Chapter Four: Temporary Safety

Jason and Claire arrived at the safe house. It was a rickety old house, scheduled for demolition or at least it was, before the Tallentiri bombarded the place. Jason was amazed that the structure was intact.

‘How did you find this place?’ Jason asked as they stood out the front.
‘After my parents divorced, my dad moved here. I’d stay with him sometimes when mum got… she’s an alcoholic so…’ Claire replied, a little sadly.
‘I’m sorry, about your parents’ divorce. While I never experienced it, I had friends who did. It’s something no one should have to go through’ Jason responded.
‘Yeah, anyway come on, best not hang around outside too long’ Claire said and Jason followed her up the footpath and into the house. As Claire opened the door, Jason was amazed at how the inside looked. The walls looked freshly painted a dull yellow, the lights (although they weren’t on) were sunk into the ceiling, the floor was perfectly carpeted.
‘He did it up,’ Claire said closing the door behind. ‘I know it’s not desirable or safest staying in the area that the Tallentiri invaded, but it’s getting dark now, if we moved now we could both be killed’
‘Agreed. We stay here tonight and move first thing in the morning’ Jason replied. Claire nodded and then showed him around.

‘We need to get of here fast Sarah’ Celeste said, standing next to a car.

'I know that, but you haven’t even started learning to drive, and even if you had, you don’t have the keys Celeste’ Sarah responded, groaning as she put more weight on her leg.
‘You’d rather hobble out of here?’ Celeste enquired. ‘The keys will be somewhere in the remains of that house’ she added, pointing.
‘Assuming that they are in there, how do you suppose we find them?’ Sarah replied, ignoring Celeste’s question.
‘You forget I have a knack for finding things. Just wait out here, stay out of sight, I’ll go find the keys-‘
‘I AM NOT WAITING OUT HERE-‘
‘Keep your voice down, or they’ll find us. Now are you going to help me or not?’ Sarah knew the argument was lost and so she agreed to go with her sister. Together they entered the remains of the house and while Sarah learned against a wall Celeste began clambering over the debris and entered another room. Sarah listened as Celeste began rummaging through other debris and five minutes later, returned holding a set of keys, she was covered in dust.
‘Found them near a collapsed table, let’s go’ Celeste exclaimed, helping her sister out of the ruins and into the backseat of the car.
‘Thank you’ Sarah said.
‘Hopefully, this works’ Celeste said as she started the car. She looked down at the gear stick.
‘Thank God it’s an Automatic’ she put the car into reverse and backed out, narrowly missing a tree as she reached the curb, she then put the car into drive and accelerated down the street.
‘Do you even have any idea we’re going?’ Sarah asked.
‘Not really. The plan was to get out of here and then worry about that’ Celeste answered, turning a corner.
‘Great’ Sarah said.
‘Oh, be a bit optimistic. I’ll find a way to fix your leg soon, but we need to be safe first’ Celeste told Sarah.