Cahpter Thirteen:

Elizabeth winced in pain, clutching her belly. "Oh... this is really not the time, baby..."

James rushed over, his eyes filled with worry. "Hey, breathe, just breathe. You're doing great," he said, kneeling down next to her and placing a reassuring hand on her back.

Emma, her eyes wide and voice shaky, looked worriedly between James and Elizabeth. "Is she going to be okay?"

James looked up at the anxious young girl. "She'll be okay, don't worry."

Elizabeth, catching her breath, also looked up at Emma with a reassuring smile. "I'm okay, sweetie. The baby's just letting me know they're alright."

James, still kneeling beside her, his concern evident, said, "We need to get you to the village hall. It's not much farther. Can you walk a bit more?"

Elizabeth, her breathing becoming more stable, shaking her head. "Just need a couple minutes."

Ben and Mr. Jenkins, a few meters away, wore worried expressions. Ben called out, "Do you need any help?"

James looked towards Ben and Mr. Jenkins. "We just need a couple of minutes," he replied.

"Okay, we'll keep going," Ben said, knowing that Mr. Jenkins also needed medical attention.

"We'll catch up with you," James responded.

"Alright… Emma, stay and help Aunt Liz, okay?" Ben said.

With a shaky voice and tears forming in her eyes, Emma nodded. "Okay."

James gently squeezed Elizabeth's shoulder. "Just a few minutes, then we'll get moving again."

Elizabeth nodded, taking deep breaths to steady herself. "Thank you, James. I just need a moment."

Emma knelt down beside Elizabeth, her small hand resting on Elizabeth's arm. "I'm here, Aunt Liz."

Elizabeth looked at Emma, her eyes softening with gratitude. "Thank you, Emma. You're such a brave girl."

After a couple of minutes, Ben and Mr. Jenkins had walked further along the road while Emma and James comforted Elizabeth.

"Do you think you can move now?" James asked Elizabeth.

Elizabeth nodded, though her face was tight with pain. "I'll try. Just help me up."

"Emma, help me get Aunt Elizabeth up," James asked Emma. Together, they slowly helped Elizabeth to her feet.

Elizabeth, with the support of James and Emma, stood up, taking deep breaths, wincing but trying to stay composed. "I can do this. Let's just keep moving."

She held onto James's arm while also taking Emma's hand. They started walking again, each step measured and careful.

Emma, her voice barely a whisper, asked, "I want my dad."

Elizabeth squeezed her hand gently. "Just a little further, alright?"

Emma nodded, her expression determined yet fearful. "Alright."

James, glancing ahead, saw Ben and Mr. Jenkins waiting at a distance, ready to continue once Elizabeth was able. "We're almost there. Just keep holding on," he said, his voice filled with encouragement.

After noticing that the three had started walking again, Ben and Mr. Jenkins picked up their pace. A few minutes later, they approached the end of the street and reached a T-section. Other residents, sharing the same intention of heading to the village hall, walked along the same road. To their right, a large bush obscured the turn they needed to take, creating an unsettling barrier. The three trailing behind them were just a couple of meters away.

As Ben and Mr. Jenkins rounded the corner, they were abruptly confronted by a sight that matched their worst fears. Standing in their path was a Valorian soldier, clad in military uniform and holding a rifle. Behind him, several more soldiers followed in formation, some venturing into the bombed-out houses lining the street, while others prodded the lifeless bodies scattered across the pavement.

The moment their eyes met, the soldier shouted, "HALT!" His voice was commanding yet tinged with surprise as he raised his rifle toward Ben and the elderly man. His shout sent a ripple of alertness through the other soldiers nearby, drawing their attention to Ben and Mr. Jenkins and the other residents.

For what felt like an eternity, the residents, including Ben and Mr. Jenkins, and the soldiers locked eyes in a tense standoff, neither side daring to make a move. The air was thick with uncertainty, as both groups waited to see who would act first.

Then, in a split second, chaos erupted. One of the soldiers positioned behind the one aiming his rifle at Ben and Mr. Jenkins suddenly opened fire on approaching figures around the corner. The sound of gunfire triggered an immediate reaction; other soldiers quickly joined in, including the soldier who had been glaring at Ben and Mr. Jenkins.

James, Elizabeth, and Emma, along with other residents who hadn't yet turned the corner, heard the soldier's shout and instinctively stopped walking. James exchanged worried glances with Elizabeth, confusion etched on their faces. He then suggested that she and Emma stay put while he crept closer to the edge of the bush that obstructed his view. 

Peering around the bush, James's heart sank as he spotted Ben and Mr. Jenkins, along with several other residents, frozen in shock as they faced the unfolding chaos. Just then, multiple plumes of red mist erupted from Ben and Mr. Jenkins, painting the street in a horrifying display.

Stunned by the scene before him, James snapped out of his daze and bolted back toward Elizabeth and Emma. 

"RUN!" he shouted, urgency lacing his voice as he raced back, causing the other residents to turn and flee in a panic.