Not Dead in the Heart of Dixie

by R Kralik

  I'm gonna wake Carisa and tell her my plans.

  See ya later.

  2:30 PM...

  Josie tried to reach Chris Knellson's unit this morning but she couldn't get them. She's still trying.

  Flies are everywhere. Town is covered with them.

  We all had long sleeved shirts and insect repellant in our emergency backpacks, so we took full advantage of it.

  Ian radioed back to let the lootin' crew know about the flies. I had a sudden thought and asked him to tell Josie to send the phone book with the lootin’ crew when they come to town. I wanted to check every single page that's dog-eared in that phone book.

  I left Carisa with Marisa this morning. She curled up on Marisa's couch and opened a book. She clung to me when I said goodbye and told me I better come back in one piece.

  I can't imagine what she's feeling. Her father is missing, and her mother is looking for him, and the world is a scary, dangerous place. She must be a nervous wreck.

  I know that I'm bordering on a breakdown and the only thing holding me back is the ability to look for Mick and the hope that I'll find him alive.

  Ian's keeping a notebook listing the locations of supplies we come across that we can't stuff into the Lexus. We found a little Italian restaurant on the back corner of one retail buildings, and it has black metal bars over the door and windows. It looks untouched. He radioed the location to the lootin' crew.

  They met us there and Rona handed over the phone book. She's having a rough time as well. She's very concerned about Mick and Dane but she's also trying to keep hope alive on the compound.

  She looks tired and strung out. I haven't looked in the mirror. I'm thinking that would be a bad idea. I probably look like a speed-freak, jones'n for a fix, and my fix is Mick.

  Pop's throwing a fit to go out looking for Mick and Dane.

  Nana's burying herself in the food preservation.

  Anyway, we searched 10 different places Mick and Dane had dog-eared. The worst part is, there's lots of advertisements on each page, and they're not lined up according to street address AND I'm not sure if they bookmarked the page for the front side or the back side. I'm not fully confident that we chose the right ones. If we need to check every single place on those pages, we'll do it.

  We came home with the Lexus full of plumbing supplies and the boys got busy unloading them.

  Carisa just came in to tell me it's time to head back out. This time it'll be me, Rick, Ian, and Shawna. I pray that I have good news for you tonight. I pray we find them. I pray Josie gets in touch with Major Knellson. See ya later.

  11:30 PM

  Right now, everyone is inside the house because bullets go through motorhomes and windows of little wooden buildings. We can sleep behind fences, but we can't move entire mountains nor can we put a bullet proof bubble over the entire compound.

  This afternoon, we were in the middle of searching a hardware store when Josie's panicked voice came over the radio.

  There’s someone shooting toward the compound from the mountainside. Isabella was shot in the head when she came out of her little wooden building.

  Luke and Deuce barely missed getting hit as well. As soon as they heard the shot they dropped to the ground, and a second bullet went over their heads and came to rest in the front door.

  Everyone heard the shots and the boys yelling. Jason refused to allow anyone to open the front door and Luke and Deuce had to crawl around to the back on their bellies.

  As soon as they got inside, they heard a third bullet and breaking glass. Jason ran to the basement door and peeked out. One of the windows on Emma's little house has been shattered.

  We’ve heard four more shots since we got home. The Lexus has a broken side view mirror which took a bullet for Rick's head. We're lucky to be inside with our heads still attached.

  We can't get to Isabella's body. Oh my God, she's gone. That beautiful, shy young girl is gone with the wind and I didn't even get to write much about her. I didn't even get to know her very well. I feel horrid. How can this happen?

  We can't use lights. Rick and Ian are freaked out that a tiny bit of light might get past the edges of the plywood on the windows and it'll darn sure shine through the peepholes Jeremy put in. They told us keep all the entire house dark.

  Most folks are sleeping, curled up on living room furniture or the floor. Marisa took the kids to sleep on Mick's futon which is now in the basement.

  We haven't seen Hisa, Soo, or Merry. We believe they were inside their house when the shooting started and have hunkered down behind the boarded windows and heavy architecture of the old house.

  I'm inside my closet with clothes poked all around the edge of the door to keep in any light from the computer.

  Carisa's in here with me, leaning against the wall and trying not to fall asleep. Every once in a while, I hear her sniffle, trying to hold back tears. We are being tortured, again.

  Rick and Ian are gearing up with guns, knives, vests, and night vision goggles to go out and find the s.o.b. who has us hostage. They are ticked off. Whoever's shooting at us better get their rear off that mountainside and down the road before Rick and Ian find them.

  I'm scared to death and feel like a tiny little rabbit with wolves waiting at my rabbit hole door. I'm pushing all my rabbit babies back with my feet to keep them away from that door.

  I'm scared for Mick and Dane. I have no idea what they're going through, or if they're alive. My heart is aching thinking about how bad Mick's heart must be aching for his family.

  Elaine has shut down. She doesn't believe Dane will be back. She stayed in bed all day and barely ate a bite. Jesse almost had to force a piece of bread down her throat. She says she wants to die. Surely she can't mean it. Surely she will think about her son. He needs her to live.

  I don't know what's gonna happen, but I've finished a cup of doctored tea and I'm fading. I'm going to find Mick in my dreams.

  Bye for now.

  Saturday, April 12

  Mick and Dane were alive the last time “Sniper” saw them. That's the only name he'll give us, so far.

  He bragged that he'd gotten our address from Mick's wallet which fell from his pants and was kicked underneath the military vehicle he and Dane were herded into. Sniper was watching from a rooftop, and he saw it all. That's all we know, so far.

  Sniper is far from professional. Rick and Ian found his camp easily inside a small cave on the mountainside. Sniper had a little fire action going on and was eating beans from a can when Rick smelled the fire and Ian spotted a little glow from the cave entrance.

