Emma wakes me with a shake, "It's time"
"OK i'm awake where's Sarah?"
"She's fine, she's asleep"
I stretch to click out my back and neck, damn that's rough. Folding the blanket and taking some water i look around, seems the rest of the group are asleep except the two we're replacing as lookouts. Good, we're going to need some energy to go further out than yesterday.
I walk over to the entrance and nod to Alan and Frank, they slowly get up, smile at us and head back into the cave.
"Emma i'm going to check the trip wires, i'll be back in a few minutes."
"OK be careful" she replies with a worried look.
Wallking down the passageway i reach the base of the stairs, up five steps and the three trip wires are there. Undisturbed and still clear of debris. They're setup so that if you move them or cut them then the flare goes off and in these close quarters it wil be pretty blinding. I check the flares next, still dry so all good. I stop still for a minute listening, nothing, no sounds at all. I make my way back to where Emma is and see the look of relief on her face. I sit down next to her and she cuddles up next to me. I look over to where Sarah is sleeping on a couple of blankets, wrapped up in another with her Bear Bear clasped tightly, a mix of emotions running through me. I can't help wondering what it's going to be like for her to grow up now with all that's happened.
"So are we going to make it?" Emma whispers.
"We have a plan, we stick to it we'll make it." I think it's more re-assurance for me than her.
"I know you'll look after us.
I will never forget the night that Emma first said that to me. Sarah was two, it had been raining for eleven days straight and then the flood came. I heard the glass break downstairs and got to the top of the stairs when i saw the water rush in. I grabbed Sarah and Emma and we went into the loft. The water rose that night to within two feet of the loft entrance. I took the decision to swim out that day through the upstairs window and get the collapsible boat from the garage. I got them out the skylight and managed to get them to safety, the water rose another nine feet, if we hadn't of got out when we did we wouldn't be here right now. Our entire house was submerged by the following evening.
I just don't know how i'm going to get us out of this one.
Time always goes slowly on guard duty, it's very easy to loose focus. I can hear the other survivors moving around, tossing and turning but nothing coming from the entrance.
Looking at my watch ten minutes to go, I send Emma to get Tim and the others. I've got a rough plan for today, i'm going to take Tim with me again we're going to scout for a shelter. Stacey and i forget his name can do that aswell, the rest can stay near the cave and scout the other houses still in tact, for more provisions. Emma, Sarah, Alan and Frank can stay here and watch our supplies. Emma has my spare weapon from the house and i'll make sure the entrance is covered over.
With everyone assembled I start. "Tim you and me will team up again, Stacey and ..?"
"John"
"Thanks, Stacey and John will be scouting for another safe place to hole up. Alan an Frank you'll stay with Emma and Sarah. Look after our provisions. The other pairs will go out past the town to the houses that are still standing and search them for whatever you can find. I'll leave it up to you to decide what directions you go in. We good?"
I look around at everyone nodding. They start to move off and form their pairs. Tim stays next to me as does Emma.
"Tim grab a couple of waters for us and i'll grab the small bag for this. We want to travel light today."
Tim moves off to get the water. Emma turns to me.
"Be careful out there," she says frowning.
"I'll be fine, you look after kiddo for me." i say smiling, Sarah hearing her nickname turns to me smiling. Then as i drop down to one knee she comes running and crushes my neck in her little arms.
"You be good for your mum kiddo." i say as she nuzzles into my neck.
"Yes sir Daddy Sir"
I can't help but laugh at that. Last year she saw me on the parade ground and i issued an order to a private. Since then she always says it when i tell her to do something.
Reluctantly i let go and turn to my wife. "Be safe and i'll be back soon."
"You better, I love you." she says kissing me.
"Always" i reply.
Tim has been waiting near by. I nod to him and we put the water in my backpack. Then head off down the tunnel. I look back and see them waving to me in the little light that is penetrating the cave.
Out in the dusk air it's got a slight chill to it.
"Tim, where too?"
"I think we should head north east today, theres a river in that direction and if we're going to stay in one place we're going to need fresh water."
I smile, i like this guy he's got his head screwed on.
