by Volante, KT
She looked quizzically at me.
“Best place to hide is in plain sight. What is one more car in a parking lot full of cars?”
“We passed a used car dealer. Would that do?”
“Yup, but they can’t see us going into the parking lot.”
“Well, I haven’t seen them in a while, but that’s when they pop up.”
“Look for any parking lot that has more than twenty cars. We have to stop. If I turn on the headlights, they’ll find us.”
“Where will we be staying?”
“In the car. We’ll put the seats back as far as they’ll go. Or you can sleep in the backseat. If we have to make a quick escape, we need to be in the car.”
Note to self: Add blankets to all vehicles.
* * *
Rachael wasn’t happy, but she understood. We came upon a small shopping center with plenty of cars. I didn’t see our pursuers, so we parked behind one of the cars. I got out and opened the trunk. I took out the food and water. I was surprised there was a sweatshirt. I didn’t know whose sweatshirt it was, but I took it. I gave it to Rachael when I got into the car. She looked at me.
“Use it as a pillow or to keep warm. Here’s some food and water. We’ll be all right, really. I’ll siphon some gasoline now and finish in the morning. Try home on the walkie-talkie. Tell them we’re fine and should be home in the morning. If Martin and crew don’t find us tonight, then I doubt they will. If they were smart, they headed home,” I added.
I went off to siphon gasoline as Rachael contacted home. When I got back, she said, “They said to be safe and be careful. Why do we say that? Like we don’t know it!”
I giggled. “I don’t know, but I say that all the time. Maybe to let you know I’ll worry about you until you’re home safe.”
Rachael laid quietly in the backseat. Every so often, I slowly and carefully raised my head to look around. It was too dark to see anything, so if they were out there, they would have to use their headlights to find us. I finally fell asleep.
* * *
Sunrise came too quickly. We got up slowly and looked around. Nothing.
“I have to pee,” said Rachael.
“Me too. You first; I’ll stand watch and siphon more gasoline.”
Rachael looked around and decided to go behind another car to pee. When she returned, I said, “Okay, my turn. Finish the gasoline; then we go.”
* * *
“I don’t see Martin,” I said when we were back in the car. “Radio home and tell them we should arrive in a few hours.”
When we finally got home, we were met with guards carrying guns.
“You, okay?” asked Sid.
“Yeah. We haven’t seen Martin since last night. I don’t think they can find us. But to be safe during the day, have the kids watch out for any cars from the bedroom windows. How are things here?”
Sid had an angry look.
“We’re fine. It’s the two of you we were worried about. The Sisters prayed all night, and I mean all night!”
“I couldn’t let them follow us here. Luke didn’t have enough gasoline, so he came home. It took us hours to lose them.”
I looked at the front door and there they stood, crossing themselves. I walked up to them. Sister Agatha put out her arms. I welcomed the hug from her.
“Little girl, you had us worried. But we prayed for your safe return and here you are. God is wonderful.”
“Thank you for your prayers,” I replied.
She stroked my face, then turned and walked inside the house.
Lucy ran to me. She threw herself into my arms.
“It’s okay, sweetie; I’m home.”
Tears were in her eyes.
“I was afraid you’d be like my mom,” she sobbed.
“I know. I’m here, and I’m fine.”
I hugged her tightly again.
* * *
At supper, Rachael, Luke, and I updated everyone about Martin and his group. I suggested the kids stand watch during the day. They were thrilled.
“Luke, how are we doing with the solar panels?”
“We have the wiring to start connecting them. Tom and Harrison are helping. Hopefully, we’ll have electricity in a few days.”
That was greeted with cheers.
“Do we need more panels?”
He slowly bobbed his head a few times. “Depends on how much electricity you want. What should we hook up first?”
“I think the water pump. Clean water would be wonderful; then the refrigerator, then the lights. Maybe we can find an electric stove or two,” I suggested.
“We’ll need at least two electrical stoves,” Mother advised. “The kitchen is large, but it will need to be rearranged to fit the stoves.”
I laughed. “Who would have thought electricity would cause so much trouble. Jeff, any updates on the LDs?”
“The older, slower LDs are decaying at a super-slow rate. Newer LDs, those survivors who died and flipped, are fast and aggressive. As the transformation ends, they slow down. The majority are the old ones.
“LDs have a very short attention span. They can be eating, but if they hear a noise or smell something, they’ll leave whatever they’re eating and go after the new victim.
“They still don’t like the smell of ammonia, but if exposed to it long enough, the effects decrease.”
“What does that mean?” asked Kevin.
“Eventually, they get used to the smell and it won’t keep them away,” answered Jeff. Then he continued.
“We all hoped they would die quickly and this would end. It hasn’t. With the older LDs, their skin is rotting off so their underlying muscles are exposed. I hope once the muscles rot off, they’ll die—the original definition of death. So the question is: What is the life expectancy of an LD? They are still going strong after all this time. The only way to kill them is a headshot or a knife into the brain. We’ve noticed some acting in groups. I need to observe more on that.
