by A E Faulkner
“But before the roads cleared up, there was a fracking accident,” I interject.
“I don’t know if that had anything to do with it,” he murmurs, lost in thought, “but our phones stopped working, even the ones that had some charge left.”
“So, you don’t even know if he’s on the way or not?” I ask cautiously, not wanting him to sink into the despair I feel each time I think of my parents.
“No, but I’m sure he’s fine. They’re fine. I’m just gonna finish what we came to do, and then I’m going home,” he says confidently. “Hey, it’s quiet outside again. Let’s get out of here,” he says, concluding the conversation.
Our walk back to the ambulance company is quiet. We move smoothly, melding with the shadows. Thankfully, no helicopters or raging lunatics cross our path. While a few vehicles sit idle along the curb, no vehicles are traveling the roads.
My aching legs quake as the ambulances come into view. My body needs rest. I’m sure Jeff has Wes secure, so maybe I can just sneak into a truck, curl up on a seat, and get some sleep.
Just as we reach the plaza, shouting cuts through the peaceful atmosphere. Wide-eyed, Aidan and I glance at each other before breaking into a full sprint toward the ambulances.
Following the source of the noise, we race to the second ambulance. Yanking open the door, Aidan steps inside while I follow closely at his heels. Silence befalls the vehicle and all eyes land on us, but it’s clear that we interrupted a heated argument.
“Glad you guys decided to come back,” Jeff says. “I’ve got an irate patient and I’m about ready to sedate her!” He glances at Jasmine as she narrows her eyes.
Tired and a bit out of breath, Aidan sighs. “Guys, what’s going on?”
Jasmine sits up on her stretcher, a clean bandage protecting her injured shoulder. She attempts to cross her arms but stops and lowers them to her side instead. That must have hurt. “I’ll tell you what’s going on,” Jasmine says angrily. “Jeff wants to put himself in danger. Again. And there’s no point to it.”
Though he tries to sound calm, Jeff’s voice escalates as he presents his side. “Some asshat pointed a gun at all of us, shot Jasmine, and we’re just going to walk away? I say we go back there right now and explain to him how a civilized society works!”
My mouth drops open. He wants to go back there? Nothing good can come from confronting that guy.
Aidan looks around the truck. “Where’s Chris?” he asks.
When Jeff explains that Chris is keeping Wes company, Aidan suggests that I go check on the guys and offer them some of our newfound food.
Gladly, I agree. They can all duke it out while I share our treasure with the others.
Jeff stomps to the other ambulance in a few quick strides. His demeanor changes the moment he pulls the creaky door open.
Chris sits cross-legged on the bench seat next to Wes’ stretcher. “Hey, guys!” he calls, throwing us a wave.
Wes slumps in the reclined stretcher, but his eyes are alert, and he bears a small smile. “Find anything good out there?” he asks me.
Shrugging off my backpack, I counter, “You tell me.” Perching on the seat beside Chris, I dump the contents of my bag.
The guys gawk at the mound of snack bags.
When I showcase the hotdogs and their accompanying buns, a collective trio of sighs resounds in our small space.
Just as we spread our feast out on a clean sheet, the creaking door seizes our attention. “Jasmine!” Chris shouts as she carefully climbs into the rig, bolstered by Aidan. With unrestrained excitement, he bounces over to her side.
“Hey, buddy,” she answers, wrapping her good arm around his shoulder. “We heard there was food in here.” As if suddenly remembering the hot dogs, Chris sprints back toward the spread and assembles his meal.
After exchanging some chitchat with Wes, Aidan and Jasmine grab some food and settle into the driver and passenger seats. Running a hand through his ruffled black hair, Aidan lets out a deep exhale and meets Jeff’s eyes. “So, obviously we found food, but we had no luck finding a map.”
Before Jeff can respond, Jasmine indignantly answers, “What do you mean, a map? What would we need a map for?” Focusing on my dinner, I let the guys handle this.
“Well,” Jeff begins, “we kinda got off course today. I can point us south, but we still need to “old school” it with an actual paper map.”
