The bus was closer now; I could almost reach it. My legs were burning even though my load was light. We were instructed to pack light, so I only brought a backpack with some of my clothes and possessions. In my arms, I carried my dog, Pepper, a Yorkipoo; she was a sensitive dog who (I swear) could read my mind. My shaky breath and open eyes scared her, and she started whining. Shhhhh, we are almost there; it's gonna be ok. My words were half true and half false; we were really close to the bus that the front of the group was already getting on, but I highly doubted we would be the same.

          My hands grazed the metal of the bus doors, and at that moment, I thought it would be ok; maybe we could start over with a new life. I looked over my shoulder at the blood-curdling smell of rotting flesh and thought otherwise. Everyone was tightly packed in the main section as I got into the bus. There were 2 sections; one was the main room, and the other had about 50 sleepers and another 50 overhead. My father found me, and we hugged like our last. "Esha! Are you ok, are you hurt?" He said, his words laced with worry. "I'm fine, just shaken'' I replied. "Where is Mom?" His gaze shifted to the sleeper car while stroking Pepper's soft fur. "She's just resting; go meet her." I went through the crowd and picked up on some conversation; we made it; what now? The civilians are scared. It was General Edgar though he seemed shaken as well. A new voice now, sharp and clean; well, we must follow orders; oh, I remember her, Mashiko, the new sergeant we take the civilians to the meeting point. 

             I walked into the sleeper and was overflooded with emotions. My parents and I got separated during the chaos, And I haven't seen her since. "'Amma!'' I managed to choke out. "Esha!" My mother was a slim woman with a friendly face and a sweet voice. "Amma, are you ok?" I asked, sitting next to her on the bed. "I'm fine; how's Nana?" She asked. "He's fine. Do you want me to call him?"

"I'm right here, Somu," said my father standing in the doorway. Pepper ran to Amma and licked her face. He came over and had a sweet family reunion. Then we went to bed.

         

              The bus was closer now; I could almost reach it. My legs were burning even though my load was light. We were instructed to pack light, so I only brought a backpack with some of my clothes and possessions. In my arms, I carried my dog, Pepper, a Yorkipoo; she was a sensitive dog who (I swear) could read my mind. My shaky breath and open eyes scared her, and she started whining. Shhhhh, we are almost there; it's gonna be ok. My words were half true and half false; we were really close to the bus that the front of the group was already getting on, but I highly doubted we would be the same.

          My hands grazed the metal of the bus doors, and at that moment, I thought it would be ok; maybe we could start over with a new life. I looked over my shoulder at the blood-curdling smell of rotting flesh and thought otherwise. Everyone was tightly packed in the main section as I got into the bus. There were 2 sections; one was the main room, and the other had about 50 sleepers and another 50 overhead. My father found me, and we hugged like our last. "Esha! Are you ok, are you hurt?" He said, his words laced with worry. "I'm fine, just shaken'' I replied. "Where is Mom?" His gaze shifted to the sleeper car while stroking Pepper's soft fur. "She's just resting; go meet her." I went through the crowd and picked up on some conversation; we made it; what now? The civilians are scared. It was General Edgar though he seemed shaken as well. A new voice now, sharp and clean; well, we must follow orders; oh, I remember her, Mashiko, the new sergeant we take the civilians to the meeting point. 

     

        I walked into the sleeper and was overflooded with emotions. My parents and I got separated during the chaos, And I haven't seen her since. "'Amma!'' I managed to choke out. "Esha!" My mother was a slim woman with a friendly face and a sweet voice. "Amma, are you ok?" I asked, sitting next to her on the bed. "I'm fine; how's Nana?" She asked. "He's fine. Do you want me to call him?"

"I'm right here, Somu," said my father standing in the doorway. Pepper ran to Amma and licked her face. He came over and had a sweet family reunion. Then we went to bed.

        I awoke to the sound of quick footsteps and hushed whispers. I was sleep deprived after the long run, so it took me a second to recollect my thoughts and realize that a new Sargent had joined the workforce. I was skeptical when I first heard of her, like my father. I guess government doubting runs in the family, though my mother couldn't care less. She would instead finish making lunch for us and then get some rest. I was careful not to make noise because my parents were jumpy throughout the night. They probably didn't get a wink of sleep that night. I tipped-toed done the small sleeper, careful not to step on anyone in the dark. There was no space, so most people slept on the floor.

      I heard shuffling and ran to a corner because I thought I had woken someone. Tiny footsteps followed me to the corner. I told you! Pepper knew I woke up, and she followed me here! Be quiet!! Oh, how life would be if everything went your way. She started whining, and I had to promise everything was fine before she would be quiet. The door was cracked open, and all the officials on duty were there. Some sort of meeting was going on. Mashiko, the new Sargent, was seated behind a desk talking in a low voice. "I trust that everyone knows where we are going, and know the dangers of this mission. This expedition must go flawlessly if we are to get out." She sounded so ominous. "But, ma'am what about the civilians?" The assistant chief was genuinely worried and restored my faith in the government for a second. "Our first priority is our self's. The government can run itself." As she said that, my suspicions returned as quickly as they went.