Bab 22: Sparked Hope

Volume Two

Chapter 22

The shelter was in disarray. The government had been destroyed, the people had been left to fend for themselves. The communication from the sister shelters had been cut off. Politicians now had no more power to beguile people. They were as helpless as anyone. Money was viewed as useless. There was no more division between the rich and the poor. Everyone was finally equal. But it was still chaos.

When we arrived, I was sent immediately into the shelter's medical facility. They patched up my fracture as best as they could. But some of my bones were shattered. I had to get an operation to put fixators and immobilizers in my broken arm. They had limited resources since they were caught off guard that the vampires would eventually have ways to cut communications between shelters.

They gave me a round of antibiotics. But they still had to call me back for scheduling. If I had broken my arm before, the hospital would immediately do surgery on me. It was imperative to do it as soon as possible to promote healing and to avoid infection. They could only try and cast my fracture with a sawed window for my wound. But I was as helpless as everyone. With the given oral antibiotics that I know would help little to none, I was sent home to my assigned home.

My family was given a home in the shelter. My father was one of the many who contributed to the further development of the Mindanao shelter. It was the most advanced therefore we, his family, were sent in it.

I was only able to ride on public transportation. Unfortunately, being a useless daughter of one of the shelter's benefactors was treated the same as any person who can't contribute. I was dismissed from military service, what remained of it, that same day. My friends had been whisked off to different areas they could be useful in. And I found myself one of the many who were walking towards what looked like a little subdivision for abandoned kids and widows.

My Mom was looking anxiously in my direction, still not seeing my face on the sea of people flooding in. But I will recognize her anywhere. She was a beacon of light in my darkness. A hope that everything would somehow still be alright. In the instructions I've got the house behind my mom was our permanent residence in the shelter, next to it would be the orphanage that Alfonse manages. I saw Alfonse who was herding the kids in and instructing them not to mess things up.

A smile crept on my face. This would be our new beginning, a new hope for us. I suddenly got the urge to walk faster, to waive my right hand for my mom. I wanted her to see me. I wanted her to have that spark of hope I had in me. "Mom!" I was waving my hand at her, slightly jumping as well. Immediately, her gloomy eyes brightened. I started jogging towards her. Stopping only when I was in front of her, "I told you," I heaved, "I won't die."

My mom was smiling trying to hide the tears in her eyes. She was nodding as I said those words. Speechless, she just enveloped me with her embrace. She started sobbing as she buried her face on my neck. Her hug got tighter. We stood there for a good few minutes as I waited for her to recover.

She wiped her face, still red from crying. "They took Jim, they said Queencie needed an assistant. She requested her by name. At least I know he wouldn't be sent off to fight." She said, sighing in relief. "They gave me the papers of your military honorable discharge. You can manage the orphanage with Alfonse or go back working as a nurse after your arm is healed."

"I'll be useless with this arm." I pointed to my left arm. Before I knew it, a furball was circling at my legs rubbing itself on me. "I see the cat has been delivered."

"Yes, but you never owned a cat." She looked at me confused.

I bent down and took the black cat in my able hand, "Yes, it broke into our house and broke a vase."

"Which one?" one of her brow lifted and her eyes looked nastily on the cute in my arm.

"The one with fake daisies?" I tried remembering.

She gave off a little gasp, "That one was my favorite!"

I smiled sheepishly, "That's why I brought him with me. He needs to pay for that vase."

She suddenly took the cat from my hand and walked into the house. My mom wouldn't hurt a fly, but then again flies did not break her vases. I followed her into our new home looking around at the photos of us she already hung. My eyes landed on one with Xed and I smiled as we posed for our highschool graduation. I will never forget his chocolate brown eyes and his gorgeous smile. My arm would need to heal faster if I want to face Xed once again. I need to be the one to finally put an end to his war.