193 Derrick Jones - Major Chapter - Doing What Is Necessary (1/2)

”This Great Transcontinental War... maybe Jacqueline took the children to someplace safe because of it,” said Miranda.

Elle tilted her head to the side, probably confused what we were talking about. It was logical that she didn't know about the war. She's a child. Anyway, it only happened about three weeks ago, near a month. She was cared for and stayed inside the house most of the time, away from any entertainment and media, and she was still a kid to boot. Warfare or anything related was not something a girl like her should know anyway.

”Someplace... safe?”

Aya put a hand at her chin— her eyebrows furrowed and faint creases appeared between her eyes. She was onto something.

”This orphanage... I'm pretty sure if there's a place here that they can use to hide... It has to be down there.”

The rest of us looked at each other, except for Elle. She, in particular, had a finger slipped into her mouth as she looked at each of us. I was pretty sure if I focused on her alone, a large question mark symbol would appear on top of her head.

I smiled at the thought, and Elle blinked a few times at that.

”By down there... you mean that place you set up a while back?”

”...Duh. It's pretty obvious, right?”

Aya led us all to a large, wooden bookshelf inside the orphanage. When she pulled a hefty green book away from its spot, the bookshelf let out a loud groan and it split into two, revealing a dark pa.s.sageway leading down.

”Hey... Isn't this a cliche secret entrance? You really go by the 'book' for this one,” commented Eugene.

We went along the stone staircase and after a few minutes, a s.p.a.cious area illuminated with fluorescent light greeted us. I took the lead and went deeper, when suddenly...

”Aaaaaaaaaaah!”

”Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Elle who was by my side let out a scream, and the woman in front of us couldn't help but scream as well.

”...Eh?”

”Huh?!”

”...Jacqueline?”

That woman, who was my younger sister stared at me, and we found ourselves locked in each other's gazes. She was wearing a dark cardigan paired with a frilly white ap.r.o.n. Her ponytailed dark hair reached until her waist, and those brown eyes of hers, after what seemed forever, were slowly filled with tears.

She sniffled and tears trickled down her cheeks. ”...Brother.”

Before either of us could say anything further, she hugged me tight and released all the pent up emotions within her. In a split second, her wail echoed throughout the room.

”Derrick, look.” Aya pointed at one spot in that brightly lit room.

A bunch of children I recognized from the orphanage— popped out from a corner because of Jacqueline. It didn't take long for her to calm down and explain why they were all hiding down there. Though, the reason was just as expected.

”Because of the war, we were forced to stay down here. The kids... they don't really have anywhere to go,” explained Jacqueline. ”We have been down here for a few days now.”

”A few days? Then, you were still on the surface when the war started?” I asked.

”Yes... However, I tried to get some supplies by myself since most stores are closed. There has been an executive order to remain inside for as long as the war still ongoing.”

”Hm...”

Eugene and Elle were playing with the orphans at the back of the room, while the rest of us stood at the side. Despite the stone staircase we used to reach here, the walls of this s.p.a.cious room were made of metal. And it was not an ordinary metal—at least—not one a civilian would expect.

It was layered alloys, strung and melded together to form a solid barrier against earthquake. The silver sheen it gave made it seem someone had been polis.h.i.+ng the walls and ceiling every now and then. Illuminating us, was a small, rounded fluorescent light— but this one proved to be more than enough to be our light source. It didn't use electricity to boot, and 100% of its energy came from the solar panels outside.

”...” I looked over at Elle and she waved her hand. From the corner of my eye, I could see Jacqueline looking at me, and I smiled at her.

Jacqueline, my younger sister— I hadn't seen her for a long while. We talked on the phone from time to time, but that was it.

”Hey, Derrick. What are we going to do now?” asked Aya.