“We, on the other hand, are stressed to the max, hungry most of the time, and most likely malnourished. My big concern is winter, when food will be even harder to get. And with the cold weather, the chances of getting sick increase dramatically. We have limited antibiotics.”
No one spoke. I saw the color drain from their faces and mine.
Chapter Ten
The Sisters’ daily prayer soon blended in with our routine. Not everyone went to prayers, but the Sisters welcomed all who came. One morning as I was doing my chores, Sister Bernadette came to me.
“May I speak with you?”
Her eyes darted about like she didn’t want anyone to know she was speaking to me.
“Sure; what’s up?”
“Not here; somewhere we can be alone.”
“Sister, is there a problem?” I asked.
“No. I just want, well, I don’t want the other Sisters to know we are talking.”
“Get two bottles of water. We’ll go in search of a garden.”
Sister Bernadette nodded.
I got a walkie-talkie and a set of car keys. Since meeting Martin, most of us had started to wear pistols all the time.
“Harrison, Sister Bernadette and I are going out in search of a garden. I have a walkie-talkie.”
“Okay. I’ll be ready in a few.”
“Nah, we got this.”
He did not approve, but he said nothing more. Ten minutes later, we were on the road.
* * *
“Okay, Sister; we’re alone. What’s up?”
“Please don’t tell the other Sisters what I’m going to ask you. I’ll tell them when the time is right.”
“Okay, I promise, but I have to say, you are scaring me. So spill.”
“I want to do more. I want to learn what you know. I mean using a knife, maybe a gun later on. I want to go out on runs. Promise this will stay between us.”
“I already said it would.”
“In the convent, we prayed, of course, and did church-related thing
s and taught Sunday school. I loved every moment. It’s what my Lord asked of me, and it fulfilled me. But now, I believe our Lord is asking me to do more. To do what the rest of you are doing.”
“And you don’t think the others would approve?”
“The Sixth Commandment is ‘Do not kill.’ It applies to even those things. But I believe God wants us to survive, to survive and continue to spread His Holy Word. And to release those tortured souls. The other Sisters are afraid.”
I was becoming a little concerned Sister Bernadette might not be in the best mental health.
“What makes you think that?”
“We prayed for guidance from our Lord. Even the other Sisters believe the LDs are stuck between life and death. We all have had dreams that our Lord wants us to survive, and by doing so, help their souls go to our Lord. But they are afraid of the Sixth Commandment. If we survive and release the LDs’ souls, then we are murdering God’s children. We should be willing to give our lives so no one dies. I believe God is telling us to survive. That is why He sent you and not some bad people.
“And if we can help these poor souls, all the better, and it would not be murder. I am a nun and always will be, with or without my habit. But I need to do more. I’m not afraid.”
She said that last part with strength and conviction. I believed her.
“The other Sisters will notice you’re training,” I replied. “And it’s more than using a knife or gun. But I will be happy to teach you. Have you talked to Sister Agatha? She seems to be more rooted in reality than the others. Not that the others aren’t good people, or nuns,” I said, back-pedaling.
She giggled. “I know what you mean. I did talk to Sister Agatha about this, and she told me to follow my heart because our Lord is in our hearts.”
“Good advice. Will this, or could the other Sisters—and forgive me for not knowing the correct term—kick you out?”
“Yes. But I am okay with that. They can dismiss me from my order, but they can never take away my love for my God. I need to do more than pray.”
“I can’t say I understand your life as a nun, but I will support you in whatever you need. When do you want to start, and when do you plan on telling the others?”
“I would like to start as soon as possible. I will announce it when Sister Agatha is called to our Lord.”
I was kicked in the stomach at the last part.
“What are you saying? Sister Agatha is sick?”
“Lacey, she is old and you know she is sick. I sleep in the same room with her. At night, her breathing is getting worse. She forbid me to tell you or have anyone do anything more for her. She loves you the most, more than you know. She is just waiting for our Lord to bring her home. It’s what we all wait for. The Glory of our Lord.”
I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to turn the car around and go to Sister Agatha.
“Lacey, you can’t say anything. Remember, you promised. Can we start today?”
My head snapped toward her. “I am having a hard time getting my head around Sister Agatha.”
“I know.” That was all she said.
I promised I would not say a word and I wouldn’t. But my heart hurt. My mind flashed back to the first day we had met Sister Agatha. She always called me “little girl.” If anyone else had called me that, I would have ripped her a new one. But Sister Agatha touched a part of me no one else had, not even Ben.
“Lacey? Lacey? Where are you?”
“What? Oh, sorry. I was thinking. What did you ask?”
“Can we start today?”
“Yes.”
Chapter Eleven
Sister Bernadette and I stopped outside of town in a large parking lot.
I chose this spot to start Sister Bernadette’s first lesson because it had a clear view of the surrounding area. We got out of the car.
“Lesson one. Tell me about the area.”
Sister Bernadette carefully looked around. Twice.
Then she said, “I don’t see LDs nearby, and I don’t hear anything. The street is quiet. The wind is blowing; there is debris on the street blowing around.”