Cocking her head to the side, Jasmine challenges, “You underestimate me. I can still get us to Virginia. You find us a ride, and I’ll get you there.”
“You’ve got yourself a deal,” Jeff says, smiling. “I guess we don’t need a map when our firecracker is healed enough to navigate.”
Once we’ve stuffed ourselves with sodium and carbs, we discuss our next move. When Jeff suggests we drive the ambulances the rest of the way to Virginia, Aidan details our trip to the bowling alley. Everyone listens intently as he describes the unfriendly gunman in the medical center. Audible gasps slice through the silence after he recounts the low-flying helicopter’s spotlight roving over the bowling alley’s parking lot.
Chewing on a fingernail in concentration, Jasmine asks, “What do you think they were looking for? It had to be the military, right?”
Jeff and Wes exchange a confused look. “Maybe they were just making sure people evacuated. You know, those signs we saw on the telephone poles?” We all nod slowly, processing the information.
“They could have been sweeping the coast for damage,” Wes says. “With all this weather stuff going on and that bridge collapsing,” he pauses to raise a hand in the air, swirling his finger in a circle, “maybe they just want to see what the area looks like, so they can send people back home.”
“Why would they come at night?” a small voice questions innocently. “If they just came during the day, they wouldn’t need a spotlight,” Chris declares.
Chapter 58
After a thoughtful silence, we all give up trying to guess what’s going on. I’m putting my faith in Chris. He’ll probably figure it out before the rest of us do. With some debate, we settle on walking for the rest of our trip. While Aidan, Wes, Jasmine and I think it’s too risky to call attention to ourselves, Jeff argues how much faster we’ll get to Virginia if we drive. Eyeing the gadgets along the shelves and the machines tucked into the walls, Chris sides with Jeff. It doesn’t much matter, though, since they’re outvoted.
When Aidan questions if Jasmine and Wes are truly up for walking, they both adamantly insist that they are. Jasmine claims she can barely feel the bullet lodged in her shoulder, but the beads of sweat on her forehead say otherwise. Still, we don’t have a better option right now.
With plans to continue our journey first thing in the morning, we divide up to get some sleep. Jasmine, Aidan and I trudge over to the other ambulance while Jeff and Chris stay with Wes. Curling up in the passenger’s seat, my exhausted body accepts the upright position while my slowing mind craves a real bed. I easily drift into an uncomfortable sleep, and the day fades away.
The shrill creak of a door opening jerks me from a dreamless sleep. Eyes still closed, I can picture the body attached to the feet bounding inside our ambulance. Not that I need to wait for confirmation.
“Hey, guys, it’s time to wake up!” Chris announces.
Rubbing the kinks in my neck, I respond with a noncommittal grunt.
Jasmine stirs on the stretcher, rubbing her eyes. “It’s morning already?”
Chris smiles and answers her. “Sure is!”
I’ve never understood why anyone would want to smile this early in the morning.
Aidan stretches in the driver’s seat, joints cracking as he straightens his arms and legs. “Are the others awake, buddy?” Chris’ nod is enthusiastic. “Yep, they said it was time you got your butts up so that we can hit the road.” Then under his breath he adds, “Since we have to walk.”
Rising to his feet, Aidan steps toward Chris and ruffles his hair. “We’ll get there plenty
fast, even if we’re walking. You’ll see.”
Once we’ve eaten and gathered all our belongings, we start, what I hope, is the last leg of our journey.
Jeff applied new bandages to Jasmine and Wes, and they both seem to be in good spirits.
Maybe just having actual medical supplies and medication, even though it’s nowhere near the same as true medical care, has eased their discomfort.
Wes walks with a slight hobble and we keep pace with him. When Jeff and Aidan attempt to take Jasmine’s bag for her, she firmly refuses. Hefting the backpack over her right shoulder, she makes a show of walking effortlessly.
As we tread south, the silence engulfs me. No birdsong drifts on the breeze, no bees buzz along beside us. The world is quiet. At least this little part of it. Is this something new and strange or has it been this way since we first ventured on this journey? Have I been too caught up in my mind to truly hear anything outside of it?
