by Logan Keys
**
Rather than sit in the alley and freeze to death, Michelle finally found the courage to rise and grabbed Reese’s hand.
Together they made it to the street and Michelle tried not to look directly at the two police officers’ bodies. But that felt wrong. Someone should remember that they tried to keep the remaining pieces of civilization together at the tipping point. She left Reese and walked over to them. She cried as she searched for something to cover their battered faces, but she could find nothing. Simply pushing snow over them also felt wrong.
“We need to go,” Reese said from where she’d slouched to her knees. She was weak, frail, and fading fast. “There’s nothing you can do,” she whispered.
“This is all your fault,” Michelle said quietly.
“What?”
Michelle whirled around on Reese. “This is all your fault!” she bellowed. “This is the world that you have created!” Michelle marched over to where Reese was, and she grabbed her arm and forced her to her feet. She pulled her near to the dead men and she made Reese look at them. “I want you to see this. I want you to remember. You memorize their faces. I hope they haunt you in your dreams!”
Reese tried to pull away, but she wasn’t strong enough. Her eyes snapped to Michelle. “Are you crazy? Stop shouting. What if they come back? Do you want to be beaten to death?”
Michelle scoffed. “Is that all you think about? These men are dead. Dead! And for what? Because they tried to do their jobs when everyone else had given up. They have families too, Reese. They are someone’s son, father, brother.”
“Okay.” Reese seemed to realize that Michelle was coming unhinged. She lifted her hands. “Okay. Can we get off the street now?”
The righteous anger was zapped from Michelle’s body. The cold, she now realized, had also pulled her strength and motivation out from under her. She was quickly losing faith. She now understood why people sat down and froze to death in the snowstorms. It made you feel like even walking was too hard a feat. She nodded, and reluctantly went back to help Reese move through the deep snow. They walked a couple of steps when Michelle accidentally kicked something black that was half hidden in the powder.
Michelle reached down and lifted it up. It was a gun. “Must have been the officer’s.”
She tried to figure out how to see if it was loaded when Reese sniffed and took it from her. She pushed a button and the bottom fell out. “Magazine. It’s empty. Here is how you put it back.” Reese said, handing Michelle the empty gun, and then at Michelle’s strange look, she shrugged. “My ex-husband was in the Army.” A crease began between her brows when Reese added, “He died when this all began. My fault too, I guess.”
Her voice didn’t sound flippant. It sounded like grief at first, but then Reese wiped that away and became the cold woman Michelle knew would kill in an instant for her own gain.
Even though it had no bullets, Michelle pocketed the gun before they started down the street. It was harder to walk in certain spots. The new freeze brought something besides snow… ice. An element as dangerous as any other. They slid on top of the thin layer that seemed to cover everything.
“Can you walk?” Michell asked, but what she really meant was, I can’t carry you, lady.
Reese nodded and shuffled her feet, taking the brunt of her weight off Michelle, struggling to stay alive. Reese glanced at Michelle and saw that the woman was stubborn enough to get to where they needed to go. Someone who probably would outlive everyone else she’d managed to kill with the inventions she’d helped create and fund.
“It’s just a few blocks,” Michelle said, thinking out loud. But the cold was abusing them, chipping away at their resolve. Wind slapping their faces, making them shudder.
One block: They managed to make it until they needed a break from the soul sapping winds. They stood just inside a company building’s front entryway outside of the locked doors. The brick created some shelter, so they waited, rubbing their hands and stamping their feet.
Michelle couldn’t feel her fingers or toes anymore. She was sure her face was as red as Reese’s. They tried to continue, but Reese collapsed in a coughing fit against the door and didn’t rise. Michelle glanced around but downtown was empty. No one was in sight. It was too cold.
Reese didn’t move. She simply laid on her side, breathing shallowly.
It was all glass behind them and Michelle pressed her face up to the tinted windows, shaded her eyes, and searched inside. “Hello!” she called. “Is anyone there? Can you help us!”
