Reunion Part 2

The ride to the airport went from three-four hours to almost nine hours. The sun was setting in from the horizon and she knew it would be dark soon. Anna nibbled on the sandwich she brought on her way to the next city. Her appetite to eat was nonexistent. After everything that happened, she didn't feel hunger. She just ate to make sure she was a functioning adult by the end of the day.

"Another traffic?" She honked, hoping it would move faster. She wrapped her sandwich and set it aside in the cup holder. Her head lay on the wheel for a few seconds to rest. She hasn't slept in a while now and she was feeling tired. Alex was fast asleep on the seat beside her while Daniel and Max had been keeping up with the road.

"We can go now." Max's words made her raise her head to start. The road had gotten smoother when she took a turn and it was clear for a few minutes with lesser cars. There was a car heading her way from the other side, on the next lane. It was jerking around, left and right dangerously making her anxious about the proximity. It would hit her at this rate. "Kids hold on tight up!"

From her position, she noticed the driver was in a brawl with someone and he seemed to be in a lot of pain. He must have been bitten, that was the only explanation. She waited as it jerked right towards her.

She pressed on the gas, accelerating out of harm's way. From the corner, on the side mirror, that car crashed into the bridge concrete. When she refocused on the road, there was a truck right in front of her. She steered the wheel in haste but it still hit the edge, flipping the car. Her whole body hovered over her seat, leaning left then slamming back to her seat, knocking the air out of her body. She once again lost her ground, the belt holding her from flying out. Cracks of bones and glass shattering resonated to her ear. She didn't get a chance to cry out. Her hair and arms hang limply on her left. The groans of pain made her regain her senses.

That small lapse of judgement caused this big accident? An immense sense of regret hit her. She never hated herself more than she did now. How can she be so careless? If anything happened to her kids, she doesn't know what she will do to herself.

"Alex, Daniel, Max, are you okay?" Anna's hand tried to reach out to her nearest son, terrified when blood seeped from his forehead, dropping to his cheeks. She didn't feel any extreme pain yet.

"I'm fine," he muttered, holding his throbbing head in pain.

"I think I am as well." Daniel low, kinda hoarse voice cut through.

"My arm hurts mommy." The high pitched of Max also told her he was alive but injured. She was worried but she needed to get out first.

"Hang on." She patted the place where she knew the window button was. Once she felt that protruding device, she pressed on. Even though the window had sharp, broken edges and multiple catalyst cracks, it fortunately rolled down and she carefully unbuckled the seat belt, holding on to the frame bar of the passenger seat for dear life. She poked her legs out, the dress slowly gravitating towards her hips, exposing her leg, few inches away from her underwear. Since she's unable to see, she missed the pointy glass. It pierced above her ankle. She hissed trying to control her movement with difficulty. Blood led above into her thighs, sinking deeper in until it stabbed her there.

"Shit!" She gritted, trying to balance herself but her muscles were unable to support her weight. Daniel unbuckled his as well, sliding towards Max but leapt up front before he could bump into him towards her seat. "Let me do it."

He carefully set his foot on the wheel, twisting and plunging out, slightly cutting the back of his vest. He pulled up from the window sunroof, grunting at the exertion. He stood straight ontop of the door. Cars were passing by instead of stopping to check on them. The truck that hit them had an unconscious man on the wheel. "I'll get down."

Daniel called out underneath his feet where his mother's leg extended out.

"Okay!"

Daniel dropped, heading towards the truck and knocked a couple of times to see if the driver would regain consciousness but he didn't. He will come back to help him another time but first, he needed to help his family first. He crossed the streets, waving his hands out for cars to stop, they all went past him. His frustration made him jump in front of one of the approaching cars. It honked at him but he stood his guard, clenching his eyes shut, waiting for a hit. It never came.

"Hey kid! Get out of the way!" The driver rolled down his window, signalling to him to go. Daniel saw that as an opportunity and got closer.

"Please help us sir! We got in an accident." He pointed at their car.

"I have no time for you." At the back seat, a young girl was staring at him with curiosity. He rolled the window back up but Daniel stuck his arms inside.

"Please! I beg you." Daniel pleaded, rubbing his hands together.

"Listen kid, nobody wants to help you because they closed this area off! It means infected are about to breach in! it's only a matter of time before it's too late so I need to go now!" He pushed his arms out and started accelerating.

"Wait! Wait!" Daniel tapped on the moving car, from the window, side door to it's back bumper. It drove off leaving behind only smoke.

