Explosion
It had been a surprise, although not an entirely unexpected one. There had been the rain, dark clouds forming ahead. But with the water came droplets of metal. Unleashing havoc in their path.
Mary had seen them multiple times before, had felt the disturbance in the wind. She had quickened her pace to get to the underground shelter. There was one nearby.
Two streets down, there was a resounding blast. She could see it, even from where she stood. The smoke that curled into the air, twisting its way across the rooftops, and the clatter of debris across the street.
London was crumbling.
Smoke filled the air. Not from factories but from fire. Homes and communities torn apart, people lost or relocated.
Its heart still beat; she could feel it, but it was faint and weak. There was nothing she could do.
With a sturdy rhythm, her heels clacked against the cobbles until she came to the end of the street where there had been an explosion. The sight was ghastly. But she had seen it all before.
To the side, a little girl was crying, clutching her teddy bear close to her chest. Mary approached her, noting the lack of adults around her. First response were preoccupied with the fire, trying to dwindle it to nothing. She briefly thought of Bert. A prayer was sent for him before she halted beside the girl, her gaze expressing her condolences.
"Come, Alice. This is no place for grieving."
She reached out her hand, an unusual gesture once upon a time. But this was no time for propriety.
Alice accepted her hand, so small in her gloved ones. She ceased to weep, even as her bottom lip continued to tremble, and she followed Mary unquestioningly down the street.
What a sight they made together. Side-by-side.