The Unwanted Winter - Volume One of the Saga of the Twelves

by Richard Heredia

  “Hey, you guys, want some candy? Joaquin said the sugar might do us some good in all this cold weather. Isn’t that cool? Who knew, after all this time, that eating candy was actually good for you!” he proclaimed, pinning the flashlight in the crook of an armpit, while he opened up the bag for them to choose what wanted.

  Sophie smiled at the boy as Jason reached in a pulled out a king-sized Snickers bar.

  “Ah man, that’s a good choice,” said Louis his eyes sparkling with joy. “I took the whole box of those, man. I love them.”

  Sophie reached in and grabbed one too. She knew she could use the energy, especially since she hadn’t eaten since last night, at dinner. She and Jason ripped open the wrappings of their respective bars and each took substantial bites. She hadn’t realized how hungry as she was. The combination of roasted peanuts, caramel, peanut nougat and milk chocolate were like ambrosia to her taste buds. It was quite likely the best Snickers she had ever eaten in her life.

  She looked over at Jason. He was peering out into the storm once again. She could tell he was savoring the candy bar as much as her. He seemed so content to be silent and eat, she didn’t want break the mood. She merely continued to chomp down on her Snickers and look out into the storm with him.

  Beside her, Louis was all moans and groans of pleasure as he ate candy after candy from his bag, all the while muttering emphatically, “Candy is good for you!”

  They continued their vigil for ten minutes more, gazing out and about, the parking lot, seeing nothing of significance.

  From behind them, there was the screeching sound of something heavy dragged across the floor of the supermarket. All three of them turned around to see Joaquin, Anthony, and Mr. Patas pulling a shopping cart each, while Kenai pulled two all by herself. Every one of the carts was nearly bursting from the huge loads they bore. Covered with thick furniture pads, they’d lashed them down with heavy-duty nylon ropes to protect whatever was inside from the wind and the snow. As Anthony had mentioned before, each shopping cart was perched atop a medium-sized sled, tied to it with more of the nylon roping. Sophie could see it was the rungs of the sleds making the irritating noise. They were better suited for snow and ice, not linoleum.

  When they had reformed their group, Anthony looked around, stopping to smile briefly at Sophie, then said, “Well, are we ready?”

  She smiled back, frowning when she heard Jason snigger behind her. I’m gonna seriously club this dude if he doesn’t stop! She realized Anthony was still peering in her direction, a strange look on his face. She grinned crookedly not sure what to do or how to react. Yeah, I’m gonna pound on you, Jason!

  “I think we are, Tony-Boy,” replied Kenai, using Garfield’s pet name for the teenager.

  Sophie sighed with relief.

  They set off back into the snowstorm and back to the cave where they rest of Anthony’s seemingly ever-growing band was waiting - hungry and anxious for them to return.