"My mother and brothers are injured..." he muttered, shoulder slumping down. The road seemed clear, not a single car coming in anymore. If they close it off, it means nobody is coming to help them. He made his way back.

"There is no one to help us." He called out. "What should I do?"

Daniel couldn't hear anything that he started to worry. He used the tire to climb back up, being quick when the car shook from his weight. He knew bringing the car down might put everyone into shock which could result in their death so he was careful. "Mother?"

Anna groaned, her arms had fallen off a long time ago but she clung into the seatbelt for dear life. Her leg pain got worse because it also supported her from falling in. The blood rushing to her head made her feel dizzy. "If... you... could get... my leg... out."

He lifted them up with ease, the blood staining his fingers. If he didn't have a decent hold on it, she would have smashed into Ace. With his feet, he lightly crushed the untainted glass and sweeped to make sure nothing was there. The cracks fell on the arms of Ace but he merely shook his body to get rid of them. He set her back down after positioning her well. Pulling the dress to cover knees.

"Thank you Daniel." Anna felt relieved now, trying to push herself out but Daniel patted her leg to stop her.

"Wait, Ace, Max, can you come up first? We can help you get out." At the mention, Ace nodded, clearly not feeling as well as he said earlier since he didn't take initiative to get out first. Daniel frowned but handed out a hand for him to grab on which he did. With his help, Alex got out first while Max was wobbling, struggling, and whimpering slowly. However, when he reached out, Daniel pulled him out with more ease than he did with Alex.

"Your turn." He bended, holding her hand and while she squirmed with her legs to push out. It worked in getting her first lower body out with Daniel supporting her arm out. Alex pulled her from the waist.

"Were you always this light?." Daniel remarked with slight confusion, he thought he would struggle a lot more but that was easy. Anna ducked out and flipped, leaning her back on the rim. She hugged Daniel, very apologetic.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" She held for a minute, repeating that sentence over and over again. She turned to Alex and hugged him as well. He was unresponsive, kinda out of it then Max, who yelped.

"This arm hurts me." He motioned towards the left arm since that was where the car landed.

"Once we find William we can have him take a look. There might be more doctors at the airport." Anna informed, swiping her leg out as she lowered Max to the ground. Alex and Daniel hopped down and she slipped through, the car at her weight started to lean but both of them pushed it till she got off. Daniel got in once again to take one of their backpacks, picking out specific items from each bag because they can no longer hold three.

"I brought first aid kit!" He grinned as he showed them his backpack. That was the one William gifted him on his birthday.

"Good boy!" She smiled as she dragged her feet pulling on the bandages. "Alex, come here."

He tsked in annoyance but complied. Anna felt relieved that he was fine enough to still hate her. With the help of Daniel, who applied ointment on his forehead while she covered it, she observed his wound. It wasn't that big, scar wise, but she knew better than to underestimate a head injury. She tied the bandage well on his forehead and then proceeded to raise her dress to her thighs. Her wound looked a bit nasty, a hole on the side of her right leg. Daniel, this time, took off the glass piece stuck there and applied one of the alcohol base chemicals that were made for these types of wounds. She assisted for a tighter hold on, squeezing her thighs to make sure it would survive the journey for a little longer.

"At this rate, we will reach there in an hour or two." She sighed as she stared at the sky. The crimson colors bleeding into pink, indicating the sun might be setting in soon.

"Maybe we can take this truck?" Max's suggestion reminded them of the truck driver. Anna was the first to approach, reminding the kids to stay a distance. She was about to open the door when Daniel stopped her.

"Wait, what if he was infected?" His theory wasn't far fetched so she banged on the door a little. For a minute, nothing happened and as Anna was wrecking her brain on how to break in, he suddenly twitched, startling her. She backed off a little, waiting to see if he was human or not.

As Daniel predicted, it snarled at them through the windows, becoming more aggressive and frantic. However, it didn't know how to get out so Anna took that opportunity to jog out with the kids after knowing they couldn't take the truck.

The walk was excruciatingly long. Anna's wound didn't hurt that much at first. It started off bearable but when she had to do this much walking, for this long, it just got worse. She limped her way through, trying to minimise her pain as much as she could. It's been an hour but no airport was at sight yet. She looked ahead at the kids walking, Daniel and Alex had good stamina. Longevity wasn't affecting them in the slightest. The one who surprised her the most was Max. Even when he held his hand from the pain, whimpering here there like a wounded animal, he didn't complain.

"Max." She trudged side by side. "Are you tired?"

He nodded. She frowned, worried. "Should I carry you?"

He shook his head, humming a 'no O' to deny her. "Why not?"

