by E A Chance
Riley could relate. She’d have given anything to know that her last video chat with Emily and Jared was the final one.
“Why are you here and not with them?”
“I was trying to get to them when I was captured and brought here. I made the mistake of telling these lovelies my story, Dr. Poole.”
“Please, call me Riley. Did you make it to the vice president?”
“I was taken directly to her office. She spent the first fifteen minutes dressing me down for not discovering the first CME sooner, as if I have control of the sun. It was then I realized I was to be her fall-guy.”
“She wasted time chastising you instead of alerting the public? Just to have a fall-guy? I refuse to believe that.”
“Refuse all you want. It’s the truth. She’d been in communication with the president while she waited for me. He was aboard Air Force One, trying to reach U.S. soil before the CME hit. He wanted to warn the world of what was coming, but VP Kearns advised against it. She said it would just cause mass panic. By that time, only seven hours remained until the CME strike. It was too late.”
“Didn’t you tell her she was wrong? Those hours could have saved countless lives. Did you ask to speak to the president?”
“She refused the first time I asked, making it clear that it was her call. I was about to ask again, but an aid came in to tell her they’d lost communication with the president. I think she was glad. By that point, I agreed that alerting the public would only cause panic. My final crime was in telling Kearns that once the CME hit, covering her ass would be the least of her worries because there wouldn’t be a country left to govern.”
It took all of Riley's restraint not to jump up and strangle the man. She leaned closer to him, taking quick, shallow breaths. “You knew? You knew and did nothing?”
He nodded and looked down at his hands. “To my dying shame. Now, you understand my injuries. I kept my mouth shut like a coward. I could have contacted colleagues or news networks on my own or spread the word on social media, but I stayed silent.”
Riley slumped in her chair, stunned at his confession, and furious that their leaders were more concerned with protecting their reputations than saving lives.
“Acting could have saved millions, maybe even your own family.”
“I told you I alerted my family. I told my wife to warn our friends and extended family,” he whispered.
She wrapped her arms tightly around herself to stop the trembling. “What happened next?”
He gave an eerie chuckle. “Kearns alerted leaders of allied countries, making sure they knew how futile it would be to alert their people. Some did anyway but communications cut out before word spread. When she’d waited as long as she could, she rounded up her family and all the top D.C. brass to scurry off to some secret bunker in Pennsylvania. She shipped me off with an Air National Guard convoy. No one gave a damn about me, so I escaped in the chaos following the CME.”
“And your family?”
“They were gone by the time I reached home. My wife has family in St. Louis, so I assumed that’s where she headed. I was trying to find a way to follow them when our cordial hosts invited me to this lovely establishment.” He watched Riley’s reaction for a moment before saying, “You think I got what I deserve.”
“No. I was thinking what a difference those hours would have made for Julia and me. I’m sure the same is true for thousands. I need to go back to my daughter. Get some rest. I’ll have food brought to you.”
Adrian laid back and covered his eyes with his arm. “Don’t bother. I seem to have lost my appetite.”
Riley was still reeling from Adrian’s story when she went to see Julia. She did her best to suppress her shock and focus on her top priority, her daughter’s survival. She wove her way through the infirmary to the area she and Coop had blocked off with makeshift walls for Julia’s privacy. She’d hoped to find Coop there and fill him in on what Adrian told her, but Julia was alone.
Her color was worse and her pulse thready. They were running out of time. Time she shouldn’t have wasted on Adrian, who didn’t seem to care if he lived or died. Maybe he did deserve to die.
A commotion in the infirmary interrupted her thoughts. She left Julia to find Coop helping Jepson onto a gurney. They both had blood-stained shirts and hands. Jepson was cradling his right arm against his chest. Riley forgot Adrian and switched into doctor mode. Jepson had shot her daughter and could end up being her murderer. Still, Riley had an obligation to treat every patient. So, as she had done during Julia’s surgery, she pushed her emotions aside and got to work.
She gloved up, stepped next to Coop and said, “Catch me up.”
Coop finished injecting Jepson with morphine before taking Riley by the hand to drag her the far side of the room. He let go of her and bent over with his hands on his knees.
“It was the most sickening scene I’ve ever witnessed,” he said, between breaths. “Branson cut Jepson’s right index finger off for shooting Julia and killing those people at the church. He said it was to cure Jepson’s itchy trigger finger. He did it right in front of me.
“What?” Riley gasped. “Do you have the finger? Can I reattach it?”
He shook his head. “Branson tossed it right in a garbage can next to his desk like a candy wrapper, then ordered me to bring him here and treat him. Said he didn’t want him to die, just make an example of him.”
She forgot about her sterile gloves and ran her hand through her hair. “Coop, we have to escape from this nightmare of a place. But how? Julia’s too sick to move.”
“We’re going to lie low and bide our time. We’ll reassess Julia’s condition once she’s had a transfusion. Then, we’ll plan our exit strategy. For now, Branson wants to see you. Watch yourself, Riley. Remember Julia and don’t ruffle his feathers. The guy’s psychotic.”
“Don’t worry. If Branson’s capable of this, I promise to be on my best behavior. Stay with Julia once you finish with Jepson. I want her under guard around the clock.”
