Reset (Book 2): Salvation

by Jacqueline Druga

  Nora had nothing to leave for payment. She’d ask Jason what he would recommend. After canning with Marilee and a quick stop to grab jeans and a jacket, Nora walked to the Christian Life Church where Jason had spent the evening.

  She called out his name when she entered and he responded with, “In the back.”

  Nora caught a glimpse of light seeping in from behind the sanctuary. She followed it and stepped into a small office.

  “Hey,” Jason said with a smile. He stood by a desk, stacking books. “How was your night?”

  “Good. We canned beets and talked.”

  “I like that throw back to the eighties jeans jacket.”

  “Pretty nifty, right?” Nora asked, hands in pockets she opened the jacket some. “It’s cold out there.”

  “It’s cold in here. I haven’t figured out how to heat things yet. No fireplace. If this town becomes home, I’ll have to figure something out.”

  “I’m sure you will.”

  “Until then….” He lifted the lantern and grabbed her hand. “I was right. This way.” He led her out of the office and into a hall. He pointed to the first door on the right. “Our sitting room.”

  Inside there were two small couches and bookcases.

  “We may have to raid the library for secular books.” He led her further. “Kitchen.”

  Nora stepped inside.

  “There’s a large hall right beyond this. This was the kitchen to that, I guess. I’ve been cleaning all night.”

  “You’re doing well.”

  “And …” Another yank of her hand and he brought her back to the hall. A few feet down they turned the bend. “I was right. There were guest rooms for guest preachers.” He opened the first door. “How about this … huh? Beds.”

  Jason stepped inside setting the lantern on the dresser to light the room.

  It wasn’t too small. Two twin beds, a chest of drawers, desk, television, which they knew wouldn’t be useful and a small private bathroom.

  “Does it work?” Nora pointed.

  “No. But Ralph’s outhouse is right behind the building he said we can use it. I brought in some water from the pump for you to wash.”

  “Thank you.” Nora folded her arms and sighed.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Jason cringed. “I wasn’t thinking. Do you want your own room? I was just …”

  “No. No-no.” Nora waved out her hand. “This is fine. I’d rather sleep with you.”

  Pause.

  Silence.

  Jason looked at her.

  Nora smiled. “That came out wrong.”

  “I’m waiting on a joke now.”

  “Nah, no jokes.”

  Jason cocked back. “Really? It’s been all day. I’m ready.”

  Nora leaned back against the desk, and again, folded her arms tightly to her body. “Would you say you were a good husband?’

  “Is this a joke?” Jason stepped to her.

  “No.” Nora chuckled. “I’m asking.”

  “Um …wow. At times, yes. I made mistakes.”

  “You cheated?

  “No.” Jason answered quickly.

  “Because she did.”

  Jason only groaned.

  “I ask because you’re a good guy. I mean, you get me water to wash, make sure our surroundings are clean.”

  “That’s for me too. And you act like I take the reins. You’re the brave one, Nora. You lead the way. Where is this coming from?”

  “I was just thinking that my husband was a better husband than I was a wife,” Nora said. “Does that make sense?”

  “Yeah, it does. Again, where is this coming from?”

  “When we were canning, Marilee eluded to the fact that maybe it is wrong to search out and find my family.”

  “Wrong? Was I wrong when I looked for mine?”

  “Would you have looked if you knew it was thirty years?”

  “Probably.”

  “And we did look for answers about my family,” Nora said. “We found answers to where they are. Is it fair to go find them after all this time?”

  “Fair to who?”

  Nora didn’t reply.

  Jason locked eyes with her, it was obvious he was thinking. At least Nora hoped he was, hoped he was searching for the right words. After all, wasn’t it part of his job to say the right thing to make people feel better?

  After running his hand over his face, he moved even closer to her. “Look, some organization believed that you, me, the others were worthy to be man’s insurance. They took us against our will and knocked us out for thirty years. That sucks. They took us out of their lives. But it was only a blink of an eye to you. On the other side of the coin, the pain your family went through had to be unimaginable. They lost you, mourned you, and sadly probably moved on with their lives. Now does that mean you need to let them go?”

