Camila's heart skipped a beat when the saw what damage the earthquake had done to the school and rest of the neighbourhood.
The school itself was one big pile of inconceivable chaos. You couldn't even see that is was a building just a couple minutes ago. Camila shivered at the thought of how many people had lost their lives in there.
The rest of the buildings in the neighbourhood were a mess too. Some houses were completely broken down and in some of them, she could see small fires probably made by the short circuit when the power breakdown happened.
The road had small cracks running all the way over the surface as far as she could see. On some places, the earthquake had even formed big holes in the road.
People were walking aimlessly over the remaining parts of the sidewalk. Some just stood there and others were already cleaning the awful mess that the earthquake had enforced. Camila noticed an old woman in a flower dress holding a broom in her hands, sweeping her front porch as if nothing had happened.
People were helping to get the wounded into the ambulances who had just arrived. Camila noticed some bodies under white sheets being lifted in cars. Her stomach turned when she realised that they were all dead.
"Don't look," Lauren spoke in a sad voice putting her warm hand on Camila's shoulder, softly pushing her away from the horrific scenes so that she now faced her.
"Let's get this kid to an ambulance shall we?" The green-eyed girl smiled.
Camila nodded
"Shit, my cheeks are probably as red as a tomato," Camila thought as they lifted up the curly haired boy placing his arms around their shoulders.
The boy looked her in the eyes. "Thank you so much for saving me and not leaving me behind. I...I don't know what to say....just.... thank you so much. You could have died but still, you made the attempt to save me....why?" The boy spoke to them in a weak voice.
"I don't want to live in the kind of world where we don't look out for each other. Not just the people that are close to us, but anybody who needs a helping hand. I can't change the way anybody else thinks, or what they choose to do, but I can do my bit. Yes, I could have died. But I would have died to try to help someone in need. And It would be totally worth it to take that risk." Camila smiled.
"I... I don't know what to say..." the boy told her while trying to hold back his tears. Camila looked over and saw Lauren stare at her in awe. Her green orbs piercing right through Camila's soul.
Lauren was the first to look away and turned her attention back to the boy leaning on their shoulders.
"What's your name kid?" Lauren asked. "Harry. My name is Harry." He told them. "What about you girls?"
"My name is Lauren and this is Camila, right?" She looked at Camila waiting for an answer. Camila simply nodded in response.
Lauren remembered her name. The butterflies immediately filled her stomach for the hundredth time today. Lauren was in the same math class as her for more than a year but Camila didn't expect her to know her name because she always was really silent and normally no one really noticed her at all.
Someone from one of the ambulances walked over to them. Looking at Harry, he signed to the ambulances to bring a brand card. Two people lifted Harry carefully in the big car.
Lauren and Camila silently walked over to the ambulance looking inside to see Harry laying on a bed. His arm was attached to an infuse. The poor kid looked really tired. His eyes were barely open as he spoke in almost a whispering voice: "Again thank you so much for saving me. Maybe I'll see you guys soon." Harry closed his eyes, probably falling asleep because the doctors drugged him to ease the pain. And with that, the doctors closed the car doors and left Camila an Lauren standing in the middle of the road watching the ambulance driving off.
Lauren turned to face Camila. "I still really haven't progressed what just happened," she told her with a sad expression on her face.
"Yeah me neither." Camila looked around once more avoiding Laurens gaze. "This is fucking crazy," Lauren stated while glancing at their surroundings.
"You know, you were really brave in there Lauren," Camila told her with a soft smile on her lips gathering up every courage she had left. "I probably wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for you. Same goes for Harry."
Lauren gave her a smile back. "You call me brave?" she laughed. "You saved the kid two times in a row. If it wasn't for you he would still be laying under that locker in the first place."
Camila blushed and a short silence fell between them.
"So what are we going to do now?" Lauren asked her to break the silence.
"God my family! " Camila suddenly thought. She was still so focused on what just happened that she had totally forgotten her family!
"I have to check if my family is alright. I live a few blocks away from here and my litter sister is still at home with her babysitter."
Lauren wiped her hand through her long black hair, which she seemed to do a lot.