  At least there’s a campfire in there. Even if Jason continues to act like an ass that alone would be worth the torture, she thought as the weather of the strange new world consumed them once again.

  ~~~~~~~~<<<<<<{ ☼ }>>>>>>~~~~~~~~

  ~ 51 ~

  The Key to Survival

  Day One, Thursday, 9:07 am…

  “Do you think they’ll get here soon?” asked Mikalah in the baby-ish, whiney sort of tone that had always annoyed Elena.

  However, the moment her sister spoke the first syllable in that fashion, in light of what she and Mikalah had endured of late, it was tolerable for once. In fact, it suited to the situation, the more she thought about it, because she felt the same. She was worried for her brother, frightened at the prospect he might not return. This new world was dangerous. Add that she was still in shock over the fact she might never see her parents again, she’d probably be speaking in the same fashion before long.

  “That is a hard question to answer with any certainty,” replied Mugzy in his overly formal, refined sort of way. He was fastidiously grooming his salt and pepper hair with the long nails of his hand, untangling even the smallest of knots as he did so. Somehow, the large claws where more dexterous than the tiny ones he had possessed the day before.

  “What do you mean?” asked the girl, sitting up straight from the log she’d been leaning against. Only this time, her voice was more normal and filled with curiosity.

  Mugzy cleared his throat. “Well, my dear, they are just too many variables.”

  Mikalah’s face twisted in confusion.

  Elena felt hers twist in a similar manner.

  Seeing this, Mugzy continue. His eyes darted between both girls, his self-grooming forgotten. Elena could tell he was focusing his thoughts, wanting to be clear, concise, so they’d understand. “A great number of things could be hampering their ability to return quickly, little one. The weather, the gathering of supplies, finding adequate means to transport the provisions once they’ve finished gathering them, etc., etc.” He paused for a moment. “There could be other factors delaying them as well…”

  Mikalah’s abrupt intake of breath signified her shock at the thought of something bad happening to the others.

  “Mugzy, don’t frighten the girl more than she’s already been frightened on this dreadful day,” admonished Kodiak from the entrance of the cave where she was keeping an eye, and a nose, on the world outside. She didn’t turn to face them, but spoke loud enough so they all could hear.

  Elena, sitting next to Mugzy, sat upright like her sister, She was nearer the blazing fire they had going in the fire pit. She tried with all of her mental might not to think anything bad had actually happened to her brother and their new friends. Yet, time didn’t lie. They had left the cave more than an hour ago. She wasn’t ready to deal with such notions. She didn’t want to cry, not now, not ever. She might never stop once she started.

  Mugzy harrumphed apologetically, looked directly at Mikalah, saying, “Girl, I apologize, if I have upset you. I was merely trying to answer your question as honestly as possible. I guess I should practice my tact a bit more, now that I can speak. Right, my little flower?” he finished. He peered over at Elena, who’s equally anxious expression melted under his black-eyed gaze. Elena, in turn, smiled reassuringly at her sister, sharing the strength provided by the tenderness in Mugzy’s eyes.

  I love you, Poochers, she thought as she reached out and stroked his beautiful coat. It had always been matted and yucky when he was a mere dog. She was somewhat mesmerized by the dramatic changes in her former pet. He was different now. He was magnificent. He was almost a polar opposite of himself, a Mr. Hyde to his Dr. Jekyll. She knew she liked him as he was now, but she missed the scruffy, smelly dog he had once been at the same time. He had always followed her around, pining for her attention, whimpering and whining for the slightest bit of notice. He loved the scratches and the pats from anyone who would pause long enough to give them, but it had always seemed to Elena he had always saved something special, just for her, a unique squeal or wag of his tail. Maybe he had or maybe it was something she wanted to believe more than witnessed, but it had always rung as true in her heart. There was no doubt in her mind, Mugzy was her dog. She’d seen it in his large dark, eyes on the first night she’d brought him home and he had slept in her bed. His orbs were soft, always soft, when her gazed at her.

  It seemed to her their roles had reversed. She was the one in need of his attentions, his protection now they’d been stranded in this unlikely place. This place where there were no houses and no streets, no electricity, no space heaters, and no internet or cars. Those things were all gone. She was out of her element now. She was the one at the mercy of the land around her. She was the one in danger. Human Beings from her home world had controlled almost every aspect of their environment, having mastered it centuries before she’d been born.