  “That’s what I’m struggling with.”

  “I’d be lying to you if I told you I didn’t think about it for myself. If my family was alive, would I walk into their lives? I mean I mourned them, not as long, nor as deeply as they mourned me, but because of you, I have accepted the realization it’s done.”

  “So what did you come up with? If they were alive and you knew where they were, would you walk into their lives?”

  “I probably wouldn’t. I mean, that’s me. I’m a chicken. I’d be scared they wouldn’t want me, or moved on so much. Or frightened of anger, more hurt. Who would it be for? Me? Them? Thirty years is a long time. If I walked into their lives who benefits? But it’s a whole lot easier for me to say, because my family is gone. Yours is not. You do what you need to do. I am behind you and will walk the path with you.”

  “It shouldn’t be this difficult of a decision,” Nora said. “But I keep thinking that same thing. Who is it for? I have been gone from their lives for a lifetime. I’m gonna think about it a little more.”

  “If you need to talk.” Jason said. “Just know, it’s okay to find them for you. Even if it’s to say goodbye, it’s alright if you benefit more, because remember, you lost too.”

  Nora stared at Jason standing so close to her, staring with compassion. There was something about him at that moment, a closeness with him, and a kinship that suddenly became more apparent. She didn’t know what it was that caused it. Instinct. Foolishness. Need. Impulse or emotion, but she kissed him. She leaned into him and softly kissed him.

  At first he didn’t move his lips, then Jason responded. His response was brief and then he sprang back as if she poisoned him.

  His reaction was so hard to read. Was he offended?

  “I’m sorry,” Nora said. “I am so sorry. I don’t know why I did that.”

  “And that … is why I pulled back.”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “If I kissed you, then I would know the reason I kissed you. It would be because I wanted to and I needed to.”

  “You don’t want to kiss me? Is it because I am still married?”

  “Nora, that life is over. As hard as it is to say, it’s over. And heck yeah, I want to kiss you. I just want you to know the reason you’re grabbing onto me.”

  “It’s hard to verbalize. I mean we’re close,” Nora said.

  “We are.”

  “You know me. We share the same circumstances. You’re attractive even if you haven’t had your skin professionally peeled in thirty years. And just to set the record straight, I didn’t grab onto you.”

  “Oh, I beg to differ. You copped a feel.”

  Nora laughed. “That was funny.” She extended her two fingers, grabbing onto his belt hook and pulling him to her. “I like you. We have a closeness, Jason. One I haven’t felt in …”

  “Thirty years?”

  Nora smiled. “Something like that.”

  “Yeah, something like that.” Jason placed his hand on her face and leaned into her.

  It was a different type of moment for the two of them. The moment Jason kissed her, Nora pulled him to her and held tightl
y to him. It wasn’t the physical need to have that closeness it was the emotional yearning.

  It seeped from them both in the embrace and kiss. It was a moment that had been building. Nora wasn’t certain if they were wrong in what they were doing, but she knew it felt good, and it felt right. Since she woke from Stasis, she had felt hollow and wounded, and for the first time she was experiencing a sense of healing. At that point, she had no plans or desire to stop, no matter where it led.

  <><><><>

  In a low voice, the man who identified himself as Number Four, real name Blake, said. “We know what happened. We just don’t know when.”

  “Thirty years ago,” Malcolm replied as he stayed busy working on a buggy. Which was more of an act than anything else in case Maggie or Norris checked on him.

  They were still in the lab, searching papers and it was their suggestion that Malcolm go back to the warehouse to check things there.

  “Jesus,” Blake said. “Thirty years. So chances are, when they left to look for family, they aren’t finding anything.”

  Malcolm shook his head.

  “Okay.” Trey lifted his hands. “Why is this man hiding in here? Why are we not telling the team he’s here?”

