Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Gun smoke fills the air, making it hard to breathe. I can no longer see outside the alley. Blue and red lights flash. I suddenly remember doors that could lead to my company. “Guys follow me, I can lead you away from this! My building will be open for medical attention.” I look at the doctor, ‘“we don’t know how many people are injured and there are no nearby hospitals.” The doctor nods. “Are you the lady that just started  her company here and it was built from scratch?” He looks at me, wondering where I am going. “I am.”

Winding through multiple buildings hoping to reach a spot where the smoke stops. Blasts ring through the buildings, now dust  from crumbling buildings fights our journey. I lead maybe twenty or more to safety. Luckily my company building is still in shape like when I left. “Miss choi! Come! We can see what is going on from the balcony on the top floor.” My secretary brings me and the 20 or so people to the top floor. The view just from the window is terrifying. I pull out my phone and do a live on what is going on. “So I was on my way to lunch when guns went off and soon bombs did too.”

Comments come flooding in saying basic things when an attack like this happens. Things that give false hope, I hand my phone to my secretary to continue the live. I can’t stop the tears flowing from my eyes. I head back into the streets, towards where everything is happening. Ace must be alive. If I lose him, I don’t know what I’ll do. Fire trucks and ambulances zoom past me, not paying any attention to their surroundings, just what's ahead.The smoke and dust in the air blinds me.

I can’t yell or the cops will make me go back. They will also tell me to go back if I ask them for help. This forces me to look myself. The silence is found nowhere in this mess. Yelling along with screaming rings throughout the area. I look to find a small girl stuck under a pile of rubble.

She looks no younger than 12. Lifting the heavy rubble up just enough for her to escape. When she gets out she falls to the ground. “Here I’ll carry you. I have a doctor where I work, waiting for patients.” Putting her on my back, I run quickly to the company. “We need a doctor down here!!” The doctor rushes down here and takes care of the little girl. I headed out to see if I could find Ace. This time I go back to where I lost him unlike last time where I wandered the streets looking for him.

Much has happened since I was last outside, one building is now completely knocked down and the nearby cell tower is about to collapse. The city of Chicago is a mess. I may have been here most of my life but I have never seen Chicago like this. Even with all the gangs. All of a sudden I see dark grey hair approach me. I can’t tell who it is due to the dust in the air. But as soon as they wrap their arms around me, I know who it was. I breakdown into tears and hold them tight. “I thought I lost you” he looked at me with tears rolling down his cheeks. He too was crying.

“I was looking for you until I found a little girl trapped.” I look at him. “I understand.” I take his hand and head towards the company. The dust and fog fights our vision. We make it to the company, tons of people are there taking shelter. I pull out the emergency kits to help those who are injured but don't need a doctor. “It’s like a hospital here,” Ace said after viewing what all is taking place at recording city. “Yeah it’s hard to imagine what’s going on right now. Come with me to the top”

I take him to the elevator and up to the top floor. We get back to where Lean is. “How is it looking?” I ask her. “Not any better. All air traffic going through Chicago has been stopped because a plane crashed into a building just west of here.” It has become hell here. “Is the cause of all this still unknown?” She nodded in response, “I’ve calculated several organizations strong enough to plan something this big.”

“Give me a list of them and I’ll continue with the live.” She hands me the phone and heads back to her desk. “Hey guys I’m back, sorry for leaving I had something urgent that came up that I had to go take care. Anyways, Chicago looks like it will be awhile before we head out again and have clean air.”  I say this because the air is filled with smoke and dust. “I think I’ll end this live here, while we try and figure out what exactly is going on. This live will also be deleted for security reasons.” I ended the live, deleting the video in the process.

“Miss choi, the list you asked for.” On the list was many gangs and a few countries. “These are good which one has the most power and is extremely capable of this kind of attack?” Ace looks at the list, “It wasn’t the Dragon Clan, we wouldn’t dare hurt our own city.” I look at him and smile, “that helps narrow things down.” I cross that name off the list. Just now everyone on that floor rushes over to the windows as a plane crashes into the biggest building in Chicago. I can’t help but cry, the place I grew up in is being destroyed.

Ace wraps his arms around me letting me cry into his chest, not caring I am wetting his suit. My vision is blocked by his arms and chest. He wouldn’t let me see what was going on outside. He knows that if I continue to watch I will cry more than ever. He rubs my back to try and calm me down. His warmth calms my cries but doesn’t stop them. “It’ll be ok my love.” He whispers in my ear. His hug makes me feel loved for once in my life.

We don’t even have to say anything because we understand what each other is going through. The city we grew up in is being destroyed by monsters. I look up to notice Ace has tears in his eyes. My editor walks to us “maybe you all should step away from the window and go to the first floor like everyone else. I wouldn’t want a plane to come crashing in and you all die.”

“He’s right Yumi, lets go.” Ace scoups me up and carries me to the elevator. Quinn follows hopping in with us and he clicks on the lobby button. “You can put me down now.” I look up at him. “You sprained your ankle the other day, you don’t need to be walking as much as you have already. The doctor said to rest and not be on your feet.” I can’t argue that because the doctor did say that I shouldn’t be on my feet.

“You’re right.” My face can’t help but turn red. Once we get to the first floor it is packed. So many people are either seeking shelter or work here and don’t want to risk getting hurt while on another floor.  This is good, I don’t have to go through and check every floor to make sure everyone is on the first floor. “Can you set me down on the floor please?” I ask Ace nicely, and he does so. I stand up and get everyone’s attention.

“Hello everyone, I am Yumi Choi the Ceo of this company. I would like to welcome you all to the company although we are here to take cover. I have my people working on finding who is causing all this and we will do our best to work with the police to solve the current situation. So rest assured you all are in safe hands, thank you all and stay safe.” Sitting down on the couch in the lobby, I try to rest.

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