After The End

by Jamie Campbell

  Not once did they mention the rain being dangerous or poisoned. I would surely remember something like that. I guess it makes sense, though. Radiation would cause damage to everything, including the water. We had a bore water pump in the bunker that sucked water from underground—at least that didn’t seem to be contaminated with anything.

  A bolt of lightning causes the shop to illuminate briefly. It’s quickly followed by a loud clap of thunder.

  “It’s a bad one,” Clare comments. She’s closer to the window than I’m comfortable with. I wish she’d take a few steps away so she wasn’t so close to all that rain.

  River gives her a hug and she leans her head on his shoulder. I look at Garlind, wondering if he would do that for me if I was scared. I think about pretending but decide against it. I don’t want to show any weakness. Not when I keep asking such stupid questions that everyone else seems to already know the answers to.

  “At least these storms don’t happen very often,” I say instead, only loud enough for Garlind to hear. I don’t want to intrude on a private moment between River and Clare.

  “They are getting more and more frequent,” Garlind replies. Great, another stupid thing I said.

  “Why do you think that?”

  He shrugs. “I hope it’s not because things are getting worse.” He levels me with an intense gaze. “Finding a Generation Ship is getting more urgent. Earth might not be inhabitable for much longer.”

  “It’s okay as long as we stay out of the rain, right?”

  “Yeah, maybe.” His words might be trying to reassure me but the stricken look on his face certainly doesn’t. I’ve never been afraid of weather before but it appears now I should be. Rain is evil incarnate now, got it.

  We settle on the floor at the back of the store, as far from the window as possible. It’s difficult to believe the rain is our enemy now but I have to believe the others about the dangers it presents. From a scientific point of view, it makes sense. If the water is contaminated, then so would be the rain. One comes from the other.

  “We should take it in turns to keep watch,” River says. “There still could be people out there. They might try to shelter here once they see the window broken.”

  “I’ll go first. I’m not very tired,” Clare volunteers. Nobody argues with her.

  I try to sleep and manage to doze off sporadically. I miss my bed in the bunker and the safety of knowing nobody can get me in my sleep. The world outside is terrifying and it seems to get even more dangerous with every passing day. I didn’t know about the deadly people or hurtful rain before.

  At least Garlind is with me. I know he will protect me so we can find one of his ships. For some reason, he thinks I’m worth taking along for the trip. His decisions seems completely arbitrary to me. Surely, he would have more help with River or Clare.

  My shift starts when Clare wakes me. I sit up and stare into the darkness, trying to stay awake. Nobody ever said how boring it was to be on watch. All I can hear is the patter of the rain outside in an otherwise dark room. Night time appeared while I was asleep.

  I watch and watch, trying to keep my mind focused. When it’s quiet, it tends to wander. Sometimes it goes to memories of my parents and reminds me how much I miss them. Other times it lingers on the dangers of outside and how I could so easily die from one minute to the other.

  My happy place is the beach. I only know what it looks like from books and that one picture my mother had but I know I’m going to love it when I get there. If it’s anything as beautiful as the images, I’m never going to want to leave it.

  So I think about the beach and feeling the sun on my skin without a care in the world. What would it have been like for the humans before the meteorite? Would they have taken things like rain and the beach for granted? I suspect they probably did. I took my safety for granted in the bunker and I know how stupid I was now. They were probably the same.

  My watch beeps and tells me my shift is over. I’m supposed to wake Garlind so he can take over for me. But I’m not tired and he looks very peaceful as he sleeps. I can hear his gentle snoring. I don’t want to wake him up.

  I take his shift and set a new alarm.

  The time passes slowly with no more excitement than the rain. I imagine it dissolving the world outside. I picture stepping out of the shop in the morning to nothing more than puddles that used to be buildings or trees.

  When the alarm next beeps, I wake River for his shift and curl up in the corner behind Garlind. I fall asleep easily now, drifting into a dreamless sleep until morning.

  It’s not the daylight that wakes me, but Garlind and River arguing. Their voices grow louder and louder until there is no other option except to get up.

  “We have to wait for the puddles to dry up,” Garlind says, pointing to the street outside where I assume the puddles are. The rain must have stopped, leaving only its remains behind.

  “It might take all day for them to go,” River replies. “We can’t wait that long. We need to get going now.”

  “And what happens when we burn our feet off?”

  “We walk carefully and avoid the puddles.”

  “And the wet grass? It’s not going to be all paved road where we’re going.”

  River shrugs nonchalantly. “By the time we get out of the city, the rain will have all dried up. The sun is strong out there today, it always is after a storm. All the water will be evaporated.”

  “And if you’re wrong?”

  “Then we’ll find shelter.”

  Garlind throws his hands up. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize there is convenient shelter everywhere. Where do you propose we find this shelter in the middle of nowhere?”

  “There’s places to stay, dude. Everything hasn’t disappeared from before. People did live here. They left behind their houses.”

  It’s mesmerizing watching them. Both River and Garlind have strong opinions. It’s really a battle of wills to see who is going to win. They both think they’re right so one will have to back down in order to end the argument.

