The Hard Fall

continuation from "The High Rise".

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I ran as fast as I could. Warning people. Screaming at the top of my lungs for people to wake up.

Slowly, lights started turning on as I made my way home. I shook mother awake trying to warn her calmly that there was going to be a flood without any explanation.

I went upstairs carrying Vince and telling Stacey and Jeremy to get out of the house. I knew that we wouldn't stand a chance even being sheltered in our small weak house. We had to get somewhere safe.

Floods. We've had 14 in our country last year. Some really brutal ones.
I can't believe that one was happening now.

We were soon all out of the house, people were out of the streets trying to run and be safe. The water was already up to my knees. It was moving fast.

It was dark, lanterns and lights started to appear now. I could faintly see people scrambling, trying to gather their things, while other people were wondering what was the cause or rather trying to investigate.

It was rushing so fast that none of us really had enough time to think. One minute the water was on my knees, and in the few minutes that passed, it was now rising up to my chest.

We were all scared, no doubt about that.

Men and women were trying to hold up little children, their babies, putting them on some flotation device. The elderly were being carried as well.

Thank God that Vince and Jeremy were safe on the raft. I told Stacey to take mother and run across the bridge to get to safety as many people were doing so.

But there were still many little boys and girls, grandpas and grandmas that still needed help. I wasn't going to let them die.

Further in the village, there was a strong cement place, it was already overloaded with 50 people, not being able to fit anymore, yet people were still getting past the gates and pushing their way inside.

I was swimming now when I remembered father. Where was he?
Turning around, people were screaming, trying to float.

I wanted to go back, but decided against it. He wasn't home when I got there.

I heard a piercing shriek coming from the house to the right. The roof was jagged and rusted and had fallen to the ground. It wobbled and was unstable.The house immediately collapsed.

Splashes came from all directions, people were jumping from their house before it could react the same way the previous one had.
The water was extremely cold, it almost felt like a thousand sharp knives were jabbing onto your skin.

It was so strong, the current was so strong. I saw a little boy crying for his mama. I grabbed his hand and put him on a piece of floating wood. A man saw him and tried to float him with the other children making their way across the bridge.

Screams echoed everywhere. The rain poured hard, adding more water to the ground. I saw the bridge that I had to cross to get to my mother. Hopefully, they were all far ahead and out of harm's way.

I still tried to help people along the way. Water was still rising.

I heard a scream for help to my left, it was a woman crying pointing towards her elderly mother who was stuck on the second floor, she couldn't get down.

Her green shirt stuck to her bony skin like glue. She was wet and her hair covered her face like seaweed.

"Don't worry," I said to her as calm as possible, "I'll get help."

She nodded but still shrieking. I tried to get some help but chaos was everywhere and they were unable to get to me.

The mud was thickening, and it was harder to walk with the rain pouring harder. I called one more time, but they weren't coming.

The woman stayed there, now trying to fight the current to get to her mother.

"Get back, go! I'll get her!" I yelled.

She wasn't convinced.

There wasn't any way through the front door anymore. Water was flooding inside, rising higher up the stairs. Soon the 2nd floor would be filled.

I quickly tried to find another way for her to get out. I didn't know her mother, but I wanted her to get out as much as she did.

"Jump!" I yelled to 60 year old who clutching the curtain by the window, "I'll catch you."

She looked at me with fear in her eyes and shook her head.
I tried again. She refused.
The rain was pounding harder, time was running out.

I looked back at the woman who was crying, holding on to my back. She squeezed my body, trying to hold on to me without being sucked into the water.

"Please, try, I'll catch--"

I was cut off by a loud cracking noise. I looked at the sky, thinking it was lighting but was mistaken.
A metal contraption slammed into the large tree that was rapidly being pulled by gravity. It was coming towards me.

Pushing off, I swam as fast as possible just missing the tree that had just fallen down. I breathed in relief, I was alive.

I felt the woman's grip loosen on my back and looked at her, hoping she was alright.

A look of horror flashed through her eyes before she fell underwater.
I grabbed her and tried to pull her up. It was no use. She was gone.

I swallowed hard and turned to look up to where she was last looking.

There, under the tree that I had just escaped, was her mother.
Her small, frail body. Lifeless. Crushed under the house.


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to be continued...