  “Trey,” Malcolm said firmly. “You saw their reaction when they saw the empty pods.”

  “Yeah, they need answers.”

  “And the people that hatched, have no more answers than I did.”

  “You can’t be sure,” said Trey. “You can’t. I know you come from a time that there was an ulterior motive for everything. But that’s not the way it is. They are taking the cryo fluid, they are searching for answers. It was frustrating for Maggie.”

  “Be that as it may, let’s be safe,” Malcolm said then turned to Blake. “Why did you hide when we arrived?”

  Blake scoffed. “From my knowledge they kidnapped me, froze me for God knew how long while the world ended. I see a military guy, I’m thinking they’re gonna think those of us protected are the cause. I got worried.”

  “I think you may be right,” said Malcolm.

  “No,” argued Trey. “You’re basing this on what they say about the president and you can’t blame them, he knew about the virus, he was part of Genesis.”

  Malcolm slammed a tool. “None of us were. None of us had knowledge. How about you, Blake?”

  “No, I was confused when I woke up,” Blake replied.

  “Why didn’t you leave with the others?” Trey questioned.

  “I went to my apartment, which was gone. I don’t have family. I was a ward of the state until I went into the Army. I was career military, satellites and communications when this happened. I had no clue.”

  Malcolm held out his hand toward Blake as if to say, ‘There’.

  “What?” Trey asked.

  “He didn’t know.”

  “That’s not to say someone else didn’t,” Trey continued to argued. “Do you have a meeting place, or are you guys all on your own?”

  “Some are meeting up in Vegas. We figured with the Hoover Dam, we could get power restored,” Blake answered. “But meet up isn’t for several weeks.”

  “Good. But Vegas is a military Salvation stopping point,” Malcolm said. “I have an idea. I hope you’re game. I just have a really bad feeling…”

  “And I don’t.” Trey interrupted.

  “Yes, Trey, we know you don’t.” Malcolm snapped. “What in the world would it take for you to see something is up?”

  “When you can tell me what you think is up. Because right now, it’s just a feeling something is not right. No idea what it could be, right?”

  ‘No.”

  “It’s a gut feeling,” Trey said. “I get it. I can also remember being a kid and saying, ‘Dad, I’m hungry, can you make me something to eat?’ And you’d say what?”

  “I’d ask what you wanted.”

  Trey nodded. “And if I didn’t know, you would always tell me. Well let me know when you know what you want to eat and I’ll cook it, until then, I’m not lifting a pot. Same premise. When you know what it is you think they’re doing, then I will listen and stop fighting. Until then …I’m staying away from the stove and being neutral.”

  Fair enough. Malcolm could accept that, mainly because he knew, soon enough, Maggie or Norris would do something and Malcolm would be able to read his gut instinct a lot clearer.

  THIRTEEN – ARRIVAL

  DAY TEN AR

  “What did you wear?” John asked Meredith. The question seemed to confuse her, or perhaps it was the fact that she was abruptly drawn away from watching Hunter attempting to drink coffee.

  “I’m sorry,” Meredith replied. “What did I wear?”

  “Wardrobe. How did you dress?” John explained. “Before stasis. When you woke up in the morning, what did you wear? I’m curious. Those oversized blue jeans just don’t strike me as something that you would naturally wear.”

  “That is an odd question, John,” Meredith said. She sat next to him. They had set up a small campsite the night before. One that would pack up with ease and have them in Champaign in just a few hours.

  “I know. I’ve just been spending an enormous amount of time with you and I was curious.”

  “Fifteen days,” Meredith said. “It’s been fifteen days since we woke up. Ten days since we emerged from the lab and eight continuous days for us.”

  “You’re counting. I’m touched.”

  “You’re not?”

  “Thirty years have passed. Why bother?”

  “True.”

  “So …” John sipped his coffee. “What was your wardrobe of choice?”

