They found a group of people hiding in one of the buildings nearby. Ashleigh watched as Galen talked to them, as he promised that everything would be all right. He told them what was happening and how the city was being sectioned off. One of the women cried out.
Galen moved to her immediately.
“Are you all right?” he asked, touching her shoulder gently.
She nodded, but she was struggling to hold back tears.
“It’s my daughter,” she said. “I was supposed to be at work across the city. But when I saw people carrying weapons… I ran straight here…”
She paused, closing her eyes and taking a shaky breath as her anxiety grew.
“My daughter is at school... I was trying to get to her,” she whispered, tears falling from her eyes.
“It’s okay,” Galen said, smiling at her and gently squeezing her shoulder. “I understand. My son is at school too.”
The woman looked up at Galen, and he nodded.
“He’s four years old,” he continued. “In Ms. Stacey’s class.”