“Good. What else can you tell me?”
She looked at me. I pointed to my nose. She took a giant breath, smiled, and said, “Nothing.”
I nodded. “Check out your surroundings. Use everything you can. That means use your sight, your hearing, and your sense of smell. Don’t just acknowledge what is there, but also what is not there that should be. Look at the top floor, windows, and rooftops. Look into the woods, not at the woods. Look for anything that seems out of place. And always go with your gut feeling. Let’s walk toward downtown.”
“I—I don’t know whether we should.”
“Why?”
“Is it safe?” she asked me.
“What do you think?”
She looked around again and nodded. She started to walk slowly. Sister walked in the middle of the street while I walked on the sidewalk. I peeked through the windows to see whether there was anything of interest.
After we had walked a block or two, Sister Bernadette stopped.
“Lacey, Lacey, come quick!”
“What do you see?”
“LDs, lots of them!”
I stepped faster. I saw them.
“What should we do?” I asked.
“Why are you asking me?” she said with panic.
“Sister, this is doing something more. Stand watch, and when a threat comes, evaluate the situation and act,” I said, a little harsher than I intended.
“I want to go,” she said in a scared child’s voice.
“Then let’s go,” I replied.
Back in the car, she wept.
“I’m sorry if I came across as mad,” I told her. “I’m not. You can’t learn this in a day, and it’s not like memorizing a prayer. I will teach you. I will make you think. You will make mistakes. And you will learn.”
“Maybe I was wrong,” she replied. “I don’t know what to do. What if we had been attacked?”
“I’m afraid of that every time I go out of the compound. You can do this. I won’t put you or anyone else in harm’s way. Think of today as your first lesson in self-confidence.”
She looked at me. “I don’t make decisions. I do what I’m told.”
“If you want to do more, then you need to start thinking on your own and making decisions.”
Again, she nodded. It was a quiet ride home. Blocks away from the compound, I radioed in. The gates opened.
Sister Bernadette went straight inside. I realized how sheltered the Sisters had been. I didn’t think I could ever be that submissive.
Maybe I shouldn’t teach her. Then again, the old life is gone. Adapt or die, I thought.
* * *
Sister Agatha sat on the porch. The kids sat with her. Maybe she could teach the kids reading or something. Note to self: We need to start schooling the kids.
“Hi, Lacey,” said Alice. “Sister is telling us the Story of Ruth.”
“She is? Do you like the story?”
Alice and Lucy did, the boys not so much.
“Maybe you could read Sister a story?”
The kids didn’t hold the same excitement for this idea as I did.
“I need to talk to Sister,” I told them. “Go finish your chores or go play.”
They were okay with that and off they ran. I saw Sister Bernadette through the window. When she saw me approach Sister Agatha, she froze. I smiled at her and nodded.
“Sister Agatha,” I asked, “would you consider teaching the kids?”
“I’m too old for that. I can barely see. The other Sisters would be perfect. They taught in our schools. I’m afraid I’m just dead weight around here.”
I shook my head. “You are the soul around here.”
“Little girl, you are prejudiced I think.”
“I sure am,” I said with a grin.
“Sister Agatha, can I get you anything?” asked Sister Bernadette, coming outside
with a worried look.
“It’s okay; don’t worry,” I said with a slight nod I hoped she would understand.
“Well, if the two of you would help me to bed, I would like to say my rosary.”
“Of course,” I said. Sister Bernadette and I walked her to her bed.
“I gave you my word. I don’t go back on my word,” I whispered to Sister Bernadette.
Chapter Twelve
Life’s routine after The Flip wasn’t much different from the routine before The Flip. Well, it was different, different chores, but redundant nevertheless, and no diversion from the stress. The daily chores to survive had no break in sight.
Luke and crew successfully hooked up the solar panels. We had electricity! One solar panel was just for the water pump. We all stood at the kitchen sink to see the first flow of water. It was brown and smelled awful, but after some time, clear water came through. Next was the refrigerator. It hummed to life. Mother was overjoyed. There was a big screen television in the main room. I was sure Luke could hook up the television and DVD player. Maybe, once in a while, we could watch a movie. We had to get some fun into our lives.
* * *
“Lacey, Lacey, wake up,” Jeff said in a soft voice.
“What’s up?”
“I need you downstairs,” he explained.
I jumped up. “Sister Agatha?”
He walked away. I pulled on my jeans and T-shirt and ran downstairs. All the Sisters were in Sister Agatha’s room. Prayers were being said in a nonstop chant. I slowly walked in. I heard her breath. Someone propped her up to a sitting position. Her heart was failing and her lungs were filling with fluid.
“Jeff, we need to get some meds. Have Tom and—”
“Come here, little girl.” Sister Agatha strained to talk.
I sat next to her. I clutched her hand, now colder than normal. Her circulation was failing. I turned to Jeff. Why isn’t he moving? I thought.
I kissed her hands. Tears fell from my face like a leaky faucet. I could not control it.
