Prologue
It's hard to believe that after everything that happened today, through all the destruction and chaos, that this many news vans were functional for "first on the scene" interviews. I walked further into the debris, slightly dazed, trying to understand the logic behind religions and think of a higher purpose or silver lining which could be attributed to today's events.
I couldn't.
All I did was hope that that guy received some much needed help. Surely he can't be in his right mind to cause so much mayhem. Call me naive but I believe that there is good in all of us, some people just need extra help discovering it. I overheard a group of people saying a strange name, 'Loki' I think, as being the cause. Maybe it was my sheer terror and stinted brain functioning I was feeling because of it but during the calmer moments, when I wasn't thinking of my family, all I could think was how could someone with such a lovely name be so evil. Then it hits me.
God of Mischief. Figures.
A reporter came up to me and asked me my opinion on the Avengers and who's to blame. I was momentarily shocked that these were the questions that were being asked.
"What? That this is somehow their fault? Captain America saved my life. Wherever he is…or wherever any of them are, I would just….I would want to say thank you…" I finally replied. A small hope in my mind that they may see this and know they are appreciated. Especially the Captain. I didn't get to see him properly but I had no doubts as to whose suit he was wearing. Propaganda during the Second World War was something I was very interested in during secondary school, only Captain America was not really in depth. But I knew it was him sitting there. I could feel it.
Thinking back to how brave he was defending us against those…those things, brings a small smile to my face, that someone could be so self-sacrificing and courageous. People need someone like that to look up to; I'm glad that the next generations will have someone to idolise like him. Perhaps that's the silver lining? Hmm…maybe.
I retake in my surroundings and see the emergency services helping in the more populated areas were people have been evacuated. Seeing all those injured people and those mourning for others that hadn't made it and I realised just how blessed I was. My family are back in England, probably worried sick. I'm relatively unharmed, apart from a few aches and scrapes and am fully functional. Yet I'm standing here wasting space. I decided then to walk into the city and see if anyone needed help.
I walk at a leisurely pace to ensure I don't miss anything, stealthily avoiding any authorities that would try and force me into a 'safer location'. My eyes dart around the crumbling architecture around me and I try and am listening for any cries for help. After about 2 hours of walking I wind up outside a small, battered café and notice that my hands are shaking quite viciously. I put it to the shock settling and decide to see if the is anything inside to get my sugar up, last thing I need is to collapse. I can't make out the name of the café as the sign is ruined beyond repair but I step through the door less doorframe anyway and make for the kitchen. I reach the counters and happily realise I won't need to hunt around as some of the pre-wrapped food was still fine, slightly squished, but edible all the same. I grab a baguette and water and place some money next to the broken till. I brush the glass off a nearby chair and settle into my cheese salad baguette. I'm sure nothing….ever…..in this world has tasted so good. I mean seriously, it was like an orgasm in a roll. As I finish of the sandwich I felt much calmer and able to carry on when I heard a whimper.
My head whipped up as I headed towards the sound outside the café, water bottle clutched in hand. I hear it again on my left and turn to scan the area, slowly moving forward. I reach a small passage between two buildings which seemed filled with rubble and I heard the cry again, my heart clenched when I realised that it was undoubtedly a child.
"Hello? Can you hear me?" I called. The relpy was instant.
"YES! YES! PLEASE HELP US! MY BROTHER ISNT WAKING UP!" I heard a young girl practically screamed with relief of being found.
One word echoed through my mind….Shit.
"Ok sweetheart I'm gonna start moving the rocks to get to you ok?" I call as loudly and gently as possible. I can hear her beginning to panic, her breathing become laboured and rapid.
"Hunny I need you to stay calm for me ok? Can you tell me how far you and your brother are in?" I say, hearing my voice echo slightly through the stacked, narrow passage.
"Not to f-far. I-I-I wanted us t-to be able to r-run out if we needed t-to. B-but the rocks….t-they just fell s-so f-ast.." She replied through sobs. My heart ached for her. I knew in order for us to get through this I needed to not be distracted by her heart wrenching cries and she needed to even her breathing under those rocks. Who knows how much dust they've already inhaled?
"Ok! That's good news. That means I'll be with you all the faster ey?" I tell her, adding a cheerier note to my tone in an attempt to calm to scared child as I begin to throw the heavy stones to my right.
"So, what are your names then? Do you live around here?" I ask to keep her talking and awake, still moving the coarse rubble.
"My name is Angelina and my little brother is Joesph…" she replied in a small voice. "We do live here, yes. My mama and papa own a small café nearby that we live above. Papa said it was gonna become world famous cause his sandwiches were so good." She said, voice clearly calmer. So this was the offspring of the orgasmic sandwich maker huh? I smile inwardly at her lighter tone. She was openly proud of the little café.
"Oh you do huh? What makes them so special?" I ask in attempt to keep her on a topic which clearly makes her happy.
After a few prompts I can hardly get a word in through her chatter. Only laughing and 'hmm'ing when necessary, which is a good thing I guess as the muscles in my arms are starting to throb and ache and my palms were bleeding quite heavily now from all the gashes the sharper rocks were leaving. Occasionally I would hiss in pain and Angelina would ask if I was ok to which I would laugh and comfort her, telling her to tell me how her brother is doing and then to carry on with her story.
I gritted my teeth through the pain as I heard her voice get louder and saw both children under a few really big pieces of rock.
