by Emily Garnet
They walked on for what felt like forever but was probably only another hour. Ivy was starting to feel tired, just as Matt was. She almost wished she had kept up with her father’s insane exercise regimen, but she hadn’t. She was in shape, but certainly not the best shape of her life. It was a welcome sight when she saw a taco truck ahead.
There was a line waiting, so they were clearly in business. They must have a generator in the truck. She admired the ingenuity of someone who kept their truck running even when there were a series of fires two blocks away visible from where they stood. She also couldn’t help thinking they were bit of an idiot, but she was glad they were still serving. “Let’s grab some.” She gestured toward the taco stand.
Matt nodded eagerly, and they stepped into line. There were five people ahead of them waiting, and part of Ivy wanted to yell at them to use some common sense and get out of the city while they had a chance. She was too exhausted to pursue the option, especially since she knew it would be an uphill battle with most of them.
No one would really believe her, at least not right now. In a few days or weeks, her words would come back to them, and they’d regret maybe not listening, but that was when they were in a different time and frame of mind. These people weren’t ready to hear the truth yet. That kept her silent as they waited before finally reaching the front of the line.
A bored-looking young woman told them, “We can’t take anything but cash.” Her gaze moved to what appeared to be a dead cell phone with a little chip reader plugged into it. “My phone’s not working either. I can’t process any cards without it.”
“I have some cash.” Ivy pulled out her wallet and opened it, disappointed to find she only had twelve dollars. She must’ve forgotten to replenish her emergency stash after she’d taken an expensive cab in Los Angeles.
“I have some too,” said Matt. He started to reach into his pocket.
“I think I have enough.” Ivy looked at the prices, surprised to see the owner hadn’t marked them up yet. For twelve dollars, she could get four tacos. She passed over the money and placed the order. “Do you have any bottled water?” she asked as the woman took the cash and put it in a locking safe.
“Nah, sorry. We’ve sold out of that already.”
That didn’t surprise Ivy at all. Once they had their orders, she and Matt moved to a bench on a nearby section of the block. It afforded them an up-close and personal view of the fire, but they were still far enough away that it wasn’t a concern yet. There were multiple fires around the city, and taking a few minutes to look at the skyline was enough to renew her fear.
Would they be able to dodge all the fires to make it out of the city? Violence might not be their biggest enemy now. She’d never expected anything like this to happen, and she certainly wouldn’t have planned to be in a big city if she had. She wondered where they would go after they left Las Vegas. She knew what she wanted to do, but she had to check with Matt. “Are we heading to Salt Lake City?”
“That’s my plan. I need to check on Sophie and her husband. Her little girl is only three months old, so there’s no telling what she might need.”
Ivy nodded. “After that, I need to go to Pocatello. That’s where Lacey is doing her dental school residency.”
“Where are we going after that?”
She was warmed by him including himself in her plan to get her sister. He could stay in Salt Lake City, if they made it that far, and be a lot safer. “I don’t know.”
“I guess we’ll figure it out together. Do you really think this is going to last for a while?” His eyes pleaded with her to say no.
Ivy wasn’t one for lying, but she was generally gentler with the truth. She had no time right now to baby him though. “I do. It’s going to get worse, and it’s going to last who knows how long. We have to be prepared for anything. What we need to do is find some land we can settle down on and grow food and maybe raise some animals or something.”
Matt let out a startled laugh. “Do you really see me as the farmer type, Ivy?” He’d lived in Salt Lake City all his life, and other than a few camping trips, he had little experience with the great outdoors or any kind of lifestyle beside urban.
She managed to crack a smile. “Not really, and I’m not a farmer anymore either, but I remember enough about it that I think we can make it work if we can find a place to settle down that we can secure and defend.”
“What would we have to defend against?”
