| |
By this time, the guns positioned in the windows needed more ammo. Sensing a break in the action, Kara crawled out of the hallway and the safety it provided. Remaining low to the ground, she slapped fresh magazines into the guns within each room. The entire home reeked of spent gunpowder. With the house buttoned up, a gray cloud hung in the air because it had nowhere to dissipate. If not for the children’s presence, Kara was positive the attackers would have sawed the house in half, riddling it with firepower to ensure nothing and nobody inside survived. Kara needed to consider other breach methods if she wanted to make it out alive. Terrorists didn’t color inside the lines. They also didn’t play by rules that separated humans from animals. Kara couldn’t overlook the possibility Shallah could use a gas to smoke her out. She sincerely hoped he wouldn’t resort to that. But having considered this, she planned accordingly. From her supply, she added to her at-hand stash a few dual-filter model masks that could filter out both CN and CS tear gas agents.
Satisfied she had taken enough precautions and installed deterrents to protect herself and the kids, Kara crawled into the children’s bedroom. She quietly asked, “Are you guys OK?”
No response.
Kara felt her heart skip a beat. With more urgency, she repeated the question.
From the opposite side of the mattress, she barely heard a tiny male voice answer, “We are OK.”
It sounded like the boy had been crying. She listened closely and thought she detected the little girl weeping as well.
“It will be OK,” She gently reassured them, although she knew things would become a lot worse before the situation got better.
“You’ll be fine. Just stay safe in your mattress fort. Keep the covers over you and the pillows around you. I will protect you.”
Kara listened for a response. Instead, she heard the banging of the dresser sitting atop the trapdoor in the other bedroom’s closet.
Yeah, for sure nothing is going to be OK, she thought.