  “Well … it depends. I’m always comfortable. Work days I wore pant suits, or a nice dress. At home. Yoga pants, a tee shirt, or sweater. Not the thinnest of women, John, so I am limited on what I wore. Or rather what was comfortable wearing. So you’re right. Jeans were not a number one preference.”

  “I think you are built wonderfully. They work for you. The … blue work shirt does not.”

  “Remind me next time we’re by any clothing store to grab something more becoming.”

  “Maybe we should do the same for your boy, Hunter.” John nodded Hunter’s way. It wasn’t that Hunter didn’t wear clothes. He did. Hand sewn pants made from animal hide and no shirt. No matter what the weather.

  “That’s not a bad idea. Especially if we want to integrate him.”

  “Maybe there will be a Walmart.”

  “Would the clothes be any good?” Meredith asked.

  “I’m sure. Dusty as finding Grandma’s old wedding dress.”

  “What about you, John? What did you wear?”

  “I was a writer. It was hard put to get me out of my pajamas before noon. When I did, I never dressed up. I dressed in jeans that were old and comfortable and I had a writing shirt with so many holes in it, my wife used to have a fit.”

  Meredith stared at him a few seconds. “That’s just odd. You seem so pompous.”

  “Gee, thank you.”

  Meredith smiled and finished her coffee. “Are we ready?”

  John stood. “What next? Seriously. After we get to Champaign. What is next?”

  “Salvation?”

  “With Hunter?” John asked.

  “He’s human.”

  “Is it a good idea to go there?”

  “John,” Meredith scolded. “That’s not fair to Hunter.”

  “I’m not talking about Hunter. I’m talking about is it fair to go to Salvation. We still aren’t sure we are carriers or not. We have the DC lab coming to Champaign. I’m thinking that perhaps we who have so much in common, who are infants in this new world, should in fact, just do what we were supposed to do.”

  “And that is?” Meredith asked.

  “Survive and establish civilization.”

  “Civilization is established in a place called Salvation...”

  “Look around. Is it really? It’s behind some big wall,” John said. “Do we in fact even belong
there?”

  John brought up valid points. Meredith, who before it all, made a living off of theorizing, had some deep thinking to do and had to get back to what she did best. Determining outcomes from the present situation. John was missing one more important point. It wasn’t about if they belonged in Salvation, more importantly, it was if would they even be welcome there.

  <><><><>

  Malcolm tried discreetly to place the solar cell back in his bag. He inched it out, he believed unseen, to check the slow charging progress. Unfortunately, he was spotted.

  He felt her presence as she took a seat next to him.

  “I didn’t know you took that,” Maggie said.

  “Yes.”

  “Can I ask why?”

  Malcolm cleared his throat. “I have my cart and wanted a spare. It’s not like there are stores where I could go and pick one up.”

  “This is true, not everyone has private transportation.”

  “Why is that?” Malcolm asked. “I mean Salvation is big.”

  “There’s no need. Everyone resides within their sectors of work. It operates well.”

  Malcolm merely hummed a ‘hmm.’

  “Why the distain? And your mood has switched. Care to share?”

  He shrugged. “A lot of things.”

  “Like?”

  Malcolm debated. He thought about his late night, hidden conversation with Blake. How he fixed the buggy for him. Because Blake had no family to find, and since the meeting destination of Vegas wasn’t a great idea, he would head to Champaign. The plan was he’d stop in Vegas, at the meeting place, leave a note and then head to find Malcolm’s crew. He would tell them, when Nora and the others arrived, that they had to go elsewhere.

  Trey believed it was insane and overboard. Follow the clues to meet up. Note in Vegas saying go to Champaign, note in Champaign, saying go … wherever. But Malcolm didn’t. Safety in numbers. Get as many together as they could and get off the radar of Salvation. It wasn’t safe, Malcolm felt it.

  “Malcolm?” Maggie drew his attention.

  “Like …. Like it seemed you weren’t concerned about finding a cure. You were more concerned with the … Hatched.”