Roads Less Traveled: The Plan

by C. Dulaney

  “She’s been mumbling a lot, most of it I don’t understand,” she explained. I nodded and took Mia’s hand.

  “It’s okay, you don’t have to talk. Just rest now, you’re safe,” I said, growing concern once again creasing my forehead.

  After shaking her head and licking her cracked lips, she opened her eyes and whispered solidly, “They’re coming.”

  “Who’s coming, Mia?” I asked, the growing concern into creeping into alarm. The others, minus Ben, Kyra, and Shannon, were all huddled closely around the table now, and all were reflecting my alarm. Mia squeezed my hand, then passed into unconsciousness.

  “She’s out again,” Nancy said quietly. “Let’s get her upstairs.”

  * * *

  “Who do ya think she was talkin’ about?” Jake asked. With Mia settled in my room and resting comfortably, the rest of us had gathered in the living room to discuss everything that had happened. I sat silently in my chair and listened to the others, with Gus in my lap and a cup of coffee in my good hand. We had been nearly inseparable before, but since I’d been shot, Gus was never more than six inches away from me at any time.

  “I don’t know. Could be she meant those prisoners from over at Cedartown,” Zack offered from the couch.

  “Or zombies,” Ben offered quietly. He hadn’t said much to me since I belted his girlfriend in the driveway, but who could blame him? As the conversation concerning the possible things that could be coming our way droned on, I sat and thought about how Mia had gotten here. She still hadn’t been able to tell me anything, only barely waking up a few short times since they’d taken her upstairs. I was dumbfounded by her escape from D.C., and her appearance at my house. And the more I thought about it, the worse I felt, that this is how it might end. For her to have fought as hard as I’m sure she must have, to make it all the way here, then to be shot down by a raging moron. Life could be a real sonofabitch sometimes.

  “Maybe some of us should head out and do some scouting,” Nancy said, drawing nods from everyone else.

  “Get on the radio maybe, try to contact someone, see if anyone has seen anything?” Kyra finally spoke up. That got my attention. I leisurely turned my gaze on her, and watched her closely as the debate went on.

  “No, we shouldn’t use the radio unless we just have to. We need to remember that those prisoners are still out there, and it’s an easy guess that they have a radio too.” Zack was rubbing his chin now as he spoke, clearly interested in Nancy’s idea. After a little more discussion, the question was turned over to me.

  “I think we should wait,” I answered coolly, never taking my eyes off Kyra. She quickly averted her eyes from mine and stared at her hands in her lap.

  “Wait? Do you think that’s wise?” Nancy asked. I shrugged and took another sip of coffee.

  “I think there’s only one way in, and one way out. I also think they must be pretty damn close for that to have been Mia’s first words to me. So no, I don’t think we should scout ahead. If anything, we go to Matias and wait there for whatever is coming,” I explained, then turned my face away and went back to my coffee.

  The others remained silent as they considered what I’d said. Jake stood and was the first to volunteer an opinion.

  “I’ll take someone with me and go to Matias. We’ll hide somewhere, keep watch, and check in every so often with the walkies,” he said and jerked his chin towards the shelf by the door. Everyone was nodding along with his idea, then watched me for my approval. I thought it sounded like a good plan, having eyes on the ground so to speak. But I let them wonder a few seconds longer; my coffee was getting cold.

  Finally I nodded once, nudged the dog off my lap, and stood to leave. “I’m going to check on Mia, someone should get supper started.”

  Gus’ nails clicked on the stairs as he followed me up. Mia was still in the same position as before. I went over and sat on the edge of the bed as gently as I could, trying not to disturb her. The bandage covering her shoulder had slight traces of blood soaking through, but the bandage on her thigh looked clean. I felt her forehead and pulled her eyelids up to check her eyes. Still no signs of turning. Besides being pale and a little warm, her skin looked fine.

  “How’s our patient?” Nancy asked from the open doorway. I smiled up at the older woman and shrugged. She pulled a pair of rubber gloves from her pocket and walked over, the latex snapping against her skin as she tugged them on.