About two hours later, we pass through the graveyard of what appears to have been a copse of trees. Trunks as thick as my body litter the grass around us. Rich beige ovals sit where branches used to grow. Yellow and orange construction vehicles surround the massacre. They’re immobile, and no one is around to drive them, but their destruction is complete.
As my eyes sweep over the area, I notice half a dozen cigarette butts and empty soda bottles littering the ground. The machinery and discarded trash lie in twisted contrast with the natural surroundings.
Jasmine speaks wistfully. “I bet this was really beautiful at one time.”
Yeah, I think to myself, now it’s just dead limbs and logs. And trash.
Jeff reaches out and touches her good shoulder. “And I bet it will be again someday.”
With that, we continue. We’ve been travelling through wooded paths as much as we can. Besides trying to avoid others, the shade provides some relief from the intense heat of the day. I don’t ever remember a June this hot.
“Have you noticed,” Jasmine starts, “that we’ve seen more litter on this trip than wildlife?”
Aidan and Jeff chime in with their agreement.
Chris just plods along.
I wonder if he ever regrets coming with us.
“So, what do you think is going to end the world as we know it?” Jasmine asks no one in particular. Staring into the distance, she proposes possible answers. “A nuclear meltdown? An asteroid? Overconsumption of natural resources?”
“Maybe a giant crater will swallow us all up,” Aidan suggests. His eyes grow wider as he looks around the group. “Maybe I’ll be the one to discover it, and—”
Wes cuts him off. “We know you love rocks and all, but really, man?”
“Yeah, no way it’ll be a crater. I’m gonna go with the zombie apocalypse,” Jeff jokes.
After a quiet chuckle, Chris shares his opinion. “People.”
Chapter 59
Realizing Wes hasn’t spoken in a while, I steal a glance his way. My concern for him skyrockets. While I fully expect the sheen of sweat that covers his face, I’m startled by his sickly pallor. Without another thought, I blurt out, “Can we find a place to rest?”
Jasmine looks annoyed while Aidan and Jeff raise their eyebrows in question. They know I’m eager to get to the Air Force Base. And honestly, I could easily walk another four hours if it got me to Riley faster. Suggesting that we stop already is probably the last thing they expected to hear from me. I swear relief flashes through Wes’ eyes.
Chris is the first to answer. “Yes! Let’s find a place to sit. I’m tired of walking.”
Except for Wes, everyone looks skeptical, even with Chris’ glowing endorsement of my suggestion.
“Look, we must be getting close to Virginia by now. It won’t hurt anything to take a break,” I say.
Chris nods enthusiastically. The others exchange glances, but when they notice Wes’ state, realization washes over their faces.
Jasmine refocuses on Chris as she cracks a smile and says, “I think that’s a great idea.”
While Wes, Jasmine, Chris and I park ourselves on some boulders lining the path, Jeff and Aidan scout ahead for shelter. An uncomfortable silence hangs over us. Chris digs around in his backpack and pulls out a crinkly bag of chips. Pulling it apart at the seams, he starts munching.
Wes sprawls out on the smooth surface and drapes an arm over his eyes. “Hey Jasmine,” he asks. “How’s that shoulder of yours?”
Glancing down at her bandages, she replies, “It’s fine. Barely hurts anymore. How about you?”
I wouldn’t expect any other answer from her. I have a feeling that even if she was in pain, she wouldn’t show it.
“Feeling great,” he chuckles. “Never been better.” When quiet descends again, his breathing slows almost instantly.
A shaking tree branch in the distance catches my eye. The squirrel dashing across it gives me hope that some things haven’t changed. It also reminds me of Snickers. I can’t wait to see him again. The pounding thud of footsteps startles me, dissolving the mental image of my favorite fuzzy face.
Bursting onto the path before us, the guys are out of breath. Their eyes dance with anticipation when they see us. “Guys…we’re really…close…to the…Virginia border,” Aidan gasps. “Yep,” Jeff pants, clapping Aidan on the back. “We made it…to southern…Maryland.”