  This had been Mugzy, in world of “before”. He had been the one in dire need. He had been the one at the mercy of the circumstances around him.
She, like all sensitive girls her age, had embraced that condition. She had enjoyed taking care of him, keeping him safe.

  Now, he would have to do it for her, because she was the one who was vulnerable. Never again would she be as safe as she had been with her family on Wilbur Avenue in the vastness of Los Angeles – all of that was gone. Her life, mercilessly altered forever, had been tossed on its’ head. She would miss the old Mugzy, but she would love the new one, nonetheless, no matter what he looked like.

  The thought led to another. She began to ponder the difference of how things had been and how they were now, in the present. This notion made her a little sad, because she couldn’t talk her Mom or her Dad whenever she wished. For the first time in her young life, she began to understand how much of a luxury it had been to speak with them at will. There were no cell phones here. There weren’t pay phones either. There was no e-mail or text messaging. Her parents were so far away, she couldn’t imagine the distances between her and them now. Were they in another galaxy?

  It would’ve been nice to speak with them, she thought as she absently twirled the same strand of Mugzy’s hair around her index finger. It really wouldn’t have mattered what she said to them. The fact she could say anything to them would’ve been worth it. She felt her heart sink at the idea. The thought of not having the all-protective hug of her father scared her more than anything. No longer would evil be held at bay by the big arms and muscles of her Daddy. She was terrified of what this new reality would bring. She felt the tears coming again and probably would’ve cried.

  Andrew spoke at that moment, pushing her thoughts aside. Her mind skipped to a new topic.

  “Well, I hope they come back soon, because I am hungry as hell,” he said, having flung the somewhat decrepit animal skin from his shoulders and onto a nearby log. The fire was sufficient to warm him without the so-called garment about his person, of which he seemed greatly relieved. The thing reeked of smelly socks.

  Mikalah laughed. “Andrew, you are silly,” she spoke through her laughter.

  “What?” replied Andrew his hands spread out to either side of him. “I am hungry. In fact, I am so hungry I could eat a wildebeest!” he said changing his voice to that familiar cartoon character.

  Her worrisome thoughts evaporated like water on hot concrete. “Haha, I get it,” Elena interjected, giggling as well. “The Lion King, I get it.” She was thankful for the timely interruption.

  Andrew joined in the mirth briefly. “Haha, you like that one huh?” he asked, but it was a rhetorical question. They lapsed into silence. Andrew rubbed on his empty stomach as he watched the flames of the fire before him, a pained cast about his face.

  Elena was watching him the whole time. Wordlessly, she wondered if Andrew might be hungrier than he was letting on. She had no idea when he had eaten last.

  “Something comes,” announced Kodiak of a sudden, looking back at the rest of them. “Mugzy guard the children while I go out and investigate.” She didn’t wait for a response. She merely stood up on all fours and, in a flash, was through the twisted entryway of the cave, out of sight. Mugzy, carefully extricated from Elena’s hand and fingers, and strode swiftly toward the portal, sniffing the air and listening to the limit of his abilities. Andrew motioned for the girls to stand behind the log farthest from the mouth of the cavern, putting it and the fire pit between them and the any potential threat coming from the entrance to the cave.

  They all stood there for a minute or two, jumping every time the fire popped or sizzled loudly, on edge, waiting for the worst to happen.

  Elena nervously clasped at the hand of her sister, who didn’t look back at her, but merely returned the clutch. Their eyes glued to the grayish light of the stormy day shining through the opening. Elena chanced a quick glance at her brother’s friend. To her unpracticed eye, Andrew seemed poised for action, holding in his right hand a miniature baseball bat he must’ve forged into some sort of club. His feet were braced, about a shoulder length apart. His gaze was fixed on the mouth of the cave, unwavering, intent.

  Mugzy had flattened his body against the facing wall; horizontal to the portal, in perfect ambush position should an enemy walk into the cavern.

  There, they all remained unmoving, quiet, anticipating the worst and hoping for the best.

  They stood, for a few minutes, and then a few minutes more.

  “Elena, what do you think is –,” began Mikalah, her voice echoing loudly through the cave.

  Mugzy motioned for her to be quiet.

  She cut off in mid-sentence, a worried expression filling her face, hoping she hadn’t done something to jeopardize the safety of the group. Guilt and regret began to mount on her small shoulders. Please, god, please, let us get out of this alive.