  “Hmm, I’ll have to change that,” she mumbled to herself, noting the bloody gauze on Mia’s shoulder. I stood and stepped over to the window so she could do her thing, then pulled the curtains back. It was a dreary evening, dusk not quite settling in yet. More black clouds hung in the sky, and the swaying of the treetops indicated that another storm front was moving in. I sighed and folded my good arm around my sling, the best imitation of crossed arms I could muster.

  “I want to check your shoulder too, before I go back downstairs,” Nancy said. She had finished changing Mia’s bandage and had moved on to her thigh. I glanced over my shoulder at her request, and was curious to see what Mia’s leg looked like. The swelling and redness was clearly noticeable before I even got close to the bed.

  “That’s not good,” I remarked calmly. Nancy frowned and shook her head, then abruptly turned and left the room. I stepped a little closer and bent over Mia’s thigh. It was an ugly gash alright, jagged and deep. The skin edging the cut was curled up and crusty with pus, and the entire area around it, maybe the circumference of a grapefruit, was swelled tight.

  “Shit,” I whispered as Nancy came back in. She had her trusty bag, and dropped it on the bed next to Mia’s foot.

  “I cleaned that earlier, and now look at it. I’m doing all I can, but I don’t think it’ll be enough.” She went about cleaning the wound as she talked, dread and worry seeping into her voice. I watched her quietly, not needing to ask what she meant. I knew if the infection got worse, or spread, Mia would probably die. She needed antibiotics, not just peroxide and Neosporin. Then an idea hit me, one of those cool light-bulb moments.

  “Hey Nancy, what do you think the odds are of someone in town having antibiotics in their medicine cabinet?” I asked. Nancy paused in mid-wipe, the peroxide-soaked cotton ball dripping onto Mia’s leg, and slowly turned her face towards me.

  “I’d say the odds are pretty damn good,” she said with astonishment in her eyes. She was having what I call a ‘holy-shit’ moment. A smile crept across my face as I nodded, and being contagious as smiles often are, Nancy’s lips turned up in kind.

  “I’ll get someone on it,” I said and turned to leave. She grabbed me by my good arm and spun me around gently.

  “Not so quick now, I said I wanted to check yours too, didn’t I?” she said, still smiling. I sighed dramatically and tilted my face to the ceiling.

  “Fine,” I sighed and started slipping out of the sling. Nancy chuckled as she helped me tug my arm out of my shirt. She pulled the bandage loose, which was still clean and dry, nodded, then patched me back up.

  “Looks good. I’ll take those stitches out in a few more days,” she said and helped me get my shirt and sling back on. I pointed downstairs with a questioning look on my face, she nodded and turned back to Mia, and I left as quickly as I could. So quickly in fact, I ran into Kyra and nearly knocked her down the steps when I turned the corner.

  “Sorry, didn’t see you,” she muttered and immediately thrust her hands in front of her, like I was going to bust her in the mouth again or something. Not that I didn’t want to, but I had bigger fish to fry. Instead, I shook my head and stepped aside to let her pass, then hurried down the steps once she was out of my way.

  Zack and Ben were in the kitchen cooking, and Jake was setting the table. I heard water running upstairs; apparently Kyra had been on her way to the shower. I waited until Jake finished, then followed him into the kitchen.

  “Have you decided who you’ll be taking with you?” I asked him. Ben and Zack noticed my arrival, but kept bu
sy with dinner. Jake opened the fridge and got himself a Coke, then leaned against the counter and just looked at me. No, studied me. I cocked an eyebrow at him, if not a little attitude, and waited him out. Being impatient by nature, it didn’t take him long to crack.

  “You’re not comin’ with me,” he said frankly.

  “I didn’t say I was. I asked who you would be taking,” I said, smirking at his assumption. He rubbed the back of his neck and frowned at me - it seemed to me that I’d been getting a lot of those - then crossed him arms and nodded.

  “Alright. I was gonna take Ben and Kyra.” He held up his hand before I could shit a brick. “I know what you’re thinkin’, but they’re who I picked. And you know as well as I do it would be a good idea to keep as much distance between the two of you as possible right now,” he said as gently as Jake could say anything. My jaw clenched so tightly I think I cracked a tooth. I turned from him to Ben, then back to Jake. I was speechless.

