“One should be empty. Last night it was all soldiers, and they’re off fighting, or they should be. House with the sheets hanging on the line is only one person. She does the services some days. It’s not worth the time or effort, the cranky bitch never listens to anyone.”

Yeah. There we were.

“Tony’s cousin. What can I tell them, that they’ll think it’s from you?”

“Tell him Nan said Tony’s gonna need him.”

“Alright,” I said. “Go. I’ll handle it.”

Sveta hauled herself over the fence, then approached so she stood a distance away. As Nan began getting the kids and one man that looked to be about seventy on their way, Sveta guided them, bending low and giving the kids instructions on where to go.

Most looked back to Nan for guidance, and she urged them on.

“Vic!” Capricorn called out.

I turned his way.

“When they get to the woods, have ’em call for Self-reflection!”

“Nan,” I said.

There were sixteen kids, and Nan was still near the door, urging them on. She had some of the young ones stay close to her, and when someone slightly older came out, she paired them up, clasping their hands together, before sending them on their way. She had to take ten or so seconds to get kids sorted before she could spare a moment to respond to me.

“What?”

“When you get to the woods, call out ‘reflection’, loud as you can.”

“Why?”

“Because like you said to Tony, we’re helping you, so help us a bit. This only helps you guys where it counts.”

She frowned a bit, but she nodded.

I took flight, leaving things to Sveta and Nan.

The ‘cranky’ woman’s place first. I flew to the door, and knocked, hard. The mailbox had only ‘Sims’ on it. No number.

“What?” the answer came from within.

“I’m a hero from out of town. We’re evacuating people. Fighting’s coming this way.”

The door opened. The woman was older, but not as old as I’d expected. Her hair was black, with streaks of white running through it. Her clothing style was very severe, much of the neck covered, sleeves to the wrists, dress to the ankle. She looked me over, staring through the screen door.

“If you want to go, there are people waiting. Some buildings have been knocked down. It could happen here.”

“Who else is going?”

“Nan’s family, I’ll be talking to Tony’s cousin next door in a second.”

“Screws loose, all of them,” she said. “The nonsense they spew, the criminal stuff. It’s all madness.”

“You can get out,” I said. “Just head into the woods, go straight, it’s not that thick a patch of woods, and there are people on the other side. They’ll take care of you.”

“I’ll go,” she said. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” I said.