Chapter Twelve:

The village hall, nestled in the heart of Riverwood down in the valley, served as the central hub for the community. Daily, it buzzed with activity as residents gathered for various events and meetings.

Inside the village hall, a military recruitment office had become an integral part of the community, with many military personnel stationed there and residing within the village. This was due to the proximity of a military base, located just a few kilometers away.

After the bombing, residents had the same idea as the young couple, the father and daughter, and the elderly man—to seek refuge at the village hall.

Emerging from Mr. Jenkins' front garden, they turned right onto the curved street, heading towards the village hall. James, Ben, and Mr. Jenkins led the way, their arms interlocked around each other's shoulders for support and solidarity. Elizabeth and Emma followed closely behind, determined to reach the relative safety of the hall.

As the three walked in front, James glanced behind to check on Elizabeth and Emma before turning his head back around.

The crackles of gunfire echoed down in the valley, making James glance around warily, his voice tense, "Ben, are you alright? Any injuries?"

Ben shook his head, his eyes scanning the surroundings, "I'm fine, just a little shaken. Mr. Jenkins, how are you holding up?"

Mr. Jenkins winced slightly but tried to smile, "I've had better days, boys. But I appreciate you helping me. Just need to get to the village hall."

Ben looked ahead, his voice filled with determination, "Let's keep moving. We'll be safe there."

Mr. Jenkins took a deep breath, his voice resolute, "I've seen tougher days than this. We just need to keep going, one step at a time."

James glanced at Ben and then back to Mr. Jenkins, "Let's pick up the pace a bit. The sooner we get to the hall, the better."

From behind, Elizabeth called out, her voice filled with concern, "How's Mr. Jenkins doing? Do you need any help up there?"

James turned slightly to call back, "We're good, Elizabeth. Just stay close with Emma and keep moving."

Emma's voice, small but strong, piped up, "Is everyone going to be okay?"

Ben looked back with a comforting smile, "Sweetie, we're all going to be just fine."

Mr. Jenkins, his eyes filled with a glimmer of hope, said, "The village hall is always the first place people go in a crisis. I'm sure many made it there safely. We just have to get ourselves there."

James adjusted his grip on Mr. Jenkins, determination in his voice, "Alright, let's keep moving. We'll make it through this."

Ben offered a reassuring smile to Mr. Jenkins, "We'll get there together. We won't let anything happen to you."

Mr. Jenkins smiled back, his voice filled with gratitude, "Thank you, boys. Your support means the world to me right now."

James squeezed Mr. Jenkins' shoulder gently, "We look out for each other. We've got this."

Elizabeth called out again, "We're right behind you. Just keep moving. We're almost there."

Ben gave Mr. Jenkins a warm look, "And once we get to the hall, we'll figure out our next steps. Together."

They continued their journey, navigating through several streets scattered with debris from bombed-out houses. They came across several bodies lying where they had been killed. Each time they passed a body, Elizabeth shielded Emma's eyes, trying to protect her from the harsh reality surrounding them.

The distant gunfire was a haunting reminder of the urgency of their mission, but their collective resolve kept them moving forward, step by step, towards the promise of safety at the village hall.

After several tense minutes of walking down a debris-strewn street, the group maintained a determined silence, each of them focused solely on reaching safety. The distant sounds of gunfire echoed ominously, but they kept moving, driven by a shared resolve.

Suddenly, Elizabeth's voice rang out, breaking the silence. "James!"

The three men walking ahead halted abruptly and turned to look behind them. Elizabeth was seated on the low wall of a property, wincing in pain and clutching her belly. 

"Go!" Ben said to James knowing Elizabeth needs him. Mr Jenkins also nodded his head in agreement at James. James turned and made his way back to Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth! What's wrong?" James called, rushing back towards her.

Elizabeth took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I... I think it's the baby. The stress and all the walking... it's too much."