A World Fallen

by Carter, Nicholas Lawrence

  "Momma used to read us stories when we went to bed. There weren't a lot of books in our community, but my favorite was one about Jesse James. He was an outlaw in the wild west. He was cool."

  "I don't really know how to respond to all that, but it's cool that you remember your families that way." Rosaline replies.

  "What about you? What your family?" Hawaii asks.

  "That's...a long story." she says.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The sight of his brother’s mangled, lifeless body broke him. He knew he should flee far from this wretched house of horrors, but he couldn’t. He slumped to the floor in the hallway of his brother’s house, pulled his legs to his chest, and cried harder than he ever has. His tears ran until his eyes dried out, giving him all they had.

  His brother was his closest friend, as kids they were inseparable. Pete was a different kind of boy. He didn’t understand people or how to act around them. He didn’t like large gatherings, he didn’t like anyone getting close to his face, and he hated feeling like he was being talked down to.

  Markus never treated Pete differently. He treated him like a person, like a friend, like a brother. Markus’ plan was to get to Pete and June’s house, bring their families together, and ride out this storm as a big family. On this day he was reminded of a valuable, and heartbreaking lesson; life does not care about your plans.

  ◆◆◆

  NINE YEARS LATER

  The passage of time is an odd thing, it only moves as fast as you perceive it. In situations like these when schedules and time frames lose purpose, when certain days no longer mean what they once did, when watches and calendars cease to be priorities, time itself fades to the background.

  Somewhere along the way, in the nine years since that fateful day that Markus entered his brother’s final resting place, he lost his sense of time. He hasn’t known the current day, month, or year in what seems like eternity. There are only two things he’s concerned with, finding food and keeping his family alive.

  His every day has become a struggle to maintain those two priorities. Never the less he persists. He fights against death, against the disease, and against those things that wander the land like morbid savages.

  He’s fought and killed other people for food, he’s taken down more infected than he can count, and he’s done it all to keep his family breathing. He’s fought against the weather, against the terrain, and even against his wife when this new existence had become too much for her and she tried to kill herself.

  Markus and Kylie only speak to each other when it’s necessary. They no longer profess their love for one another, they no longer embrace throughout the night holding on tightly just in case tomorrow never comes, they no longer kiss their son and tell him it’s going to be all right.

  For Markus the days are cold even before the sun falls. He touches trees and the bark doesn’t feel as it once did. The wind isn’t refreshing as it was when he was a child. When he looks around all he sees are threats building upon threats. Dangerous moment after dangerous moment.

  He doesn’t know why he fights to keep himself and his family alive. He doesn’t want to ask himself that question. He just wants to see the next day, and the one after that, and the one after that. It isn’t hope, it’s a stubborn refusal to fail, a refusal to give up, a refusal to quit. He’s not built that way. For better or worse he keeps going, and he’ll continue to do so until he’s forced to stop

  “Patrick?!” Kylie’s says with a soft tone.

  She’s afraid to scream. She’s afraid of what could be just past the trees that she can’t see.

  “Patrick?!” she says again, slightly louder.

  She cautiously steps out of the small, shoddy campsite they crafted the night before. Patrick has been gone for too long. The woods are thick in this area. Markus said this would be beneficial for them, but now she’s not so sure of that. Suddenly she hears the rustling of leaves and freezes. She wants to call to her son again, but she doesn’t want to lure whatever just made that sound to her.

  “What’re you doing?”

  The words come from behind her. She panics, her feet leaving the ground for only a second, but long enough to make her almost fall over. She whips around to see Patrick curiously staring at her.

  “Damnit Patrick lower your voice! Where were you?!”

  She’s frazzled and upset, her tone is not inviting, but still she speaks softly.

  “I had to pee.”

  “It doesn’t take that long to pee.”

  The young boy sheepishly looks to the ground. His foot moves anxiously, stirring the leaves beneath him.

  “What were you doing? And don’t lie to me.”

  “I thought I saw a rabbit. I was gonna catch it, but it ran away.”

  She grabs her son by the arm and leads him back to their campsite. She sits him down on the ground and joins him.

  “Don’t worry about trying to catch food. That’s where your dad went.”

  “I know. I just wanted to help.”

  “You can help by staying in sight.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  There are times when she forgets he’s just a child. An eleven year old boy whose chance at a normal life was stolen from him. A boy who only knows the horrors of the times they are in, yet somehow he still always means well. He still smiles when he sees a butterfly, he still longs for his mother to hold him close, he still wants to tag along with his father, he still wants to grow, and to learn.

  She puts her arm around her son, he wraps his around her waist, and lays his head against her shoulder.

  “It’s okay.” she whispers to him.

  She leans her head against his. She allows her eyes to close. For a moment their lives aren’t so bad.

  “KYLIE?! KYLIE?!”

  The shouting springs her up. She can hear movement not too far in front of them, but she can’t see anything.

  “KYLIE?!”

  Markus is somewhere up ahead and screaming her name.

  “Stay here. Do not leave.” she sternly tells Patrick.

  She walks to the edge of their camp site surveying the trees in front her. Her eyes squint, but she can’t see anyone.