  Which, it seems, neither will do.

  “Houses are far apart outside the cities. Unless we can reach another town, we’re going to be stuck in the middle of nowhere,” Garlind says.

  “So we get going and hurry. If we’re lucky, we make it before lunchtime and then can find suitable shelter,” River responds.

  “That’s a huge ‘if’.”

  “Less talk more action, dude.”

  “Don’t dude me.”

  “I can dude whoever I want.”

  Clare and I exchange a glance, both understanding the fight is getting out of hand. We need to remain civil, otherwise this whole thing is just going to deteriorate quickly.

  She gets up and stands between them. “Let’s all calm down a bit. Why don’t we step outside and have a good look at the conditions before debating this any further?”

  The men continue to stare at one another with their nostrils flaring. The only male I’ve ever known is my dad and he never got angry. To see this display of aggression is new. It’s kind of exciting to watch.

  “Fine,” River finally says. He continues the staring competition until he reaches the shop window. It’s only a risk of falling over that makes him look away.

  Garlind follows and they remove the picture covering the window together. Every step is matched as they hop over the broken glass onto the sidewalk outside.

  Clare rolls her eyes and we follow.

  The smell outside has improved after the storm. It seems to have swept away all the dirt and made everything look fresher. Considering how damaging it is, it’s surprising anything good could come of it.

  The boys make a show of inspecting everything. Garlind crouches down to look at the puddles on the road. He is careful not to touch any of the leftover rain. River walks around to prove he can freely move without coming to any harm.

  “Boys,” Clare says with a roll of her eyes. “If they’d get over themselves, we can finall
y get out of here.”

  “Garlind just wants to make sure we’re safe, that’s all,” I reply. He’s being sensible and I would never hold that against him. He’s being smart and not reckless. That’s probably how he’s managed to survive for so long.

  “River wouldn’t do anything to compromise our safety either. He knows what he’s doing.”

  “I never said he didn’t.”

  She glares at me and I know I’ve said the wrong thing. Just like I want to defend my friend, she’s doing the same. I won’t want to get into an argument with her. We’re supposed to be all getting along so we can get to Charleston in one piece.

  I keep my mouth closed. It’s safer that way.

  The boys finish their inspection and return to us to deliver the verdict. It’s River that speaks first, of course. “As long as we stay out of the puddles, we’ll be fine. It’s perfectly safe out here.”

  “It would be safer to wait until the rain has dried up,” Garlind says “But we can leave if you really want to. I still have my doubts, though, about finding shelter later on or if it rains again. It’s not my fault if we all die.”

  “Noted,” River says. “Let’s get moving.”

  He and Clare immediately pack up their things. I linger behind to speak with Garlind alone. “We don’t have to follow them if it makes you uncomfortable.”

  He shakes his head a little. “We’re stuck with them for now. Just make sure you don’t get any of the rain on you. Be extra careful where you walk and what you brush up against.”

  “I will. As long as you’re sure.”

  “Maisy, we don’t have a choice. They’ll never leave without us. Now go pack your things or they’ll make you leave them behind,” he says gently.

  I do as he says and stuff my backpack with the few things I’d taken out overnight. It sits heavy on my back but it’s reassuring to know I haven’t completely lost everything I’d ever owned.

  The four of us set off.

  My gaze wants to stay on the buildings and take in how they used to live before the meteorite. But the danger lies underfoot so I have to be careful I don’t step in any puddles. There is still plenty of water around after the downpour, sticking to the leaves of the foliage and pooling on the road.

  Nobody says anything for a long time as we walk. River and Clare lead us out of the city and down a wide road that has eight lanes painted on it. The vines haven’t yet reached the highway so it’s a relatively easy walk.

  It’s not long before the sun is beating down on us. It’s hot and makes me sweaty but it’s also drying up the rain. I welcome the heat if it keeps the water from harming us.

  We have to leave the highway at a junction and start down a smaller, two lane road. The others seem to know where we are and how to get to our target but I have no idea. It seems I have lived a sheltered life in the safety of the bunker while they were outside and learning about the world in real life—not just by reading books.

  It’s the first time that I have questioned whether I was doing the right thing by staying in the bunker for so long. Perhaps I should have left after my father first died. I can’t go back and change things, but I still wonder if I should have done more back then.

  I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t realize when I walk underneath a canopy of trees.

  It only takes one fat drop to fall on me.

  I scream in pain.

  Chapter 8

  The water drop on my arm has caused a fire to blaze on my skin. The burning sensation is horrendous, filling every one of my senses with panic and pain.

  My arm flails wildly as I try to shake off the water that has touched my delicate skin. The stench of burning flesh fills my nostrils and makes me want to vomit.

  The others react quickly after they realize what has happened. River pulls me from underneath the trees so I’m standing in the center of the road.

  “Hold out your arm,” Garlind directs.

  He reaches for me and grabs my wrist in his hand, clamping down tightly so I can’t pull away. The pain is washing over my body in waves. It’s red hot and alive. The water is invading my system and taking over. I can’t do anything to escape the horrible sensation as it courses through me.