Thrusting a crumpled white flyer toward us, the guys gulp deep breaths while we read.
By order of the United States Armed Forces, due to expected hazardous weather conditions, and to ensure the safety of residents, this area is under evacuation orders. Pack minimal belongings, such as medications, inhalers, and other medical necessities, and report to either Staunton Rescue Fire Station Number 1 or 2. Military personnel will be onsite to offer assistance and instructions.
“Come see what…we found,” Aidan huffs, motioning for us to follow him.
Chapter 60
Once the guys catch their breath and wake Wes, we trudge along until we reach a clearing. As Jeff and Aidan lead us down a path that forks toward the street, I start scanning our surroundings. So far, we’ve managed to avoid mini marts and grocery stores because we thought they would be the first to be looted, and also have the most potential for hostile intruders.
A small cluster of houses comes into view. Their stone-faced exteriors remind me of cottages dotting the countryside. A breeze swirls around us, kicking up some leaves.
Jeff points toward our intended target, announcing, “I think it’s cleared out. We watched the area and didn’t see anyone come or go.”
The slate gray home sits on the last lot in the small neighborhood. I’m guessing the guys chose it because of its proximity to the woods where we would pick up our path again. It’s also set off a bit from the other houses, giving it a more desolate feel.
Plodding down the narrow street, we are completely exposed if any neighbors bucked the evacuation order. Aidan walks right up the house’s winding pathway to the front door. When he twists the knob and the door pops open easily, I know Jeff has worked his magic on it already. He must have unlocked it on their recon mission.
“Guys,” Jasmine starts. “What are we doing? Someone could be in here.” When she lifts her right hand to her wounded shoulder, I wonder if she even realizes it.
Aidan rushes to her side. “Hey, we checked every inch of this place. I swear, Jasmine, we wouldn’t bring everyone here if we weren’t sure it was empty.”
Jeff strides over, placing a hand on her good shoulder. “Jas, this place has running water and strong walls. We’ll be safe here.”
Holding both Jeff’s and Aidan’s gazes for a moment, trust flows between the friends. She slowly nods and motions for the guys to go inside. We all follow.
The dusty-pink living room drowns in floral wallpaper. The stale décor is strangely inviting. Jasmine wrinkles her nose but follows suit as we investigate the other rooms. The single-story house is small. With only two bedrooms and one bathroom, I’ll just wait to see ho
w this plays out tonight.
Dropping our bags and creating an impromptu shower schedule, we make ourselves comfortable. Chris explores each room, looking for something more interesting than our meager possessions. Wes hits the shower first, and Jasmine checks out the kitchen, inventorying anything edible that was left behind. Aidan and Jeff speak in hushed tones, probably talking about Wes’ condition or how we’re going to find our way to the Air Force Base.
With some time on my hands, I have my own priorities. The walk today barely tired me out. We needed to stop so Wes and Chris could rest, but I could have easily kept going. Now, I crave a run, as well as the mind-clearing energy it yields. With so little privacy, this may be my last opportunity for solitude in who knows how long. We all carry a share of the weight of our situation and the only thing that’s going to help me forget for just a little while is a run. Even a twenty-minute jog will release some tension and remind me of what “normal” used to be.
Grabbing my bag, I lock myself in one of the bedrooms to change into my running gear. A crowd of peacocks stares at me from the sky-blue wallpaper. I push past my discomfort and undress. Showers have become a bit sporadic, so there’s no way I’m going to wash up and then take a run.
Striding down the hallway, Aidan and Jeff notice my wardrobe change. “Hey, Quinn, what are you doing?” Aidan asks. At that moment, Jasmine enters the living room, just in time to observe our conversation.
“I’m going for a quick run,” I answer. “I’ll be back soon.”
Jeff takes a step toward me. “That’s not really a good idea.” He rubs his chin and glances at Aidan. “I mean, we’re guessing that no one is around, but we don’t know for sure.”
