Desolation Boulevard
Page 73
Chapter 73
Extract from Sally’s Journal:
“I am barely able to put pen to paper at the moment because Matt, Dylan and Montana haven’t come home. They should have been back before dark, but they’re not. I know that they might just be holed up somewhere waiting for the daylight, but I can’t get out of my mind that they might be dead already. I feel like I am betraying them by writing that down, but it’s the way I feel, so it goes into my journal.
Gabby senses that something is wrong, and Bonnie and I have tried to keep her spirits high, but it’s really difficult under the circumstances. Tonight we cooked dinner like we always do, but because the others weren’t with us it was very quiet and sad. We tried to act as if everything was fine, but I think Gabby saw right through our charade. We made her drink a hot chocolate and put her to bed early, thinking that if she slept, she wouldn’t be worrying. I wish I could do the same.
We can still see the fire burning outside the fence, and it looks as if the people there aren’t going anywhere in a hurry. I’m very concerned that they will just keep arriving, and then one day they will just decide to come in and take Gabby by sheer force of numbers. If that was the case then I don’t know what Bonnie and I could do to stop them. I miss the boys and Montana so much! If they were here, I would feel so much better about things. Together we could probably come up with some plan to get rid of those people. I can only imagine it being done through violent means, though. Not a pleasant thought!
I’ve tried not to think about it too much, but I think we may have to leave the farm soon. If that crowd outside the gate keeps growing, we’ll have no choice. It may be better to leave before it all gets out of control. I know Matt won’t want to leave, but I can’t see an alternative. I thought that maybe we could go to Kate’s house in the hills, but surely these people would just follow us up there. I don’t think going back to the city is an option either. I have visions of the streets swarming with feeders after dark, and so that’s obviously not a very desirable scenario. The only place left to go, then, is further into the countryside. Many people are heading west and it just might be that there is salvation that way, but how do we know? And what if Gabby’s 'followers' do exactly that, and follow us? I don’t see a bright future for us right now.
Bonnie just came in to say goodnight. She told me to “hang in there”. That’s easier said than done I’m afraid! I feel guilty, too, on top of everything else, because of my feelings for Matt. Both boys are in danger, but all I can think about is Matt coming home safely. Am I a bitch, for thinking that way? I think most people would say yes, but I can’t help the way I feel. If they come home safely I think I’ll have to share my secret with him. I can’t go on pretending to love Dylan when it’s not the truth. God I hope they’re safe.