by Dawn, M. K.
“The sign back there said there was a town up ahead.” Axel stifled a yawn. “We can find a place there for the night.”
“Or a few days,” Britney suggested.
For someone who was so ready to leave the prison, she sure did seem to want to stop. “What’s going on, Brit?”
“Nothing.” She rubbed at her eyes with a yawn. “Just tired, I guess.”
Axel didn’t push the issue. He could see there was more she wasn’t telling him, but he’d have to talk to her about it when they were alone. “We’re heading in town. Keep a look out for somewhere that would be easy to secure.”
The cloudy skies make it difficult to see in the night. The headlights helped some but not nearly enough.
“We should probably look for a place that might also have supplies.” Archer pointed to the left. “The post office.”
Sloan, who had kept quiet since leaving, cleared her throat. “Why the post office?”
“Because this is a distribution center which means lots of packages.” Archer glanced around the truck. “This is a huge post office. How many packages do you think went through here in a day? And how many people do you think thought to go through all those packages in search of supplies? Not many judging by all your faces.”
Axel had never thought of searching shipping places before. “That sounds reasonable. Plus, the place should be pretty secure. Or so you would think.”
“Exactly.” Archer reached under the front seat and pulled out his weapons. “Might not be the most comfortable of places, but we might score some decent stuff.”
Axel peered back at Britney who had not said anything on the matter. “What do you think?”
“Sure. Works for me.”
“All right then.” Axel pulled into the parking lot and stopped in front of the building. “Doors seem to be intact. Which is a good thing but also might cause some problems for us.”
“Let me see what I can do. Watch my back.” Archer swung open the truck door and checked the surroundings before approaching the building. He tugged on the door handle and it opened.
“That’s great. Now, can we go?” The forcefulness of Britney’s tone had both Axel and Sloan staring at her.
“Is everything okay, Brit?” Usually, she wasn’t in such a hurry.
“Fine.” Britney bounced in her seat. “I just...I have to pee, okay. Stupid, I know, but it is what it is.”
Sloan narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure that’s all that’s bothering you?”
“Yes,” Britney snapped. “Now, should I wake up the kids or what?”
Axel eyes drifted back to Archer. Before, they would have sent a couple people in to make sure everything was clear, but now that their numbers were down, that might not be an option. “Wait until Archer gets back.”
Sloan leaned closer. “He shouldn’t go in there alone.”
Axel thought the same thing. “I know, but he wouldn’t want me leaving you guys out here alone.”
“We can take care of ourselves.” Britney huffed. “Why don’t we all just go in together?”
“You want to take the kids into an unsecure location?” Sloan asked.
“It’s not like it’s much safer out here.”
Archer returned, not a moment too soon. “What’s the plan?”
Axel glanced at Britney. “Any signs of the infested?”
“Not that I noticed, but I didn’t go in the back. There are no bodies laying around, which is good. What are we thinking?”
Britney bent over and shook the kids. “Come on. We’re going inside.”
Axel opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it. “I guess we’re all headed in.”
“Okay.” Archer scratched at his chin. “I’ll grab some things from the back.”
Axel cut the engine and rounded the Humvee to help Britney get the kids out.
Molly rubbed her sleepy eyes. “What is this place?”
“Post office.” Britney took her daughter’s hand. “Blake, stay close to Dad.”
Axel draped an arm around Blake’s shoulder, who brushed it off. “I’m not scared, Dad.”
“That’s great, kid, but you still need to stick close. We haven’t cleared the building yet.”
Archer and Sloan joined them, both with bags slung on their backs.
“Let’s go.” Archer led them inside.
Axel entered the building last and locked the door behind them. “Where should we settle down?”
“Tonight,” Archer hooked his thumb over his shoulder, “the public bathrooms. Those are easy enough to clear. Tomorrow, we can check out the distribution area. Everyone in agreement?”
“Are we going to stay in the girls’ bathroom or the boys?” Molly asked.
Archer crouched down beside her. “I guess whatever one smells better.”
Molly giggled. “The girls, definitely.”
“You heard the lady,” Archer peeked inside the bathroom, “women’s room it is.”
“Here.” Archer skirted around the women and children, gun in hand. “I’ll check it out.”
He stepped inside and lowered his gun. “Come on in. There isn’t even a stall in here. I think we’re safe.”
Britney popped her head in. “No stall? I’m going into the men’s to pee.”
“Wait a second.” Archer reached out for her but she’d already thrown open the door. “It’s fine. Same as the women’s room. No stall, nowhere to hide.” She closed the door with a roll of her eyes.
Axel leaned into Sloan and whispered, “Do you think she’s okay? She’s acting a bit testy, even for her.”
“I don’t know.” Sloan stared at the bathroom. “If there’s something bothering her, she hasn’t spoken to me about it.”
“Dad,” Blake tapped his arm, “can we eat something?”
“Yeah,” Axel scrutinized the bathroom and grimaced. “Maybe we can eat out here in the hall? The bathroom isn’t exactly clean.”