She thought she saw a shape move in the darkness. “Hello!”
Just then Reese tugged on her sleeve. “Hold on a second. Hello!”
“Michelle,” Reese snapped in alarm.
Michelle turned to see where she was looking. The cop car had turned onto this street. It was the same one as before, they could see that from the broken windows.
Michelle felt panic grip her. She started pounding on the glass. “Help! Help us!”
Reese did too, even though she was still lying on the ground, and together they shouted and banged on the door. Nothing happened, though, and they both balled up, trying to look small as the car drove closer to their spot. They would be seen soon.
Next thing, Michelle was falling to land on her back. She blinked up into two dark brown eyes and a dark-skinned man was hovering over her, bundled up with a thick jacket. “Get yourselves inside,” he muttered, eyeing the car as it slowly moved near.
Michelle grabbed Reese and helped her inside. The man closed the door and locked it just in time. They all watched as the car slowly passed by, the driver and passengers searching the streets where Reese and Michelle had been only seconds before.
Chapter Three
Chicago, Illinois
Brittany woke to Benton’s cries with a start. She sat up, pushing her tangled hair from her face. After unzipping her sleeping bag, she groped around for her jacket. “I’m coming,” she said, rubbing the sleep away from her eyes, thinking he’d maybe had a bad dream. “It’s okay, I’ve just got to…”
Brittany frowned at the two empty bags next to her. She glanced around the room. Also empty.
Benton and Lily had been tucked in right alongside her bed… and that’s when she heard Rex’s growl in the next room mingled with Lily’s undecipherable voice that was pitched higher in fear. Brittany froze, one arm inside of her jacket, the other hand feeling around until she found the gun. Had the dog been stressed out by the explosion at the gas station? Would she shoot the dog if he went crazy?
Brittany wasn’t sure she could do it until she heard Benton cry out. Then she was absolutely certain she could use the gun. She lifted it and pulled the slide like Colton showed her, only, she pinched her fingers. Cursing and shaking her hand, she got up with her jacket half on and walked with purpose to the living room.
“It’s okay, boy,” she said, thinking the kids had maybe taken the dog with them in the next room to play and he’d become nervous. What time was it? She couldn’t imagine she’d overslept. Lately, she’d been the first to rise with a twisted gut of apprehension. Brittany rarely enjoyed real rest since the first earthquake anyway.
Stepping into the dimly lit room, her eyes adjusted to the darkness. With the window dingy from overgrowth, speckles of moonlight snaked through the bare spots casting dots across the old wooden floors. Dust plumed when she took more strides forward, squinting to make out the shapes, her brain not registering what she saw. Rick was there, standing over the kids. Rex kept between him and Benton and Lily, facing Rick with a growl. She still didn’t understand what was happening and her thoughts raced to find an explanation. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”
Benton pointed at Rick. “He was hurting me and Rex bit him on the hand!”
“Quiet!” Rick said, in a voice she hadn’t heard him use before. It held no well-mannered sound of authority. It had no pleasant rises and falls. It was flat. It was menacing. And she realized that it was the truth.<
br />
“Rick?” Brittany asked, hoping she was mistaken, praying that when she moved over to see his face in the shadows, now seeming to have an added cruelness twisting the features, that she was wrong. Brittany tentatively gripped her gun with shaky hands. She willed herself to lift it and aim at Rick, but he was faster than she was. Her newness to living this life… it would cost her big time.
Instead of coming for her, like she’d thought he might, Rick lunged forward to kick Rex in the stomach. As the dog yelped and flew out of the way, he snagged Lily’s shirt, one hand covering her mouth.
With Lily in front of him as a tiny human shield, Rick held his gun on the little girl making Brittany suck in a sob of fear. “Be quiet,” he snapped. “Put down your gun. I won’t hurt any of you. I just need to… talk.”
