“Do you want a mirror?” Luke offered from the side lines.
“Nah. I’ll wait.” She smiled at Luke. “Is it bad?”
He looked over what was left of her hair. “Not at all.” His eyes drifted to her face and away. Not at all, he repeated to himself. Not in any way could you ever look bad Luke wanted to tell her.
“Maybe you should heat up some water.” Austin ordered. “Make yourself useful.” Luke jumped up and did as he was told. Austin couldn’t help being irritated at him. Luke needed to focus on tasks, not Madison. Austin wondered for the hundredth time how the kid survived before he’d found him. He wondered what it was like to grow up with parents who took care of your every need, instead of the other way around.
“Did you have to snap at him?” Madison interrupted his wonderings.
“Yes.” Was Austin’s only response.
“He’s not a child.”
He snipped in a few more places. “Done.” He laid the scissors down and walked away.
Madison threw off the table cloth and followed after him. “Do you have to act like such an asshole? All the time? Would it kill you to be nice?”
“It might kill us all.”
“That’s lame and you know it.”
He faced her, his eyes unreadable, his voice unemotional. “Lame is letting your guard down when you know who your enemy is, but what’s even lamer is letting it down when you don’t have a fucking clue who your enemy is. You’re a cop. Do I really have to explain our situation to you?”
“Forget it.” She stormed away feeling embarrassed because he was right, feeling angry that he was always right and managed to embarrass her on a regular basis.
“Forgotten.” Austin answered to her retreating back before turning on his heel. He joined Luke at the grill. They both stared at the water in the pot.
Using his finger, Luke tested the temperature. “I think it’s hot enough.”
“You better take it to her.” Austin said. “I think she’s in the bathroom.”
Luke grabbed two towels, lifted the aluminum pot from the grill. “Did I tell you my dad worked for NASA?”
“You didn’t.” Austin replied, a small measure of surprise in his voice.
“Fifteen years. He retired from the Army before he went to NASA. He always said I had natural leadership skills. That’s why I was such a good quarterback.” Luke turned his head to cough, and a shudder ran through his body that he shook off.
“What rank?”
“General.”
Austin chuckled. “So you think cuz your old man was a big shot in the Army I shouldn’t give you orders?”
“No way. Chill dude.” He laughed and coughed again. “My dad always bragged how I could take a team up and down a football field all day long. And he was right. I was the best.” He looked Austin in the eyes “This stuff we’re in now ain’t bein’ played on a football field. This is your game man, not mine.”
A silent understanding of mutual respect passed between the two men, who under normal circumstances would not have given the other the time of day. Whose previous lives were so far opposite on the spectrum they never would have crossed paths. Yet here, in their current situation, a bond of friendship was formed and strengthened.
“You better take the water to her before it gets cold.” Austin jerked his head in the direction of the bathroom.
“She has a name.” He commented as he walked towards the bathroom, smiling along the way. The world may have turned to shit, but at least he wasn’t alone. Amongst the few things Luke was sure to thank God for each night was sending Austin through Louisiana and forgetting spoons. If he hadn’t gone back out that night he felt certain Maddie would have been killed. He shivered at the thought.
***
The next morning, after a hot breakfast of Spam, semi stale muffins with warm blackberry jam and black coffee, the trio convened back inside the dry storage room. The door was left ajar for airflow. Next to the open door sat a portable propane heater Luke discovered still in its box. The two propane tanks were full. The odds were with them, just as Madison predicted. Once the heater was up and running, the storage room became downright comfortable.
After they poured over a map for the best route out of Oklahoma to Colorado Springs, a daunting three hundred mile trip, Austin decided they should hang out in Dodge City a little longer so he could look for motorized transportation. If they walked non-stop at twenty minutes a mile it would take them twelve and half days to get to Colorado Springs. Even if Austin traveled alone he couldn’t make that time, so he added another seven to the twelve days. They agreed to round it up to an even three weeks. Still, twenty one days might prove to be an aggressive goal, but for now it was a plan and plans were a good thing.
