplete without Agni. I turn to look back at the mainland. The tanks are still
zapping everything in sight. Flashes of the red beams can be seen in different places, and echoes of the boom are reaching us moments later.

I sure hope Agni and the
guys are making it okay. I turn on my radio, and I listen. Soldiers are talking, and from what I can tell, they’re taking down each building street by street. They are completely turning Titan City into mere ruins.

Shawn tel
ls me to turn it down a bit. I simply turn it off. We make our way off the dock and to the front of one of the houses. We reach a dirt road and start our journey north. I’m thinking it’ll take us all the way to Calla Lily Road, but as soon as it dead ends, I suddenly remember, the only roads that come off of Calla Lily and goes anywhere are the streets in Allium Center and Sun Drop Highway where Calla Lily ends. Everything else leads to subdivisions and makes circles and cul-de-sacs. The dirt road gives away to woods, and the woods are very dark.

The kids are hesitant, but we hang on to them and keep it moving.
I give Sarah my flashlight. I can’t hold her hand and hold a flashlight, anyway. She gladly takes it, and we all can see pretty well within the range of lights.

The hoot of an owl gives me an idea to cut the fear.
I tell Sarah that the owls are talking about playing cards. Eventually, we hear rustling in the bushes or in the underbrush, I explain that the mice are running the fifty yard dash. A twig breaks, and I say that the raccoon is leaving because we’re disturbing his midnight snack. Sarah loves my explanations, and she giggles. The kids start picking up the game, and when that got old, we start singing nursery rhymes. The kids really love the nursery rhyme, and before all of us realize it, except for Shawn because he knows where we are, we make it to Calla Lily Road. He looks around to make sure there is no danger before we proceed.

Thank goodness there are no dead people for the kids to see.
I guess everyone got run over near my subdivision and further down after that.

My attention falls on where Olympus Bridge used to be. I can see the beginning of it on the mainland, and the end of it right in front of me. But there is nothing in between. There are two cars with their back wheels
dangling off the end, but there are no passengers inside. It is a shocking sight to see. It looks awful. It used to be majestic, a marvel of man, but now it looks like a disfigured mess on both sides of the water.

What use to be the skyline of Titan City is now gone
. Now, the mainland is a place of red flashes, and billowing smoke and fires. I regret leaving Agni in a place like that. He wouldn’t leave me. He can’t be safe in that city even with the people that’s with him, even with King.

Bouvardia Cove is within sight. It’s the first
community we come upon, and it looks like the same exact community I live in. The houses for the most part are exactly alike because the same company built the houses using only a few plans.

As we get closer, I can see three buses blocking the entrance to the community. I run over to the one that has 2
43 written in big bold letters on the side, and I get on the bus. It’s empty. I check each row of seats. No blood and no dead bodies. It’s a good sign that my sister is truly alive.

When I step out, Miss
Carter is waiting for me. She asks, “Anyone inside?”

“No, it’s abandoned.” I answer with relief. “
Do you know whose house my sister is at?”

“Mrs. Darby took most of the girls in.” She answers.
“I’ll take you over there after we take the kids to my house. They need to get some rest first.”

I take Sarah’s hand, and I follow the group.
I really want to go to this bus driver’s house first, but I decide to do as Miss Carter says.

We’
re walking a little faster now. Their final goal is in sight. Miss Carter gets to the front door of her home, and she unlocks it. Everyone runs inside except for me. I take off my bag, sat down on the top step of the porch, and I take in a deep breath. I’m feeling so beat up and so unhappy.

Honestly, I feel like I’m about to emotionally explode. That’s exactly what it is. I have no idea where my parents are. Agni is questionable, as well. My sister is still up in the air, but I feel pretty confident that she’s alive. I just want everything to work out, just one time. That’s it. Just once, and I want everyone that I love to be with me. Why does it seem so impossible now? I put my head to my knees, and I let the tears fall. I just let my sorrow go.

My tears do eventually dry up, and I’m left with contemplating my past and my unknown future. One thing I am certain is that this earth will never be the same. It’s changing faster than I can keep up with, and I feel like everything I’ve ever had is being snatched away. Really, everything has been snatched away and trying to get some of what once was has become the most difficult task I’ve ever had to face.

Just a few days ago, my family and I
called 20 Rose Court home. My parents worked. My sister and I went to school. We come home at night. We were simply surviving day to day, mundane task by mundane task. Now, it’s not so simple. I’ve learned through the paths I’ve taken that life is much more than just survival. It’s about taking time out for family and friends. Even when I was running for my life, they were foremost in my mind. My main goal was to fight for that connection because what else do I have if I don’t have my family and friends? What am I without them?