  “KYLIE?!” Markus screams again.

  “Over here!” she replies.

  “Keep talking so I can find you!”

  She begins to recite the alphabet loudly, allowing Markus to guide himself to her position. Once he’s close enough to be seen a wave of terror washes over her. Markus has blood all over his shirt and his arms.

  “Are you okay?!”

  “I lost dinner.” he says, as he walks past her into their campsite.

  “Shhh, lower your voice.” she pleads.

  Her request stops him in his tracks.

  “Calm down, no one fucking followed me.”

  “Are you sure?” she asks, concern coating her words.

  “Yes, I’m sure. I’m covered in blood and that’s your question?”

  She hesitates, contemplating a reply, but decides not to. He’s upset and angry. Anything she says will lead to more conflict.

  “Where is the first aid kit?”

  She points to the tent, and he disappears into it. Patrick nervously remains seated on the ground. Markus emerges from the tent with the first aid kit in hand.

  He holds the kit out to her, “Help me.” he says.

  She takes the kit and removes some gauze and bandages.

  “What happened?”

  “I was on the way back with some canned food that I found in that little store we passed a day ago when some people ambushed me. Food was probably bad anyway.”

  “People did this to you?” she asks as she wipes the blood away on his arm.

  He’s got scratches on his skin. His eyes cut to her. His scowl saying all it needs to say. He hesitates, sighs, then finally answers her.

  “Yes. I killed two of them, one of them took the food and ran. I chased him but couldn’t catch him.”

  “I just don’t
understand why they would scratch you. Did they have weapons?”

  “One of them had a bat, but my hatchet was more handy.”

  “Where is the hatchet?”

  Again, he hesitates. She can feel he doesn’t want to answer her questions.

  “I fucking left it, okay? I couldn’t get it out of one of their heads.”

  She swallows hard, tensing up as he raises his voice. She only nods, choosing not to inquire any further. She has him remove his shirt. It’s too bloody, they’ll have to get rid of it. It’s obvious all of this blood isn’t his. It smells horrid, even worse than it usually does.

  She bandages his arm him, and cleans the blood off his body. He tells her they’ll have to leave first thing in the morning, just in case the one that got away comes looking for them. She expected that much. Markus seems off, something is different about this encounter. He’s fought people before, even killed them, and he’s never been this shaken up about it. A sick feeling fills her gut. She doesn’t think he would lie to her, and yet she doesn’t believe his story.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  It’s been four days since Rosaline and Mikey approached The Family. She’s surprised at how well he’s adapting to these new people. If The Family is as helpful and close as they say they are then staying here could be really good for Mikey.

  As for her, well, she’s trying to fit in. It’s been a long time since she’s had to think about anyone other than Mikey and herself. The Family are timid around her, and most of them do not engage in extended conversations with her. Except for Zee and Sweetie. The latter seems to seek Rosaline out. She likes that.

  She thinks the others avoid her because she’s different. She doesn’t always know what the proper thing to say is, and has often blurted out something embarrassing. They’re tying to connect with her, and she wants to let them, but being alone has changed her. She doesn’t even know who the person she once was is anymore.

  What is her personality? What does she like doing? She has no idea. Surviving and staying under the radar are all she’s known for the past several years.

  She decided to let Mikey sleep in for as long as he needs to. The kid has never experienced consecutive days of sound sleep. When she left their room she could hear Hawaii and Zee playing around. Their door was open, but it would’ve been weird to peak in.

  She wanted to get a head start on the chores she has for the day. Zee makes a list every week and outlines what everyone is going to be doing each day. There’s a lot to do to keep this place in order, but most days everyone finishes their chores well before dark. The addition of her and Mikey has already helped even out the work load.

  Rosaline appreciates that Zee only gives Mikey the easy tasks. He’s too young for most of what needs to be done, but he’s able to clean around the house and help others with the simple parts of their tasks. He’s always paired up with someone after he finishes his minimal daily cleaning.

  In three days she’s listed to go hunting with Hawaii and Sweetie. That’s the only chore for each of them on that day. She guesses it’s a day long endeavor. She’s uncomfortable leaving Mikey for a whole day, but if they’re going to stay here she needs to be able to trust these people.

  That day he’s helping Rad. She’s curious how this will go. Rad has mostly kept his distance from her and Mikey. To her, this day will be a big test on whether or not she and Mikey will continue to stay here.

  Every day she has chores in different areas. Zee said it’s to help Rosaline familiarize herself with her new home. She likes that. Today she’s been assigned to clean the buckets they use for the well, and clean and sharpen the hunting weapons. Yesterday she had to collect all the ashes from the fire pit and store them. She did not enjoy that.

  She can’t believe this place has a well. It doesn’t yield a lot of water, so they have to ration what they use daily. Only two people can take a bath each day. Zee and Hawaii bathe together so they count as one. A bath every three days is more than she could’ve hoped for.

  Hawaii said it was a miracle that they happened upon this place, and even more of a miracle that no one was living here. The farm is mostly self sustaining. They’re able to use the stove, the well provides water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing, and there are plenty of candles and lanterns to keep everything lit at night.