“Do you think it’s safe to go outside?” Madison asked.
“Why’d ya want to go out?” Luke stretched his feet closer to the heater. “This is the first time in months my toes aren’t crampin’ from the cold.”
“I want to check out that convenience store across the street. I need some things.” Madison grabbed her parka. A look passed between the guys. “Not those things stupids.” She shook her head. “I need a new toothbrush.” She clarified. Although, she thought, stocking up on the other might not be a bad idea.
“Yeah so do I.” Luke chimed in. “And grab me one of those high energy drinks if they haven’t all exploded. Please.”
“Anything else?” She glanced at Austin.
“Toothbrush. Soft bristles if they have one.”
“Tylenol. Will you bring me some Tylenol or Advil?” Luke added, and yawned.
“Sure. You feelin’ ok?” Madison worried.
Austin observed Luke, noticing his eyes were a bit bloodshot and watery, but thought it might be because he was tired.
“I feel fine. Just got a headache from the cold.” He gave Maddie one of his charming smiles.
“Ok. Toothbrushes, Tylenol and energy drinks. Easy enough.” Madison pulled her neoprene mask over her face, tied her hood off, and shoved her hands into Gortex gloves. She pushed the door open, allowing a blast of cold air in. Luke grumbled in protest.
“Hey.” Austin called out to her. “Look both ways before crossing the street.”
She gave the thumbs up and closed the door behind her, leaving it cracked enough for ventilation. The room turned a toasty temperature, perfect for a nap. Using his parka for a pillow, Austin stretched out and closed his eyes. This time no disturbing images bothered him as he fell into a peaceful slumber.
Forty minutes later, Austin’s eyes popped open. He stared blindly at the ceiling, not seeing sheetrock, but rather disturbing images. He blinked several times before springing up and grabbing his parka. In his haste, he knocked over a couple of cans. The clanking woke Luke.
“What’s wrong?” Luke rubbed his eyes to get the sleep out.
“I don’t know.” Austin pulled a face mask over his head. “I got a feelin’ is all.” What he had was much more than a feeling; it was a sliver of a vision. If Madison had been there, she would have told him all about slivers, and how deceiving they could be.
Luke furiously scratched his head. “Somethin’s about to happen’.” He reached for his parka.
“Whatta ya mean?” Austin stopped to stare at the boy.
“Nothin’. It’s…nothin’.” Luke looked away, embarrassed. He’d never spoken about his weird sensations to anyone. Not even Emma.
“It’s what? Tell me.” Austin persisted, but Luke ignored him. “Hey.” He grabbed hold of Luke’s arm. “Tell me.”
“It’s nothin, just a feelin’ I get. Like ants crawlin’ over my head.” Luke shrugged off Austin’s hand, leaned over to put on his boots. “Usually right before somethin’ bad happens.” He straightened up.
“We better hurry then.” Austin replied, and without further delay or explanation ran from the room.
Across the street, inside the convenience store Madison, unaware of any eminent danger, was taking her ti
me walking the aisles in search of anything worth foraging. Tylenol, toothpaste, toothbrushes, two energy drinks and the September edition of GLAM was already in the cart. In front of her was the feminine hygiene section, but she hesitated to grab a box. Space in her back pack was limited, so why clutter it with something she hadn’t needed for over three months. She picked up a small box, thought just in case, and let it tumble into the cart.
Outside, the sound of engine motors rose above the wind. Madison instinctively dropped to the floor. On hands and knees she made her way to the front of the store, and peaked around the shelf. From her vantage point she had a clear view of the street. Outside a group of five, maybe six people had ridden up on ATV’s. They were dressed in long cowboy style coats and wore neoprene masks designed to look like skull faces. She couldn’t tell for sure, but by their build she guessed they were male.
