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>Lincoln had been let out of school early, but no one had any idea what was happening. He just knew that whatever it was, it was bad.
>He could tell by the forced calmness the voice over the schools intercom, directing students to hurry home.
>"I don't know Lincoln," Clyde said, the two power walking down the sidewalk. In the distance, the Loud resident came into view. "This is really weird. Like, way weirder than normal."
>"Yeah, listen, keep your walkie on you, I'm gonna jog the rest of the way." And with that, he picked up the pace.
>The moment he reached the door to his family's abode, he was hit by the sheer sense of chaos that had gripped the house hold, something he thought wasn't possible before.
>None of the kids paid mind to Lincoln, all scurrying around with supplies, possessions, and mementos.
>The TV was blaring an alert over the comnotion, but none of the Loud family seemed to notice. They had heard far enough to know what to do.
>"Alright kids, to Lisa's shelter, move move move!" The patriarch of the family commanded, a huge ball of the family's sheets in his hand.
>"Dad!" Lincoln shouted, practically running into his father full speed. "W-What's going on."
>"Son, please, just go out into the bunker, we need to hurry. Your stuff is already in the bunker, but you need to help your sisters and your mother."
>Once more, Lincoln picked up on the faux calm in his voice, adding to Lincoln's sense of dread. After a brief pause, he nodded.
>"Yeah...o-...okay!"
>"That's my boy, help Lori first, she's carrying clo-"
>The TV blared out an alarm, as if to call attention to itself over the noise of the house. Everyone froze at the same time, only for the two parental figures to share a glance, nodding.
>"Alright. Lola, Lana, Lucy, Lisa; into the bunker." Rita chimed, her voice shuddering.
>"Bu-"
>"Now, girls!" Lynn Sr's voice boomed. Commanding the respect he deserved, the younger kids followed their mother out, leaving the older siblings and Lincoln to look at the screen.
>The screen flashed and cut to a man sitting at a desk, sweating nervously as people bustled around his side and behind him. He held a finger to his ear, no doubt listening as the news came in.
>"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, we've..." The reporter paused, visibly shaken as he continued to listen to the piece in his ear. "We've confirmed reports of massive Russian military movement on Eastern Europe. And, it seems..."
>Suddenly, a man rushed the side of the reporter, yanking him towards him, whispering into his ear.
>Whatever was whispered caused the reporters eyes to widen, the man rushing off just as fast as he appeared.
>Silence overtook him, before finally clearing his throat.
>"We've just heard word that..." He paused to attempt, and fail, at clearing his dry throat again. "The Russian military has launched missiles with a nuclear payload on targets in France and Germany, as well as parts of Poland and Britain."
>The remaining loud family gasped, spare for Lynn Sr, who watched on still as a statue.
>"The US has declared a state of emergency," the reporter continued, looking down at his desk. "The United States is officially at DEFCON 1. God have mercy on us all, and God bless America."
>Suddenly, the feed died, a message displaying to tune back in for the Presidents official words in a matter of minutes, while also instructing others to seek immediate shelter.
>No one dared speak up, all except Lynn Sr.
>"Bunker. Now."
>With no further instruction needed, the older Loud siblings all carried their remaining loads of whatever they had outside, but just before they got to the bunker, Lori gasped.
>"G-Guys..." She squeaked out, her normal control slipping rapidly away from her.
>Raising her phone up, she nearly dropped the pile she carried. The other kids spun around to look at the oldest daughter. Slowly, she raised up her phone.
>"W-We launched back..."
>Indeed, as the older siblings bum rushed Lori, they all looked at the phone she held.
>'President Orders State of Emergency'
>'Evacuation Plans of Metro Centers Underway'
>'President vows "revenge for this transgression against humanity"'
>But the last line was what really drove the point home to the family. The single line of text caused the worst fears of theirs to blossom forth within them.
>'President orders Retaliation strikes'
>Any sense of maturity quickly melted away from them all. Lori broke down completely, gripping as tightly as she could on her phone.
>Leni, surprisingly, understood the ramifications of what was happening.
>Luna and Luan clung to one another, whispering how it'd be okay to one another, but neither of them able to convince themselves or each other.
>Lynn, poor Lynn, simply stared at the house they called home, her eyes glazed over.
>Lincoln was shaking like a leaf.
>"Is...this really how it ends?" He whispers, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on him.
>"Kids." The voice of their father said, "Please, get in. Try to be strong for your younger sisters. Please."
>Without muttering another word, the kids wiped their tears away, the wall being built back up. They needed to, for their sisters after all.
>One by one, they filed into the structure, all eyes down to their feet. Finally, as Lincoln held up the rear, he paused next to his father.
>"Dad...?"
>Silence, Lynn Sr looking out towards the city.
>"Are we going to be okay?"
>"I...don't know son."
>"I don't know."
>Just as Lincoln passed the entrance, already halfway down the ladder, fear overtook him.
>"Clyde."
>Fear for his best friend's well being clouded his judgment.
>Down inside the bunker, the static of a radio being tuned echoed through the metal hull of the bunker, mixing with hushed chatter of the siblings down below.