"Well let us go fast then," Lauren told her with a comforting tone, waiting for Camila to start walking.
"Wait you're going with me?" Camila's pulse immediately quickened. "Don't you have to check if your family is alright?" she spoke nervously.
"My family doesn't live here. I live in an apartment close to the school. Or well... what's left of it? I already tried to call my mom but the phone lines are dead. Guess we have to wait till the power is back on. But for now, I don't really have anywhere to go. So yeah, I guess I'll stick with you for a while. If that's okay with you of course." Lauren smiled.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Camila thought. She just survived a giant earthquake but she wasn't sure if she would survive it if Lauren would come with her.
"Yes of course, no problem. "She said before glancing awkwardly to the ground. "This way."
The walk to Camila's house was silent. Not just because they weren't really talking but because there was just almost no sound on the suddenly empty street. Only the sound of their footsteps touching the broken pavement filled their eardrums
So this is what they call 'The calm after the storm' Camila thought to herself.
A soft breeze had set up and blew softly against Camila's skin. Looking to her right she studied the green-eyed girl next to her like she had done so many times. Laurens' eyes were focused on the road ahead of them and she looked even paler than usual. Then she suddenly clenched her jaw and let out a soft groan like if she was in pain.
"Are you okay?" Camila asked worriedly. "Yeah, I'm fine don't worry about it. I was just thinking how much longer we have to walk to get to your house because these legs are pretty fucking tired!" Lauren laughed it off, pointing to her long slender legs. Camila decided to not question any further.
"Well lucky for your impatient ass we are actually right here" She laughed back while pointing at the luckily still intact house.
Camila walked up to the front porch straight to the door. She reached into her pocket, trying to find her keys when she noticed the door was already open. They both looked at each other for a second with a worried look on their faces. Then Camila pushed slightly at the door to open it a little further and slipped inside followed by Lauren.
The house looked rather empty. Photo frames lay cracked on the floor with the glass broken. The bookshelf had fallen over and all the books lay sprawled across the floor. The girls turned in the direction of the living room which had basically gone through the same catastrophe.
"Hello?" Camila shouted. "Sofi?"
No answer
"Sofi it's me, Camila! You don't have to be afraid anymore!"
Still no answer. Camila looked in every room while Lauren followed her patiently. Finally entering the last room, Camila's room, they still didn't see any sine from Sofi or her babysitter being in the house.
Entering Camila's room she noticed a piece of paper laying on her pillow. She quickly picked it up and started reading the fast scribbled note.
While Camila was reading Lauren took that time to look around in Camila's room. She noticed the poster all across the walls with all sorts of celebrities like Ed Sheeran, The 1975 and One Direction. Her eyes landed on the shelf with pictures of a much younger Camila holding a smaller kids hand. Probably Sofi, Lauren thought.
"They are not here anymore" Camila suddenly spoke, bringing Lauren out of her thoughts.
"What do you mean?" Lauren asked confused. Camila handed her the note.
Camila,
If your reading this, Sofi is fine. Don't worry about her. After the earthquake, some help troops came in the house to get us somewhere safe. They evacuated the whole neighbourhood because this wasn't just a normal earthquake Mila. This was something way bigger. I couldn't get much information but they say it's too dangerous to stay. They say they'll bring us to a safety zone in Orlando. You can meet us there. Be safe Camila. I will take good care of Sofi until you're here.
Xxx From Chelsea and Sofi
Lauren looked up shocked into Camila's brown eyes as she finished reading the note. "What do you think she means with, this wasn't just a normal earthquake?"
"I don't know. Can't be that good but the only thing that matters right now is that I get to Orlando as soon as possible" Camila answered firm.
"You mean WE get to Orlando as soon as possible" Lauren corrected her. "If you don't mind me joining you for a little longer." Lauren smiled.
Camila giggled. "As long as you don't walk in my way, I don't see any problems with you accompanying me on my journey." She smirked slightly.
"Well pack a few things and let's get going then" Lauren laughed.
And this was the start of an unforgettable journey..
Hey guysss, I hope your enjoying it so far because I know I am! Make sure you twinkle that little star below and have a great day/night! Part 4 coming tomorrow <3