The only signs of life left in Atlanta were the fires and the sounds of distant alarms and explosions.

Nothing else remained.

Every so often they tried to break the silence and speak to each other, but neither of them could think of a suitable topic of conversation, so they drove in near silence, Andy scrawling down the notes Lauren muttered every so often.

It felt like a miracle when they pulled onto their Grandma Ellen's street.

It looked almost untouched, but also hauntingly silent.

Like the grave.

Neither of them had high hopes when Lauren found the spare key and opened the door.

Neither of them were surprised the house was empty.

It felt like breaking into a stranger's home, or a museum. They could remember sitting on her sofas only three months ago, remember running up and down the stairs as children-

It was a lifetime ago.

They set up in the living room and Lauren booted up their Grandma's laptop, immediately seeking out information while Andy pulled blankets and cushions down to their new sanctuary.

"The military are trying to get things under control," Lauren said, breaking the silence once again. "They say to stay inside until they reach us."

There was nothing on what they wanted most, a message from their parents or a way to contact them. Lauren tried searching the news in and around Atlanta, but there seemed to be nothing from when the attacks began. Probably everything was too busy for them to upload it.

"So we wait?" Andy asked.

"I guess so."

It felt like the world had caught fire around them and all they could do was hope it put itself out before they got burnt.