Kim hadn't taken into account the facts that it was dark outside, and
the streets and houses were destroyed. There were no signs to read, or
landmarks to follow. The only lights came from those still looking for
other people or for lost possessions. Everyone was walking around like
zombies, still in shock. Their lives had just....vanished, literally in
seconds. It was surreal. With no other options, Kim decided she had to get Wade's help.....If he was still alive. She turned on her Kimmunicator.
Kim got a visual of Wade, but she wasn't sure of where, exactly, he was. She could tell he was standing though, and everything was dark. She heard the voices of others as well, though only vaguely. Wade stared at Kim, before saying something. "Kim?! Is that really you? You're...."
"Alive? Yeah. I'm glad you're okay Wade! How's everything?" Kim asked apprehensively.
"Oh, fine. Our house was only partially damaged, and everyone's okay. I'm using a back up 'Kimmunicator', in case you were wondering. How are things on your end?" Wade sounded genuinely concerned, which touched Kim.
"Okay, for the most part," Kim said, "But Tim and Jim are missing. They were at a friend's house......Can you get the address?"
"I can get you the address and use GPS to guide you there! Just give me the address." Kim did so, and Wade seemed to be concentrating on the screen of his Kimmunicator before he looked back at Kim. "Got it. I'll just program the map into your Kimmunicator, and you'll be set."
"Thanks, Wade. You really rock," Kim told him sincerely. "Good luck with your house."
"Oh, that's no big deal. Good luck with your brothers. I really hope they're okay. Bye, Kim." The screen changed to a map showing Kim's position in relation to her destination.
Determined, Kim squared her shoulders and muttered to herself, "Let's go mission mode." This had to be the most important mission she'd ever taken, and she had her mind set on succeeding. She just had to make sure her brothers were okay for her mom, her dad, and herself.
Following the map, Kim payed little attention to the world around her. She just walked, and tried to visualize Tim and Jim running up to her saying "You won't BELIEVE what happened here..." But other, less happy visions invaded her mind; ones where her brothers were severely injured. Or worse. After a half hour of winding around debris and having to retrace some steps, Kim found the house. She delayed actual looking at it for awhile, afraid of what she'd see. Too many "What ifs...?" circled around in her head.
She looked. The house in front of her was wrecked and seemingly deserted. Kim's eyes watered and she felt a kind of sadness she'd never felt before. Ever. The realization set in that Tim and Jim could really be......dead. Her thoughts spiralled out of control. A lone tree stood by the house with a large wooden plank driven straight through it. Finally, clearly in her head a thouh formed. They're actually... Kim choked, and then broke into loud sobs. Her entire body shook as she cried for her brothers, and released her emotions. She couldn't think; couldn't feel. There was only sadness.
"Miss? Excuse me, Miss? I think I know who you're looking for?"
Kim felt hope fill her. "False hope," she thought angrily. Out loud, however, she asked "What?"
"The three young boys and a woman who were here," the woman explained. "They left in a car for Upperton as the tornado came. It was a last minute decision."
Kim began to breath again. "They could be....alive..." "Who told you?" Kim asked. She needed a confirmation of this.
"A neighbor who was also leaving, but decided to stay. He said they planned to take the road from down town Middleton. I wonder if they made it." With a shrug, the woman walked away to sort out her own life. Kim frowned, deep in thought.
Her brothers might have made it, but even if they did it would be hard to find them. Keeping this in mind, Kim began to use her Kimmunicator to get back to the hospital to wait when another idea struck her. "Wade could've micro-chipped them to have their locations at all times, right? Yeah, I think so.... He's got my whole family, and Ron's chipped! I could track them!" Kim searched several features until she found what she was looking for. Sure enough, Tim and Jim were close to each other, but not going anywhere. With renewed determination, Kim set course for her brothers, half way between Middleton and Upperton.
"Let's go mission mode again."
