Reese immediately pushed aside her worries and greeted Annie with a warm smile. "Hey, Annie. Were you good at school today?"


    "Of course I was!" Annie shot back, running straight over and grabbing Reese''s hand. She leaned in, her eyes shining with excitement.


    Reese gently patted Annie''s head and nced up at the gloomy sky. "You''re amazing. What do you want for dinner tonight? I''ll make anything you want." Annie tilted her head, thinking it over. "I want pork ribs! And scrambled eggs!" Just the thought of Reese cooking made Annie practically glow with happiness. "Alright, let''s hit the supermarket and grab everything we need. Tonight, I''ll make you pork ribs and scrambled eggs."


    Still smiling, Reese took Annie''s hand and they headed to the car, driving off toward the nearest grocery store.


    Inside, they picked out fresh ribs, eggs, and tossed in some of Annie''s favorite fruit and snacks for good measure.


    By the time they finished checking out and stepped outside, fat raindrops had already started falling. The short walk to the car left the ground soaked.


    Sitting in the driver''s seat, Reese watched the rain hammer the windshield, her frown deepening. September weather could turn on a dime, and if this rain didn''t let up, the city would flood in no time.


    She flicked on the radio, just in time to hear an emergency warning on repeat.


    "Attention, residents: multiple areas in the city are experiencing severe flooding. Some roads are already underwater and impassable.


    "Please stay in safe areas, and don''t try to walk or drive through floodwater. Your safetyes first..."


    The rain only got heavier. Reese''s worry grew as she realized the roads might flood before they even got home.


    She nced into the rearview mirror at Annie, who was quietly buckled in the backseat, then started the engine and slowly pulled out.


    The rain kept pounding down, windshield wipers working overtime but barely helping. By the time they reached the main road, there was already water pooling everywhere and traffic had slowed to a crawl.


    A whileter, the wide road waspletely jammed, nothing but a sea of red brake lights ahead. Reese checked her GPS and saw the underpass up ahead was closed.


    There were several underpasses near their neighborhood. If she just waited here, she and Annie might not make it home tonight.


    She bit her lip, flicked on her turn signal, and slowly turned off the main road, heading for a narrow side street she rarely used.


    The sky was getting darker and the heavy rain kept the streetlights from turning


    on.


    The alley was nearly empty. Reese could tell the storm wasn''t stopping anytime soon, so she pressed the gas a little harder.


    Suddenly, water surged up around the car, sshing over the hood and even higher. She hit the brakes, but it was already toote.


    The engine sputtered and died; the headlights went out, leaving them in total darkness.


    "Auntie, what happened?" Annie''s voice was small and shaky as thunder rumbled, getting closer.


    Reese forced herself to stay calm and reached back to pat Annie''s head. "It''s alright. The car just stopped working, that''s all."


    "I''ll carry you out. We''ll find somewhere safe, and then figure out what to do next."


    She opened the door and the wind and rain whipped in. Reese took deep breath, grabbed her umbre, and Stepped out into the water to get Annie from the backseat


    The water was already up to her


    calves. Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly pulled off her jacket wrapped Annie up, and lifted her out of the car.


    "It''s okay, Annie. I''ve got you."


    "I''m not scared. Be careful, Auntie. Annie clung to Reese''s neck with one hand, her backpack slung over her shoulder trying to hold the umbre with the other


    Reese held Annie tight and retraced their steps, not daring to go forward.


    But the rain just kepting, and soon the water was over Reese''s knees. Branches and trash floated past in the rising current.


    Suddenly, something bumped into Reese''s leg, making her stumble forward.


    "Annie!"


    "Auntie, be careful!"


    In a rush of panic, Reese used all her strength to lift Annie even higher, just as a bicycle, swept along by the flood, barreled toward them.


    Right then, headlights cut through the darkness. An SUV stopped right in front of them, blocking the debris.


    "Reese!"