Casualties

I placed in more gas masks, filling the box to the brim. Back out from the room, Alina was nowhere to be seen, did she go out?

Sebastian was already back, he began calling for us to huddle up, staying near the table.

"I talked with the strategist back at Parabellum, startling news came up but he didn't order us to head back." He started talking.

"What did he say?" Stephen asked, we were all eager for an answer. What could it be that would be more grim than this?

"Aregalia got attacked as well, the city our academy resides in was one of the targets." Some gasped through their masks while most stayed silent, eyes widened. Even our own city?

"The remaining mercs stationed in Parabellum were immediately sent out with protective gear. Took some time but they were all deployed outside, they reported that a bomb blew up nearby the academy as well, but luckily we locked the entire place down to prevent anything. All mercenaries were deployed outside and are currently aiding in the effort. Fucking hell." A new feeling of dread hit my body, shivers on my spine soon came up after. Our home was attacked as well, are my parents still alive throughout this? Or were they killed, i kept wondering in fear and concern.

"So what are we supposed to do here? They told us to stay here while our own home, our academy is currently under lockdown while gas is possibly fucking the entire city up?" Mary asked, angered.

"They told us that more mercs and military to civilian personnel arrived at the affected cities of Auropa, many civilians have been rescued and disinfection began in a few of em. For now though they ordered us to begin bringing bodies outside of the city as more and more personnel are acting as search and rescue. But there's less body recovery teams and most likely thousands of dead bodies left in the contaminated area. As for Aregalia and other affected cities in the continent, they said they're faring better." Sebastian explained.

"So from finding living people to finding dead people. Should be easier." Lennox commented.

"They said that we'll board the trucks outside the tunnel, it'll drive us to the affected city. Mostly inner areas but they will drive to specific areas we found that have many dead bodies still left if we tell em the location." He continued.

The others went to different rooms, mostly the gas mask room.

With everything already in my storage, i stepped out.

A mist bath finished, i exited for the outside. Sebastian stood outside, looking inside his ammo box. Alina wasn't anywhere in site. There were more personnel walking around doing different tasks, escorting people out of the tents to the repurposed buildings, entering through or out of the tunnel with survivors or body bags on gurneys. The place as more crowded than when we entered.

The others soon joined up with us, sirens blared outside the tents area. Probably police and other law enforcement.

While we stood around, Alina emerged from one of the tents, blood was smeared on her suit, she walked faster, passing by us and stepping inside the booth without a single word spoken to us.

"Is she alright?" Mary concerningly asked.

"She said she would help the others in the tents, guess something there happened." Sebastian answered.

Alina quickly went back out, joining up with us but still staying silent.

"Let's go." Now a full group, a new task was now in our midst, to recover any dead bodies in that place. This will be easier, we already found some spots with alot of corpses.

In the tunnel, we were misted one more time before disembarking. Through the gate, we went out, there were parked black trucks outside, some already had boarding passengers on them, probably more mercs or medical personnel ordered to find bodies.

Sebastian led us to one of the trucks. The back of it was open, gurneys folded up hung on the walls of the truck's cargo area while piles of body bags rested on the ground in the middle, there were small foldable seats on both sides. along with the gurneys, more ammo boxes like ours hung below them.

One of the medical personnel approached us.

"Recovery team as well?"

"Yeah." Sebastian answered.

"Alright, we'll ready up the truck and head out. Get on."

We stepped up, stepping inside the truck. Illuminated by a single lightbulb in the middle of it.

Piles of body bags around us, empty, ready to be used.

The door shut, leaving us inside, the engine began ramping up in a loud muffled roar, feeling the truck vibrate from it. Seconds after, we were off, the truck started moving.

"Alina, if it's alright to ask, what's wrong?" Sebastian now asked. Also concerned.

Alina stayed silent. Sebastian didn't continue with another question.

Our trip was silent, i looked down, staring at the pile of body bags. My ammo box sat between my legs while the truck kept on moving. From finding ones who can be saved to just searching for any bodies in sight, Sebastian did say that the strategist talked about more personnel were heading to affected cities. Hope the academy is alright though. Wonder if they're as affected as us or they're really handling it better than this place.

Minutes passed by, silently sitting in our seats, staying silent while the truck continued moving.

"Marcel, where are we on the map?" Sebastian asked, Marcel, tablet in hand started looking at it, tapping a few times.

"Nearing the center of the city." He answered.

"Are we gonna pass by those destroyed buildings again?" Sebastian questioned.

"Probably, maybe we'll return to that subway." LEnnox answered.

The truck slowed to a halt, once it stopped we stood up from our seats, carrying the boxes.

"Grab some of the body bags, don't think were gonna use the boxes as much." Sebastian ordered. Most of us dropped our boxes, grabbing a few empty body bags, i tucked mine under my arm, we all faced the door, waiting for it to open.