No Comfort

"We're here to help."

Soren called out as they moved to the door. The sound of locks being pulled away was unnaturally loud at the moment. The door swung open to reveal a woman with short brown hair, wearing a t-shirt that advertised the childcare and jeans. She looked as if she were on the verge of breaking down but somehow remained calm.

"Thank god! I wasn't sure if anyone would ever come."

"What happened?"

It was clear what happened, but Soren felt that having her talk about it would help her mental state and give him a clearer picture.

"Oscar and I were watching the kids play, it was early and most of them hadn't been here long. The next thing I know Oscar is screaming and starts to look different. The kids start screaming. I-I didn't realize what he was doing at first when he… when he picked up John."

She stared off to the side, her eyes lost their light as she was remembering what had happened.

"Ms. Kelly!"

One of the kids downstairs called out, pulling her from the horrors that she had seen. Kelly turned to look around the room and caught sight of the dead, and mutated, Oscar.

"Is Sarah ok? She's our receptionist."

"She ended up like Oscar, though she was locked in the reception area."

Kelly nodded her head and started to move downstairs. Soren and the others followed behind her. Standing at the end of the stairs was a kid around five, his brown hair was unruly and his hazel eyes were a little wide.

"It's ok, Luka, these nice people have come to help us."

Luka smiled at his teacher's reassuring words, though his eyes did not match. He was old enough to understand what was going on. More so than the rest. Soren and the others introduced themselves to Luka and Kelly.

Further in the room, which turned out to be a storage room that doubled as a storm shelter, the rest of the surviving kids were huddled in a corner. There was a girl who looked about the same age as Luka, she had short brown hair and brown eyes and was holding a sleeping baby.

Sitting by her was a boy with bright red hair and green eyes and a face full of freckles. Sitting between the two were two girls who would have been identical if it was not for the fact that one had short blond hair and the other had short dark blond hair.

"The baby is Neve, Blair is the one holding her. The twins are Rosa and Catherine and the handsome fellow there is Glen."

The kids looked up while Kelly was introducing them. Blair narrowed her eyes while she held the baby close.

"Are you taking us home?"

"Right now we're going to take you to a safe place. It may be a little while before we can take you home. I can promise that we will keep you safe."

Fry had stepped up and crouched down in front of Blair, putting them eye to eye. Kelly looked at the three, holding her arms as if she were hugging herself.

"Where are you taking us?"

"We have a safe place just outside of town. It's the safest place around at the moment. You'll understand why when we leave."

Soren tried his best to sound friendly, the mask that he wore while around humans had come up. It seemed to work. Kelly let out a deep breath and started to get the children up. She took the baby from Blair. Kelly grabbed a large bag and filled it with the formula that was down there as well as bottles of water, a couple of baby bottles, and diapers.

Fry picked up the twins, Kelly took Glen's hand, Blair and Luka held hands, and walked between Fry and Kelly. Avery took up the rear while Soren led the way. They did their best to shield the children from what had happened in the building. Despite how hard they tried, Luka took it in while covering Blair's eyes.

Once they were outside they brought everyone to the van and secured the kids in the back. Fry and Kelly had to sit on the floor in the back, Kelly continued to hold the baby. Soren had Avery sit upfront and they drove with the window down. Avery kept his gun out and was prepared to shoot if a mutated came near.

The further in they went the harder it was to drive around the cars that had been abandoned. Those in the back were spared from viewing the outside world, but Soren and Avery got a clear view. Some cars had been abandoned with their doors left open, a couple had blood splattered on the windshield. One car had a mutated trapped inside, this one they left alone.

There was screaming off to the right side and a second later a woman ran out from between two buildings. A mutated in a green tracksuit was chasing after her and caught up before she could get far. She was dead before she hit the sidewalk. As they drove by Soren slowed down and Avery shot the mutated.

Everyone in the back was on edge the moment they heard the scream. When the shot rang out everyone but Fry jumped. Kelly turned to look at the front of the van, her eyes wide.

"They're everywhere, aren't they?"

Kelly spoke low so that the kids could not hear her. She had noticed how quiet it was outside. The gas station that was across the street from the daycare was usually very busy, today it was quiet.

Fry nodded, "I'm afraid so. We just came out so we're not entirely certain about everything. Did you get the information about the tornado?"

"No, we don't keep our cell phones with us while working."

"A tornado touched down in KC. They're comparing it to the big one that hit Joplin a few years ago.

"The tornado made its way here, hitting the edge of the city. I doubt we got anywhere near the destruction of Kansas City, but we still have a mess."

The baby started to fuss so Kelly gave Neve her full attention. In the end, to calm the baby, Kelly made a bottle. Once Neve had settled down Kelly glanced over at the kids who were strapped in, sitting on the bench. They were quiet and reserved, an unusual sight for kids their age.

"There is a good chance that none of them will be able to go home? Or that their parents are still alive?"

Fry nodded her head. She felt like there was nothing else she could say. There is no comfort when your world has suddenly ended.