Years before a nuclear war had raged overhead, forcing the remainders of humanity underground into huge cities made in the earth. They left cameras out there so there would be a constant stream of what was happening on the surface. Everyday was the same, black fog and smoke rolling over the deserted, destroyed land, hardly anything was viewable. Generations past, and still they lay in wait of the news allowing them back to the surface, until then, they'd be stuck underground, waiting.
It was dark, almost everyone was in bed, the streets empty, and then two young girls ran across the street looking for something. The eldest girl was no older than 7, the younger, only 5 and carrying a teddy bear, both blonde, both homeless, both looking for something to eat.
They came across one house with a cat flap; the younger one crawled in then unlocked the door from the inside and let the other into the kitchen. As quietly as they could they started putting food into the thin bag they kept with them, but not quiet enough.
The main light suddenly flicked on and two boys, one 12, the other only 8, stood in the doorway. The younger girl hid under the table the moment the light turned on, but the other didn't know where to go and just stood frozen in the middle of the kitchen.
'Muuuuuuuum,' the elder boy yelled upstairs 'Daaaaaaad! There are people in the kitchen!'
Movement could then be heard as his parents got out of bed and made their way downstairs. Soon they were in the kitchen doorway too, just behind the boys.
'People? I only see one' the mother said, looking into the room, assessing the situation.
At that point the older boy crawled under the table and pulled out the younger girl, who made no attempt to escape, and made not one sound.
'She's he' the boy announced
By this point the father had gone over to the other girl and taken the bag off her, he looked in it.
'Thieves' He said simply, not sounding happy at all, 'taking our food' he looked between them both, 'care to explain yourselves?'
The younger one made no sound, but was crying, still in the grip of the older boy and holding her teddy tight to her chest. The other girl then spoke, quietly
'We… We have no where to go…' She told them, while looking at the floor in front of her, 'no food… No home… No family… We haven't eaten in days…'
The father wasn't too sure about what she said but the mother took pity
'You poor things…' She said to them, 'How old are you… What are your names?'
The older one spoke again, still very quietly, 'I'm 7… Kate's 5…. I'm Charlotte…'
'Well I'm sure we can find you some food and a place to stay… Isn't that right Thomas?' She looked at her husband
'I guess so…' He replied, but didn't sound too sure about it
Smiling, the mother turned to the younger one, Kate
'Would you like something to eat? What do you like?' She asked her, but again only the older one spoke
'She's mute… She hasn't spoken a word since her parents died…'
'Oh… Well… We'll find you both something' the mother then said to them
After they had eaten they were introduced to everyone, the two boys, Garrett, the elder one, and Peter, the younger one who had been adopted into the family, and the parents, Thomas and Susan. They were given beds and allowed to stay with them, until they were old enough to leave again.