The moment is heavy
in my mind. My spirit is on the verge of being broken, but one person is holding me upright, and that’s my baby sister, Clover Anna Belle Raven.

Everything is catching up with me all at once
now, and I can hardly stand it. Every tear I wipe away is replaced with two more. I’m thinking that I cried enough a few minutes ago, but obviously I’m nowhere near done.

Someone touches my shoulder, and I turn to see that Miss
Carter is standing above me. She’s holding Sarah’s hand.

“Walk with us, Breanna.” Miss
Carter pleasantly requests.

I
leave my backpack where it is. Sarah is walking between us, and Miss Kiki is in front of us.

We’re silent
at first. Our footsteps are the only thing that’s making noise. We get to the end of the sidewalk and start strolling down the street.

There are candles and flashlights that are on in some houses. Some people are even sitting on their porch
es, and we can hear low mumblings of conversations. There is an ease in this place, like the outside world doesn’t exist. If this is where Chloe has spent her time, then she was in a good place. She was in a wonderful place.

Miss
Carter breaks the silence by saying, “Breanna, I can’t get that image out of my mind at the bridge. Titan City is literally gone. I mean, is it truly that bad? Is it like that around the world?”

I answer
in a serious tone of voice, “Yes, I believe so.”

“Do you think-
” She hesitates. She doesn’t finish her question.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

“I don’t know, Breanna. I really don’t know.” She sounds more disgusted than anything else, and I get it. Nothing is the same. Everything is frighteningly new, and our lives are out of control.

M
iss Carter stops in front of a white two story house. I see candles burning in the far left window, and there is movement inside. I see two full size adult shadows and one small one. My heart is jumping in excitement. Is Chloe inside of that house? Is that where she’s been the whole time?

Miss
Carter walks up the sidewalk to the porch, knocks on the door, and announces us to the people inside. I’m standing right beside her, anxiously waiting to see that missing part of my heart. Footsteps are coming from behind the door.

“
Say your name again! Who’s there?” A deep voice calls.

“Mr.
Darby, its Natalie Carter and Breanna Raven,” she shouts at the door.

The telltale sounds of locks being undone can be heard.
Mr. Darby finally opens the door, and Mrs. Darby is blocking the way in. I look at them expectantly. She nods with a warm smile and moves out of the way.

There
she is, my baby sister. Chloe with her red curls and bright shining face. She is staring back at me. She looks healthy. She’s a breath of fresh air. She is proof that happiness still exists.

Chloe screams my name and runs to me. I drop to my knees with open arms, and I hug her as tight as humanly possible. I smell her hair and kiss her cheeks. Her giggles are contagious, and I can’t help but to laugh, too. She’s real in my arms. She is so worth everything
I’d gone through to get to her, every single thing!

Even Miss Kiki is ecstatic to see her. She’s
dancing around us and barking as loud as she can. Chloe picks her up, and Miss Kiki is still wiggling and licking her face.

I ask her, “Are you okay? All ten toes and fingers?”

“Yes, all ten toes and fingers.” She repeats with a huge smile on her face. “Where have you been, Breanna? I thought you had forgotten about me?”

“Ar
e you kidding? I can’t forget you. Never in a gazillion years.” I say as I hug her again.

“Mr. and Mrs.
Darby took me home yesterday, but you weren’t there. Nobody was there.”

Don’t I feel horrible!
How I wish I stayed home now. Everything would be different. I’m just mentally kicking myself for not being patient and not sticking around. Not only would Chloe be with me but Agni would be, too. Now, I really feel bad about my friend. He wouldn’t be in the predicament he’s in now. He wouldn’t have left home if I would have just sat still.

I
remark, “I’m sorry, Chloe. I thought you were in Titan City. I went there looking for you.”

She asks with excitement,
“You seriously went looking for me, Breanna? You really did?”

“I really did.” I repeat.

Chloe asks with enthusiasm, “Did you go looking for Mom and Dad, too?”

“No,
sweetie, only you,” I sadly answer. “But I was thinking about going after them after I found you.”

Now, that I have my sister back, I realize taking her with me to search for our parents is a bad idea. We’d have to leave Watermeal Island and
travel across a dangerous city. They’ll be nutcase soldiers firing at will and energy laser tanks blowing everything to smithereens. I can’t drag Chloe along and put her in danger like that.