Rick’s voice, his demeanor, even the way he stood, was a total transformation. The image struck Brittany with goose bumps. All along he’d been with them, waiting, watching, planning his move.
She leaned down, but kept the gun, wishing she trusted her aim. No way would she fire anywhere near the children without being sure. “You’re not a police officer, are you?”
“Well-well, pretty and bright… but not bright enough. Put it down. Now.”
Lily squeaked as he shook her, and Brittany slammed a knee onto the old wood with a thud to place her gun onto the ground. “Okay. Okay. Don’t hurt her. See.” She held up her hands.
Brittany felt faint as she waited to see what the monster would do next. Would he kill her? The kids? Had he already killed the brothers in their sleep?
She shuddered, and the pounding of her heart was so loud, she was sure Rick could hear it… if that was even his real name. “Where’s Colton?” Brittany dared to ask on a whisper.
“Dreaming away. And they’ll stay that way if you do what I say.”
She nodded fast. Inside of her head was one repeated thought. Colton will hear us. Colton will come. But that felt like a wish while the reality was Rick. Sweaty, grimy, and eyeing her with a crazed look, he was in control.
“What do you want?” she asked, fear clogging her throat.
“You and I are leaving.”
“Don’t hurt them and I’ll do whatever you want,” she promised, but wouldn’t let her mind reach for the images of what that might be.
“Good girl,” Rick replied, eyes glittering in the darkness.
She watched helplessly as he walked Benton and Lily to the closet and shoved them inside, locking the door. Brittany eyed the gun, but Rick went over and kicked it away, tsking at her.
“It’s okay,” Brittany told the children. At least they were safe. She reached for Rex who was still on his side, breathing heavy sighs as if he was too hurt to rise. She touched his fur and realized he had a cut on his chest. Rick must have struggled with the poor animal and Rex had fought bravely. “Poor, boy,” she moaned, petting his head while he whined. Tears hung heavy in the corner of her eyes until they spilled down her cheeks.
Rick came over and grabbed her by the arm, yanking her up. With a lingering look at her gun still lying on the floor, she dragged her feet as they walked out of the back of the house. Once outside, she pulled on her jacket, shrugging out of his grip, and walked ahead of him where he motioned for her to go with his gun…. in the opposite direction of the barn where Colton and Bart were still sleeping. She stepped on twigs, not being careful to step quietly, hoping that the noise would somehow attract attention.
“If you make another sound—” he warned through gritted teeth.
“Okay,” Brittany hissed, whipping around to glare at her kidnapper. She hoped Colton would catch up. She especially hoped she’d get to see him make Rick pay for this because for some reason, she knew that he would. Colton might seem nice, but he was military trained. He would pull Rick apart for this… but would it be soon enough?
She swallowed that thought and forced her shaky hands into her pockets.
Rick motioned again sharply with the gun that was pointed at her. “Walk.”
She was trying to go slowly, praying they would hear them, but as she glanced back again, the house was already a half acre away. She looked for signs that Bart and Colton had woken up, that they’d already found the children, but Rick quickly realized her game. He shoved her hard enough to make her stumble. “Get on.”
They hiked through the overgrown field and her apprehension rose. She knew where the direction led and after more prodding, she took bigger steps. Brittany wiped her nose, telling herself that no more crying was allowed. She had to think. She needed to get out of this mess.
They were headed for the highway.
**
“Get down,” Rick shouted from where he was lying beside her. “Lower.”
They were next to the highway and Rick had made Brittany get on her knees then hands, and they were now lying flat watching cars drive by.
“What are we doing?” she demanded.
“Getting a ride.” He grunted and put a grimy hand out to touch the end of her hair.
She pulled away, and he laughed before focusing again on the road. “All right,” he said. “This one looks good. You get up and flag them down.”
“What? No way.”
“Do it or I shoot you then I shoot their tires out for the hell of it.”
