Chapter 2

I took a second to look at my children laying lifeless on the floor.

I picked up James in my arms and cradled him to his bed, he was four years old, he was a baby, the youngest.

"My strong boy," I sniffled as I tucked him in for the last time, I kissed his forehead. It was cold to the touch his brown skin paled.

I walked over to Mikayla and did the same, Mikayla was nine years old and looked identical to her mother.

I picked up Jame's teddy bear and placed it in his arms, and again the same with a handmade doll for Mikayla.

"I love you," I whispered through tears as I closed the door behind me and walked back down stairs towards the kitchen.

I took gasoline from underneath the kitchen sink and opened the cap and walked back up the stairs.

I walked to my bedroom dousing it with the gasoline, running it through the hallways and throughout each room.

When I got back to the children's room I did the same and completely covered them and the cop who was dead on the bedroom floor.

Closed the door and went back down to do the same with the living room and the kitchen.

I put the gasoline back underneath the sink and opened the wood stove, I turned it on as high as it could go and I left through the kitchen's exit to the outside.

"I'm sorry," I said tearfully and walked away from the house as it got swallowed up in flame.

First things first, I have to go visit the underground, that's where they hold the refugees safely.

Everyone started running from their houses to go see my home burning to the ground, there is nothing left for me there.

I did however take a family photo that was taken when James was first born; I kept it securely in my pocket.

I began to run down delaware Avenue, just a few more blocks and I'll be at my destination.

I took a detour through Adjacent Park where Pion lived, he was like a brother, I had to see if he was okay before I left for good, once I leave I'll never come back.

It was time to say goodbye.

I knocked on the small wooden door, the lights were off you could tell because there was a large gap between the top of the door and where the door frame originally began.

I knocked again, this time louder.

"I'm coming, I'm coming Jesus christ it's midnight keep it down." Pion called out behind the door.

"What the hell are you doing here so late, you know the curfew hours, get your ass in here." Pion ordered pulling me inside.

"Damn Titus what happened to your face, cops got ya huh?" He said, shaking his head.

I stared at him, my hands shaking, out of frustration, anger and remorse.

"Pion, I need you to listen to me," I said as my voice broke.

"Okay," the thirty three year old said as he scratched the back of his head.

"Cassandra, James and Mikayla are dead" my voice broke as I openly admitted that my family was killed.

Tears ran down my face but they burned from the holes in my face.

He fell backwards against the plastered walls.

"They are all-" he broke down.

I nodded, swallowing the lump that filled my throat.

"Wh-what are you gonna do," he asked as he sat on his living room floor.

"I'm leaving Pion, I can't stay here," I said tenderly, wiping my own tears away.

His face changed from sadness to anger within seconds.

"Why are they doing this to us man, we are people too!" He yelled.

"Sh, keep it down they can't find me, man," I said putting a finger to my lips as I told him to quiet down.

"This is just so fucked up, they don't see us as human beings they see us as disease, I just don't get it." He said shaking his head in his hands.

"Tomorrow morning you got to go see Mara, tell her what's going on and that it's up to her now,"I whispered low enough for him to hear.

"I-I don't know if-" I cut him off.

"Do this for me brother, please that is bigger then any of us, and you know it." I said staring hard at him, he nodded understanding.

"Okay, you're right I'll go see her Tomorrow, but just come back at some point okay, let me know you're good," he said seriously.

I sighed.

"That's dangerous game your asking me to play Pion," I said breathlessly, he just stared at me I know he isn't going to back down.

"Okay I'll come back when I can alright." I said agreeing to his terms.

"Did you wanna stay here for the night, I can help you sneak down tomorrow?" He offered.

"No, the sooner I leave the better," I said shaking my head.

"Right, you have a point. " he agreed.

"When are you coming back next?" Pion asked, leaning an elbow on his knee.

"I'm going to try next month," I said honestly.

"Will you be staying with the refugees?" He questioned.

"Maybe for a while until I know where I'll be heading next." I said truthfully.

"Okay, I might come down at some point. " he added.

"No, you gotta stay up here." I said shaking my head profusely.

"Why?" He asked, confused.

"It will cause too much attention, to me and the other refugees." I said, explaining.

"Damn, this is complete bull shit." He repeated from before.

"I know but this is just how it is." I say sighing.

He sighed too, knowing the conversation was over he got up and gave me a hug.

"Stay safe Titus," Pion said quietly.

"You too, Pion," I say hugging him back.