New Orleans (Sequel to Orleans)

Chapter 1

The gunshot fired through the Delta as I squeezed my way through the wall. A million things were going through my head that day. With baby Enola wailing in my arms, I still so badly wanted to go back and see if Fen was alright....
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"Dad, wake up, you're sleep talking again", My daughter said clearly worried about me. I sat up in my bed and rubbed my eyes.

"Do you want to talk about it?", she asked with concern in her voice. I grabbed her hand and she took that as an ok to sit down next to me. "Dad, who's Fen?", she asked pressing on giving me that face. The same face Fen use to make.

"It's no one babygirl, it's late, we can talk in the morning", I said shooing her away.

"No, you always say that and then we never get to talk. I just want to know because you're always mumbling her name in your sleep because I know you won't tell me in the morning, we have that quarantine going on remember?", she huffed crossing her arms.

I pinched her cheek and it earned me another huff of annoyance. "I'm not ready to talk about it. You'll find out eventually", I said staring off into space.

She gave up and she plopped herself against the other side of my bed. I rested my head against the bed frame and slowly closed my eyes.

I didn't feel like a nights rest at all, but from what I could hear was a loud pounding on our door.

I mentally groaned because no one actually likes to be woken up at five in the morning.

I walked across the cold tile and looked through the peephole.
"Shit", I cursed. I knew this whole thing was shady, the outer states are clean.

"Enola, wake up honey, we need to leave now", I whispered shaking her awake.
Her long brown hair tangled in her face as she spoke, "What's going on?", she asked softly.

"This is no quarantine, this is a raid. I can't lose you, I just can't", I said sadly.
She quickly reacted and made her way to my closet. She looked crazy as she stuffed clothes and other necessities in my old work bag.

I helped her up and the pounding only got louder. I ran to the kitchen nearly slipping and grabbed a bunch of water bottles and canned foods.

"Enola take this", I instruct handing them over as her
hands trembled with fear, "Dad, I'm scared", she said finally cracking. Tears poured down her cheeks and I quickly wiped them away and did my best to reassure her.

"No time for that, you have to be brave for me. You're going to climb out of the window and run, and don't stop until you reach the wall", I ordered.

She shook her head and hugged me, "I can't leave you Dad, come with me", she cried.
I pulled away, "Someone needs to stall them", I whispered noticing I was almost yelling before. I kissed her forehead and ushered her to the window.

I helped her up on the ledge and she opened the window.
"I love you daddy", she sniffled.
It breaks my heart to just let her go, but I have no choice.

"I love you too", I said looking at her for probably the last time.