"No! You are mistaken. She is out there. She must be!" Jane squatted down and breathed hard. Her hands trembled and her eyes started tearing up.
Both of Jane's daughter squatted down next to her and hug her. They knew that the probability that Mia is still alive diminished by the seconds now. The longer they delay in finding her, the lower the chances they have in finding Mia alive.
"Seth... find Mia for me, please? Please, Seth. I know she is out there somewhere." Jane said her words dejectedly. She has been telling herself all these while that Mia is safe. She must have found someplace safe for shelter.
All these while, Jane has forced herself to stop worrying about Mia, and she continued staying underground in the bunker with the rest of her family. She told herself that once all these are over, her baby will come back to her, and chatted with her about how's her day. Just like what they used to do. Now that Ali mentioned no one named Amelia was saved.., Jane felt that all hope is taken away from her. She felt lost, empty.
"Honey, don't worry, I will find her. We will stay here till we find Mia. Tomorrow morning, I will go out and search for her." Seth pulled Jane's hand and he hugged her tightly. Jane look so lost and her face devoid of any emotion.
Seth is worried about her daughter too. Her eldest daughter is missing, with her life and death was still unknown. He is determined to find her daughter back. Dead or alive. He does not care. He must find her.
"So you guys want to look for your daughter tomorrow? We can take you guys there. Don't worry Jane, Mia probably was somewhere out there and we might have missed her somewhere. You guys can go and take a rest in the bunker first and packed your stuff..." Ali understands in this situation now, every word spoken is like a blade to a grieving family. All he can do now is try to console the family as much as he can. If they want to find their missing daughter themselves, Ali will support them. Although he knew that the chances of finding Mia alive and well is almost none.
Seth holds onto Jane's hand and led her down the trapdoor. Lucy and Suzy waved to the rescuers team good night and they both went down to the bunker.
"Ali, are we going to look for the missing daughter tomorrow? I will call up Maui if we are going to stay here for another few days." Brian asked Ali. They were supposed to meet up with the boatman in another couple of days. If they were to make a stop for another rescue mission, they have to inform the boatman about the change of plan.
"Yup, if there is another chance that a survivor was out there, we have to find her," Ali said smilingly at Brian. Ali then took out his sleeping bed and unrolled them on the garage floor. They are going to overnight inside the garage as the air inside it was much better than if they were to camp outside. The air was no longer making them feeling suffocated tonight. Probably the toxicity of air has reduced and they can breathe normally.
----------
Early the next morning, the family of five woke up in a high spirit. They are finally leaving the bunker!
The family decided that other than Seth and Ben who carry the food supply on each bag, they each are responsible to carry their bags.
Seth filled up his bag with a dozen of bottled water, while Ben packed up some canned food. Jane packed some blankets, the emergency medical supply box, and a dagger with her. Lucy took the radio with her and some weird looking knife out of the bunker shelves. Its function is similar to a small Swiss Knife that she is familiar with, but this knife she took is much bigger and it is equipped with a 5-inch blade and It was a custom made Swiss Knife specially made for Ben's father in law. "You are going to be useful." Lucy smiled and she slips the knife down her jeans.
"Mom, what do I put inside my bag? I don't know what to bring. " Suzy is panicking when she saw everyone was busy packing while she sats on the bunk bed.
"Take this bottle and this dried fruits. Put it inside your bag. You get thirsty and hungry all the time anyway." Seth tossed the water bottle and the dried fruit to Suzy.
"Oh yes. How can I forgot my food! Thanks Dad." Suzy smiled and zipped up her bulging bag.
Picking up five flashlights, Seth gave them out to each of them. "Keep it, and don't lose them."
Picking up their gas mask that was on the shelf, the family of five, finally moved out of the bunker one by one.
As they climb up from the bunker, Ben, who is the last one to leave, stops, and he looks at the bunker again. Will, he ever comes back to this bunker again after this? Ben sighed and he smiled. He switched off all the valves and secure the trapdoor safely. Finally, he locked the garage door and walked down the hill joining the rest of the team.
The family of five did not know that the bunker they have just left will be their shelter again only after a couple of months.