They got off their bikes and from the back of the pack someone came forward pulling a rope. His face mask was that of a viscous dog. Tied to the end of the rope was a shirtless man, who looked to be in his thirties. The expression on the man’s face was one of pure exhaustion and terror. Madison moved closer to the door, careful to stay out of sight. She squinted in the direction of the diner, but saw no sign of Austin or Luke. She checked her gun, checked outside. It would be near impossible to run, or do anything, bundled up like she was.
She watched the action outside. The person with the rope held a whip in the other hand. He swung the whip high in the air above his head, and then smacked the ground near the man’s feet, which Madison could see were protected only by a pair of socks. The group let out excited yells and encouraged more from the whip. Madison thought their voices sounded young. The one with the whip brought it around again; this time it snapped across on the man’s back. The man fell to his knees, his groans more like whimpers. The whip came down on his back again and again. The others jumped around, howling like crazed animals.
Unable to watch any longer, Madison quickly shed her parka and gloves. She checked her gun one more time, took two quick breaths, charged out the door and fired. A bullet to the leg took the whip boy down to his knees.
“Who shot me god damn it?” He screamed, more out of anger than pain.
The others shook their heads and looked around at each other. One of them spotted Madison and nudged the one next to him. Soon they all turned to stare at her. The street turned very quiet.
“Who wants it next?” She yelled at them, holding her gun high.
The wounded one hobbled to the front of the pack. He looked her up and down, took in her gun, and snickered. “Look it here fellas, we got us another female sacrifice.”
Loud excited whoops followed this announcement. Madison back stepped a bit when she noticed too late the guns hidden beneath their coats. “Don’t run off now sweet thing.” The wounded boy limped towards her, blood dripping down his leg leaving a trail on the snow.
“Come closer and I’ll blow your head off.” She aimed her weapon at his head.
“Come closer and I’ll bite your head off.” He clicked his teeth under his mask. “It’s been a while since we’ve had female meat. So much sweeter than a dude’s.” His eyes traveled over her body.
The group slowly maneuvered around Madison. She couldn’t keep her gun on all of them, and she couldn’t shoot any of them without being shot. The wounded boy continued to taunt her, moving towards her until the tip of her gun barrel touched his chest. Using the back of his hand, he pushed her gun to the side.
Madison pushed back, bringing her gun back to point at his chest. “Back off or I’ll shoot.”
“You’ve already shot once.” He snickered. “I don’t think you understand the precarious position you’re in.”
Madison took a deep calming breath. She knew Austin and Luke were close by. She flipped her weapon around handle first, allowing one of the pack to take it from her. Another came up behind her and pulled off her face mask. They all stopped.
“Maybe we don’t sacrifice her.” The wounded boy remarked. “Maybe we keep her as a pet.”
The pack liked this idea. They took turns touching Madison’s face, patting her head. She stood for this abuse, biding her time, until one of the boys squeezed her breast. She punched him hard, boxer style, which got her a back hand from the leader. He hit hard enough to knock her off balance and she stumbled, falling to one knee. The leader laughed. The pack laughed.
Their laughter was cut off by rapid gunfire.
From across the street Austin plowed them down with an AK forty seven he’d pilfered from a police station on his way through Texas. Bullets flew over Madison’s head, shattering the glass behind her. Within seconds the firing was over. The street went silent.
“You ok?” Austin squatted down next to her.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” She sat up, taking in the blood bath. “What just happened?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t think we can stay here much longer.” He glanced up and down the street, expecting the gun shots to attract more pack members.
“What about him?” She pointed to the man lying in the street.
“I’ll take care of him. See what medical supplies you can find.”
Austin returned to where the bloody man lay in the street. He appeared dead, but to Austin’s surprise was still breathing. “Hey, can you hear me?” Austin knelt next to him. The man answered with a groan.
“Luke!” Austin yelled.
“Right here.” He replied from behind Austin.
“Help me get him inside the diner.” They gently pulled the stranger up from the street and half walked, half dragged him into the diner. “Take him to the back room.”
“You got a name mister?” Luke held on to the beaten man, who wasn’t much more than skin and bones.