She gave him a quick hug before rushing out of the infirmary, not wanting to keep Branson waiting.
Branson's tent was decorated like a regular office, right down to the beautiful cherry wood desk. It was so out of place in the shabby tent. Branson was clearly making a statement that he was in charge. He and the VP would have made great friends, Riley thought.
One of Branson’s thugs leaned against the wooden tent frame and watched her before shoving her in front of the desk. Branson ignored her and continued to write on a yellow notepad.
Riley recognized it as an intimidation tactic, but she didn’t play into it. She folded her hands and waited calmly for him to address her. He wrote for another thirty seconds before slowly laying his pencil on the desk. He interlocked his fingers and stared at her over the top of his glasses.
Without moving his gaze from her, he cocked his head at the thug in the corner. “Warner, have some manners and get Dr. Poole a chair.”
Warner grabbed an upholstered leather chair from the far side of the tent and set it in front of the desk before going back to his corner. Branson motioned for Riley to sit, so she slowly lowered herself into the chair.
“I hear Julia needs a transfusion,” Branson said, as if he hadn't just severed a man’s finger. “There’s no need to test anyone’s blood. I’m O negative and I’m willing to donate what you need. Despite what I’m sure Dr. Cooper told you just happened here, I’m not an evil man. It’s just hard to keep a community this size in line without the proper motivations. You may not approve of my methods, but they’re effective.”
Riley stared at him in stunned silence. In the same breath, he was justifying his psychotic actions and offering to save her daughter. She’d do anything for Julia but wasn’t sure she wanted Branson’s blood coursing through her veins. He studied her, waiting for an answer, but Riley couldn’t make her mouth form the words.
“Do you want my help or not? If not, I have other matters to attend to.”
“Yes, thank you,” she muttered. “Are you available to come to the infirmary with me now? Julia’s running out of time.”
He nodded and came out from behind the desk, gesturing for her to lead the way. Stepping from the warm tent into the freezing air cleared her head. Despite her disgust for the man, she had one duty, save Julia. Blood was blood.
The infirmary was quiet when they entered. Jepson was sleeping on his back with his bandaged hand propped on his chest. Riley led Branson through the recovery area and asked Claire to prep him for the transfusion.
When he was ready, Riley hesitated before sticking the needle into his arm. “You’re sure you’re O negative? If you’re wrong, it’ll kill her.”
“I’m certain. I have no desire to harm your daughter.”
She wasn’t convinced of that but slid the needle into his vein and watched the life-saving blood flow into the collection bag. When she had as much as was safe to take from him, she bandaged his arm and told him to eat and get plenty of fluids.
“My daughter may need more blood, but you can’t donate again. We need blood typing kits.”
“We’re running low on other med supplies as well. Once Julia is stronger, you’ll accompany Brooks on a supply run.” She nodded and handed the blood to Claire. “Come to my tent when you’re done here,” he said. “We still need to discuss your responsibilities.”
“Yes, sir,” she said as she watched him go, grateful that he’d helped save Julia’s life but terrified of what being in his debt would mean. They needed to find a way to escape ASAP.
The transfusion worked wonders for Julia, and she woke, asking for pancakes. After joyfully fulfilling her daughter's breakfast wish, Riley went to check on Adrian. He was showing signs of improvement as well, and despite her personal feelings about the man, she was relieved to have been wrong about the internal bleeding.
She watched him sip his chicken broth with a thousand questions churning in her brain. He was the one person on earth who could answer them.
He caught her eye and said, “Ask your questions. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
She wanted to ask how he could live with himself after betraying the human race but pushed those thoughts aside to focus on more pressing matters.
“I appreciate that,” she said. “We’ve been running blind since this madness started. The government claimed the CME would cause no more than a weeklong inconvenience.”
“If we’d only been hit by the second CME, that would have been the case. The first CME was a very different beast.”
“Since we weren’t warned about the first CME, thanks in no small part to you, can you tell me what to expect going forward? How long before power can be restored? Was the rest of the earth hit as hard?”
“The first and most crucial point you need to understand, Riley, is this was a global event. Only hardened solar, wind and hydroelectric systems will still operate. They make up a minuscule fraction of the energy produced in the world. I’d estimate that ninety percent of energy-producing capabilities were destroyed worldwide. They won’t be restored for five to ten years, if ever.
“What do you mean ever? We mortals are smart and innovative. Why can’t those systems simply be repaired?”
“Because backup and spare parts don’t exist, and even if they did, there are very few people left alive who know how to repair them.” Adrian put down his broth and leaned on his elbow to face her. “You have to understand, the human race has been decimated. I estimate that only three billion people survived, and that’s a generous estimate.”
“What?” Riley gasped, feeling like he’d stabbed her in the gut. The entire planet was dark and lost. Those left alive were suffering just as they were. She’d held out hope that her children and parents were safe and waiting to hear from her, but Adrian’s words killed that hope. Were they even alive? And if they were, how would she and Julia ever get back to them? They could be looking at years of separation.
