Page 27 of Shattered Home

With a sudden realization, I started scanning the area more frantically, looking for dark hair that mirrored mine. I had been so caught up in the safety of the twins, I forgot the possibility that my family could be here.

Unfortunately, I only had a moment to search before we were led into a large tent. The material was thick, I would guess weatherproof, and much larger than the other tents dotting the ground. Inside, there were more people at a desk with a few computers set up.

The sight shocked me, given that the internet and cell reception had gone months ago, but it seemed they had access that normal civilians didn’t. This seemed to be some sort of headquarters set up and I wondered why it wasn’t in the large building I had spotted in the middle of the camp.

“Sit down,” a stern woman behind the desk instructed, not bothering to glance up at us.

Still holding the twins' hands, I led Lucas to one of the seats, sitting myself in the other with Stephanie on my lap. The four guards that had brought us in left the tent, leaving us alone with people who looked to be more receptionists than gunmen. But when one of the men behind the desk turned, I saw the bulge in his waistband, and I knew that was silly of me to assume we were safer here than out there.

“Names and familial relation,” the woman said again, still tapping away on the computer.

Lucas and Stephanie were shocked still, neither of them opening their mouths, and I was thankful. I didn’t know much about what was happening, but I knew for a fact they weren’t about to get the truth out of me.

“Lauren Califorie.” The name came to me easily, Lauren had been the nurse I worked closest with and Califorie, I had learned, was Murphy’s last name. “These are my little siblings, Beth and Emmett.”

Stephanie curled tighter into my embrace, and Lucas looked at me with wide eyes. I didn’t dare look at them, but hoped they understood to not say anything different. I wasn’t sure how much the two eight-year-olds knew about everything going on and although I hated the position we were in, I hoped the fear of the situation kept them quiet.

Finally, the woman looked up; her features even more sharp straight on. Her nose was long, her eyes squinted and lips pursed. When she looked at me, I could have sworn I saw a moment of disbelief, but it was gone when she glanced at the screen before her once more.

Looking up again, she narrowed her eyes at me, as if she could smell the lies pouring from my lips. “And where are you from?”

“Wisconsin. We were here on a family vacation.”

I wanted to pat myself on the back for how quickly the made-up story was coming to me, but I kept my face blank as she continued to stare at me with scrutiny.

“And where are your parents?”

“Gone.” When my eyes welled with tears, it wasn’t for her benefit. My parents truly were gone and the fact still ripped me up inside.

“We have all your information. Find an empty tent. Dinner is served in the main area at six pm.”

“And where is the main area?” I asked, but she was already back to clicking away, paying us no mind.

One thing was for sure, these people were absolutely no help. And how was I supposed to know when it was six pm?

Setting Stephanie back on her feet, I led the twins out of the tent and into the shuffle of people outside. Looking toward the building in the middle, I wondered if that was the main area. Of course, simply staring at it didn’t give me an answer, but I did get another one. A large digital clock read the date and time in bright red numbers.

The sight was slightly startling. It had been four months since I knew what day it was, let alone the time. We had been living by the sun and moon for so long now.

According to the clock, it was July 22nd and 2:06 pm. Realizing we had four hours to find where they were serving dinner and a place to sleep for the night, I pushed away any thoughts of finding my family. Lucas and Stephanie were my priority right now, my mom and brothers would have to wait. If they were even here.

“Come on, let’s go find an empty tent.”

Neither of them had said a word still, and they followed me silently. Most people we passed ignored us, too engrossed in their own misery to pay attention to those around them. I lifted the flaps of individual tents, finding bags of clothes in nearly every single one of them.

Finally, toward the back of the rows, I found a tent that seemed empty. There were sleeping bags inside, but no other supplies that would insinuate someone was sleeping inside. I figured if someone was, they could kick us out, but for now, we were claiming it.

Shuffling the twins inside, I lowered the flap, knowing I needed to talk to them in privacy. They must be so scared and confused. Glancing outside one more time, I made sure no one was around before turning to the two small faces before me.

“Do you guys know what happened?”

I figured that was a good place to start. I wasn’t sure if they remembered anything from last night or if they were completely lost.

Lucas shook his head and Stephanie whimpered, “Where’s my mommy?”

This time, I couldn’t hold back the tears that sprung to my eyes. They were terrified and I was not the right woman for the job. I could barely take care of myself, let alone two other people.

“Some men came to our camp and took us away. That’s why we’re here. I’m going to try to get us back to your mommy and daddy.”

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