"No. You may not go play without helping me cook." I scold the duo of siblings. One boy, one girl. Mason and Madison. Beautiful twins. Dark skin, dark brown eyes, and loose curly hair that was separated into perfect ringlets.

Mason groans. "Tessaaaa, please?"

Madison laughs. "Come on, Mason. Let's just help her out." Madison was very mature for her age, which was only nine. Her brother was the exact opposite. He was a troublemaker, and sassed anyone when he got a chance. Their mother and father are good people, so I don't know how they ended up with a devil child like Mason.

I walk over to the stove, cutting it on. Madison grabs some old pasta noodles, while Mason collects water into a pot.

"You two need to start learning to cook. Because one day, when I'm not around, I won't be here to cook for you." 

"I know how to make a jelly sandwich." Mason says, as he carefully makes his way over to me with a pot of water.

"Everyone can do that." Madison giggles.

"Well, not everyone." I say, as I set the pot of water on the stove. Suddenly, all of the lights in the house go off.

Madison quickly finds my hand and grabs it, and I can hear Mason whimper and make his way over to us.

"It's okay, guys. Nothing to worry about. It happens all of the time." I try to comfort them. "How about you guys stay here, while I go outside to find out what's going on, okay?" I take Madison and Mason's hand and lead them in the living room, and cover them up with a blanket. I go back into the kitchen, grabbing my knife, and go outside. Neighbors littered the street, everyone asking what's going on. I shove the knife in the loop of my pants, and try to go and talk to someone.

I see my older brother talking to a group of neighbors. I make my way over to them. "Nolan, what's going on?" I ask him.

Nolan turns to me, his blue eyes barely visible in the low light. "Dad thinks the generators have cut off again. They sent a group out to go and check on them."

"Why aren't you with them?"

"Dad wanted me to stay here and make sure everyone is safe." Nolan replies.

"Do they think it's another attack?" I ask, as my voice shakes.

"It could be. But they went to check. They took guns, though. This hasn't happened in a couple of months." Nolan says. "But there isn't a need to be worried. Just stay inside with Mason and Madison, and let them know their father went with Dad. And that their mom is safe and with the other women, sewing."

I nod. We each had jobs here. Since there was only thirty of us left, we had to take care of each other. My father was one of the leaders here, along with my brother. Madison and Mason's Dad, Justin, helped with leading as well. While their mother, Jenny, helped with sewing new clothes for anyone with a group of older ladies, and putting on school for all of us children.

Everyone else did other things, like farm, cook meals, keep water supply, food supply, collecting and making medicine and any other medical supplies, and tending to all of the animals.

But as for me, I am the honorary babysitter for all of the children that still live with us. Out of the thirty people that remain alive, their are four children, not including me. Madison, Mason, Olivia, and Liam. Olivia was a small, six year old girl with more personality than hair. And Liam was only a month old when the outbreak started. Luckily, he survived, and is now a silly three year old.

There was one more person, but I would consider him a child, just like I wouldn't consider myself one. His name is Tyler, and he's only two years older than I am. When Nolan and Tyler were little, they used to go on bike rides together. I would always be upset that they boys never asked me to play, but I mostly spent my time playing with dolls back then.

"Tessa, please take Liv and Liam with you." Mrs. Baker, the mother of Olivia, says to me. Liam's Dad hands me Liam, and Olivia takes my hand. I walk back to Justin and Jenny's house, as the dusk slowly fades to darkness. I enter the house, and find Mason and Madison curled up, just as I had left them. I take a seat beside them, holding Liam in my lap, and Olivia at my side.

"Livy, will you get a blanket for us, please?" I ask.

Olivia nods, and reaches under the table to grab a blanket. We pull it over ourselves, staying silent. If something were to happen, we must be able to hear. Dad had told me if I heard a gunshot, to take the the children to the Justin's basement and load a pistol we had stored down there. If everything was all clear, which it usually was, I would be able to hear four knocks on the door, signaling everything is okay.

We sat in silence. And waited. Liam fell asleep on my chest, Olivia sat there, gripping my hand. Madison and Mason played a silent game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.

We listen. We wait. Everything was still. The voices outside stopped talking. Outside, only the crickets chirped.

There is a gunshot. The sound ringing through the air, disturbing Liam's sleep, and Mason and Madison's game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Liam started crying, so I shush him, taking Mason's hand. "Follow me."

My heart is racing.

We had never had a real emergency, just practice ones. But I knew how to use the pistol. But I prayed I didn't have to use it. Especially in front of the children.

I lead them downstairs, still trying to distract Liam.

Once we get down there, I put them in one of the back rooms, away from all windows and doors.

"Madison, will you take Liam for me?" I ask her. She nods, grabbing hold of Liam as we whines.

I run to the gun safe, typing in the code. I unlock it, taking out the pistol.

I load it. I hold it close to me, my heart thumping louder. I couldn't show them I was scared.

I go back to where the kids are, keeping the gun at my side.

"What are you doing?" Olivia asks.

"Waiting." I reply.