He seemed confused by the question. "Mommy, you are hurt."

She thought he would whine (validly because he was injured) and beg to be carried like other kids. She didn't realise her youngest was considerate of her circumstances. It was times like this she found it hard to believe he was that dirty kid who unwittingly caused trouble each week. "Yes but I'll always carry you if you want."

"Thank you mommy but maybe when you are better." He grinned as he continued walking with her at a relaxed pace. Her children grew so fast. She ruffled his hair affectionately.

The rest of the walk wasn't easy. It was dawn when the airport was within vision. Cars outside of the entrance crowded the spacious tunnel. Their silent walk had been halted at the sight of soldiers, all aiming their guns at a man with a small girl.

"We said leave or we will shoot! You hid your daughter's wound so don't expect mercy."

"Oh, that's the man from earlier." Bitterness laced on Daniel's tone. He remembered him as the guy who abandoned them when they needed his help.

"W-wait! She is injured because she fell on her way here! This wound isn't from an infected." He clarified, showing her knees to the soldiers. "The doctor doesn't know what he's talking about! How can you categorise any injuries as infected! That's outrageous! This is clearly a fall wound!"

Swishing sounds struck their ears, dust floated. One of them shot a bullet on the ground. "Next time, this will be in you and your daughter's brains."

He seemed to finally get the hint because he took his daughter by her hand, pulling her away from the crowd, heading towards the tunnel they came in from. During the confrontation, Anna got close to Alex, ripping the gauze of his head, into her pockets. Alex must have come to the same conclusion as her because he didn't say anything.

"Serves him right." Daniel didn't care. Anna frowned at his heartless remark. How can he say that when they also had injury?

"Let's go!" She urged them to move forward, changing the way she walks now. The pain was intense but she sucked it up. She hid any weird limping by using the kids as camouflage.

The soldiers surveyed them. Olivia stopped them almost immediately. Anna nervously cracked a smile, paranoid over why she did.

"This kid have an injury on his head." She pointed out. "We can't let you in."

"It's on his head!" Anna cringed in disbelief. She said it like that explained everything.

"We are following protocols."

"No, you are not! I'm sure protocols can tell the difference between this little scar on his head and an infected."

"Ma'am, we returned many people fo-"

"No, look at this!" She held Alex's head and twisted it for her to get a clear picture. A small cut was there diagonally. "Ever seen an infected bite from this position?"

One of the other soldiers waved at her. "Let her in. We have been pretty strict with the wounds but honestly, even I think that's a bit excessive. If there is any problem, the medical staff will return her."

Anna wanted to send a grateful smile but the blooming worry in her chest was beginning to make her sweat. Alex aside, she had a hole in her thighs. Even if they passed him, there is no way they will let her pass.

"You are right." The woman craned her neck, telling her to move with her head.

Anna walked slowly and closely to the kids. She thanked the lord Alex and Daniel were intelligent because they walked side by side, touching shoulders to barricade her lower half from view. All of sudden, Max suddenly cried out, making a fuss in the middle. The soldiers sprung to action and Anna almost bolted but stopped thanks to Alex. "He is doing this on purpose."

She tilted her head in confusion and Daniel further explained. "Find dad while he distracts them."

Since the invasion, she got an eye opener to what her children are capable of. She didn't think they were so quick witted and smart but now, she learned better. She didn't want to leave them in case anything happened but the lack of tension in their face told her everything. "Look after your brother and make sure he doesn't go too far."

Alex nodded while Daniel went to Max, apologising and showing the soldiers that their fears were unfounded. Anna didn't wait. The confusion had their attention away from her so she rushed in, through the atomic doorway, into the building. Her head whipped around searching for the one man she needed right now. Like he promised, his ebony hair poked and lazy expression stood like a sore thumb. They both locked gaze and he seemed startled by her appearance.

It was like a trance. Everything, outside of him, blurred, blending into unclear light, grey, blue. She finally saw him after so, so long. A fiery storm of emotions swirled, anger, relief, betrayal, Those days of yearning and missing him came rushing into her fibre before losing it.

Anna blinked, he was already in front of her, hissing at her. "What the hell happened to you?"

She looked awful, she was sure of that but she didn't have time for pleasantries. "I'm injured."

His eyes widen slightly and she can tell what was passing through his head. "No, not from an infected. I got in a car accident before I came here."

He looked around, checking if anyone heard them. He grabbed her hand and pulled her over, letting him decide their destination. With each step, a small pained noise echoed in her sealed mouth. A W.C with a blue, human figure outline was at sight. He first checked inside and when he made sure no one was in, he shoved her into one of the stalls, locking the door.