  “Good, I’m glad you approve,” he said, then he shoved himself off the counter and slapped my hip as he strode by. I gawked at him as he walked through the dining room and into the living room, where he fell into the chair and contently sipped at his Coke. I spun around and stared at Ben, who was watching me awkwardly. He held up his hands and shrugged.

  “Hey, don’t blame me. You know he’s crazy,” he said and turned back to the bacon he had been frying. Finally I stared at Zack, whose only reaction was a wink and a smile. I clamped my mouth shut and sighed, then turned and walked to the back door. Gus was next to me, his tail beating happily at the expectation of going outside. I smiled at him as I flipped all the locks and opened the door.

  “Let’s see what Daisy is doing,” I mumbled as we stepped out into the blustery evening.

  * * *

  After eating a quiet dinner of bacon and eggs, everyone sat around the table and talked about trivial things, or at least attempted to. Things had been so intense the last few days, I could hardly blame them for trying. Shannon was the last to finish, not saying a word the entire meal, or giving any sign of awareness at all. I studied her as the others talked. Wasting too much time, that inner voice complained as I slipped Gus another strip of bacon. I propped my elbows on the table and folded my hands in front of my face, then rested my chin against them. When the conversation began to lull, I cleared my throat and spoke up.

  “Jake, I want you and the others to leave tonight. Within the hour, as a matter of fact.” I waited for his reaction as everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at me. He leaned forward in his chair, his forehead furrowed so tightly a crease formed between his eyebrows.

  “Tonight?” he asked. I nodded.

  “Mia is sick. And the medicine she needs might be in someone’s medicine cabinet down there. I want you to leave as soon as you can get ready, and search every house in town. Well, except for Shannon’s. Steer clear of it.” I held his puzzled gaze, and watched as it quickly changed to understanding and urgency.

  “Yes, I want you to look for antibiotics. I made a list, but if you’re not sure, just bring back everything you find,” Nancy spoke up. All three were nodding their heads, looking at each other for confirmation, then they hastily jumped up from the table and ran upstairs to get ready. I sighed deeply into my laced fingers and caught Zack watching me. Nancy reached across the table and rubbed my forearm.

  “They’ll find something, don’t worry,” she said, offering a weak smile.

  “I hope so,” I whispered and flashed an even weaker one. Zack cleared his throat and leaned forward.

  “I’ll clean this mess up. Why don’t you get Shannon here to bed, and get some rest yourself?” he said as he turned his face towards Nancy. She caught his eye and nodded, then slid her chair back and moved over to Shannon, who sat motionless with her hands once again balled tightly in her lap, and took the girl by the elbow.

  “Come on, dear, it’s time for bed.” She guided the teen away from the table and up the steps silently, and I listened as the others came sweeping down past them carrying their gear. I stood and met them at the front door, where I took three radios from their cradle on the shelf and handed them out.

  “I’ll be listening. Let me know what you find, and we’ll go from there,” I said. Jake nodded and Ben began unlatching the bars and swinging them back. I saw them out, then walked onto the porch, waiting until Jake’s taillights were swallowed by the trees, before heading back inside. I locked the door, then shut the bars slowly, fatigue finally beginning to rear its ugly head. I gripped the last bar tightly after it latched to steady myself, my mind and heart overwhelmed with sorrow, worry, and a hint of betrayal.

  After a few moments I heard the clinking of plates in the sink, then water running as Zack washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen. I sighed deeply and started through the house, turning off lights as I went, joining Zack in the kitchen just as he was finishing up.

  “You look tired,” he said quietly as he dried his hands. I nodded as he folded the towel and tossed it on the counter. He tilted his head to the side and pressed his hand to my back.

  “Come on,” he said and guided me much like Nancy had guided Shannon earlier. He flipped the kitchen light out and led me upstairs. The house was quiet except for Gus’ feet padding along beside us. He stopped outside his bedroom door and squeezed my shoulder.

  “You can sleep here tonight. I’ll stay by the radio and listen for the others.”

