Uncertainty

MANDATORY SAFETY MEASURES DURING NATIONAL EMERGENCY

To the Survivors,

We write to you today with utmost urgency, as our nation faces an unprecedented crisis that poses a severe threat to the safety and well-being of our citizens. In order to protect your lives and mitigate the risks at hand, we have implemented strict measures that must be followed.

Restricted Movement: It is imperative that you adhere to the confinement within the designated structure. Under no circumstances are you permitted to leave the premises. Doing so would expose you to significant danger and jeopardize the protective measures in place.

Emergency Situations: In the event of a medical emergency that surpasses the capabilities of the provided first aid kit, you are required to utilize the phone found within the briefcase. The phone can only connect to other emergency phones and call the numbers specified in the accompanying phone book.

Provisions: Within the facility, you will find a pantry stocked with ample food supplies to sustain you for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, one of the bedroom closets contains several months' worth of potable water. It is your responsibility to ensure the proper rationing and utilization of these resources.

We must stress the gravity of these obligations and emphasize that any violations may result in severe consequences. Straying from the secure confines of the structure without authorized permission endangers your own safety, and compromises the effectiveness of the protective measures implemented for your well-being.

Rest assured that diligent monitoring of the situation is underway by the responsible authorities. When conditions are deemed safe and the risk subsides, we will personally oversee your extraction from the facility.

During this critical period, uncertainties may arise, but compliance and cooperation are non-negotiable. Your well-being is our paramount concern, and we will provide necessary updates and support as deemed necessary.

Cove's eyes scanned the words on the letter, his voice steady and his enunciation impeccable, a testament to the privilege of his private education. As he finished reading, the weight of the situation settled upon the group, causing a tremor of emotions to course through their beings.

"S-survivors?" Sage's voice quivered, a single tear escaping his eye and tracing a path down his cheek. The reality of their predicament began to sink in, casting a shadow of uncertainty over their once familiar world.

Cove's hands trembled, his finger tapping incessantly on his arm, betraying the inner turmoil he fought to suppress. Finn reached out, taking the letter gently from Cove's grasp, and gazed at it for a brief minute. He looked up, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "Maybe... maybe it's not as bad as it seems. They might just be exaggerating, you know? Trying to make sure we follow the rules."

Sage nodded, tears streaming down his face, his voice choked with emotion. "But... survivors? What does that even mean?"

River, his face etched with pain and confusion, snapped at Finn, his voice breaking with anguish. "How the hell can you be so damn calm right now? This is serious! Can't you see that?"

Tears welled up in River's eyes, his trembling hand reaching for the phone. With a mix of desperation and determination, he punched in a number from memory, each tone echoing with a hollow disconnection. "Shit!" he screamed. Frustration overwhelmed him, and he let out a guttural cry of frustration.

Finn, momentarily unsettled by River's outburst, approached cautiously, his voice gentle and tremulous. "I... I'm not calm, not really. But we have to try and stay composed. We'll figure this out."

River, his emotions spilling over, released the phone and crumpled into Finn's embrace. His cries echoed through the room, his anguish merging with Finn's old jumper. River's bleached, fried hair contrasted with the tall boy's natural wavy blonde locks.

Finn, caught off guard yet compelled by compassion, returned the hug, his arms encircling River with tenderness. He glanced at Sage and Cove, his expression one of uncertainty, silently conveying the need for unity amidst their shared turmoil.

Cove's fingers delicately traced the printed numbers in the phone book, his eyes jumping between the entries from "Hospital" to "Police" to "Firefighters." Each name, etched in bold typeface, brought a glimmer of reassurance in his heart, a sense of security in the knowledge that there were professionals who could be called upon in times of crisis. As he skimmed the pages, his breathing eased, finding solace in the familiarity of these trusted institutions.

Sage, wiping away the remnants of tears, peered over Cove's shoulder and caught sight of a small number written in an unsteady hand, a stark contrast to the precise laser print surrounding it. His voice trembled slightly as he shared the discovery.

"384938 - Han."

Cove furrowed his brow, his gaze locking with Sage's in a shared sense of intrigue and confusion. The room fell into a brief silence as they contemplated the significance of this mysterious entry, its presence raising more questions than answers.

"Great, we can call this fucker, other than the people who literally put us here. What a relief", River said sarcastically, emerging from the protective embrace of Finn's faded, itchy jumper.

Finn's lips curved into a half-smile, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes as he nodded in agreement. "Well, at least we have some options. It's something."

His gaze shifted, drawn to the pack of candies resting amidst the other contents of the briefcase. Finn's curiosity was piqued, his fingers reaching out to retrieve the colorful package. "What about these? Were they mentioned in the letter?"