"You lied" Angelina accused.
I looked over to the beautiful little girl, no older than 12. Her hazel hair was dishevelled and her face covered in dust and a small amount of dried blood radiating from a tiny cut on her forehead. I looked into her large brown, watery eyes with a confused look on my face.
"You said you were fine. Your covered in blood and bruises." She said. Staring at my body as tears slipped down her cheeks. I looked down at myself and held back a wince. She was right, I looked a mess, like I has a very filthy madman butcher or something.
"Only a little bit darling…" I began. "No. That…" she said gesturing to me with her one free arm. " is not a little bit. You're probably in a worse condition than both of us…"
I smirk at the caring little girl. "Well how about when I take you back, I get looked at too and we see yeah?"
"Deal" she said, smiling through her tears and stroking her brothers head.
I looked around me then back to them. They wouldn't be able to walk, I may not have known their injuries but I knew not to let them stand after that much rock had been on them. "Ok, so here's what we're going do. I'm gonna move these rocks of you first and then you'll stay here why I find something to take you and your brother to safety in" I state, leaving no room for argument.
Angelina nodded still looking at her baby brother Joseph who looked around 7, the poor thing. "you need to brace yourself now Angel. I'm gonna move the slabs but it is going to hurt. I'm so sorry about this…."I say looking into her eyes. She simply smiles at the nickname and nods as her permission to proceed and I waste no time doing so.
I start with the big stones on their legs before moving onto the three big slabs of concrete lying on top of them. I try to lift one directly off Joseph but it is far too heavy for me to do alone. All I can do is lift them partially and slide them away. Luckily Joesph is still unconscious so he shouldn't feel the pain. The technique worked and I soon freed him of the slabs and went to free Angelina.
"You ready?" I say. She nodded biting her lip. I lift the slab off her slowly, with it being the heaviest I have come across. I hear her scream out in pain and force myself to work faster. I can feel the pain of blood rushing to my brain with the strain of the weight, the sweat rolling down my forehead. My arms shaking as I finally shifted the slab off of Angelinas body.
Then in truly Terri fashion I drop the edge of the slab on my foot.
"OH YOU LITTLE BAST..." I stop myself from finishing the curse in front of the children and take a deep breath as I place my weight on my foot. A stabbing pain shoots up my leg and I flinch. Probably broke something but I have no time to pay attention to the pain. I carry on with my tasks, gritting my teeth. My entire body feels weak and I can feel my exhaustion begin to take hold. But I can't stop. Not until these kinds ore with the medics.
I lean in and kiss Josephs forehead and then kiss away Angelinas tears in an attempt to soothe her. "I'll be right back" I say to her, looking in her eyes. I can tell she notices my exhaustion but concern over her brother stops her from telling me to stop for a bit. I leave the alley and look for something just big enough to fit two children on, which would be easy to drag or push. The search takes longer than necessary with my exhaustion and foot injury limiting my speed but finally, about 15 minutes away from the kids, I found a what looked like a gardening center and decided to borrow flat gardening trolley. I look around a little longer and see that the center had camping gear. I picked up a few sleeping bags and opened them to create a soft padding against the wire of the trolley and also a blanket to cover them. Happy with what I retrieved I left some money on the counter and I began to head back to the children, stopping off at the café to grab some food that they will find comforting. By the time I reached the passage I could hear Joseph crying and Angelina trying to console him. I dragged the handle on the cart a bit faster to reach them and knelt to the ground to cup Josephs face. Silent tears fell down his face as he looked at me, pained, shocked and confused.
"Hey there soldier." I say with a smile "are you hurting?" Joseph nods, lower lip quivering, in answer and I nod back. I look at Angelina, giving her a look I hope portrayed that this applies to her also and then turned back to Jospeh. "We have got to get you to a doctor ok? So I'm gonna lift you now and go find you one. But it's going to hurt and I'm very sorry. Ready?" I say as I place my arms under his knees and back. "1….2…3" I warn as I lift him. His cries of agony bring tears to my eyes as I place him in the trolley and I continue to apologise for causing the pain. I stoke his face once he settles in the cart and notice the similarities between the children. Their parents must be beautiful people to create such adorable kids. I wonder what happened to them…. I shake my head from these darker thoughts and try to remain positive that their parents are ok.
"You were so, so brave little man" I whisper through a watery smile to Joseph. He smiles and blushes in return, making my own broaden. "I'm going to get your sister now then we'll head to the doctors ok?" I say gently and he gives me a small ok in return.
As I stand from my crouch I bite back my cry of pain. However it didn't go unnoticed by Joseph who reaches for my hand gently. I bend and kiss his cheek and try to push my pain to the back of my mind. I reach Angelina and we share a look, both concerned and apologetic as I reach around her. Both of us wincing as I did so. I hear Angelina bite back a cry as I lift her and I try to me as gentle as possible with her when I place her next to her brother. I was reaching for the blanket to cover them when I hear a small voice "What is your name?" Joseph asks, looking up at me with those gorgeous brown eyes I become so fond of.
I begin tugging the trolley back towards the safe zone before I reply.
"My name is Terri Cook sweetheart. Now why don't you tell me a little about yourself"….
In the shadows Terri was being watched by two separate parties. All unaware of each other. The first group left without a word or sound whereas the other onlooker pulled out his cell phone to make a call.
"I found the candidate" was all he said before ending the call and following Terri out of the shadows….