by Taja Kartio
"I don't want to play anymore."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Great. Now he was moping because I snapped. Way to go, Dani, "We haven't even started yet."
"I don't want to play."
I set the rulebook on the gameboard with a sigh and rested my cheek on a closed fist, "Okay. Then what do you want to do?"
He shrugged and took his lion into his lap, petting its ears softly. He didn't answer me.
This was going to be a fun afternoon.
Twenty Seven
Hayden was bored and if I had to hear it for the thousandth time this hour, I was going to break something. I needed to figure out something before that happened.
We'd watched movies. We'd played games, video and board. I'd read to him and he attempted reading to me. He played with his lion. Repeat everything. What else was there to do?
I looked back at the kitchen. Beckett had found a few things while he was out…
"Hey, Hayden."
He looked up, "Ya?"
I craned my neck back, nodding to the kitchen behind me, "I need some help and I think you'll like what I got planned."
I could sense a little curiosity as I started pulling ingredients out of the fridge and plastic bags that the boys had brought home the last couple days of hunting.
Hayden set his lion on the counter with annoyance, "What are we doing?"
I grabbed the bag of chocolate chips off the counter and held them up, "How do cookies sound?"
There was an immediate flash of excitement and all the child-like misery of being summoned had vanished completely, "Yes!"
I pointed to the high chairs across the counter and waited for him to hop up before handing him a bowl and a large spoon, "Think you can handle cracking two eggs for me?"
There was a confident nod. His small fingers took ahold of one of the eggs I'd set out and cleanly tapped it against the edge of the counter. He managed to pour the contents into the bowl without a problem. I had to say I was rather impressed.
Hayden threw on a very proud smile, "Mom always had me crack the eggs," His smile faded slightly, "She liked to bake a lot."
I knew there was still a part of him who thought his mother could be alive, but there was a bigger portion of his mind that said his mother was dead. I sighed but tried to keep an enthusiastic attitude.
"My brothers hate baking. Especially Kale. I'm not sure if it was because he was so lazy or if it was because he was so bad at it."
Hayden tilted his head, "What do you mean?"
I ran my finger over the instructions in the cookbook and began measuring out ingredients, handing them to Hayden to put in the bowl and begin stirring, "Didn't matter what he baked or cooked, he'd always somehow burn it. That or whatever he made would just taste awful. There was one time when he tried making me this huge mountain of spaghetti with homemade sauce for my birthday two years ago and the sauce just tasted like absolute garbage. It was almost sour but it had this aftertaste that was... I don't even know how to describe it. It was gross. We ended up getting chinese takeout."
Hayden grinned again, "That's funny."
"I just wish all that spaghetti hadn't gone to waste. A truck couldn't even haul it all because there was so much."
"Really?"
I hoped he understood that sarcasm but I rolled with it anyway, "Really."
"I don't mind baking and cooking. It's not something I think I would do a lot but I do like eating it when it's done," Hayden gruffed as the batter became more dough-like, "How is this?"
I pinched the dough and put a piece of it in my mouth, "Perfect."
On a tray, the two of us rolled them into small balls, all while I spoke of other bad experiences my brothers have had in the kitchen as well as moving onto other topics, mostly clumsy or embarrassing memories of my life before the apocalypse. Hayden commented at some parts and laughed at others but he seemed more content with just listening. I was okay with this. I had to admit that I liked to talk, probably more than I should. It annoyed Kale and sometimes Beckett would act like he was listening but I knew he was also really good at zoning out.
Hayden sat in front of the oven and watched the dough smother and rise. As the minutes went by, the soft smell of the treats teased my nose. An inviting scent of warm chocolate and melted butter. After the timer went off, I pulled the tray out. The topmost layer was smooth with the exception of the chocolate chips poking out, a very fine golden brown. I set each individual cookie on a large plate.
"They're really hot so be careful," I set the tray aside and started to grab two glasses for milk when I watched Hayden basically ignore my warning and go straight for the closest cookie.