Ivy reminded herself not to be impatient with his lack of knowledge. He hadn’t been raised by a crazy prepper father—though maybe Henry wasn’t quite as crazy as she’d thought. “People are going to want what we have. That’s the nature of humanity. Not everyone’s going to be willing to put in the work required to survive, if they can last long enough to set up a place anyway. There’s always going to be someone who’s going to want to take what they need without working for it. It’s our job to defend what we have and keep them from taking it.”
Matt shook his head. “I just can’t imagine the world you’re envisioning. Like some Wild West stuff with a complete lack of law and order.”
Ivy didn’t comment as she bit into her second taco. It was exactly like that, but Matt wasn’t ready to grasp the full reality. She couldn’t force him along in the process. She was just starting to really grasp it herself, and she wouldn’t have even been in the mindset if it hadn’t been for her unusual childhood.
“This taco is—” Matt’s phone ringing cut him off, and he fumbled it out of his pocket.
Ivy stopped eating, anticipating hearing how Sophie was doing. It could also be Matt’s mom or dad calling, but she didn’t expect him to hand the phone to her after a long moment. She looked down at it. “What?”
“It’s for you,” said Matt, looking uneasy.
She shook her head. “How could it be for me?”
“He says Tristan answered your phone and gave him my number.”
Her heart skipped a beat, because that meant Tristan was awake and clearly coherent enough to answer a phone and remember Matt’s phone number. She took the phone gingerly. “Who is it?”
Matt looked grim when he said, “Your father.”
Ivy stared at it for a moment, resisting the urge to hit the End button and be done with it. Finally, after a moment, she hit speakerphone instead. She wanted Matt to hear everything as well, mainly so her father couldn’t gaslight her into believing he hadn’t said when he had, or that she’d interpreted something wrong. He was good at that. “Hello?”
“It’s your father.”
“Yes,” said Ivy with a hint of a chill in her tone. “What can I do for you?”
“You know what’s going on. This has to be a HEMP, or perhaps a CME.”
She nodded, and then rolled her eyes at herself for doing so. He couldn’t see that over the phone. “I agree. I think HEMP, since you can see the aurora already.”
“Lacey is in Pocatello. Are you heading there to get her?”
“It’s in my plan. I’m trapped in Vegas right now, but that’s where I’m heading eventually.”
“Good. Get her and bring her here to the compound. It’s the safest place for all of us.” His tone allowed no argument.
“I’ll make sure Lacey gets home safely.”
“Good.” The line disconnected then.
She handed the phone back to Matt, who winced. “He sounded cold.”
“So did I,” said Ivy with a shrug.
“Are heading to your dad’s compound? Are you going to be okay with that?”
Ivy shrugged again. “I’m heading to Pocatello, and if Lacey wants to go to Henry’s compound, I’ll make sure she gets there. As to whether or not we stay, I guess that depends on how things unfold. I really don’t want to go back there, but I do know Henry has everything we need to survive for a long time. So, I guess…we’ll see?”
Matt put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a side hug. “I’ll go wherever you go, Ivy.” He pressed a kiss to
her forehead. “You’re my best friend and my annoying older sister all in one.”
“And you’re my pesky younger brother and best friend.” She laid her head on his shoulder, enjoying the normality of the moment. Her taco was still in hand, so she finished it after sitting up again, though she still sat closely to Matt.
There was easy affection between them, and he truly was like the brother she’d never had. She was glad to have him by her side and wasn’t sure she could make it through this without him. What he lacked in practical, hands-on knowledge, he made up for in compassion, sincerity, and an honest desire to do the right thing.
“Since the phone worked for Henry, I’m going to try to call Sophie.” He moved away slightly, but just so he could adjust his hold on his remaining taco and could dial the phone. Like Ivy, he put it on speakerphone. His eyes lit up with excitement when it started to ring instead of going straight to the “all circuits are busy” message.
After three rings, his sister’s voice issued from the phone. “Oh, thank goodness. I’ve been trying to get hold of you for hours, Matty.”
Ivy smiled at that, knowing how much Matt hated the nickname, but he didn’t complain this time.
