A World Fallen

by Carter, Nicholas Lawrence

  The truth couldn’t have been further from that. His grandfather was a skeptic, but he was also a loving man. He urged caution, but he never allowed his life before the outbreak to dishearten him. He saw how much Rad’s parents loved each other, he saw how happy Rad’s brother was to finally have a sibling, and these familial connections elated his grandfather.

  The four of them were very close. Rad, nor his brother, knew anything of racism or prejudice. To immediately hate someone based solely upon an innate trait of their appearance? The idea seemed so arbitrary to them.

  In the times Rad has been born into the appearance of an individual has never been more important. Anyone can be infected. The disease cares not about the qualities of a host. These days you must be familiar with the tell tale signs of the affliction, and your life depends on your ability to recognize them.

  It is this upbringing that has left Rad so conflicted with his initial feelings about Rosaline. Since the first night Rosaline appeared to them Rad has had a bad feeling about her. She didn’t exhibit any sigs of the virus, and still Rad felt the need to be suspicious of her.

  He wasn’t sure if he was judging her based upon her appearance, if some unrealized bias lay deep seeded within him. He questioned himself about her. Was it the way she spoke? The manner in which she carried herself? That different look she held within her eyes, or something else he hasn’t been able to unearth within himself?

  Rad fought inside his own head. He battled against an urge to be afraid that he did not understand. That is, until the previous day when he spoke with Mikey. The way the child nonchalantly mentioned that Rosaline had killed people that potentially were not a threat twisted the blood inside his veins. That she has instilled in the little boy the notion of being the first to kill, before giving the other party a chance to prove their trust worthiness, brought about a sick feeling in his gut.

  “Has this been her plan all along?” he thinks. He believes he’s not left with a choice. He has to bring this to The Family’s attention. He will not allow the life they’ve made for themselves to be destroyed.

  He wanted to stop Sweetie from leaving with Rosaline, but he didn’t want to arouse concern. Rosaline clearly cares about Mikey, and he doesn’t think she’ll harm Sweetie if Mikey is at the farm. He has to believe this, otherwise he just watched Sweetie walk away to her death.

  He waits several minutes after they’ve left his field of view, making sure they do not turn back for any forgotten items. After he’s sure a quick return is not on the menu, he exits the barn and heads for the house. Mikey is in the living room tending to his daily chores. He acknowledges the boy, who returns his greeting with a smile, the first time he has done so to Rad.

  Rad ascends the stairs, breaking off to the direction of Hawaii and Zee’s voices. He finds them in their bedroom. They fall silent when he knocks, and remain so when he enters. Zee’s face holds a frown, an oddity for her. Hawaii raises his eyebrows at Rad, but does not speak.

  Rad informs them they need to talk, and it needs to be done away from Mikey. Curiously Hawaii does not question Rad’s request, he only asks if Outlaw should be present at this private meeting. Rad confirms and Hawaii sets off to find him, after telling them all to meet in the barn in five minutes.

  Zee heads downstairs. She instructs Mikey to clean his room once he’s done with the living room, after which he will be finished with his daily duties. She tells him to stay in the house, and she’ll be back in a little while to play games with him. The boy is happy to be given a lighter workload, and his excitement is conveyed by his bouncing about while dusting the empty bookshelves.

  Hawaii finds Outlaw cleaning the gutters at the rear end of the house. The matter of fact attitude Hawaii exudes is striking. Outlaw is accustomed to sternness from Hawaii, but he always chuckles at Outlaw’s jokes, even when he himself knows they’re not funny. A display of seriousness at this level is concerning.

  Hawaii and Outlaw enter the barn to find Rad and Zee awaiting them. Zee is seated on a tool box, her knee anxiously bouncing up and down. Rad is leaned against a pillar, his cold gaze aimed up at the rafters.

  Hawaii motions for Outlaw to take a seat, then pulls the barn doors closed, leaving only a small gap between them. Outlaw looks to Zee, an inquisitive gleam in his eye, her returned gaze does not offer it’s usual comfort.