"Ow!" The half bitten biscuit fell from his mouth and dropped to the counter.
I chuckled, "I told you it was hot."
"I didn't think it would be that hot," His tongue flipped and twisted in his mouth.
"They just came out of the oven. What did you expect?"
Hayden shrugged. He dipped his tongue in the milk and let the cool liquid relieve the burning sensation.
I gave the cookies a few minutes but I eventually took a small bite. At first, there was a gratifying crunch, the sound lingered in my ears. Then the food crumbled more and melted into a indescribable pleasure. The cookbook had said they were "Granny's Famous" and I would never dare question it, especially not now that I've had one.
"Are they good?" Hayden asked, dazzled by my pleasant expression.
I nodded, "Very. I think you're good to try again."
"My tongue still hurts," He whimpered, pinching his red tongue with his fingers.
I nodded agreeably, "It'll probably throb for the next few hours."
"Is there any ice?"
I tilted my head for a moment, then turned back to the freezer, "I think there's a tray of ice cubes."
"Mom used to always give me ice when I burned my tongue. She said she would always have some handy in the freezer."
The freezer used to be full but as the weeks went by, this household had really taken a beating on the food that either needed to stay frozen or refrigerated. We were all a bit surprised that the power had lasted this long, though none of us knew how long it was meant to last without anyone managing the sources. Beckett guessed it was supposed to be only a few days to maybe two weeks but seeing how we were over a month into all of this and we still had basic house functions, power could end up shutting down for good today or it could hold on for another month. At this point we just had no clue.
In the back, of the freezer, I found the full tray of cubes. It took me a moment but I hit the tray hard enough against the counter to pop out a couple of cubes for Hayden to take. I was a little amused with how he looked with such a large piece of ice in his small mouth. Kind of a chipmunk look.
"Feel better?" I stared at him. He nodded acceptably.
Then he took his own bite. I could see the savory expression spark across his face, "I can't wait to give these to everyone when they come home."
Neither could I.
Twenty Eight
Baked cookies still lingered in the air. A beguiling and welcoming smell. Hayden and I had our share and there was a still a considerable amount left for my brothers and Alex. Now it was just a matter of time before they came back.
I dropped myself on the upstairs couch, actually enjoying the reading time I was having. For once, I poured myself into the pages without a second mindset. I was completely engaged. I barely even heard the TV as Hayden was watching Star Wars.
In fact, I was so indulged that I hadn't noticed Hayden leave the room. It wasn't until I felt a quick series of taps of my arm that I ripped my eyes from the words to see the boy standing in front of me with a look of pure wonder.
"Dani! Dani! Come look at this!"
I was given no choice, not even a chance to ask what it was he wanted me to see because he dashed away so quickly, down the stairs and out of sight. I was a bit annoyed to set my book down, I hoped it was worth getting off the
couch for.
"Where are you?" I called softly once I reached the bottom of the steps.
A blonde head poked out of the living room entry way, an excited grin reached from ear to ear, "In here! Hurry!"
I quickened my pace, finding Hayden had already crossed the living room and was now standing in front of the window. The tip of his finger was smashed against the glass.
"Look!"
I stood behind him. It was easy to see what had his attention since it stood out so boldly.
A deer. Right in the middle of the cul-de-sac. Sleek coffee and cedar fur over a petite yet muscular form. A doe. She delicately sniffed the ground around her, periodically stopping to peer at her surroundings with large burnished eyes.
"Haven't you ever seen a deer before?" I asked quietly. It was always exciting to see a wild animal outside and even more so in a time like this but it was still just a deer. They were so common. What was the big deal?
"This is my second time," Hayden held up two fingers. In Minnesota? "No way."
Hayden nodded, "It's true. I always miss them."
"When was your first time?"
"I don't remember exactly when. It ran across the street in front of my house."
