Chapter 181
- Evan -
A narrow three-story apartment building stood just off the road.
The water around our feet was a bit higher now as more ran off, pouring down from the street.
"She lives on the third floor."
Josh sighed, "Of course she does."
Duke looked at me.
"Evan."
I already knew.
"I'll go help people down here."
"Are you sure? She weighs about 160 lbs."
I was muscular but smaller than Josh, so people often underestimate me...
I quickly picked up Josh with ease.
"He weighs 200 on a good day!"
Her wide-eyed expression said I had proven my point.
We ran up the stairs to the small but neat home.
An elderly woman sat in the middle of the living room, arms crossed, glaring at us like we were the problem.
Her gray hair was pulled into a tight bun.
Suitcases sat untouched beside the couch.
"You shouldn't barge into people's homes unannounced." She said sharply.
I blinked.
"Ma'am, the ocean is about to barge into this apartment building.
"I am aware of the weather. I watch the news at least before the power goes out."
"This isn't weather."
She lifted her chin. "I am not leaving."
The woman who brought me here pushed her way around desperately.
"Mrs. Calloway, please—"
"I'm not abandoning my home," the old woman interrupted. "If it is my time to go, then so be it!"
I sighed.
I could hear my brother now in my head. He would say something like that.
"I'm starting to think everyone in this district took the same stubborn class!"
I feel the same way right now.
I rubbed my temples as footsteps pounded up the stairs.
Two small kids burst into the apartment doorway ahead of their parents.
"Grandma!"
The old woman's expression changed immediately.
The little boy and girl ran straight for her, grabbing her arm.
"Mom said water is coming."
"You should not have brought them here," the old lady scolded the parents.
"They ran here when we told them the news; they know the elevator is out."
"We aren't going without you, Grandma!"
"We are evacuating," the father said gently. "Come with us."
Mrs. Calloway looked down at the apartment, then at the children holding onto her.
"I am old; it may be time for you to let me go."
The little boy sat down with his arms crossed on the ground, and the little girl cried, repeating what he said.
"Then we say goodbye and go to heaven as a family, then!" The boy shouted, pouting.
The stubborn woman's expression faltered.
"You know that is unfair!" She looked at me.
I reached my arms out. "Evan, express service."
"Fine, children, you win another day with this old lady!"
The kids immediately jumped up, cheering.
"YAY!"
Mrs. Calloway rolled her eyes but allowed me to lift her up.
"Oh."
"I smiled, told you so."
"Well, don't just stand there," she teased. "If we are leaving, then we are leaving properly."
She reached for her purse on the back of the couch as we approached the door.
The suitcases remained sitting in the corner by the wall, untouched.
"Just the purse? Is that all you need?" I asked.
"My memories are in this place," she said quietly. "Those are staying."
For a moment, the room grew still.
The little boy held her hand tightly as they walked beside us.
She looked back over my shoulder.
Behind us, the daughter held her mother's and father's hands.
The neighbor lady mouthed, "Thank you," as we all walked together.
We carefully rushed down the stairwell.
The sound of rushing water grew louder as the outside grew closer. Every step echoing with urgency.
"Is it really that bad?"
I didn't sugarcoat it.
"Yes, unfortunately."
"You know, the children aren't my biological ones," she shared softly. "My husband passed away just a few days after they lost their parents. They were longtime plant workers, working so their children wouldn't have to.
I've watched those children grow up and have children of their own. They started calling me 'Grandma,' and after our losses, we found comfort in each other."
The woman continued thinking out loud. "I truly embraced the role, hoping to fill the void in their hearts. In a way, I believe they accepted me so I could focus on something beyond the loss of my own husband."
We reached the ground floor; Josh stood near the entrance holding the door open while directing people outside.
"Up the incline!" he shouted. "Keep moving!"
The waters on the street were already climbing higher than before, calf-deep now.
Becky was helping an elderly man through the crowd while Duke stood in the middle of the road like a lighthouse in a storm, his wings partly open and glowing, pointing the way for the people. Like 2 lightened traffic batons.
Josh spotted me carrying Mrs. Calloway.
"Oh, good," he said. "You found the boss level."
Mrs. Calloway looked at him, puzzled, with a frown.
"Excuse me?"
Josh pointed at her.
"You gave him hell, didn't you?" He said with a questioning smile painted across his face.
"Absolutely, she was so rude," I winked at her.
Her face eased.
"Yes, I most certainly did get to keep you kids on your toes." She replied immediately.
Josh grinned.
"Great, you fit right in with the rest of District Three, stubborn rebels."
The kids ran ahead into the crowd, pulling their parents along as we stepped into the street.
Water sloshed around our boots now.
Duke gave me a nod as we passed.
"Keep moving; we'll gather more as we go."
I handed Mr. Calloway to her family as they joined the flow heading up the incline.
Another small saving.
But when I looked back down the street toward the lower district, my stomach tightened.
Far beyond the rooftops—
The white wall of raging water surged higher between the buildings.
And somewhere within that flood...
Something massive moved.
Kaysi, Micah, and Baby fought to hold it there, but not for much longer.
"Evan!" Josh shouted at me for my trance.
"There are still people to save close by; we have to help as many as we can."
I nodded, "Yeah."