“Have y
ou heard from them?” She looks at me with such huge hope, and I’m afraid to tell her the truth.

But considering how things are, it does no good to hide secrets even from a
second grader. I’m sure she knows and understands that things aren’t as they should be or used to be, and trying to paint it a different picture will only make me tell more lies in the future. She must know the truth.

“I haven’t heard from them at all
. I don’t know where they are.” Chloe looks down at the floor. “I’m sorry,” I say as I take her hand. She has no idea how much her disappointment cuts me to the core.

“Breanna, do you think they’re dead?”

“I don’t know, Chloe.” I remark before standing.

I turn my attention to Mr. and Mrs. Darby’s and shake their hands. “Thank you so much for taking care of Chloe.”

“It was our pleasure,” Mrs.
Darby answers. “I’m just glad you made it back home.”

“Me, too,” I say.

Mrs. Darby asks, “Why don’t you stay with us for the evening? It’s too late for you to try and get home. We don’t mind you and your sister staying at all.”

Actually,
Mr. Darby doesn’t look too pleased with his wife’s offer, but I try to ignore the glare he’s giving her.

“Do you mind Miss Kiki
and Sarah?” I ask her politely.

“Of course not,” Mrs.
Darby remarks with a smile.

“Thank you, both. I really appreciate it.”

Mr. Darby grunts. Maybe, I should go home, but I don’t feel like walking another mile or so to get to Eremurus Cove.

Mr
s. Darby bends over to Chloe and say, “Why don’t you take your sister up to where you sleep. We need to speak with Miss Carter privately.”

My sister takes my right hand, and I instantly cringe
from the sharp pain. Everyone look at me strangely. I smile and shake my head trying to act like everything’s fine. I give Chloe my left hand, and she leads me and Sarah up the steps.

I stop
halfway realizing I left my backpack on Miss Carter’s front porch. I tell Chloe I have to go get it, but Miss Carter puts her hand up before I can go down one step.

“I’ll have Shawn bring it
over to you.” Miss Carter says.

That does sound like a better idea actually. I thank her, and
I continue following my sister.

The
room that Chloe has been living in is a cute little space. There’s a cushy soft bed with a pink comforter and pillows. Toys are all over the floor. She turns on a lamp, and for a minute I start to think the electricity is turned back on. I soon come to my senses. The lamps have no wires coming out of it.

We
all crowd on the bed. The girls already know one another. So, introductions are not in order, and Miss Kiki finds a cozy spot in our make-shift three person circle. My heart is soaring because my baby sister is finally in front of me. She’s alive and well, and I’m thrilled.

“Chloe, did the bus have any problems getting across Olympus Bridge?”

She answers as she’s petting Miss Kiki, “No, it just took a really long time.”

“Where are the other kids
that were on the bus with you?” I ask curiously.

“Mr. and Mrs.
Darby walked them home yesterday. Everyone is with their parents or a babysitter except for me and one more kid. He’s asleep in the next room.”

“Do you know who he is?” I ask simply out of curiosity.

“Tony Hemley.”

Brett Hemley’s brother, the jerk that thinks he’s the best quarterback West Titan High School ever had. The last time I saw him he was bouncing a basketball at the bus stop before the big explosion.

I wonder if his parents are alive, and where is Brett, anyway? Why wasn’t he home when the Darby’s went to his house yesterday? Maybe, Brett is dead, too. Poor Tony, all of his family must be gone.

I can’t dwell on that anymore. I change the subject back to us. “
I’m sorry it took me so long to find you. I thought for sure you were at the elementary school.”

“What count
s is that you found me. So, what are we going to do now?”

“I have no idea, Chloe
. Maybe, we’ll go home in the morning.”

Chloe remarks,
“I want to go after Mom.”

“
Where she works is too far, and it’s too dangerous to travel in Titan City.”

Chloe
sighs and says, “I believe they’re alive, Breanna. I believe they’re just waiting for someone to rescue them.”

What confidence. I love that about her. I had hope just like that when it came to her, but honestly, I have none left for my parents. It’s just a gut feeling.

“Do you think my parents are alive?” Sarah asks shyly.

I say with confidence,
“I think your mom is alive. I’ll take you to her tomorrow.”

Chloe
and Sarah lay down, and I stretch out on the end with just a sliver of room. Miss Kiki scoots her way between Chloe and Sarah. At least, they’re comfortable, but my discomfort still doesn’t stop me from crashing out, too.