“Eww,” Molly pretended to gag, “we can’t eat in the bathroom. That’s disgusting.”
Archer moved near the door. “I’m not sure it's a good idea to hang out here by the windows either.”
“Maybe there’s a breakroom in the back?” Sloan suggested.
Axel internally groaned. “We’d have to check things out to make sure it's secure. And any rooms surrounding the area. Plus, it’s probably pretty damn dark back there. I mean, it’s doable but it’ll take some time.”
“What will?” Britney emerged from the bathroom.
“Locating a more sanitary place to eat.” Sloan took a step closer to her sister. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Fine.” Britney brushed past her. “Can’t we just eat right here and then lock ourselves in the bathroom after we’re done?”
“We risk being exposed.” Archer kept a lookout through the front window.
Britney planted a hand on her hip. “Pretty sure the Humvee out front is a dead giveaway.”
“I’m talking about the infested.” Archer shook his head. “I doubt this building is air tight, and they’re pretty damn good at catching our scent.”
Molly and Blake took a seat on the floor, and Britney’s eyes followed them. “Whatever we do, we need to decide quickly. The kids need to eat and get some sleep.”
Axel couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Let’s just eat in the bathroom tonight. We’re all exhausted, and I, for one, don’t feel like fucking with the back just yet.”
“Language,” Molly scolded with a giggle.
Axel couldn’t help but smile. Crazy girl. She knew how to cut some of the tension. “Sorry, kid. Is everyone okay with that?”
Sloan swung her backpack in front of her and unzipped it. “I believe I have some anti-bacterial wipes in here. We can use those tonight.”
“Is that really necessary, Slash?” Archer craned his neck. “Shit, an infested. Everybody in the bathroom now.”
Molly clamped her hand over her mouth, like Axel had taught her to do when she wanted to
scream.
They rushed in the bathroom and locked the door. Thankfully, it was a deadbolt not just one on the handle.
Sloan handed out a few glow sticks, and they sat in quiet for a long time.
After nearly an hour passed, Axel decided it was time to break the silence. “Should we eat?”
“What about the infested?” Though Blake acted tough, Axel knew how scared he must be. “Do you think it's gone?”
Archer pressed his ear to the door. “Doesn’t sound like it ever came inside. It was just passing by, but we can never be too careful.”
“So, we’re safe?” Molly asked.
Britney patted her leg. “We are. I agree with Axel; we should eat. I don’t know about y’all but I’m exhausted.”
Exhausted? With the bags under her eyes, she looked almost like she was coming down with something.
“Eating sounds good to me.” Archer opened up his bag. “We’ve got dried deer sausage or dried turkey jerky. What will it be?”
Neither sounded very good if Axel were being honest. But again, he kept his mouth shut and took half of the sausage Archer handed him.
“Eat and get some sleep,” Archer said between bites. “I’ll keep first watch.”
“I’m not ti—” A yawn cut Molly off. “Not that tired.”
Archer chuckled. “You need to get some rest; tomorrow is going to be a fun day.”
“Fun?” Blake scrunched his nose. “How?”
“This place,” Archer added a sound of wonderment to his tone, “thousands and thousands of packages went through here every single day.”
“Duh, Uncle Archer,” Blake huffed, “it’s a post office.”
Sloan pressed two fingers to her lips which didn’t do much to hide her laugh.
Axel too held back a laugh. “Okay, smart-butt then where do you think Archer is going with this?”
“What do you mean?” At times, he sounded so grown-up that Archer couldn’t believe he was only eight.
“The packages,” Archer rotated his wrist, “there’re probably thousands back there. And we’re looking for supplies…”
“Oh,” Molly perked up. “Do we get to open them? Like Christmas!”
Archer threw his arms in the air. “Bingo! Just like Christmas. You two can tear into as many as you want.”
“And keep it all?” Molly was bursting with excitement.
Britney stared down at her. “Maybe not everything. We’ll see.”
Axel nudged Blake. “Doesn’t that sound like fun?”
Blake shrugged. “Sure.” As cool as the kid was being about the whole thing, Axel saw the smile tugging at his lips. It was the first he’d seen from his son in a long, long time.
***
The next day, Axel and Archer spent the better part of the morning clearing the building. They took their time in the distribution center more so, checking for any signs of the infested.
When they were certain they were in clear, Axel brought the women and kids back. That’s when real work began.
Britney wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Are we really plannin’ on go through every single package in here?”
“Do you have some place better to be?” Archer tossed an empty box aside. “Or something better to do?”
She glared at him. “I need a break. Kids? Bathroom break?”
“Again?” Sloan popped her head up from the pile she’d been working on. “You just went thirty minutes ago.”
“What are you, the bathroom police?” Britney snapped before storming off with the kids in tow.
“What was that all about?” Archer asked. “Slash, you keeping a schedule?”
“No.” Sloan crossed the room to the door. “I’ll be right back. I need to speak with Britney.”
She left, and Axel looked at Archer. “That was weird, right?”
Archer returned to opening boxes. “Slash doesn’t do anything by accident. If she’s concerned about Britney peeing so often, there’s a reason.”
