7 Break

Unknown to the small family of three, the world outside of the small flat was left shaken and devastated because of the news of an unidentified super lifeform. The news outlet told the people that the military had dispatched it. However, some accounts told it was the person from the sky who stopped the creature from reaching populated areas. Some people believed it, and some didn't, claiming that it was just part of the play of the government to have more control of its people. They weren't actually from far from the truth. Atlas has slain the beast, but the government claimed that they were the ones who stopped it. They didn't give credit to him, nor did they want to give credit to him. The government loved the idea of them hogging all the credits to the people trust and like them more.

In a certain drinking pub, a group of people was having a conversation about the news of the beast and person from the sky while drinking their favorite drinks.

Someone said, "I wondered how they got rid of that anomaly of a beast?"

Another replied, "Obviously, they shot it down like a rampaging animal!"

"But the wound on its body doesn't seemed to be a work combustion, bombs or assault rifle."

"What do you mean, lad?"

The person, who started the conversion in the pub, looked at the man before pointing at the wounds of the beast on the television news. "Look at that, old man. The head of that monster doesn't have burnt marks. It's look like someone, or something rammed the hell out of with brute force."

"The military might have rammed a bus or a truck head-on with it. " The old man took a sip of his fine beer, and continued." Well, who cares as long as we live our normal lives then everything's will be fine."

"We should care because if what I think is correct. There might be another preditor lurking in this country."

"Young lad, your mind is full of imagination. Come on! Just enjoy your drink while it last!"

"Yes," the man said, "my mind certainly is full of imagination. Hopefully this is just my mind playing tricks on me." He touched the scar hidden on his head before drinking his beer.

...

Atlas was always an early bird. He always wanted the best for his little sisters. That's why he always wakes up early and comes home early. He wanted them to feel that they had a perfect family even without his father and mother to guide and look after them.

"What should I cook?" He reminisced about the time where they would always say that they would eat anything he'd cook as long as he's here, then they'd be okay with anything. "I would believed them if not for Emma and Elsa making those faces while eating their vegetables."

Atlas went to the fridge. It was super small and old, but it looked perfectly alright. Emma and Elsa treasured this old refrigerator as this was the first machine that Atlas bought with his first salary working as a cleaner. In their words, it was where the good things were kept safe and hidden. So they have always cleaned it although it doesn't hold much.

Atlas opened the fridge, and he made a saddened face. "There's only two of them..." There were only two pieces of cheese dog in the fridge and nothing else. He gave out a sigh and took the cheese dogs and prepared breakfast with rice.

After cooking and preparing breakfast, Atlas decided to wake Elsa and Emma up so that they can go to school.

"Babies, wake up. It's time for breakfast." He snuggled at them first before wrapping his arms around the two of them. Elsa and Emma looked like puppies in his bosom.

"Atlee, what's for breakfast?" Emma asked.

"Your favorite."

Elsa and Emma yawned and were still much sleepy. Atlas said, "The cheesedogs would be very sad if you keep it waiting, girls."

The eyes of the little kids shone when they heard the word cheese dogs. It was their favorite of all time. "Whoooa, cheese dogs?!" They looked at Atlas and smiled. "Is it okay to eat this? Didn't you say to keep it for good times?"

Atlas's heart was shaken and poked Emma and Elsa's forehead and said, "It's fine this is for being a good girls in the school."

They started eating when they saw that there's only two cheese dogs of goodness on the table, and Atlas has only coffee and a slice of bread.

"Come one, girls, eats?" He smiled at them. "Or would you want me to feed you like babies again?"

Emma, the youngest, puff her cheeks and seemed to struggle about something while holding her head. She released a long sigh and was about to do something when Elsa cut 1/4 of the cheese dog and placed it on Atlas's plate.

"Big sister, I was about to give Atlee first!" She then cut 1/4 of the cheese dog and place it on Atlas's plate.

Atlas declined the two of them. "You don't have to--"

Emma and Elsa said in unison, "But it's your favorite too... We said that we'd eat less just don't leave us..."

He looked at them while their heads were laid down, looking like they did something wrong. "My little angels have grown big in the past few years. Alright, we're eating, okay? I'll eat eat it so eat up you still have school."

Emma and Elsa looked at each other before beaming one another with their cheeky smiles. "He-he., Atlee is the best!"

Atlas could never forget the smiles on their faces when he saw how content they were eating something so trivial. When he was their age, he could remember that his dad and mother would cook loads of food for him. The table was full of everything from chicken, pork, beef, and something he could never forget as well--vegetables and plants that didn't seem to exist in this world.

"Emma and Elsa, what do you want to eat later for dinner?"

Emma without a single thought blurted, "Fried chicken, and mashed potatos..."

Elsa glared at Emma. "We don't have money for that Emma..."

"But Atlee ask... anything Atlee as long it's not vegetables. He-he."

Atlas ruffled their hairs, "It's okay, Elsa. I'm going to indulge you two since it was your birthday yesterday."

Emma jumped. "Really? Fried chicken and mash potatoes?"

Elsa wanted to jump but stop and act like a fine lady, which Atlas made fun of. "You're not happy, our fine lady?"

Elsa blushed. "I want fried chicken as well and mash potatos."

Emma looked at Elsa and laughed at her. "See Atlee. Big sister also wants fried chicken and mash potatos. She's just shy."

Elsa blushed even more. "We don't have the money. I don't want to burden Atlee."

Atlas place his hand on his chest and pledged, "From now on, you don't have to worry about money. You're still small to think about it. I'll take care of it and everything just be good at school, okay?" He continued, "Later we're going to have a feast to celebrate your birthdays. Finish your breakfast, you still have classes to attend."

The two girls giggled and said, "We will."

After Emma finished her breakfast, he climbed down her chair with her small legs and approached Atlas. She tugged his shorts.

Atlas looked down and laughed at those innocent eyes. "What is it, Emma?"

She continue to tug his shorts, and said, "No good, Atlee! Don't be so strict, Atlee, or you'll look like an old man."

He laughed louder at her antics, and when he saw that those eyes were dead serious he stop the urge to continue laughing. He carried Emma in his arms and said, "Do I look like an old man?"

Emma crossed her arms while contemplating deeply. "Yes, you are."

Elsa, who just finished eating, went to Atlas and started tugging his shorts.

Atlas looked down at the little thing who was tugging his shorts. "Mhh?"

Elsa opened her arms wide with puff cheeks. "Atlee no fair. Me too, carry."

He grabbed Elsa in his arms, and the latter started smiling and hugging him on his neck like a koala, then the other koala follow suit as well.

"What could I do without you, angels?"

At first, Atlas wanted to hate his sisters because after they were born problems keep on piling every day without stopping. His father went missing, then after a few months, his mother went missing as well. Atlas only knew that he had a father and mother, but aside from his parents. He doesn't have anything else, no other relatives from his father and mother's side. He was only young when he started to take care of his siblings with the help of some neighbors. At first, the neighbors reported the situation and wanted to have them adopted but he didn't want to be separated from his sisters that only kept him tied to this world. He had begged and pay one of the elders in his neighborhood to watch and take care of Elsa and Emma that they wouldn't be taken by the government. Atlas was big and strong at a young age that he was able to work in the construction site for lower pay. Atlas was so strong that he had to control his strength in order for it not to be noticed that he was actually able to lift half a ton with ease. He used the money earned to buy milk and goods for their small family of three, and he kept the money his parents have left him.

He remembered the things he did and the sacrifices he made like it just happened yesterday.

"Our situation will improve, girls." He hugged them and gently whispered, "Just bear with me. Just a little bit more."