  She didn’t see or hear anyone else awake when she left the house to head for the barn. There are only four well buckets, and the cleaning process is mostly waiting around. She needs to fill them with boiling water, let them sit for a while, wipe them out, then do it again. She’ll wait until everyone is up to do this since it needs to be done in the kitchen.

  They don’t have a lot of hunting weapons. Four machetes, five hunting knives, two axes, three hatchets, two spears, and one bow. There are just five arrows for the bow. Hawaii is the only one who uses it and he takes care of it. One less for her to worry about.

  All the hunting weapons and sharpening stones are together in a big crate. She pulls the crate out of the barn and plops down on one of the many sitting logs placed outside the barn doors. She’ll start with the knives.

  The hours pass as she sharpens the weapons. This has taken much longer than she anticipated, and she’s pretty adept at sharpening. She’s kept her own knife in good condition. The machetes took the longest to finish, but the axes were the most finicky.

  Not too long ago someone opened the kitchen window. Every now and then she can hear people in there, but she can’t make out what they’re saying. About an hour ago Mikey came looking for her. He stuck around for a little bit and watched until he got bored. He ran off back to the house to do his cleaning, then pair up with Zee for the day.

  Rosaline and Zee discussed how to best approach getting Mikey accustomed to this new life. They decided that pairing up with a different person each day would help him connect, and would ease Rosaline knowing that everyone has formed a bond with him. Zee has been adamant that the whole family will help Rosaline take care of him. This has been what she’s liked most since their arrival. She doesn’t know how Zee is still so bubbly and positive all the time, but Rosaline is thankful that she is.

  “I've been lookin’ for you!” she hears from behind her.

  Rosaline turns to see Sweetie approaching with a plate of food in her hand. Strawberries and bush beans. She hasn’t had bush beans before.

  “Mikey said you were out here. We usually sharpen on the porch, in the shade.”

  Sweetie extends the plate to Rosaline. “Hungry?” she asks.

  Rosaline sheepishly nods and takes the plate from her.

  “Mira.” Sweetie says, with her hand out, “I’ll take over so you can eat.”

  Sweetie grips the hatchet, locking eyes with Rosaline, and grinning.

  “Thanks, but you don’t have to.”

  “It's cool, I don't mind.”

  “No, really, I can finish-”

  “Oh yeah? You just want me to go then?” the coy Latina replies, pointing back to the house.

  “No, no! Uh...”

  Rosaline’s words trail. Her face flushes as she breaks eye contact. Sweetie giggles and lightly tugs on the hatchet. Rosaline relents and relinquishes control. She takes the plate of food from Sweetie.

  “I’m messin’ with you. That’s kinda my thing, I’m funny.”

  Rosaline nods again, her propensity to be shy around Sweetie taking hold of her.

  “Cool if I sit?”

  Rosaline covers her strawberry filled mouth as she replies, “Mhm.”

  Sweetie giggles again, and sits down next to her. She strokes the stone against the blade of the hatchet.

  “So, you don’t talk much. You not like me?”

  “I like you!”

  Horror rushes through Rosaline as bits of strawberry fly out of her mouth and land on Sweetie’s leg. Her face reddens again, embarrassed with how she blurted out her answer.

  “Woah, unnecessary nena!” Sweetie exclaims staring down at her leg.

>   “I’m so sorry, I’m...uh...I don’t know why that happened.”

  Rosaline hastily brushes the strawberries off the woman's leg. Rosaline’s gaze moves up to meet Sweetie’s, and she realizes that she’s now just rubbing her hand on Sweetie’s knee.

  “I think you got it.” she says with a grin and raised eyebrows.

  Rosaline’s hand snaps back to her plate. She stares down at her food. Her stomach turns. Inside her mind she bangs her head against a wall over and over, terrified with how clumsy and nervous she’s being.

  “Hey.” Sweetie’s says, her head titled down, her hair falling over part of her face.

  The nervous warrior breathes in deep as her eyes slowly move to match Sweetie's gaze again. Sweetie brushes the hair off Rosaline’s cheek, smoothly tucking it behind her ear.

  “It’s cool nena. You're nice. Clumsy and weird, but nice.”

  A strange warm feeling fills Rosaline. Sweetie's tenderness bringing a smile to her, "You too." she replies.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “What about the boy?” Daisy asks, her concern layered into every word.

  Daisy is younger than her traveling companions, the married couple Jack and Norman. Before the world went to shit she was their neighbor. She would frequently join them for dinner. They enjoyed watching bad movies together and laughing at the absurdity contained within them.

  Being an interracial gay couple presented many unjust trials in their life, but they love each other, and above all else that’s all that matters to Jack and Norman. Since the outbreak, the absence of bigotry has been the only enjoyable aspect of the tormented world they now live in. The diseased care not about ones race, gender, or sexual identity. To the diseased all breathing, heart pumping humans are the enemy.

  They found the boy the previous night. He was ill and weak and didn’t respond to anything they asked him. At first they thought he was infected, but soon realized he’s far too docile to be part of the monsters that have relentlessly ravaged the world.