“Are you okay?”
“Not really. All the power has gone out here, and there are fires around the city. There’s some weird glow in the sky. It looks almost like northern lights, but that can’t be, right?”
Ivy held her breath as she waited to see what Matt would say.
“I’m not really sure. It could be something serious. It’s best if you and Tom and Lily go to Mom and Dad’s house. It’s higher up in the hills, and maybe away from the worst of the fires. You guys should take everything you can to get there.”
“We can’t leave. Our vehicle isn’t working.” She sounded afraid. “And Lily has a fever. What if she has to go to the emergency room? That’s miles away from here.”
Ivy couldn’t resist adding to the conversation. “Sophie, it’s me, Ivy.”
“Hello, Ivy.”
“Stay away from the emergency rooms if you can. They’re going to be packed with people. A lot of technology will fail, like pacemakers and such. You just don’t want to be there if you can help it, okay?”
“But I don’t know how to bring down her fever otherwise. I don’t have any children’s ibuprofen or Tylenol, and I can’t get the Internet to work here.”
“Let me see…” She closed her eyes, trying to remember from Henry’s fully stocked dispensary that included allopathic and homeopathic and herbal medicine what might help that they could get. She remembered some of the more obscure ones, like elderflower or kudzu root, but she doubted Sophie had those herbs on hand. “Give her tepid baths, but not too cold. That can make her go into shock. How high is her fever?”
“It’s a hundred and one.”
“That’s not too bad. Do you have lavender essential oil?”
Sophie hesitated, and the sound of her moving around was clear through the phone. “I do.”
“Dilute that and apply to her feet and legs—just not close to her eyes or on her hands, since she could rub it into her eyes or get it in her nose. I think it’s a fever reducer, and I’m sure it’s one that’s safe for babies.”
“It is. I diffuse it in her room to help her sleep.”
Ivy sighed with relief to have remembered correctly. “You probably don’t need to worry unless her fever gets much higher. For adults and older kids, I don’t think you treat a fever until at least one-oh-two, or maybe one-oh-four, since a moderate fever is beneficial with an illness. I don’t really remember the exact numbers, but I’m sure it’s different for an infant. Just do the best you can to keep her fever down, and if you have to go see someone, try to get to urgent care or something like that, so you can avoid the hospital.”
“Thank you, Ivy. How do you know so much about babies?”
Ivy couldn’t help smiling. “Oh, I don’t. I just know a little something about bringing down fever naturally.”
“If you can, get to Mom and Dad’s, or maybe have them come to you. Have you heard from them?” asked Matt.
“I just talked to Dad and Mom a few minutes ago. They’re planning to sit tight where they are, unless the fires reach them. It’s the same plan for us for now.”
Matt shoulders drooped. “Do you have plenty of food?”
“We have a few days’ worth. I don’t think that’s a problem though. I’m sure everything will be back to normal within the next few hours.”
Ivy winced at her bright naïveté. She almost wished she could believe that as well, but she couldn’t. She shook her head at Matt, but apparently, he decided not to warn his sister. Maybe he figured Sophie wouldn’t believe him. Or else he was still doubting what was actually happening too.
“Ration what you can and be careful. Does Tom still have his shotgun?” asked Matt, which surprised Ivy.
“Uh, I think so.” They could hear Sophie calling out to Tom to ask him. She answered a moment later. “Yeah, he still has it. He hasn’t been hunting for ages, but it’s there. Why?”
“Humor me and load it. Have Tom keep it with him just in case. People might get desperate, and you can’t really do anything about that except protect yourself.”
Sophie laughed. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting, Matty?”
Matt looked grim. “Maybe, but it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?” He lightened his tone slightly. “Remember, Tom was an Eagle Scout, so he’ll subscribe to the ‘Be Prepared’ motto. I’m just asking you to be prepared as much as you can, okay?”