  Elena took her sister’s other hand and they both went to their knees behind the log, holding hands, looking into one another’s eyes for a brief moment. But, they couldn’t do so for long. As if compelled, their heads swiveled and their gaze fell back toward Mugzy and the world lying beyond. The intensity of the situation was compounding by the second. The tension a palatable string, stretched taut, on the verge of breaking.

  The minutes stretched and seemed like hours, and still nothing.

  What possibly could be taking Kodiak so long? wondered Elena, massaging her neck at the hairline. Her constant craning was causing it to stiffened and cramp.

  Mikalah abruptly pulled on her hands. The motion brought both sisters closer together with their heads nearly touching.

  Whispering so low, Elena could barely hear her.

  “Elena,” Mikalah began her eyes boring into hers, “I know there have been many times when I didn’t agree with you, just as there have been times when you didn’t agree with me. There have been many times when I think what you do, and how you act, is stupid. I know you’ve thought the same about me just as much.”

  Elena merely nodded a little, unnerved by the finality with which Mikalah was speaking. She didn’t like it. It was scary.

  “But, I didn’t get the chance to say this to you before all this happened, there was no time. I mean, from Grandma’s house to this time it has been go, go, go and do, do, do. I haven’t had the time to tell you, despite all of that stuff, I really do love you. I always will. I want you to know just in case…” She couldn’t finish.

  “Mikalah, don’t talk like that, please!” she said emphatically, but in hushed tones. “We will get out of this. We have too, ok? Besides, I know you love me just as you know I love you too. We more than family. We are sisters,” responded Elena, holding onto Mikalah’s hand almost as tight as she could when she noticed Mugzy’s body language change.

  The love and admiration for one another disappeared, only dread remained.

  From across the cavern she could see the man-dog was getting ready to pounce. Then, she knew something bad was coming through the entrance of the cave. Mugzy tensed even more, his muscles flexing to bursting.

  “Hey, you guys, it’s us – Anthony and Kodiak, don’t throw any rocks or dirty socks at us or anything, ok?” called Elena’s brother from the passageway, leading to the cave entrance.

  A flood of relief sloughed off the mountain of anxiety and fear from Elena’s shoulders.

  She watched Mugzy relax and come away from the wall to stand blocking the portal. Beyond him, she could make out figures straining and pulling at some large bundle, but Elena couldn’t see more than that. Mugzy leaned forward to lend a hand, pulling hugely. Elena watched the muscles in his legs bulge from the strain. Whatever it was, it was heavy.

  It seemed like a blink of an eye later, they were in the cave!

  Anthony and Kodiak lugged a shopping cart piled high, bundled with a furniture blanket, which was tied down.

  She came from around the fire to get a better look.

  Mikalah was at her side.

  Andrew came from the opposite side of the fire pit with a look of expectation written plainly upon his face.

  She noticed with a
start the shopping cart sat atop a pretty red and gold sled - both of them lashed together tightly. She found herself smiling at the novelty of the idea. She didn’t know why exactly. Maybe she was just happy to see her brother was unharmed and well, things were going to be better than she had initially imagined. It couldn’t have been just the ingenuity, the practicality of the shopping cart lashed to a sled. Maybe it was both. She would never know. Her heart was suddenly lighter for it. It made her grin from ear to ear.

  Kodiak pushed the cart to one side, clearing the way into the cave.

  Then Kenai came in roped and harnessed, pulling two shopping carts with tremendous effort, one after the other, each of them tied firmly to a sled.

  Next, a chubby boy, Elena hadn’t seen before, walked cautiously into the chamber. He gawked about the environs of the cave in wide-eyed amazement.

  Elena’s own eyes widened in surprise an eye-blink later. A teenage girl followed the boy, her hand upon his shoulder. She was a walking embodiment of the beauty of winter. It was the only way she could describe her. She was a pale princess. Elena was certain of this, because only a princess could be as pretty as the girl standing before her. She shared a glance with her sister.

  Mikalah mouthed the word, wow!

  They both turned to stare at her once again.

  Joaquin, Jason, and Mr. Patas followed immediately thereafter. Each of them pulled shopping carts overflowing with supplies as well. As with the others, they were tied and bundled against the weather, but neither of the girls seemed to notice. The young woman before them captivated them to utter stillness.

  “Hey, you guys,” hailed Anthony once all of the burdens had been pulled entirely into the cave. They lined up the carts about ten feet to the left side of the entrance. All heads turned toward him, “I would like to introduce you to Louis Willigan. He’s eleven.”

  The five who hadn’t ventured out to scrounge for supplies nodded toward the stocky boy.