The doe was beside the corpse of the Infected that my brothers, Alex, and I had taken down the day we saved Hayden. Her brown nose sniffed and I swore it crinkled up in distaste. There was a moment and then she craned her neck upwards and turned her head.
There, bounding out from behind one of the neighbor's houses, were two little ones. They were so tiny. Twig-like legs and bright white spots on their hunched backs. Both were a bit unstable. They were new, probably learned how to walk only recently.
"Ever seen a baby deer before?" I kept my eyes on the window but when I didn't receive a reply, I twisted my neck.
Hayden was staring at the creatures outside in complete fascination. His jaw was dropped but I could somehow tell it was only a small representation of the breathtaking emotion he was probably feeling inside. I swore I could almost feel his racing heart.
And then the touching moment faded. Slowly at first. The doe's head snapped up, her neck twisted nearly all the way around and her tail had risen. From inside the house Hayden and I sat in, the sound was a bit muffled but the source was still obvious. Both fawns huddled together nervously, peering in the same direction as their mother.
A second high shriek cracked the air and the moment the Infected came into view, the doe shot away. She didn't leave her young behind entirely but she was lengths ahead of them. Both fawns struggled to keep up on their wobbly legs.
Then one fell. A full trip and roll across the pavement. The fallen deer was a little surprised that it had lost its footing so easily, almost dazed. Its mother was completely out of sight and the other little one had just barely reached the treeline between two houses on the other side of the cul-de-sac.
I didn't want to watch the scene play out before me. The fawn was vulnerable and the Infected had an easy score. The glass between myself and the outside couldn't suppress the pained screams from tearing flesh. I shut my eyes.
Jesus Christ.
Even hearing it from an animal, the pain sounded just as exposed and ragged as a human's. It had a raw intensity that held urgency and desperation. Fear worked within the agonizing sound and all I could really think about was the physical suffering that the fawn was enduring. I could almost feel it myself. Shivering nerves ran up and down my body in the most demoralizing way.
Make it stop. Make it stop.
It did and there wasn't a moment in between to relax, not even slightly. Hayden slammed his fist against the glass with a cry tearing from his lips, "No!"
The Infected immediately stopped, it's head sharpening in our direction. I grabbed Hayden by his shoulder and pulled him down, forcefully dragging him with me against the wall. I tried to get as far away from the window as possible but ended up only sliding a couple feet away just as two bloody hands clapped the glass.
Hayden whimpered and my hand quickly covered his mouth. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the Infected peering inside. Two irregular dilated eyes scoured the living room. I was sure I was just out of view but I didn't want to move. Not even to breath. Even the slightest movement could be catastrophic.
Hayden quivered in my arms. Tears flowed from his eyes and he was trying his hardest not to burst.
Slowly, the hands on the window slid. Blood trailed. The Infected stood for quite some time, maybe for several minutes. But eventually, it lost interest, perhaps deciding that there was nothing there. Its jaws clicked infinitely before backing away from the window.
It didn't see us. My muscles relaxed.
I released Hayden's mouth and let him bury his face into the fabric of my sweatshirt. Maybe because we had almost been found, or maybe because of the fallen fawn, Hayden convulsed. Heavy sobs jolted through his small body. I would let him cry for as long as he needed.
That had been close. That had been way too close.
Twenty Nine
The sun was descending and the last of its orange rays were falling with it. Stars were already beginning to speckle the darkening skies. My brothers said they would be home before dark but they were running out of time on that promise.
I sat myself in the upstairs bedroom in front of the window that overlooked nearly the entire cul-de-sac. Several Infected had made quick work of that fawn that Hayden and I had seen go down earlier. I'd watched it go from a fresh kill to nothing more than a pile of skin and bones. Picked clean to the last fiber. The Infected that had eaten it were gone now, wandered off somewhere with full bellies. I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. 7:48PM. I'd been sitting here for nearly four hours.
A small, lazy voice spoke up behind me, "Dani?"
