Chapter 6 - Somewhere, Anywhere

"Somewhere, anywhere, but we can't stay here anymore," Mother Jade shook her head after saying this. "I talked with Mr. Kooper dear, he..... He said that the plague is spreading and it is spreading fast Reya. Even though there are antibiotics to cure it, we don't have it within their reach. The hospital we stayed in does not have it," she said with her eyes wide.

Dropping her head in her palms, "I don't want to risk it, dear," she whispered. She raised her head with tears streaming down her face, "I don't want to risk your lives."

"Mom," Reya cried and hugged her trembling shoulders. "Let's leave then, we'll go somewhere far. Maybe Canada if we have to," she whispered, dropping her head on her shoulders. She gently rubbed her back to calm her down.

Momma jade whimpered and pulled her closer.

Their mom had always been the backbone of their family, and to see her crumble like this, breaks her heart.

"It will be fine mom. It will be fine," Reya repeated as she stood hugging her crumbling form.

"Mommy, Reyaa," Mina whimpered, pulling at her shirt.

Momma Jade wiped her tears and smiled at their little angel, "My little darling, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" she whispered pulling little Mina into their family hug.

"Its becaose you are crying," Mina's small muffled whisper was heard.

Reya just chuckled and rubbed her cute bald head, "Mina, see now we are not crying. Even mommy's happy. What's to cry for?" she said cheerfully, wiping her tears away in haste.

"Really?" Mina whimpered, lifting her head from her mother's bosom.

"Really," Reya answered her with the most cheerful smile she could muster.

"Really," her mom answered with a tearful smile.

Reya gazed at her mom with a smile and said, "Sooo... any plans on how we are going to travel. Because travelling by wheels has become out of commission," tilting her head, waiting for her answer.

"We will be travelling by foot. And maybe we can take the trolley in the back shed, Mina can take rest in it occasionally," she said silently scribbling in a notepad she found nearby.

Reya sat down next to her. "What about food? Are we going to scavenge along the way or are we taking some food from the shelter?" she inquired biting her lips.

"Mr. Kooper has promised to get us some extra rations. That would last us for 3 or four days max," Momma Jade mumbled, busily scribbling on her note pad. "We also need some blankets and lighter, in case we want to start a fire. No, No, we need a flint. Torches, yes, some weapons to protect ourselves should be added to the list, maybe a knife or so. No guns, god forbid, she am not handing a gun to any of my daughters," She kept mumbling as she scribbled in her notepad.

Reya smiled at her actions. This has always been one of her quirks, her smarty mom can brave through a storm with just her brain.

"Reya," Mina pulled at her clothes, snapping her attention from her mom.

"What is it, dear? Are you still hungry?" she cooed, pulling her into her lap.

"Can we find your hair before we leave?" Mina said with hesitation.

"Definitely darling, we can search for it. But if we don't find it, she can always grow her hair back and make a wig out of it," she said trying to sooth her nervous little sister. She knew when her sister is nervous and when she is not. Usually, she will keep pulling at the bottom of her clothes when she is nervous.

"Really! Yeahh," Little Mina squealed in glee, lifting her tiny hands up in the air.

"Okay, kids, I am going to prepare everything on this list. And if you have any necessities, pack them quickly. We will be leaving by tomorrow morning," Momma Jade informed them.

She came over and hugged them both and rushed out of the room.

"Mommy's like a jet of wind, hehehe" Mina giggled, watching her mother rushing out.

"Yeah she is, isn't she?" she chuckled and got up from their dining table. "Let's go search before it gets dark" she cooed and lifted her little sister.

"Yeashhh," she cried, jumping in her arms.

They didn't go towards the hospital ruins; instead she led them towards a wig store she saw nearby, in hopes that they might have some human hair wigs. They did check the store before the earthquake to find some wigs, but it was bloody expensive, so they rejected the idea.

Mina walked with a skip in her step, "I am gonna have hair again~" she said in a singsong voice.

"We got to check if they have some or not," Reya said booping her nose. Hearing this, she looked downcast.

Mina pouted gazing at her.

Reya didn't want to disappoint her in case the store was completely in ruins.

They reached the store, but it had partially collapsed. She saw the entry way was still open, "Mina, you stay here okay. I'll go check the inside." she said, hopping on the broken concrete.

"Reya!" she cried, running after her and held her shirt.

"Darling, you have to wait here. It's not safe inside," Reya said, removing her little hands from her shirt. She got down to her eye level and held her shoulder, "You wanted hair right, I will bring some for you but you have to wait right here," she said pointing to the ground.

Mina started crying with little sobs and hugged her tighter. "Don't go in there, Reyaa. I don't want hair. I only want you," she cried into her shoulders.

"Oh my poor baby, it's okay, nothing will happen. I will be out in a jiffy," Reya said, hugging her close to her.

Suddenly the ground started to tremble again. Wide eyed in fear, she held Mina in her arms. The building in front of her completely collapsed from the newest earthquake. 'Shit, what is going on now,' she thought as she gazed skyward. Slowly but surely the red planet was moving closer to them.