Was John-Tom dead?

I watched the raging flames burn the factory. I felt the heat on my face despite the distance. Sheldon had an exhausted look as he clasped my hand, we walked together in the dark. Cindy slowed down now and then for us to keep up. Her face not revealing whatever turmoil she felt inside. The city, the city is on fire, my thoughts echoed inside. I could hear crackling noises coming from all directions like fireworks lighting up the sky.

Gunfire.

I felt his squeeze on my hand pressed deeply as we ran through the streets. Transferring the little hope he held in his heart. I looked back behind me one more time as Cindy pressed ahead. My hair flying wildly in the wind as we ran altogether seeking refuge, from the storm that was following us closely behind. The loud noises creeping closer told a story of what would happen if we were caught within.

The only way was forward.

My memories fluttered in my mind in mired confusion. Ralph is my father, I remembered, I remembered everything. Why did it only happen at that moment like a switch triggered in my mind? Pulling back the curtain and revealing such light.

Repressed memories?

He had been next to me all this time, I thought I was alone in this world. I have a family, I have a family.
A smile came to my face.

“Natalya are you okay?” Sheldon asked panting as we came to a corner for rest. There was that look of concern in his eyes.

I smiled to him because my mouth would betray me.

“ Nat—.”

Noise erupted causing them to peer around the corner, the road was filled with many people with rugged faces and worn clothes, packed make shift bags. They held panic looks and just like us, we’re trying their best to stay clear of this approaching gang war.
Everyone was ready to run but run where was the next question? The violence seem to come from every direction. Nowhere was safe.
What was the cause of all this violence? It didn’t matter she had to save Ralph from her. From a woman she had both come to admire and hate Mathinda.

Sheldon, doesn’t know how dangerous this woman is, and what she could do. The slight glimpses I had seen of her power made me shiver as I released Sheldon’s grip upon my hand. No person should have that level of power here and yet she did.
How are we going to save Ralph?

Gunfire erupted in front of us, dispersing the crowd scattering them around. We instinctively duck down, Sheldon drew his gun and held it tight with in his shaking hands.

“Ten men, Swidleys,” Cindy said pointing at their red and black symbols.

I touched his shoulder. “No.”

A shout echoed “Calm yourself and return to your houses!” he glared at them, “this is our area! Anyone who leaves pass this point will be shot!”
“We can’t stay here, we will die?” gunfire rattled in the distance “Can’t you hear that? Can’t you understand you will be condemning us and our children to death.”

Many murmured in agreement. They were others to in shock to move, some people huddled as they prayed.
A man stumbled to the middle of street laughing to himself as if driven mad by what was descending, “Malrano has come for us all, he has come to claim this city!”

A cursed name scaring those to flee from around him least they be condemned. He stood defiant in the road.

“Shut up old man,”  He raised his gun towards him.

“You can’t stop him, you can’t stop him, HAHAHA!”

“Lets, go,” I said, “we can’t stay here any longer.”

“What should we do Cindy,” Sheldon asked.

She pointed to the  garbage filled alley on the other side of the road, “we have to go now.”

“When do w--?”

“Now!” Cindy darted to the other side as we ran to keep up. I looked across to where the Swidleys were standing to find the road mired in chaos. Another gang had come, the white fist? Gunfire broke out, as people who were in the way found themselves on a chopping block.

Even in the dark I could see the dripping red as it fell. The screams, as they ran and the smell of death upon the air.

I looked away before I myself become entranced to the horror before me. We pushed through the scattered people some falling on the ground others cuddled in balls. We reached the alley as the stench hit our face.
Awful.

“ This way,” Cindy continued with the bag shaking upon her back as she lead us onward.

Cindy was our friend, but her power to know was scary at the same time. Sometimes it felt liked she knew exactly what’s on my mind.

Her eyes crossed mine for a second in time it seemed almost like a stare as I delved into her pupils. I really wondered what was her limits?
Sheldon ran behind her looking back for me to follow. I did not like this feeling I had, this uncertainty in my heart.

We emerged from the narrow alley from one bloodbath right into the middle of another. Crook back row the hanging side read, on one side laid one gang and on the next, the white fist. A few bodies laid scattered upon the road.

Cindy seemed unphased by what they faced, the two sides were to into each other and paid them no mind. She broke a window that was close to the alley.

“Come in here,” Cindy said as she squeezed herself through the tight window.

“Natalya, go.”

I didn’t argue with him as Sheldon pushed me through next, my legs raking slight upon the window ceil as i entered.
The house was dark and dusty.

I coughed as I tried to see what was right in front of me but only hearing the constant shifting or shuffling of a noise coming before me. How far I couldn’t tell.

“Cindy I called.” But there was no response, I could hear the glass parting as Sheldon made his way inside.

“Natalya,” he called. I could see his hands feeling through the dark.
“ I am here Sheldon,” as I held his hands, “but I don’t know where is Cindy.”

Our eyes darted around as the dark consumed what was in front them and the raining gunfire sprang and ricocheted causing us to flinch every now and then.

“Cindy?” we both called with hushed breaths, in case we attracted too much attention.

There was a pause in the shuffling in the dark, as a figure pop into the little light that shone at the entrance to the window. It was Cindy.

“What were you doing?” I asked.
“Light,” it was handheld as she turned it on and beaconed with her hand for us to the corner. “We have to wait here.”

Looking around at the room that we were in, I now started to gather how large the area was. It seemed like a store, it had many shelves of either broken or missing items for places where things were supposed to be. A long desk at the front and a large glass window covered over with a metal looking gate. The ceiling looked like it was falling off on the other side.

We took a seat where Cindy told us to go, I dropped myself to the floor. My thoughts kept me fidgeting without my consent.

She kept the light in our area as she sat near us bringing the bag in front of her.

I looked at Cindy, Sheldon looked like he wanted to say something to me but didn’t.

“How long do we have to wait here Cindy?”

“Until morning, Natalya.”

Is there no other way?”

“No.”

“That might be too long, He might be dead by then.”

Cindy paused, “we could die before we reach him. Can’t you tell from looking outside, we are in the middle of a war.”

“Natalya, if we are patient it can all worko—.”

“HOW!!! HE COULD DIE AT ANY MOMENT, ITS ALL MY FAULT IS IT NOT!?”

Silence filled the room. As I heard the men outside screaming at each other, in agony, in fury, in pain. Bullets, bullets fell as they met exposed flesh searing the meat. Death, smile upon them tasting its appetizer before finishing its main dish.

Cindy looked at me unsure of what to say before looking away as Sheldon held my hand again.

“Natalya, don’t blame yourself, it will be okay.”

“Here,” Cindy said to me as I glanced the bag.

It was the last food that was in the bag as we had left in a rush. More bread as I broke it into three in my hand and gave a piece to Sheldon and Cindy. Cindy’s little smile was contagious as I turned and saw Sheldon smiling to. I myself couldn’t help but smile. Despite all the gunfire ringing now and then outside.