Her chest tightened as she struggled to breathe. Their world was gone. Humankind had been transported back to the eighteen hundreds, only worse because they weren’t prepared to live in such a world. There would be no manufacturing of medications or medical supplies. They’d have to grow or raise their own food and make their own clothes. She didn’t know how to garden or sew and couldn’t Google or YouTube to learn how.
The tent spun, and she grabbed the side of the cot to steady herself.
“Riley, are you all right?”
“How can you ask that?” she cried. “Our world has ended. How can you sit there so calmly?”
“Now you understand why I was tied to that tree, and why I don’t care what happens to me. What is there left to live for?”
She took a deep breath and tried to stand. The ground tilted for a second before she got her bearings. “I have to find Coop. This changes everything.”
Chapter Fourteen
Julia peeked at Dashay, trying to hide that she was awake. She liked Dashay and was glad she offered to sit with her whenever her mom or Coop couldn’t, but she wanted some time alone to think. Life since the CME had been one long string of nightmares. She needed to process all of it.
Hearing her mom and Coop describe how close she came to dying had freaked her out. Getting shot had been her own fault. If she hadn’t panicked and run, none of it would have happened. After the way her mom reacted when Hannah died, Julia hated to think what she might have done if the gunshot had killed her.
Coop had scolded her for blaming herself, saying it was no one’s fault but the bad guys’. She wanted to believe him, but it was hard. Getting shot wasn’t like what happened when the cottage burned down. That had just been a stupid accident. She’d chosen to run away from Jepson. Her mom told her to forget about blame and put her energy into getting better.
She was glad she’d get to recover in the camp, even if they were hostages. The compound was the best place they’d had since leaving the hotel. She wanted to get to the ranch but hoped they could stay until spring when her leg was strong enough to walk without crutches and it was warmer outside. She was sick of freezing all the time.
Most of all, she wanted time to grieve for Hannah and for her former life. A week had passed since Hannah drowned, but it felt more like a day. Losing her new sister had left a giant hole in Julia’s heart and made her miss Emily and Jared even more. She was getting afraid she’d never see them again, and that tore at her heart even more.
Feeling tears sting her eyes, she shook off her dark thoughts and listed all the things she had to be grateful for. Her mom and Coop were alive and loved her. They were together in a warm, safe place. She’d survived getting shot and had food and clean water. What else did she need?
She was about to ask Dashay for help with the bedpan when she heard the canvas wall rustle. She rolled over to find Angie poking her head through the opening.
“Angie, you’re alive! How did you get here?” she cried as the other woman came in to hug her. Dashay stepped in Angie’s way, but Julia waved her off. “It’s safe. Angie’s my friend."
Angie sat on the edge of the bed and took Julia’s hand. “I was taken hostage at the church. Coop and your mom told me about your ordeal. I got off easy. I’m so sorry about Hannah. She was such a sweet girl.”
Julia tried to will her tears away, but they refused to obey. “It was so horrible, Angie. The worst day of my whole life. It still doesn’t seem real that she’s gone.”
Angie brushed a tear from Julia’s chin. “I feel that way about my husband sometimes and wish it was all just a nightmare I could wake up from. Glad we didn’t lose you. How are you feeling today?”
Julia beamed at her. “Better now that I know you’re alive. My leg hurts pretty bad, but I have the best doctors in the world.”
“That’s true,” Dashay said. “Your mom’s an amazing person, Julia. She never left your side those first two days.”
Julia nodded. “Coop told me. I never knew how awesome my m
om was before the CME. Coop’s pretty great, too. I’m lucky.” She turned to Angie and said, “What’s this place like?”
“If we have to be hostages, the compound’s as good a place as any, I suppose. It’s safer than on the road, as you know.”
“I was scared all the time. I hope Mom says we can stay until my leg’s better.”
“Leaving may not be up to her,” Dashay said. “We’re all trapped here, remember?”
“I keep forgetting. The pain meds make me dopey.”
Angie kissed Julia’s cheek and stood to go. “I’m on kitchen detail, like I know how to cook. I’ll come back after my shift. Get some rest.”
“I will. It’ll be easier knowing you’re here. Thanks for visiting me.”
Angie smiled and gave a quick wave as she left.
“Guess I need to hear her story,” Dashay said, as she reached for the bedpan.
“We have lots of unbelievable stories, but hers is pretty incredible. She survived a plane crash.”
Riley rushed across the compound from Adrian’s tent to the infirmary. Coop was there doing morning rounds. She waited for him to finish reviewing Claire’s notes on a patient with dysentery and severe dehydration before grabbing his arm and pulling him to a secluded corner.
She paced the small space, rubbing her temples. “I just left Adrian. I have news. Literal earth-shattering news.”
“I really couldn’t care less if Adrian withheld the warning about the first CME. We can’t alter the past.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” she snapped.
“Don’t bite my head off.” He moved closer and laid his hands on her shoulders. “We need our escape plan,” he whispered.
She scanned the room and found Mendez watching them. Lowering her voice, she said, “This isn’t about Adrian. It’s about our future, but we can’t talk here. When you finish rounds, find Angie and meet me in my tent. I’m going to check on Julia. Is Claire with her?”