“Like what?”
Archer cocked an eyebrow. “Pregnant?”
“What?” Axel choked on air. “No...she can’t...oh, God.” He thought about that for a second. “Wait, no. She had her tubes tied after the twins.”
Archer grinned. “That can sometimes reverse itself, you know.”
Axel’s stomach dropped until he remembered the past few months. “Wait, wait, wait. There’s no way. We haven’t, well...it’s been a while. Not much privacy lately.”
“You find the time.” Archer smirked.
“What?” Axel took a seat on a rusty rolling chair and rested his ankle on his knee. “When was this? We all lived in the same damn cell block...unless? No? With everyone around? Dude.”
“No.” Archer took a seat across from Axel. “In the infirmary after we got back from the supply run.”
Axel crossed his arms. “I thought—”
Sloan returned, ending the conversation. “We have a problem. I believe Britney has a UTI.”
Axel let out a sigh. “Oh, good. That’s not too bad, right.”
“She needs antibiotics.” Sloan kept her doctor face on. “And soon. She has a bit of a fever.”
UTI and fever didn’t sound too bad, but Sloan seemed a little agitated by the whole situation. “Okay. So run to the pharmacy in a few days?”
Sloan ground her teeth. “No, Axel. Not in a few days. Archer, I don’t know how big this town is, but there has to be a pharmacy nearby.”
“Yeah.” Archer stood. “When do you want to head out?”
Sloan cleared her throat. “As soon as possible.”
Chapter twelve
Sloan
Archer eased the Humvee out of the post office parking lot. “You want to tell me what’s really going on? Because a UTI is a pretty common problem, if I remember right. And easily curable.”
Nausea plagued Sloan’s stomach. “If caught in time and treated with the right antibiotics.”
He remained quiet for longer than Sloan expected. “What are you saying, Slash? If we don’t find Brit the right meds, she’ll…”
A lump formed in Sloan’s throat. “The infection can spread and become quite serious.”
“How serious?”
She hadn’t wanted to get into this with Axel around, and now that she saw the worry lines etched across Archer’s face, she didn’t feel much like discussing it with him, either. “I’m not one to speculate.”
“Cut the bullshit, Slash.” Archer slowed as they reached what appeared to be the center of town. “Tell me what could happen.”
Sloan swallowed the metaphorical lump in throat. “The infection could spread to her kidneys which would then continue to spread the infection throughout her body.”
“And if that happens?”
“She could die.”
Archer slammed on the brakes and rotated around to face her. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Sloan’s eyes widened. “Do you think I would joke about something so serious?”
“That was rhetorical.” He pressed the palms of his hands against his forehead. “This isn’t normal, right? Like before all this, people survived UTIs, no problem. How serious is her condition now?”
“Right. But before antibiotics, people died from this and other infections quite regularly. It’s not like we’ve been living in the most sanitary conditions.”
Archer started down the road again. “Okay. This is not going to happen. We will find a pharmacy and antibiotics and she’ll get better.”
Sloan appreciated his optimism and didn’t want to say anything further that would make him doubt a favorable outcome, so she said nothing.
Archer, however, would not let it go. “You didn’t answer my question.”
She kept her attention outside the vehicle in search of a pharmacy. “I believe I did.”
“No,” he pulled into the parking lot of a local grocery store, “you didn’t. I asked how serious her condition was at this moment.”
He had, but
she had hoped that it would have slipped his mind. “The simple answer is I’m not sure. Britney is a very private person and wouldn’t tell me much. Her symptoms at the moment appear to be mild but she could be hiding the truth so we don’t worry.”
“What do you think?” He parked close to the shattered front entrance.
Sloan had never been good at reading facial expressions of her patients, and her sister was no exception. “I’m not sure. The best we can do at the moment is find the medication she needs.”
“Okay.” Archer cut the engine. “What do you think?”
She took a moment to take in the scene before them. “It seems to have been broken into before. Of course, we won't know anything for sure until we go inside.”
“Are you ready?”
The answer to that question was always a definite “no.” But they came here for a purpose, and she would do what she could to see that through. “Yes.”
He opened the driver’s door and rounded the truck before peeking his head inside.
The roar of the Humvee’s engine tended to draw unwanted attention. But so far, there were no infested in sight.
Archer waved for her to join him.
She took one last long look around before leaving the safety of the vehicle.
“Coast looks clear. Should I make some noise? See if anything shows itself?”
Never fond of the tactic, Sloan shook her head. “I’d rather surprise an infected than it surprise us.”
“Exactly. If it hears us, it’ll show itself,”
“Or,” Sloan checked over her shoulder, “if we’re quiet, we can see it first before it knows we’re here.”
Archer started at her for a moment before shaking his head. “We’ll do it your way. Stay close.”
They entered the building through the broken door, glass crunching under their boots.
The musty store had long been overturned. Shelves laid on their sides while remnants of food covered the floors.
They took their time reaching the pharmacy, careful to check each aisle for signs of the infested. Only after they were certain the store was clear did they enter the pharmacy.