  Hawaii clears his throat. He regards Rad and speaks softly.

  “Is this about Rosaline?” he asks.

  Rad inhales and nods, confirming Hawaii’s query.

  “Look, I know you all think I’m being too-”

  Before he can finish Hawaii waves him off.

  “I think you might be right.” Hawaii says.

  The large mans' eyebrows raise, “Really?”

  “Yesterday, when we were hunting, we were attacked by Talkers.”

  “Shit!” Rad exclaims.

  “Is that why Sweetie has been acting weird?” Outlaw asks.

  Hawaii’s head bobs, “Probably.”

  Rad stands up straight, pushing off from the pillar, “What happened?”

  “They ambushed us by that creek. There were five of them, all Talkers. I’ve never seen more than two in the same group.”

  “How did you get away? Did they follow you?!” Outlaw frantically questions.

  “No, they didn’t, and we didn’t get away. Sweetie shot one, and Rosaline killed the rest.

  “Wait, she killed four of them? By herself?”

  Hawaii’s tone drops, a somber cloud hanging over him.

  “Yeah. Three of them attacked her at once, and she still killed them, and fast.” he replies, a sense of despondence riding his words.

  “Holy shit.” says Outlaw, his mouth agape.

  “I didn’t see her kill the first three, but the way she took out the last one...it was like she became one of them. It was terrifying.”

  “Fuck!” Rad says, his voice elevating.

  Hawaii’s holds his hand up, motioning for Rad to lower his voice.

  “This makes what I was gonna say even worse.” Rad says, still more heightened than he should be.

  Outlaw's gaze moves to Rad, “Did something else happen?” he asks.

  “Yeah it fuckin’ did. Yesterday Mikey told me that Rosaline has killed, a lot.”

  “I mean, don’t we already know that?” Outlaw replies.

  “She’s killed a lot of real people, real people man!”

  “Okay yeah, but real people can be shitty. We all know that.”

  “You’re not listen’ to me. Real people. Not bad people. The kid told me that Rosaline thinks all people are dangerous and they only pretend to be good when they want something. She told him they always have to kill first. She doesn’t give people a chance, man. The way the kid said it, it’s like that’s always her plan.”

  Outlaw relents, pondering on Rad’s statement. Zee moves from her seat, joining them in the small semi-circle the guys have formed.

  “Look, whatever we do we have to consider what happens to Mikey.” she says.

  “Fuck that! You know she wont leave him here, and we can’t let her stay here.” Rad responds.

  “My sister is out there with her right now!” Outlaw says, as though the fact just occurred to him.

  “She’s not going to hurt Sweetie.” Zee replies, her certainty alarming the distressed brother.

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because that would put Mikey in danger, and I don't think that’s something she would ever willingly do.”

  Zee’s attention turns her companion.

  “You’re being uncharacteristically quiet.” she says.

  Hawaii sighs, weaving his hand through his hair.

  “Rad’s right. We can’t let her stay here. She has to leave, and so does Mikey.”

  Before Zee can oppose he continues.

  “I know you don’t like that, I don’t either, but it’s the safest move for us.”

  Zee shakes her head.

  “But is it
the safest move for Mikey?”

  “You want to try and make her leave and keep Mikey? She killed four Talkers by herself. What are we going to do to her?” Rad says, sternly.

  “I just don’t think this is our only option.”

  “You sound like you don’t want her to leave.”

  “Maybe I don’t! I-I like her.”

  Rad throws his hands up, waving off her statement.

  “Get the fuck outta here!”

  "Look, they've had a rough life. Worse than we know, worse than we'll probably ever know. I think she's just protective of Mikey. He's only five, he doesn't even really know what he's saying." Zee says, a hint of plea in her voice.

  "You weren't there. He knew exactly what he was saying. He was afraid to even say it. Tell me why that is?"