"Where is it?" William now was serious and she lifted her leg on a closed lid, pulling the dress to her hips. He observed closely, taking out his aid kit to wear gloves. He unwinded the wrapping and his lips grimaced at the wound. He pressed his fingers around, letting blood ooze out. A sparkling glint also seeped out, the crystal remains.

"This is glass?" He pulled out his scalpel from the pocket.

"Yes, the car window glass." Anna nodded.

"I'm gonna need you to take out your cardigan and bite into it. I'll curve this out and sew it together. I don't have painkillers." William's declaration had her take it off, and position the fabric arm near her mouth.

"This is going to hurt like hell, isn't it." At his silence, she sighed in defeat. "Okay do it."

He dug the tip into her thighs and she bit into the fabric to suppress her screams. That hurt so much that she had to shove the fabric inside her mouth to stuff her louder cries. He scooped out a small flesh filled with shiny glass and then used alcohol to clean it out.

William took out a string from his box, holding it with a scissor like tool, using it to suture her wound. He worked as quickly as he could to close it. After he zig-zagged the medium sized hole, he tied it like how he ties heart wounds.

"I'm going to now... burn this wound." Anna looked at him as if he sprouted another head, humming her displeasure.

"They won't allow this either so I need you to convince them it was an old wound." William took out a lighter from his pockets and lit fire on the scalpel. "I'm sorry but please bear with it."

He stroked her thighs as if to assure her. She nodded, knowing she doesn't have a choice.

From the back, a creak of a door opening had him pause but Anna's breathing was aggressive, leg shaking after the cleansing.

"Ummm what's that?" The voice approached their stall and William's finger reached his lips, telling her to be quieter. "Did.. they reach here?"

He sounded scared and was likely to tell the authorities. She let the sweater off her mouth fall on his lap and moaned.

"Oh yes! There!" Anna panted, although it was more from the pain than pleasure.

"Urgh!" The footsteps rushed out from there and William flipped the small knife to heat up the back. "Really?"

"Somebody had to do it." Anna rolled her eyes and set her leg to the ground, sitting on the lid, taking the outwear back. She knew her husband wouldn't have came up with this plan but it's the only explanation that made more sense than being caught or alerted.

A small smile stretched on his lips and that almost made her smile as well until he said something that made her dread. "I'll burn you now."

"Wow, no hesitation." Her sarcastic comment had him side glance at her with a knowing, evil glint. She bit down and waited patiently for the burn. It was stinging, flaming. It sizzled her skin like she was being barbecued. He didn't announce the upcoming pain, it was done from her strained scream.

"Hey-" He lifted her head and gently patted her wet cheeks to bring her back to reality. "It's done."

She nodded, no energy to respond. Anna stood up with his support. Her vision started to darken and her surroundings waved a bit in motion. She leaned on him, walking very tenderly and whirring at how she feels a lot worse now then before. "I'll be honest with you, I don't think I can walk anymore."

"I'll give you pain killers when you come to my stall." He assured and one of the men that entered was startled at their appearance.

"This is the men's bathroom!" He yelled, sliding near the door to let them out.

"We are staff here doing an inspection." William smoothly lied and walked her out.

"What does that me- hey-"

Once they were out, he let her lean on the wall nearby, giving her his stall number before leaving. A few minutes passed when her kids showed up.

"Mother, how are you doing?" Daniel was the first to ask, Alex following it with a casual "you 'kay?"

She was a bit surprised Alex bothered to ask but she didn't bring it up. She felt more relieved that he wasn't acting as reckless and hate driven as before.

"Not well," Anna admitted, letting Daniel help her up with Alex on the other side. "Where is Max?"

"He is waiting downstairs with dad to get his hand treated." She nodded, trying not to rely on them to support her. Daniel and Alex were only a head shorter than her. They were tall despite their young age. Then again, being sixty two inches didn't help her case. Max was the only one that reached her waist.

As they reached the area where stalls were filled to the brim, they waited in line as six people would go in and come out every few minutes. She caught William outside of his, bending one knee to reach Max's height when she would merely bend to reach him. He was surrounded by other medical staff.

They were within earshot when William held his hand and with a nod, a simple pop made Max's arm crack.

"Ooooowwwww ouchy." Max howled but he wasn't as loud as other children. It was very subdued for someone who had it dislocated.