“Ed…Edward.” His breathing was labored. “Names Ed McGrath.”
“You’re safe now Ed. We’ll take care of you.” Luke helped him to the back room where Austin had cleared a space on the floor. They laid him on his side as easy as possible. The man was a mess and in a very delicate state. Old bruises had faded underneath the new ones.
A few minutes later, Madison rushed in carrying bags overflowing with all the medical supplies she could find in the store. “Is he gonna make it?”
Edward’s empty gaze stared into space. “Not a cupcake.” He mumbled before his conscious mind graciously took leave, allowing him to fall into a deep slumber.
8 EDWARD
Six Months Earlier
Plainfield, Illinois
8:00 am. Jenni McGrath, a pretty young woman with brilliant green eyes and soft blonde hair, pushed a swing that held her son, seven year old Ryan. All around them sat neat piles of colorful fall leaves. Edward, her husband of ten years, raked the last stragglers into a nearby pile.
He leaned on his rake and admired his wife and son. Ryan screamed in delighted fear as he soared high into the air. Jenni turned, threw Edward a warm smile. They were a very tight trio. A connection made so by the three miscarriages Jenni had before finally carrying their fourth child, Ryan, almost full term. He was born a month premature and spent six weeks in ICU before they could take him home. After hearing Ryan’s robust hollering, no one would have guessed that the doctors had fretted over his poor lung development.
The sun disappeared behind a cloud and the landscape lost all its vibrancy. A slight breeze picked up a few leaves from Edward’s piles, tossing them back on the brown grass. Edward’s smile faded to a frown. He viewed the sky with distrust and a grumble. The breeze answered his grumble by increasing in strength. And with one gust the fruits of Edward’s labor were scattered across the lawn.
Edward stared dumbfounded at the leaves; the rake fell from his hand. Jenni stopped pushing the swing. Ryan didn’t hesitate to jump off, and run over to his dad. He picked up the rake.
“I’ll help you dad.” He flung leaves everywhere. “Come on mom.” He waved Jenni over.
“Should I get some bags?” Jenni took Edw
ard’s hand.
“That would help.” He kicked a leaf from his shoe. “And the other rake, if you would please.”
“Sure thing boss.” She reached up, kissed his cheek. “Time to let the professionals take over.” He smiled now. After all they were only leaves.
While Jenni was off in search of bags, Edward and Ryan raked leaves into a monstrous pile which they promptly ran through at full speed. Edward ran and dove onto the pile. Ryan jumped on top of him. They wrestled for a bit, before they both rolled over onto their backs. Ryan took Edward’s hand in his. Father and son stared up at the gray sky.
“Are the Bears gonna win the Superbowl this year dad?”
“Of course they are. Maybe. Well it’s really hard to say this early in the season.”
“I hope they win. I hope they beat the Cowboys good too.” Ryan punched at invisible foes. “Dad. Why do leaves fall off the trees?”
“It’s part of their life cycle. They fall off so new ones can grow in the spring.”
“Dad?”
“Yes.”
“Why do people die?”
“Because they…they’ve lived a long life and it’s time for them to go to Heaven.” He glanced down at his son, whose forehead was creased. If Edward could glimpse inside he would see his son’s little brain working hard over something he had heard at school.
“Have I lived a long life?”
Edward laughed. “Not even close. A long life is like a hundred years, not seven. Why Ryan?”
“Cuz Charlie Jenner said his sister Sarah was going to die soon.” He shifted to turn innocent blue eyes up to his father. “And she’s only six.”
“Oh. Well Sarah’s body is…you see Ryan… it’s like this…” Edward fumbled.
“Charlie said it’s cuz she has cancer termites and they’re eating her bones up like wood termites do when they eat a tree or your house. I told him that wasn’t true. I told him cancer was a disease not a bug. It’s not true is it dad? Are cancer termites really eating her bones?” Ryan posed his questions in the same matter of fact way as the millions of others he queried his parents about on any given day.
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