I cleared my throat and turned over my shoulder, "Movie done?"
Hayden nodded slowly. His eyes were beginning to droop, "You're still in here?"
"Yes," I looked back out at the cul-de-sac, "They're not back yet."
"They're not coming back?" He sounded worried.
"They're not back yet," I emphasized.
A short pause and then, "Do you think they got lost?"
"They're big boys. They know where they are," I said cooly, exhaling. I turned back to him, "Don't worry about it right now, though. They'll be alright."
"Okay," He accepted my words with a yawn.
"Tired?" I smiled a little at the slow nod I got from him. He looked like he was about to fall asleep on his two feet, "Go to bed, bud."
"Okay," He repeated before raising his hand in a small wave and turning. I listened to his small footsteps dragging out of the room.
I set my eyes on the sky again. I couldn't have looked at it more than five minutes ago and the stars must have doubled in that time. There was still a bit of natural light on the horizon but it was minuscule. I crossed my arms and exhaled again, heavily.
Where are they?
Thirty
Everything was black, pitch black but I could smell it. Like someone just lit a cigarette. Not quite the same smell but it was just as trong.
What in the..?
My eyes bursted open and the scent was more clear. Something was definitely burning.
It was light outside but clouds overcasted blue skies. 8:14 AM.
Jesus. I must have fallen asleep last night. I scrambled out of the chair only to lose my footing and collapse to the ground. My foot had fallen asleep and was hanging from my ankle like dead weight. It took a bit of effort to get off the ground and out of the spare bedroom but when I finally got myself to the landing, I noted both couches were empty. I wanted to believe that if my brothers had gotten home last night that one of them would have woken me up to tell me but nothing about the pillows and blankets had changed. They were untouched.
I peered down the stairs.
"Hayden?"
"Uh... Ya?" The shout back was a little uneasy.
"What's going on down there?"
> "I'm uh... Making food..."
Making food? I pulled myself forward, my foot now felt like a cinder block but at least there was some feeling again. I had to take my time getting down the stairs but I eventually found my little blonde friend beside the stove. Thick steam rose from a black pan.
"What in the world are you doing in here?"
"Making food?" Hayden answered with a cringe. He held a spatula up with two hands in front of his face as he stared at his disastrous mess, "I don't know what to do now."
"Well for starters, you could shut this off," I came forward and turned the knob on the front of the stove. The steam subsided slightly and I could see dark brown and black residue in the pan, "What were you trying to make?"
"Eggs."
I recoiled slightly, "It looks more like charcoal."
Hayden tipped his head, "What's charcoal?"
My brows scrunched, "Do you even know how to cook eggs?"
He shook his head and I took a breath, "Why were you making eggs if you don't know how to make them?"
At this, he looked to the ground and shuffled his toes into the floor. A shrug hit his shoulders, "You looked sad last night so I thought I would be nice and make you some breakfast."
I gave a half smile. That was sweet, "I appreciate that Hayden, but maybe we should let me handle the cooking. Alright?"
He bobbed his head discouragingly, "Okay."
I looked back at the disgraceful eggs, "Have you eaten at all yet?"
Hayden shook his head.
I guess making breakfast wouldn't be such a bad idea. I should be freaking out that my brothers weren't home yet but I didn't want to freak Hayden out too, "Want me to show you how to make the best scrambled eggs ever?"
Thirty One
Our next meal that day was simple. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I was in no mood to make anything spectacular and Hayden thankfully didn't argue it. We ate in silence, more listening to the distant storm than anything else. It had rolled in a couple of hours after Hayden and I cooked breakfast. It had looked more threatening than what it actually delivered. We must have just missed everything. Thunder boomed lightly miles away and every now and then, a stroke of lightning would ignite the world outside. The clouds had darkened but the rain was minimal, never really making it past a hard drizzle which was a good thing. Traveling would be easier. A little wetness wasn't going to be enough to force Kale, Beckett, and Alex to seek shelter.
