"This Great Transcontinental War... maybe Jacqueline took the children to someplace safe because of it," said Miranda.
Elle tilted her head to the side, probably confused what we were talking about. It was logical that she didn't know about the war. She's a child. Anyway, it only happened about three weeks ago, near a month. She was cared for and stayed inside the house most of the time, away from any entertainment and media, and she was still a kid to boot. Warfare or anything related was not something a girl like her should know anyway.
"Someplace... safe?"
Aya put a hand at her chin— her eyebrows furrowed and faint creases appeared between her eyes. She was onto something.
"This orphanage... I'm pretty sure if there's a place here that they can use to hide... It has to be down there."
The rest of us looked at each other, except for Elle. She, in particular, had a finger slipped into her mouth as she looked at each of us. I was pretty sure if I focused on her alone, a large question mark symbol would appear on top of her head.
I smiled at the thought, and Elle blinked a few times at that.
"By down there... you mean that place you set up a while back?"
"...Duh. It's pretty obvious, right?"
Aya led us all to a large, wooden bookshelf inside the orphanage. When she pulled a hefty green book away from its spot, the bookshelf let out a loud groan and it split into two, revealing a dark passageway leading down.
"Hey... Isn't this a cliche secret entrance? You really go by the 'book' for this one," commented Eugene.
We went along the stone staircase and after a few minutes, a spacious area illuminated with fluorescent light greeted us. I took the lead and went deeper, when suddenly...
"Aaaaaaaaaaah!"
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Elle who was by my side let out a scream, and the woman in front of us couldn't help but scream as well.
"...Eh?"
"Huh?!"
"...Jacqueline?"
That woman, who was my younger sister stared at me, and we found ourselves locked in each other's gazes. She was wearing a dark cardigan paired with a frilly white apron. Her ponytailed dark hair reached until her waist, and those brown eyes of hers, after what seemed forever, were slowly filled with tears.
She sniffled and tears trickled down her cheeks. "...Brother."
Before either of us could say anything further, she hugged me tight and released all the pent up emotions within her. In a split second, her wail echoed throughout the room.
"Derrick, look." Aya pointed at one spot in that brightly lit room.
A bunch of children I recognized from the orphanage— popped out from a corner because of Jacqueline. It didn't take long for her to calm down and explain why they were all hiding down there. Though, the reason was just as expected.
"Because of the war, we were forced to stay down here. The kids... they don't really have anywhere to go," explained Jacqueline. "We have been down here for a few days now."
"A few days? Then, you were still on the surface when the war started?" I asked.
"Yes... However, I tried to get some supplies by myself since most stores are closed. There has been an executive order to remain inside for as long as the war still ongoing."
"Hm..."
Eugene and Elle were playing with the orphans at the back of the room, while the rest of us stood at the side. Despite the stone staircase we used to reach here, the walls of this spacious room were made of metal. And it was not an ordinary metal—at least—not one a civilian would expect.
It was layered alloys, strung and melded together to form a solid barrier against earthquake. The silver sheen it gave made it seem someone had been polishing the walls and ceiling every now and then. Illuminating us, was a small, rounded fluorescent light— but this one proved to be more than enough to be our light source. It didn't use electricity to boot, and 100% of its energy came from the solar panels outside.
"..." I looked over at Elle and she waved her hand. From the corner of my eye, I could see Jacqueline looking at me, and I smiled at her.
Jacqueline, my younger sister— I hadn't seen her for a long while. We talked on the phone from time to time, but that was it.
"Hey, Derrick. What are we going to do now?" asked Aya.
"We still have to get to the military HQ, remember?" answered Miranda. "As for those two... we can leave them here."
"Oh... I thought the same thing. You three can't have them tag along, right? It will be dangerous and all..." said Jacqueline.
"Jacqueline... Um, can you take care of them for me?"
Now I regretted making that promise with Elle. Come to think of it, how am I supposed to bring her with me to the HQ? Eugene, maybe, but I couldn't bring Elle along to that place, no matter what.
"What's to think about? Elle's a kid. She's your daughter. Just leave her here if you want her to be safe," said Miranda, somewhat irritated at my indecisiveness.
"You are right." But she might not accept it just like that, and perhaps even made a tantrum afterward. Ah, here I go again, thinking too much. I was just being sentimental about this trivial matter.
"Let's go. I trust her to you and the rest, Jacqueline."
"Stay safe, brother... And you two as well."
"Yup. We will be back after everything is said and done!"
"That's a given. Yeah..."
I went over to Elle's side and the orphans parted way to give the two of us space. She, for some reason, stared at me with narrow eyes, as if she knew what I was going to say.
"You promised, Papa..."
"...I did, huh."
She grabbed at my jacket and tears welled up in her eyes. "I want to come with you too!"
"You can't. It's dangerous, Elle." I kissed her forehead gently. "Just this once... please... grant your father the chance to break this one promise."
"But you promiiiiised!" Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I want to come with you no matter what! Papa! I want to come with yooou!"
She hit me on the chest with clenched fists, over and over. It didn't hurt physically, but inside, my heart twisted each time she did that. Seeing her crying was one thing, but when I realized that I had made her cry just after reuniting with her made feel disgusted with myself.
"I want to come with youuu, Papa!"
I gritted my teeth. There was no way I could bring her with me, and perhaps, I should just get over it. I should stop wavering. After all, there was only one logical choice available for me right now whether Elle liked it or not.
"...I'm sorry, Elle. You must stay here, and that's final."
"Papa... b-but you promised!"
"I can't bring you with me. Those robots might hurt you again."
Her dainty fists stopped hitting me and it dropped down to her sides. And then, she glared at me. "I still want to come with you!"
"ELLE!"
Her body flinched when I yelled at her, and she shuddered. After a few moments, she cried on the spot and my heart twisted so much from it. I shouldn't have yelled at her. But somehow, a part of me believed it was necessary.
"...Sorry, Elle."
I stood up and, surprisingly, Elle had stopped her tantrum. She sobbed and rubbed her cheeks with her dress's sleeves.
"I'm really sorry about this." I hugged her one more time and then kissed her on the forehead. Jacqueline then held Elle in her arms, and my daughter just stared at me as she tried her best to not cry.
"Papa... I want to come with you..." she said weakly.
I just shook my head and smiled at her. With a heavy heart, I tore my gaze away and proceeded back up to the surface.