We Are Still Here

by Jimmy Bird

  We wondered around the small museum, looking at various stuffed animals that inhibited the Refuge. I was hoping we could use the Refuge’s maps and information to come up with a plan. We couldn’t stay in the Visitor Center forever, or could we?

  JoJo asked, “Now what?”

  I looked down at her, “Well, we have enough canned food to last a few more days before we have to go searching for more or hunting. We should be safe inside here. Want to get some rest?”

  A few more roars and loud thumps echoed through the quiet museum.

  Makalyn looked at me, “Are you sure we’re safe here?”

  I turned towards her, “I believe so. I’m sure that they used shattered proof glass doors just in case of the wild animals roaming around.”

  The roars and thumping stopped. I looked at the girls, “Do you hear that?”

  “Hear what?”

  I raised my arms in triump, “Exactly. Sounds like they gave up. I’m going to go peek. Wait here.”

  I walked towards the large entry way and stopped at the edge of a wall. I wanted to make sure that Iwas out of eyesight of the creatures, just in case they were still there. I stuck my head out enough to look around the wall. I didn’t see them. It looked like they were gone. Hopefully, they were gone.

  I turned back around and jumped. Quietly standing there was my daughter and Makalyn, “Jesus, you scared me!”

  Makalyn stated, “Sorry. We didn’t mean to scare you, but remember what you said, we stick together.”

  JoJo added, “Yeah. It’s the safest way for us. We stick together!”

  I held up my hands, “Okay. Okay.”

  I glanced around, “Where should we rest?”

  “Where did you find the keys?”

  I motioned towards the back of the museum, “Security room.”

  Makalyn asked, “How about we stay in there?”

  “Come to think about it, it had no windows and only one door. It would be easy to defend.”

  We walk into the old security room. I guess I didn’t know the first time, but the room was kind of trashed. Paper and boxes were scattered everywhere. It looked like they had left in a hurry.

  JoJo commented, “I would have rather stayed in that hotel, but I guess this will do.”

  Makalyn looked at her, “Are you kidding? I haven’t felt this safe in a long time. I should sleep like a baby.”

  “Okay, it’s settled. We’ll stay here for a few days and then decide on what to do. Let’s go to the gift shop and see what we can find.”

  We found the gift shop and grabbed some clothes and blankets. They were dusty but it was better than nothing. We grabbed whatever we wanted and headed back towards the Security Office.

  I glanced at Makalyn and pointed downward, “Help me move this desk. We can put it in front of the door to block it.”

  I slowly laid down my blankets. I could barely stand up. I was that exhausted. I looked over and noticed that JoJo was already asleep. Her weapons were with her. I glanced over and noticed that Makalyn had her eyes shut. She must have also fallen asleep. We did walk a long distance, plus having to deal with the mountain lions. It was enough to wear anyone out.

  I laid down on my blankets and closed my eyes. I wished that I could say that I quickly fell into a deep sleep, but that would have been a lie. I didn’t want to tell the others, but the bad feelings I had about Serina and Billy were back. I wish that I could say that the near-death experience with the mountain lions were the things that freightened me, but that would have also been a lie. My thouhts kept circling back to Serina and Billy. They were more dangerous then any threat out in the world and they were out there somewhere. My thoughts kept circling around them as I slowly drifted off to sleep.