Among six people two are men in their forties, an older woman and three teenage girls. Only the old woman spoke.
"We overheard few people talking about taking over the shelter and kicking out all old people and children. They..." She closer and whispered. "They said they will not keep children as well as they plan making their own."
"So they plan to do that. I'll let them have that place and go search for another place. Would you like to come?" She already planned to take with her most of those that want to follow her rules.
"We will. I'm still strong, you can always tell me what to do. I'm fine with it." The old woman patted her chest and Maria started laughing.
"Don't say later I abuse old and young."
"I won't."
While they quickly searched for food, Maria smiled. From three hundred at least half will stay in this place. More or less.
Suddenly she heard strange sound over her head. "Huh?"
The sound came from one of ventilation shafts and dirty face of a ten year old child could be seen. "Is it safe?"
"Yes, we cleared the city. Come out." Maria waved at him.
"No. There are more children and our sick teacher stuck in attic. I came down as I heard your voices. Could you please help our teacher?"
"I will. But you must first one out of there and show us way." She didn't see any stairs to attic.
"Yes, of course." He climbed out of the shaft and looked like he didn't had bath for months. But that was least problem in this moment.
He rushed towards the storage room and took broom. With the broom he knocked three times on the plated ceiling and suddenly one plate moved and girl with messy hair appeared.
She saw them standing there and started crying. "Help our teacher, please."
They knew they lost their families as they saw them walking around. Their only support was the teacher that was that day with them camping in nearby forest.
When they came back he got pulled in by the restaurant owner and sent to attic with children.
Unfortunately, the owner was caught by zombies and children got shocked as they could see and hear been eaten alive.
"Put down ladder." Maria's soft voice made her rush and with help of couple other children the ladder was down.
Upstairs the attic was filled with at least three dozen of children in various age. The problem was smell. It smelled nasty.
Sweat, dirt, pee and rotting meat.
Maria knew right away that she must act fast.
She saw a man looking at her with dejected expression. "Save children. It's to late for me. The rot spread deep and..."
Maria's power became stronger and she just put her hand onto his chest. A soft pale light enveloped him and made him suddenly feel comfortable.
Almost like swimming in water.
Strong smell of pus intensifies as it was pushed out of the body and even children gasped as the smell was seriously way too nasty.
After short while she took away the hand and pointed at children. "You six take these kids, shave them and wash them. Clothing store is on opposite side. And you, you will need to take all your clothes off right here and wash in the bathroom. Hurry."
"But... wait... I don't feel pain anymore." He opened the blanket he was covered with and moved his leg that had huge open wounds.
Amongst the puss he puss see clear skin and gaped. "How is this possible?"
She walked towards the ladder. "I'm healer. Get those things off your body and go wash up. Henry, could you go and get him newest of clothes. It's smelling nasty. Going out."
She pinched comically her nose and went down. The people brought children out and after others saw the huge amount of children, they started grumbling about feeding more mouths
Maria and her people rushed to shave and wash children as their hair would grow. At the moment they all had messy nests that might even had lice.
The good thing was, there was still electricity and they used showers in the nearby gym.
As they came out, kids looked cute.
Boys had baseball hats on and girls had cute hats and scarves on their heads she found in nearby store.
The clothes were shared evenly and all kids could take backpacks with toys they wanted.
Jasek found big bus and all children and their teacher entered bus and were driving by one of those men that came to tell Maria about the situation.
He was truck driver, but knew how to drive bus without effort.
Nicky went around and shared all kids two small bottles of water and bag of snacks.
The people saw lots of food being shared with children and started complaining, but was calmed down by a man that stood aside and just watched so far. "Don't worry. Don't worry."
Chen stood next to him and scared him when he turned around. "Why are you standing there as scary ghost?"
"And why are you telling these people not to worry? Worry about what?" Chen already knew answer, just acted like he was curious as he blinked at him and people that awoided his gaze.
"You don't need to know." The man just turned around and went into crowd.
"Ok." Chen just shrruged and walked away.
When the time comes, don't cry bitter tears.