>"Dad...I-I need to get my walkie!"
>Lynn Sr. paused just as the hatch was about to slam shut.
>"Lincoln, no!" His voice carried authority.
>"Dad, please! I...I need to invite Clyde here too! He wouldn't have anywhere to go! I have to warn him!"
>"No! We need to get ready NOW!"
>"Are you just going to let my best friends, OUR family's friends, die?!" Lincoln yelled. Silence descended inside the bunker, the only sound was the buzzing of static on the radio.
>Contemplation washed over his father's features, before finally, acceptance.
>"Son..y-you have to hurry." Lynn Sr. spoke softly, weariness in his voice. "Promise me. Please."
>Lincoln gave him a quick nod.
>"I will. I promise."
>"Good," He reopened the metal hatch, climbing back out. "Good..."
>Lincoln followed suite, hopping out from the hole that would be there new home. He knew it wouldn't take him long, but already adrenaline was coursing through his veins.
>Bolting off towards the back door, Lincoln couldn't hear anything but his pounding heart beat.
--
>Lynn Sr. watched his son take off. From inside, his wife let out a 'hah!' and how she "got it". Curiously, he listened in. Indeed, she got the radio working.
>"--firmed launches. Expected flight paths for major metropolitan areas. Seek immediate shelter in the following areas:"
>The man listed off a bunch of names of cities.
>Then he heard their city.
>Instincts took over, looking back for his son. He was already halfway into the door of their house.
>"Lincoln Loud; get back here right now!"
>Yet his son had already made it in to their home. It was too late.
--
>Lincoln took the briefest moment to thank Lynn in his thoughts for how hard she pushed him.
>His heart thumped as he swung the backdoor open.
>"Lincoln Lo-!!!"
>The start of his father's yelling reached him, but by then it was far too late to stop. He was so close. He needed to save Clyde and his dads.
>He sprinted through the kitchen, narrowly avoiding the table. His feet took him around the dining room table towards the entry way to the house.
>The television droned throughout the house, the same horrible tone as before. He didn't give pause to read the television's new message, fashioned in bold letters.
>'SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER'
>Fully stopping and grasping the railing, he pulled himself up the stairs, going as quickly as his feet would take him.
>He found himself at the front of his door in a flash, swinging his bedroom open. He was amazed to see his room quite barren, his sisters work making itself known.
>He ripped open the drawer, finding his walkie just where he had expected. Wasting no time, he flipped the receiver on.
>"Clyde! Clyde come in!" He was breathing hard. "Do you hear me?"
>"Lincoln!" The voice of his best friend sprung to life. "I've been trying to get ahold of you for so long!"
>"N-Nevermind that, buddy." Pivoting around, he began to power walk out and down the stairs. "Just get over here, alright? We have plenty of space!"
>"Yeah, okay, I'll tell my dads. See you soon, Lincoln."
>With that, he clicked the receiver off. Picking up to a jog, he retraced his steps, back out the door.
>He caught sight of his father, head down in the bunker, yelling something. What it was, he didn't know what.
>"Dad!" He called, half way to steel structure. He waved the walkie in his hand, a smile plastered onto his face.
>Lynn Sr. whirled around.
>His face was full of fear and tears.
>Lincoln's smile slowly slid off his face.
>"Lincoln, get inside, NOW!" His father screamed, pointing down.
>Then the world was bathed in a blinding light.
>Lincoln couldn't see anything.
>His eyes hurt.
>His head pounded in time with his heart beat.
>He couldn't believe he made it.
>When the light blinded him, his instincts kicked in, and he felt his legs sprint toward where his dad was.
>And then he was practically lifted off his feet, and guided down into the shelter's entrance, his father whispering something about being good, and taking care of everyone.
>And as he slowly descended down the ladder, using his feet to feel for the next rung, he heard the door heavy metal hatch slam shut and lock.
>And then, the sound he could only describe as the earth ending. The metal frame creaked and shook violently.
>He clung to dear life on the ladder, the sound of his sisters panicked cries from down the bunker's shaft.
>And then, just as quickly as everything happened, the sound subsided, and an eerie silence descended on the shelter.
>"Lincoln, sweetie, are you okay!"
>"Yeah, mom, I'm fine! Dad pulled me in! Just give me a moment."
>"Oh thank goodness. Both of you, hurry up and get down here! Family meeting!"
>His vision slowly began to return, his eyes still adjusting to the darkness of the metal shaft. He could only see a foot or so from him.
>"Alright, come on dad."
>Lincoln waited for a response he wouldn't get.
>"Dad?"
>Realization slowly washed over him.
>"Lincoln, what's taking you two so long! Get down here! Lynn, tell him to hurry up."
>He tried to form words, to call out to her, but his body locked up on the ladder. His gaze focused upward towards the entrance.
>"Lynn?" His mother nervously yelled.
>Lincoln began to shake as he tried to lower himself further.
>"Dad?" Each of his sisters slowly joined in, until the walls echoed the same word over and over.
>He didn't know how far he had to go to reach the bottom. Lincoln's head spun around and around.
>"Dad?!"
>His vision blurred, staring up at the metal hatch to the outside world.