  "Are you really insinuating that she hurts him?"

  "No, even I don't think she would do that. But he was definitely afraid to be talking about it."

  "Maybe he's afraid we'll make them leave."

  "Well, he's right about that."

  "I don't-"

  Hawaii raises his hands.

  "Stop."

  He glances to his partner.

  "I know you don't like this, but she has to leave. She wont leave Mikey here. I'm sorry."

  "So that's it?" she asks

  "Yes. You all agreed that I make the final calls. I didn't ask for it, you guys gave it to me. This is what I'm going with."

  She scoffs, looking away from him.

  “When they get back I’ll tell Rosaline." he says.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “Please don’t shoot me! Please!” the stranger pleads.

  His words are delivered frantically. At this point Karo is all but certain this is a real person. The question he ponders now is whether to let this person live or not.

  “How many people are in your group?” Karo flatly asks.

  “I...I...what?” the stranger replies, shaking his head in confusion.

  “You heard me, how many?”

  “Uh...four.” the stranger nervously says.

  Karo squints at the stranger, still unsure of the fate he will provide.

  “Who are the other three? How many males? How many females? How old are they?”

  The Stranger’s perplexed look holds. Karo’s eyebrows raise, his finger taps the gun.

  “I’m, um, fifty-three. Norman is forty-nine, Daisy forty, and Patrick is fifteen.”

  “How long have you been out here? Near this town?”

  “We came across it last night, slept in a house, then I set out to look for medicine at dawn.”

  Karo doesn’t think they were following him. He’s almost positive they didn’t know he was in the area. He’s overly careful. His concern is what happens after this encounter, what happens if he lets this man go.

  “You’re going to take me back to your people. If there’s more than three-”

  “There’s not, I swear.”

  Karo follows the stranger out of the derelict drug store. The stranger is traveling with just one bag. He doesn’t leave it behind. He’s found something of use. The hike back to the stranger’s people isn’t a long one. Two hours at most.

  The sun rests high above them, not having started it’s descent yet. Karo doesn’t ask any questions on their journey, and the stranger doesn’t attempt to engage conversation. The stranger shakes nervously during their travel, no doubt afraid of the man following him with a gun.

  The stranger comes to a stop a short distance from a house. They’ve entered what was once a neighborhood on the outskirts of the small town. The stranger points at their destination.

  “It’s that house there.”

  “Walk slowly, call out to your people when you’re close. Speak loudly and clearly. No sudden movements.”

  The stranger nods his head and sets off to the house. As he gets within a range he feels confidant that those inside will hear him from he shouts to them.

  “Norman, Daisy, it’s me, Jack, come outside, please.”

  A short moment passes before Norman comes bounding out the front door. He motions at Jack, wondering why he’s being so loud.

  “Norman, stop! Don’t make any quick movements, he’s got a gun.”

  Norman’s head cocks to the side.

  “What? Who’s got a gun?”

  Baffled by his question, Jack looks back over his shoulder. To his surprise there is no one behind him.

  “There is, was, a man.”

  “Jack, hunny, what are you talking about?”

  “Just get Daisy and Patrick out here.”

  “Patrick’s not moving around. You know that’s why we’re here.”

  “Norman, get Daisy, now!”

  A tense feeling runs up Norman’s spine. Jack is not the kind of person to raise his voice, and especially not at him. Something is very wrong here. Norman disappears back into the house for a short moment, then returns promptly with Daisy in tow.

  Jack turns back to where he last saw the man with the gun. He scans the area, but only the two wrecked cars are there.

  “They’re here. Patrick can’t come outside. I told you, he’s sick.”

  He waits for a response, but none are provided. Jack’s attention returns to Daisy and his husband.

  “There was a man. He followed-”

  “Jack!” Norman hastily interrupts his companion, dread surging through the word.

  The man is now in sight, and he does indeed have a gun. He’s bee lining right for them.