Brittany stared deeply into his eyes and realized he wasn’t bluffing. “Were you one of the prisoners? The ones they were transporting?”
“Bingo. Now go. Or I swear…”
“I heard you.” Brittany stood and started walking closer to the line. She held out a thumb.
“Wave,” Rick barked. “Do something,” he demanded, and she moved her hand but what would he do to them when they stopped? She shrunk back from the street and Rick shouted at her, “Move your ass or I’m shooting, now!”
She started to flail her arms, fear making her jerky, and hiccups of panic were fighting their way through her lips. The blue SUV slowed and then pulled to the side of the road. The window rolled down and the two women inside were eyeing her carefully. “You all right, Darlin’?” the blonde driver asked.
“Just go,” Brittany moaned as Rick shot up from the side of the road, pointing the gun at the two women. “Get in,” Rick said to Brittany, giving her a rough shove. “Good job.”
The two women gasped when they saw the gun and gave Brittany a terrified, but angry, glare.
“Get. In.”
Brittany tugged on the door praying there were no children in back, but it wouldn’t open. “It’s locked,” she said, and held out hope that the women would just hit the gas and take off. “Unlock it!” Rick shouted, sticking his gun into the window and underneath the chin of the woman who sat in the passenger seat.
The clicking noise made Brittany close her eyes momentarily. Please be empty, she thought, and she pulled the door open. The back seats and the ones behind those were all empty. She breathed a sigh of relief even as Rick forced her to get inside. He shoved her inside, then got in behind. “Drive,” he demanded.
“Where?” the woman asked, her voice shaking so badly that it was difficult to understand her.
“Drive!” he barked, and she punched the gas so hard that both he and Brittany fell back against the seats. Luckily, they were bucket seats, so he couldn’t sit close to her… or touch her.
Brittany searched out the window behind them trying to see if Colton had made it to where they’d been, but all that she saw was empty highway and her last chance of being saved, falling away.
Chapter Four
Just Outside of Chicago
Colton woke to find the kids there, but Brittany gone. They’d been locked in the closet, frightened beyond comprehension. He’d managed to get them calm enough to tell him what had happened, and once he understood, he wasted no time. He’d bundled them both up and then made sure Bart was locked and loaded, giving him enough firepower to stave off a small army while he grabbed his pack. Bart said he would watch Benton and Lily until Colton found Britt
any. Colton gave himself no other choice in the matter. He would find her.
Bart was jumpy as a barn cat. Any noise and he was creeping up to the dank windows. “Why don’t you take Rex?”
Colton glanced at the dog. “His cut needs to heal. Plus, he can alert you if they come back so you don’t get caught off guard.”
“No!” Benton shouted pushing the dog towards Colton. “He’s smart. He can help. He wants to, see?”
The dog whined and paced at the door like he was impatient to get going. Like he knew what to do. Colton frowned at him wondering what his real name even was. Rex did fit for now. “I’m not sure.”
“Look,” Benton said racing over to Brittany’s empty sleeping bag. He called Rex over. “Here boy. Smell this. You got the scent?” He lifted her blanket up to Rex whose tail wagged as he dutifully smelled the fabric.
“Find her. You understand?” Benton pointed. “Come on, boy. Find her. Go!”
The dog’s ears perked at the word: Find. Then at “go,” he also started to move restlessly, only pausing to bark a few times in a row as he seemed to be saying he’d found the scent. As a test, Colton threw open the door.
Rex shot off the porch and bolted around the back of the house.
“Rex!” Colton called before glancing at Bart in surprise. Bart smiled. “Go! He knows the way!”
“What if it takes a long time?” Colton asked.
Bart sighed. “I can handle it. Without your fat butt, we have enough food for me and the kids for a week or maybe more. I won’t leave until you get back, baby bro.” Colton nodded and shifted his pack onto his back. He had his rifle in hand and he hugged his brother before he ran down the porch steps towards the fields that lead to the highway.
