19

"What's the password?" I smiled gently. 

The boy rambled off a long complicated password. I was kind of surprised he remembered the whole thing. I couldn't even type the whole mess in without him helping me. That kind of annoying normal thing seemed to help him relax. I saved the password on my phone so I wouldn't need to remember it. 

It would probably be the only time I used the wifi here anyway. I tried to call out again, but this time it was the other phone that failed, and not mine since I was sent straight to voicemail. I called the police again only to get kicked out because it was busy. I ignored the urge to frown. It looked like we were on our own. 

I sluffed down on the floor with the two kids, and allowed them to relax into a fitful sleep before joining them in blissful oblivion. I woke up at the sound of something moving around in the downstairs. I didn't move because the boys were still sleeping. I didn't know how long these two had been in the bathroom before I found them. I grabbed my phone off the floor near my head. 

I had only been asleep about an hour. I moved the towel under my head gently so I could place my ear directly on the floor. I could clearly hear three or four creatures moving around downstairs. I was careful not to move with the boys so close as I listened. I could feel the breath of the younger one on my chest. 

I closed my eyes so I could focus on the sound. The screen of my phone was the only light. I didn't know when the bathroom light had gone out. I reached above my head, and gripped my bow. Reaching it out so I could knock the towels off the window. 

I didn't think it was light out yet, but I needed to be sure. I managed to knock it down, and found I'd accidentally woken the younger one. I shushed him gently before setting the bow down gently. Looking up to the now uncovered window. I didn't see any light out that window. 

I inhaled slowly, and exhaled equally slowly before placing my ear back against the floor to listen. Whatever was down there didn't know we were up here. I wanted to keep it that way. I closed my eyes as I gently rubbed the younger boy's back. Making sure he was truthfully, and properly asleep. 

My muscles tensed up slightly when something downstairs was knocked over. My muscles coiled even tighter when something sniffed at the door. I made sure the towel was still pushed into the bottom of the door gently with my feet. I had to do it slowly to make sure I didn't wake the boys because I didn't want them to make a sound. I also didn't want to make a sound either. 

I listened to the sound of whatever it was sniffing on the other side of the door for some time. I couldn't relax until the sound of sniffing moved away. I went limp between the boys. Glad that whatever it was didn't come into the room. I fell back asleep after some more time. 

I was completely, and totally exhausted. It didn't matter how tough I was. I couldn't run on so little sleep. I was used to getting eight or more hours before all this started. While the amount of sleep I was getting dropped from eight plus hours to five I hadn't slept even an hour yet. 

I was a bit groggy when I managed to wake up around daylight. I woke both boys up quietly before listening intently to the floor, and walls around me. I didn't hear any sounds. Whatever had been in this house had either settled down or left. I turned to the older boy. 

"Do you know where your mom keeps her keys?" I asked quietly. 

I'd accepted we were pretty much on our own when the phone wouldn't go through last night. I decided to go back to my bug for my wallet, but after that we were getting out of here. 

"Her purse," he responded. 

I didn't let the dread of that answer reach my face. If she'd had her purse with her when this house got attacked then I was going to have one hell of a time finding it. I didn't say any of that aloud. 

"Do you two live here or were you visiting?" I kind of regretted not asking these questions yesterday. 

"We came to visit grandma for her birthday," There was sadness in the older boy's eyes. 

"Ok," I grabbed my bow, and handed them each a dagger that I'd crafted from the unicorn horns, "Make sure to point these away from you. They'll scare the monsters if you point them at them."

The older boy understood better then the younger one. I was giving them weapons because I might not be able to get out of here alive. We didn't know what was downstairs let alone what was outside. 

"We're going to go downstairs, and find a working car ok?" I nodded reassuringly, "Once we get a car we're going to go to town, and find some police so they can help find your mommy."

I felt guilty because I was lying my ass off. The older one seemed to know that, but the hope in the younger boys eyes was crushing me from within. I'd always had a soft spot for children even if I myself wasn't sure I ever wanted to be a mother. There was one thing I was sure of though, and it was that the younger boy might not listen to me if I didn't lie to him right now. I headed down the stairs first. 

The boys weren't far behind me with the daggers I'd given them. I had my bow out in front of me with an arrow already nocked into place ready to be drawn. I scanned through the downstairs I could see. Listening intently for the slightest sound. 

"Where did your family park their cars?" I distinctly remembered not seeing any vehicles near the house.