  “Nobody move!” Karo says, forcefully.

  He reaches Jack, grabs his arm and shoves him toward Daisy and Norman.

  “Where’s the kid?”

  “He’s inside!” Daisy replies.

  Karo stops a short distance from them, almost close enough to reach out and touch them if he needed.

  “Face each other and hold hands.”

  Norman’s gaze falls to his husband who nervously shakes his head at him.

  “Face each other and hold hands, all of you, now!”

  Karo’s voice raises, but not to the level of shouting. He’s careful about that. The three do as instructed, facing each other and holding hands.

  “Now, bunch together and slowly move into the house as a group. Do not break your holds.”

  Karo follows behind the group as they shuffle through the doorway. Once inside Karo orders them to stop, then he closes the door. The house is small, only one level, making it easier for Karo to search it. He has the group remain in front of him as he moves them around the house inspecting each room. Finally, they come to the living room where the kid he had been told of is located.

  Patrick is laying on an old and dirty couch. He’s facing away from them, pressed up against the cushions.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Karo asks.

  “He’s having an episode.” Norman replies.

  Karo’s eyes narrow as they cut to Norman.

  “An episode?”

  “He suffers from PTSD and depression. Among others things, I suspect.”

  “And the medicine?”

  “Tranquilizers, antidepressants, anything that will help him function.”

  “How long has he been like this?”

  “Since we found him-”

  “Norman!” Jack says, quick to interrupt his partner.

  Karo straightens up, his hand grips the gun tighter. He looks to Jack.

  “Found him? You said he’s your son.”

  “He’s not, but it...it was easier than explaining the situation. Does it really make a difference?”

  The matter of fact way that Jack answered him was unexpected. Jack’s words carry a genuine sense of fear and care. An odd combination. One Karo hasn’t heard in a long time.

  “Sit down.” Karo says.

  Karo watches as they descend down to resting positions. He backs up to the wall opposite the group and slides down it until he reaches the floor. He rests his gun on his knee, no longer pointed at them.
<
br />   “So, you take care of him?” Karo asks.

  “Yes.” Jack replies.

  “Why?”

  “Because he’s just a kid, and he needs help.”

  “That’s dangerous.”

  “What is? Helping people?”

  Karo nods, but doesn’t reply.

  “I need to give him some medicine. It’s going to take a few hours before he’s mobile again, maybe more, probably more.” Norman says.

  "You a doctor?"

  "I am."

  Karo nods again, and motions for Norman to proceed. Norman searches through Jack’s bag inspecting the pill bottles. He retrieves one and gets to his feet. He grabs the jug of water off the table beside them.

  "I need her to help me." Norman says.

  "Slowly." Karo replies, waving the gun in their direction.

  Norman and Daisy sit on the couch with Patrick. Norman rolls him over and props his head up. He squeezes Patrick's cheeks, opening his mouth. Daisy places a pill into his mouth, then holds the jug to his lips. Norman tilts Patrick's head back while Daisy gently pours water. Norman rubs Patrick's neck as the fragile boy struggles to swallow.

  "Shh, shh, it's alright Patrick, it's alright." Norman says, soothing him.

  Daisy holds Patrick's hand, rubbing his arm as Norman turns him back on his side.

  "How do you fight while taking care of him?" Karo asks.

  "We don't" -Jack says, shaking his head- "we run, we hide."

  "And that's worth it?"

  "If it means he survives with us, then yes, it is."

  Karo can't remember the last time he met someone that he felt was truly decent. These people take care of this boy, risking their lives every second he's with them, and they do it because it's what should be done. If he'd thought about it yesterday he would've been certain that nobility was dead, but these people prove it's not. They're selfless, kind, and gracious.

  Perhaps this world isn't lost yet.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Rosaline walks briskly behind Sweetie. She's trying to keep pace with the usually energetic woman but is lagging behind. Rosaline isn't accustomed to traveling with someone who keeps a quicker pace than her.