  I considered his offer, then shook my head and looked over his shoulder towards my own bedroom door.

  “What if she wakes up?” I asked pensively. He turned and eased my door open. The lamp was on, and Nancy was sitting next to the bed reading. Mia was still asleep, and looked comfortable with the blankets drawn up around her. Nancy smiled and flicked her fingers in a little wave, and Zack pulled the door shut.

  “Like I said, you can sleep tonight,” he whispered, smiling. Gratitude and appreciation for these people, who had been total strangers only a week or so before, swelled so greatly in my chest that I thought for a brief moment I was going to bawl like a baby. It must have been written all over my face, because Zack simply hugged me tightly and kissed my cheek, then hurried down the hall without looking back.

  “Well, you heard the man, Gus,” I choked and watched with amusement as the little beagle ran over and jumped into bed. Chuckling, I shut the door and joined him.

  * * *

  This is ridiculous, Kyra thought as she stared into the darkness. It was raining, which, to Kyra at least, only added insult to injury. To Ben it seemed that his new girlfriend was sulking, hurt and upset with first, shooting a living person, second, that person having been Mia, and third, being the focus of Kasey’s wrath. But he couldn’t be more wrong. Kyra didn’t give a rat’s ass about shooting Mia. To her, the thing that had limped and staggered its way up the driveway was something to be taken care of. Something she had been lectured on ever since she first arrived in this backwoods shithole that everyone else considered their salvation.

  She also could care less about what Kasey thought of her. Kasey, strutting around as if she was the boss of everyone, as if she owned the damned place. Which, technically, she did, but what gave her the right to act so righteous? She wasn’t any better than the rest of them, but she acted like her shit didn’t stink, like anything and everything that came out of her mouth was golden. This royally irked Kyra. As far as Kyra was concerned, Ben was hers, and in his eyes, Saint Kasey could do no wrong. Kyra, small, diminutive, unimportant Kyra, was feeling very resentful. She had begun to hate Kasey, period. End of story. No ifs, ands, or buts.

  Ben and Jake had talked endlessly since leaving the house, something that merely added to Kyra’s irritation. She was tired, angry, and embarrassed. In her mind, Kasey was the enemy now. Just who the hell did she think she was, hitting her and talking to her the way she had? I hope Mia dies, Kyra thought. Yes, it would be the perfect revenge. Kyra, whom Kasey had never liked. Kyra, who everyone thought was useless
and vain. Kyra, the stupid cheerleader who killed Saint Kasey’s best friend. Yes, Kyra thought this would be the perfect revenge.

  So she spent the rest of the trip into Matias praying harder than she had ever prayed in her life. Oh, and once Mia was dead, she would put on her sad face, cry on Ben’s shoulder, then tell him they had no other choice but to leave. It wouldn’t take much to convince him, Ben was so soft and weak. That would be the icing on the retribution cake: taking Ben away from Kasey. She chuckled to herself.

  “Glad to see your mood is lifting,” Ben said softly, easily mistaking the look on Kyra’s face. She turned her attention from the rain-spattered window and smiled at Ben, who had leaned over and was watching his new love from between the front seats. He smiled back, then turned around and resumed his planning with Jake. She casually turned back to the window, the smile disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. She would get through the next few hours, or days, do whatever it took until the opportunity presented itself. And when it did, she would prove to everyone just how capable she truly was.

  * * *

  They divided the town up into four sections; each one of them responsible for searching their own designated part, and the fourth was to be avoided no matter what. The “No Fly Zone” was at the end of town around the Hoskins’ house. They each had a walkie, a gun, and a flashlight. Basically the plan was to search every house, constantly staying in contact with each other, then return to the store when finished.

  They weren’t too worried about deadheads, since Kasey had been pretty sure the people who had previously called Matias home were either scattered across the pavement in front of the store, or had Gotten Out of Dodge ASAP when the shit hit the fan. Mostly it was the former, with Tommy and Shannon being the only folks Kasey had noticed missing from the crowd in front of the store. Regardless, the three were confident the town was clear, but reminded each other every five minutes or so to keep their eyes peeled and stay sharp.