Sophie sounded like she was humoring him when she agreed. “Where are you?”
“We’re in Vegas, but we’re going to make our way to Salt Lake City.”
“Oh, you’ll be here in a few hours then.” She sounded happy.
Matt hesitated. “No, probably not. So far, we’ve only seen one working vehicle, and it belonged to someone else. I think we’re going to have to walk out of Vegas, and maybe even all the way to Salt Lake City.”
Sophie was clearly amused. “I don’t think it’s going to be that long of a power outage, Matty. You really are overreacting.”
Matt looked defensive. “Yeah, maybe. I’m just telling you that could be what happens. If we don’t get to talk again because the cell phone towers’ generators go out, just know that we’re coming, and try to stay there, or move to our parents if you can.”
“Okay, we will. I love you, Matty.”
“I love you too, Sophie.” It looked like it was difficult for Matt to hang up a moment later. “I have to conserve the battery so I can have the map.” He was blinking heavily, but not a tear fell.
Ivy wouldn’t have cared if it had, because if she’d been able to get hold of her sister, she probably would’ve been on the verge of tears too. “At least you know your family is safe and sound for now. Do you mind if I try calling my sister again?”
Matt handed over the phone, and she turned it on. She was dismayed to see it only had twenty percent of its battery remaining, and she called her sister quickly. She got the “all circuits” message and quickly disconnected before handing it back to him. “I still can’t get through to her in Pocatello.”
“We’re going to get there.” Matt sounded confident. “Even if we have to walk the whole way, we’re going to do this.”
Ivy could sense a shift in Matt. Maybe he still wasn’t fully convinced of the severity, but he seemed more on board with her plan now. Maybe it was having to persuade Sophie that things weren’t like they had been, and she wasn’t guaranteed safety in her own home, that had swayed him. Whatever it was, she was glad to see the renewed resolve, and after he finished his taco, they started walking again.
As they did, her thoughts wandered to Utah, and to Salt Lake City. For some reason, her ex-boyfriend popped into her head. She tried not to think about Chris at all, and she was usually successful. It had been five years since their relationship dissolved because he wasn’t willing
to leave his life in Salt Lake City to come with her when she got her big break.
He hadn’t said as much, but she suspected he’d believed it would amount to nothing like several other attempts she’d made, and he wasn’t willing to uproot himself for that. She couldn’t blame him for his pragmatism, but his lack of faith in her had hurt. It was something she hadn’t been able to get past, so she had left Chris with very few regrets when she pursued her dream.
She wondered briefly how he was doing, and if he was safe. Did he have any idea of what was happening? Probably not. He was levelheaded and focused on the present and building a strong future, but he wasn’t one to indulge in speculations of what might happen, especially worst-case scenarios. This would catch him by surprise, and she found herself worried for him.
She didn’t love him anymore, but there had been love there for a long time, spanning the five years of their relationship that had started shortly after she moved to Salt Lake City. She couldn’t stop caring about him and worrying about him with a flip of a switch, but she was soon able to push him out of her mind as they continued their trek through the residential neighborhoods.
Their biggest obstacle were the fires as they kept moving, since most people were focused on their own issues. It wouldn’t stay like that, but for now, it was mostly peaceful as they walked.
Chapter Five
Her feet felt like they’d been walking for hours, which they had. So far, they’d been lucky enough to be able to skirt around the fires and the groups of people who were either in a mad dash to leave town or were busy plundering while they could. She was getting to the point where she needed a rest, and she could tell Matt did as well. Gesturing to a nice array of bushes ahead, she said, “Let’s sit down for a few minutes and have a snack.”
Matt nodded as he followed her to the partial camouflage from the carefully maintained topiary. She sat down on the damp ground, realizing the sprinkler system must’ve just watered it, and speculated it was on a solar-powered timer. She was too tired to get up, so she just lived with it. Together, they rummaged in their knapsacks for snacks and sports drinks. “We need to find some water after these are empty.”