* * *
I look at my watch while we're standing on top of a hill, one hour gone. The hill is covered with trees and we can scan the area without being spotted. Looking back i can see Royston in the distance. To the north west whats look like another town in ruins, right where Tim said it would be, the river runs through there, maybe we can track it back it's source and with any luck some ca .....
"Down!" I drop to the earth pulling Tim with me as an object streaks overhead and takes the tops off the trees we're under. It hurtles past and slams into the earth far behind us. No explosion but the dirt, rubble and dust kicked up by the impact is immense. I look over at Tim, panic on his face.
"Go!, I'll be fine GO!"
While i've been watching where it went and wondering what it is, Tim's already made the connection it hit near the cave. Emma and Sarah, i feel so guilty that my first instinct was to assess it. No time dumbass go.. Go!
I bolt upright and run, checking above and behind me for anything else coming, nothing. I keep running through the fields and bushes, loosing my footing on a mound of earth, twisting my ankle not really feeling the pain, i keep going. The adrenalin numbing it.
As i'm getting closer i can see where the edge of the town was, now scarred with a crater the size of a bus. Running around the edge of the crater the loose dirt slowing me down slighty i can see the entrance to the cave, the flares are lit.
"Shit!" I mutter as i draw my sidearm. Forcing myself to slow down i put my arm over my eyes, hold my breath and run down the stairs past the flares and into the tunnel. Slowly i move along the tunnel. I'm looking for shadows moving and differences to the last time i was here. Taking note that it looks brighter, dismissing that as it could be the flares. I get to the end of the tunnel and stunned look into the cave, fear runs down my spine as i see that some the roof has colapsed into the cave.
Climbing over a boulder and moving slowly into the cave still further, i hear a noise behind me and spin towards it. Just in time to see something jumping out of the hole. Taking cover i watch the hole in the roof and hear a roar of what sounds like engines. Then they power up and become distant. The threat may not be gone but I have to find Emma and Sarah, turning round i peer into the darkness. I grab the flashlight from my belt and hesitate before switching it on. I wish i hadn't.
I sink to my knees as i recognise the small body lying next to her her bear and the body of a woman just inches away. I start to sob as the realisation of what i'm seeing hits me. I can feel the hope well up, maybe they're not dead, scrabbling across towards my child i feel for a pulse in her wrist, no no no, pressing on her neck desperately trying to find one. I look down at her body and notice the wound across her chest, that's when the hope drains from my body. I scoop her up and look over to my wifes lifeless body. Another giant gash in her side confirms my worst fear.
They're both gone. I wasn't here to protect them. I wasn't here to keep them safe.
Rage and pain are coursing through my body.
I don't know how much time has passed as i turn to look at Tim standing behind me his hand on my shoulder sorrow etched on his face. I didn't even hear him. He's just standing there tears running down his face looking at me rocking back and forth with my little girl in my arms and my wife next to me.
Tim's sitting with his head in his hands now, it's light and i can't cry anymore. Stroking the hair out of Sarah's little face, i know what i have to do. I can't help them. save for one thing.
"Tim."
Tim looks up.
"I need to bury them, Tim. I need something to wrap them in, together, and i need to put them to rest. I couldn't help them but i can do this for them." I say looking down again.
Tim nods and walks around the cave picking up a couple of blankets. Now i see the other bodies, it wasn't just my family here.
"Michael, blankets." he says handing them to me. "Does your pack have a shovel?"
I'm trying to remember but it's difficult, "Yeah i think so." I mumble.
"Tim we need to bury the others too they don't deserve to be left down here."
"I know, we'll do it, we'll bury them all."
I'm trying to rememebr the digging, i know Emma and Sarah are together without me. Bear Bear is with Sarah but i can only vaguely recall digging. I can remember putting them to rest though and that rips at my heart. I look over to Tim sitting on a rock looking at the other graves. I can't remember digging them either but we must have. I'm on my knees, head down staring at the makeshift cross in front of me. Carved with the names of my family. I'm struggling to remember what i saw leaving the cave, fighting to catch that memory in the waves of pain.
Then i see it, anger ripping through me like fire.
I stand looking at the cross, reading the words i have just finished carving.
Here lies my loving wife Emma and my beloved daughter Sarah
Murdered by invaders
"Tim" i say quietly and not waiting for a response continue "Get your gear, we're going hunting."