“What's going on Jacob?” said Alex with fright. Jacobs sudden movement causing him to push away from his older brother and look at all the chaos around him.
“I wish I knew Alex.”
“I’m scared.” Continued Alex, the fear in his voice increasing.
Getting up on one knee, Jacob placed his hands-on his brother's shoulders and looked him intently in the eyes with concern. Jacob could see the panic on Alex's face as he began to speak to his little brother.
“Alex, I promise I will not let anything happen to you,” said Jacob with affirmation. “You understand Alex?” Jacob continued, as Alex nodded yes and wrapped his arms tightly around his brothers' neck.
Still holding Alex, Jacob stood up and began walking towards their apartment across the street, following the long shadows cast by the trees in the park behind them. Jacob made it to the edge, where the street met the sidewalk, with the smoke creeping from all directions, spilling ever closer. Hearing the shouts and cries of people echoing in the distance, punctuated by the intermittent explosions, Jacob began stepping out on to the street. Pausing suddenly as a strange tarnished, grey, and brown metal cylinder hit the ground in front of him. Jacob watched as the object clanked and bounced along the roadway, before coming to a stop against the curb in front of him. Turning around to protect Alex, the device exploded with a blinding flash and immense noise, causing Jacobs head again to begin ringing. Staggering forward in disorientation, Jacob dropped Alex on the grass in the park before collapsing in a heap beside him.
Suddenly everything became dim, the light of the nearby streetlights barely able to diffuse through the thick smoke that now engulfed Jacob and Alex. Jacob rose to his feet, while scooping up Alex in his arms, the disorienting effects of the explosive device quickly wearing off. Feeling a cough developing in his throat, Jacob forced his mouth closed to muffle the sounds, as he found it increasingly more difficult to breath, from the irritating effects of the nocuous gas. Holding his breath, while forcefully resitting the urge to cough, Jacob held the sleeve of his coat over Alex’s mouth. An uneasy feeling swept over him as he became increasingly aware, he was not alone in cloud. Shadows danced in the scattered light and the sound of, metal clanking and feet against the pavement grew increasingly lounder. No longer able to determine which way led to the apartment building, Jacob hastily chose a direction and walked quickly through the smoke.
“Jacob.” Said a low voice through the smoke, causing Jacob to stop in his tracks.
Unsure if he heard the sound or the effects of the gas were playing tricks on him, Jacob, paused for a moment. Dismissing the voice, he quickly resumed in his chosen direction.
“Jacob,” the voice called again, this time closer and more certain, as Jacob recognised the voice and turned around quickly walking in the direction it came from.
“Jacob... Alex!” Said the voice again, this time low but forceful.
“Mom?” Said Jacob in a loud whisper.
Stumbling out into the road, Jacob tripped over the edge of the sidewalk. Unable to regain his balance, Jacob felt he was sure to hit the ground. Caught and held by somebody familiar, Jacob instantly recognised the embrace and for a moment felt safe.
Angie held her children tightly for a few seconds before grabbing Jacob by the arm and leading him across the street. Slowly and carefully she tried to safely navigate the unseen obstacles obscured by the dense smoke. Jacob could hear boots against the road growing louder behind them. The sounds developed into the quick cadence of someone in a full run, absolving any fleeting sense of safety Jacob once felt.
“Hurry!” said Jacob, grabbing his mother's hand and leading her into a full sprint.
Fearful something was hunting them in the fog, visions of the woman in green flashed through Jacobs mind. Breaking out of the cloud in the middle of a parking lot, Jacob held Alex tight as he pulled in mother along. Their five-story apartment complex stood ominously before them, its bright lights and sturdy brick structure, like a beacon of safety to Jacob amongst the chaos of the outside world. Arriving at the door first, with his mother in tow, Jacob pulled hard on the metal door causing it to shake loudly. With the door remaining securely locked, Angie pulled a cluster of keys from her coat pocket. Frantically fumbling them along their rings, Angie searched for the right key with her hands shaking in fear. Unable to complete a task she had effortlessly done countless times before, she dropped the keys and watched as they hit the ground loudly. In that moment, with cold hands and consumed by fright, she lacked the dexterity necessary to complete the fine motor task of manipulating the tiny pieces of metal. Setting Alex down in the light from the lobby from the other side of