The female doctors gushed over how cute "William's son" was, giving him candy for his bravery. He beamed at them, politely taking it and thanking them. Anna shook her head at his behaviour, Max was nine years old but he knew how to play cute as if he was younger. It was like he did it on purpose but she didn't believe her son was that level of manipulative. When she took him in, she was told he was underdeveloped in the way he thinks. The problem is, he wasn't the only one... Alex was illiterate and behaved worse than your average child. Daniel, on the other hand, was overdeveloped. He was a genius. Hanging around with Alex and Max made him seem childish but that boy knew calculus before he came into her household, CALCULUS! That was beyond even her capacity.

"Anna Walter, Alex Walter, Daniel Walter, you are next." Upon being called out, she reached their stalls and a few heads turned at her limping.

"I'll do her check up. Jessica will do the kids. No offence Mr. Walter, I just want to make sure no tempering." The fake pleasantries in one of the doctors as if he wasn't calling William out over a dangerous possibility almost made her cringe. The fact her husband responded with an even sweeter, chirpy tone gave her trust issues.

"Yes, of course Evan! But my wife would prefer a woman to look at her. She is a bit conservative." Evan nodded slowly and switched places with Jessica, taking care of the kids' check up instead. William's lips crept up a little when he turned around to drink his coffee, a dark, amused glint in his eyes that only she caught. She loved her husband but he was a crafty bastard. She didn't care who would have been her doctor but she had a guess he had a certain plan to be switching them up like that.

Anna followed Jessica in as she checked her temperature, asked a few questions that seemed normal for a checkup before she asked her to strip.

"It's protocol. I just need to make sure you have no bite marks." She smiled as if Anna didn't know they would kick her out for even a small injury. She complied without a fight, letting her check her bare body before she stopped at her thighs, curiosity laced.

"Oh dear! How did this happen?" Jessica gasped, giving her some sympathy.

However, Anna knew better from being with William for years. This was a trick question that she masked with causality to hide her real motives.

"Ah yes, I got this few years ago... in a fire accident." Anna came up with some lie she could think of at the moment. She hoped she wasn't going to dig for this information from William or her kids otherwise, her lies will fall apart.

"Do you mind if I touch it?" Jessica asked politely. Anna's mouth let out a small sound before she closed it again. Another trick question. If she said no, she might be suspicious but if she said yes, she may find out something. "Sure..."

Jessica lightly prodded the burn mark, interested. "It seems pretty tender."

"It opens up from excessive movements like falling or doing squats. You see how dry and wrinkling it is? Bust open all the time!" Anna let out a fake chuckle, actually nervous but she tried to sound confident with her reply.

Jessica smiled, picking up her clipboard and giving her tag to wear to prove she had been checked. Some people would sneak in so this was a way to make sure only verified people can go. "Well, I was told to reject anyone with an injury but burn marks aren't something an infected give... so you are lucky Anna."

Anna took the tag with bitterness. Lucky... she wished she had that. "Thank you Jessica, you are a great doctor."

"You are welcome." They both got out of the stall after Anna wore her dirty outfit back. She limped towards William.

"Your wife is safe to go!" Jessica informed as she patted her shoulders, leaving to do her next checkup. He took her hand and held it for a long time.

"I'm so happy to see you here." He smiled, and she felt the protruding object in between theirs. He held her head and brought his face near her ear and whispered. For the onlookers, it was a sweet gesture but William wasn't a man of public affection.

"There aren't any painkillers here. You should take this antibiotic to stop any upcoming fever." He let go and a sigh escaped her lips at the fact this pain won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

"Have some water. You look thirsty. This trip must have been a long one." While it was a pretence excuse to give it with her medication, William couldn't help but observe her condition. She looked horrible. Her face complexion took on different shades from obvious stress marks, lack of sleep and some signs of peeled, scratched pimples. Her hair was unkempt and slightly matted into a low ponytail. The messages she sent him weighed on his shoulders and he couldn't help asking, "Are you okay?"

Anna took the bottle from him and nodded, thinking he was still acting. She covered her mouth to push the pill in and sipped it from the cylinder. Small glands of sweat started to form on her forehead but she wiped them away.

"No, I mean are-" the children's appearance had him swallow his words.

"William, I think we are being watched." Alex slightly tilted his head towards Evan, probably wanting to hold him down if he saw an opportunity. William nodded, well aware of the attention but was waiting for him to be busy with the next batch of people.

"Continue to pretend like we have a family moment and on my signal, we go." William smiled as patted the heads of his children. "Do not stop unless I tell you too."

They all nodded and from the corner of his eye, a distraction presented itself to him. He grabbed Anna's hand and pulled.

"Let's get out of here."

(Next chapter on Jan 24)