  Nausea climbs up my throat and threatens to bring up the small amount of food I had for breakfast. My vision starts to blacken with the pain as I fight not to pass out.

  Garlind washes my arm with water from his bottle. I think at first the pain is only going to get worse because he shouldn’t be putting water on an area that is being burned by the same liquid. However, before I can scream again, it starts to feel better.

  The pain ebbs away slowly, allowing me to gather myself and start breathing normally again. The nausea remains for a while longer as I start to feel better.

  “You’ll be okay,” Garlind says. “It’s all gone now. Does anyone have a bandage?”

  I look down at my arm while Clare opens her backpack. There is a large red welt where the rain dripped on me. It’s angry and swollen but the skin hasn’t broken—yet. I should be safe from getting an infection just as long as the blister remains sealed.

  “This might sting for a bit,” Garlind warns. It takes me a moment to realize he’s holding a bandage and intends on wrapping my arm. I know it’s the most sensible thing to do but my skin is so sensitive I don’t want anything touching it.

  “No, wait,” I plead.

  He hesitates. “You have to keep it clean.”

  “I know. Just…wait. Give me a few moments.”

  Garlind nods and holds the bandage away. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for him to wrap my arm. It’s going to hurt and I’m not going to enjoy it at all.

  I nod anyway.

  Better to put up with the pain and get it over with rather than think about it for too long. Garlind places the bandage over the blister and I have to bite down on my lip so I don’t cry out. I would like to keep some dignity, even though I’m the only one who has managed to get hurt by the water.

  He is careful and gentle wrapping my arm but it doesn’t stop the pain that is now a dull throbbing ache in the area. He finally finishes and tucks the bandage in on itself so it doesn’t unravel.

  Clare and River are speaking together in hushed voices down the road. Garlind’s gaze is all on me. I try not to focus on the pain but it keeps creeping back in. I had no idea rain could hurt so badly before. Until yesterday, I hadn’t even seen rain in real life.

  “How does it feel?” he asks.

  “Pretty bad.”

  He smiles. “Liar. I know what it feels like when rain touches skin. You’re in agony right now, aren’t you?”

  I nod. If I speak, I might start crying and I’ve already made a fool out of myself.

  He does something completely unexpected. Garlind pulls me into his arms and gives me a hug, being careful not to touch my bandaged area.

  I’m enveloped in his warmth and comforted by his embrace. It has been nine years since anybody hugged me. After my father died, I told myself I didn’t need anybody else. I’d almost convinced myself that I could live out my life alone and it wouldn’t worry me.

  Now, I know differently.

  I need that connection with another human being. I need this reassurance when I’m injured and scared and adrift in this harsh world. This single hug means the world to me and I didn’t realize it was missing until now.

  My head leans on his shoulder as I let the tears run down my cheek. Let them think it’s because of the pain from the rain. They don’t need to know it’s from feeling a connection with another human being.

  Garlind rubs my back and whispers, “Shhh, it’s okay. It will stop hurting soon.”

  I’m so grateful he found me in the bunker. Out of all the places he could have travelled in the world, his path ran into mine. Had he not, I would probably be starving in the tiny bunker and waiting for death to take me.

  Garlind releases me too soon. I immediately miss his warmth but can still feel the wei
ght of his arms around me. I sniffle and wipe my eyes, removing all traces of the tears.

  “The pain will get better,” he says.

  “I know. Thank you.”

  “Anytime. You should have some water, it will help with everything.” He takes the cap off my water bottle and offers it to me.

  I don’t want anything to do with water anymore. I shake my head vigorously. “No, I can’t. It will hurt.”

  “It’s been cleaned. You’ve been drinking this water for days now. You know it’s okay.”

  His logic stops me. I have been drinking water from my bottle. Garlind fills it every morning before we start out for the day. It has tasted just like the water I drank in the bunker. So far, my insides haven’t blistered and burned away.

  I accept the water bottle and take a tentative sip. It’s just as it normally is. It doesn’t kill me. “How can we drink this water when the rain wants to murder us?”

  “It’s purified water. I do it every night before we go to bed. It gives us enough drinking water for the next day. I also have my emergency bottles, just in case,” Garlind explains.

  “Will you show me how?”

  “Of course. Tonight, once we’ve found safe shelter. In the meantime, don’t let any more rain get on you.”

  River yells out to us, “Are you coming? We’re burning daylight here.”

  Garlind looks to me for an answer. “Yes, we are,” I call back. My arm still throbs but standing here isn’t going to make it feel any better. At least moving will help keep my mind occupied and on other things.

  We resume the same walking pattern. Except, this time Garlind walks in front of me. He points out each and every puddle of rain, guides me around any trees so I don’t walk underneath their large branches. He’s constantly watching out for dangers.

  I’m grateful that he’s looking out for me. I know it’s only so we can keep moving toward the coast and reach the Generation Ships but I don’t care. I’ll keep my emotions in control so they don’t run away from me.

  We reach a stretch of the highway that doesn’t have any cars on it. Here, we can walk in the middle of the road without fear of the overhanging trees or puddles. The highway is flat and stretches out into the distance in front of us.