Humanity Gone: Facade of Order by Derek Deremer

matter, and whoever this girl may be, does not. Things aren't like they used to be. I exhale and swing open the closet. I rummage through and put several sweaters and pants in my backpack. I also toss in a few things that I once saw Jo wear that might be considered “cute.” That will make Sara happy. I press it all in and barely can get the zipper closed.
                  I grab my bag and bow and move on to the room Carter went into. The door is open slightly, and I push it open the rest of the way.
                  “Carter. We lucked out. What did...?” I begin to say.
                  I drop the bag and the bow to the hardwood floor. Carter is in the corner with his knees in his chest. His eyes are wide and it looks like he wants to cry. His eyes motion towards the bed. I turn and on the bed are the two girls. They are beneath the blanket, and their heads rest on the pillow facing up. The larger one seems to have her arms around the smaller one's shoulder tightly. Their faces are blue.
                  They are dead. Frozen.
                  They didn't have people to take care of them. When it got really cold here a few weeks ago they must have frozen to death. I go over to Carter and kneel in front of him.
                  I remember when I was in a corner with my knees to my chest. I take a deep breath.
                  “Come on; we have to keep going.” I place a hand on his shoulder. “This is happening all over. There's nothing we can do.”
                  '”Let's just go,” he whispers. I understand this, but I can't take this babble from him right now. Sure this is awful, but we aren't finished with what we came here to do.
                  “This is what we need. I'm gonna go through her closet.” Carter's eyes widen when I say this.
                  “Man, how... how can you... you be so cold to this?” he asks. “They are right there.”
                  I don't know. I just am. This is sad, but it's my girls that I worry about. Yes, this should bother me more... I feel that in my gut. A few months ago, this would have been very different.
                  “Go in the hall. It'll only take a minute.” I help Carter up and he goes to the hall with my full bag in hand. I go back with his hiking pack and take similar articles from the closet and drawers. I go to leave, but I take a second and walk to the bed. I look down at both their faces.
                  Please Jon. Feel something. Cry. Something.
                  Nothing. I reach with my hand to the covers and pull it over their heads. I would pray if I believed in God anymore.
                  I meet Carter in the hall and hand him the pack.
                  “This is going to really help the twins.” I try to encourage him. Carter nods.             
                  We get back outside and head towards the SUV. I grab Carter by the shoulder and stop him. He turns to me with a startled look.
                  “You okay now?” I ask.
                  “It's just, this is happening all over the country. We forget about the country in our cozy little cabin. Children are dying, and we are looting their houses? How many more dead little girls are we going to see? We should be doing something to help those still out there. Anything.” Tears drop from his eyes. Carter is tough. I never imagined I would see him cry.
                  “It's ugly; I know. But I know three girls I will not let this happen to. “I pause for a moment and ponder my own limitations as one person. This is a talk I have been meaning to have with Carter. “I don't know what might happen today or tomorrow, but if something happens to me, you have to promise to take care of them. Take care of Jo. She needs to come before anything else in