  Sniper was having supper and drinking lots of water. Ian and Rick sat and waited to make sure Sniper was alone.

  Ian counts on Mother Nature. He says “she always calls, and can get you out of the warmest bed on the coldest day.” Ian's right. He counts on Mother Nature a lot and she never lets him down.

  It was a few hours before Mother Nature called and Sniper exited the cave.

  Before Sniper could get his rifle scope level and pointed toward the compound, Ian threw him to the ground. Rick and Ian tied him up like a Thanksgiving turkey. Mother Nature insisted that Sniper take her call while Ian and Rick were tying him up. It took longer for them to drag him home than it did to find his camp.

  They came home before daybreak, dragging Sniper behind them. He's tied to a big ol' pine tree at the edge of the right woods and we've left him alone, so far.

  Rick and Ian sent everyone to Marisa or Soo's house. Pop and Nana went back to their motorhome and several other adults went back to their own quarters. None of the kids under eighteen were allowed to stay here.

  I stayed because I intend to filet Sniper until he tells us where Mick and Dane are. It's as simple as that.

  Sniper is a cold-blooded murderer. He killed Isabella and tried to kill Luke and Deuce. They are kids, for Pete's sake!

  Sniper will remain alive until he tells us everything he knows and we're satisfied with the information. Shhhh, do
n't tell him that.

  I'm headed out to get my favorite knives and my large shaker of salt ready to introduce to Sniper. See ya later.

  2:30 PM...

  Marisa said the coyote was loudly chasing the road runner when Sniper decided to tell all. She barely heard Sniper scream, but the kids didn't pay a bit of attention.

  Shawna and Lisa had several young, enthusiastic pupils in the living room at Soo and Hisa's house. They were teaching some sort of martial arts skills when Sniper screamed. They ignored his screams and kept right on teaching.

  Major Knellson is coming for Sniper and he's bringing twelve highly skilled soldiers along. I hope he doesn't mind if a few parts of Sniper are missing.

  I served Sniper his very own left pinkie toe, all grilled up and steaming hot. I cooked it while it was still attached, so none of the flavor would be lost. I tried my best to pull out a little tendon to tie around it and dangle it over the fire, but it didn't work. Tendons are tougher than I thought.

  He didn't care for the taste, and it rolled down his chin in a mass of bloody saliva. It landed on top of his bare foot and he kicked it off. I scolded him for wasting meat and told him the pigs would enjoy it. I picked it up from the ground with a fork and tossed in the slop bucket.

  I cleaned the area, minus the toe, with alcohol pads and a little salt. I sprinkled a little more salt on gauze and bandaged it up.

  I told him that grilled eyeball probably tastes better than grilled toe, and asked if he’d like to try it next. He wet himself again.

  I decided to try one more time with the opposite toe. I wiped the blood from my knife on his pants leg and lit the torch.

  I was ready to divide his right pinkie toe from his right foot when he gave up. Smart Sniper. I would've served him digits and eyeballs ‘til we found one he liked or we ran out, whichever came first. I told him that, and we ended up removing only that left pinkie toe and a couple of pieces of meat from the inside of his thighs.

  Rick and Ian sat and stared at me the entire time. I didn't care.

  Regardless, we know the area where Mick and Dane are being held. We know that a lot of survivors are being held there. We also know that a small group of fake national guardsmen are keeping watch over them while others loot and take hostage any live human they find.

  Sniper learned a lot on that roof. He learned to read lips through a rifle scope. I thought that was incredible.

  He believes that the group holding Mick and Dane has between 25 and 30 members. He doesn't know the exact location, but says it is in the general direction of the old rock quarry.

  He doesn't know if the hostages are being fed or given water. He doesn't know if they're tied to something or locked in some sort of building. That's okay. Major Knellson's men will find out.

  I'll stay here. I'd be a nuisance and get in the way. I can't risk hurting their chance for rescue.

  Major Knellson's special little group will be here sometime in the middle of the night.

  After everything was settled, Jason forced Sniper to dig Isabella's grave by hand while I ran around the barn and threw up all over the place. Marisa found me lying there, lying in my own vomit. I couldn't believe what I'd done.

  We buried Isabella in our little cemetery. We all apologized and wished we'd gotten to know her better. Isaac, Sabrina, Anna, and Nicholas were the last ones to leave the grave site.

  I've showered and I'm dressed in clean clothes. This is a bad dream, right? It has to be.

  See ya later.

  11:15 PM...

  I couldn't eat supper. My stomach is still rolling and my head hurts. I am a mean, vicious person and there's a wickedness and feelings inside me that I never knew existed. I'm supposed to be a wuss. Who is this person sitting in my chair? I don't know her.

  I'm anxious for Chris Knellson and his group to arrive. I need Mick back. It's been days since I felt his touch. I don't know if I deserve him anymore. I don't know if I deserve any of the blessings I have.

  Hisa made strong, doctored tea and I'm sipping it now. Otherwise, I wouldn't sleep a wink.

  While I sip, I'll write.

  Rona and Kevin made a trip to their house today. They brought back two huge generators from their racing building. They also brought back a trailer load of auto tools, air compressors, all sorts of dragster equipment, and a couple of barrels containing alcohol fuel.

  The trailer they brought is really nice, even if it is their “old one.” There's sleeping quarters in the front of it and a nice full sized ramp on the back. It took both of them, plus Luke, Larson and an industrial hand dolly to get those fuel barrels loaded.

  They also brought a gasoline golf cart for Pop and the garden crew so they could load lots of baskets and bring them to the house without having to make several trips.

  They gathered a lot of things from the house as well, and let the boys bring home some of their things. Let me tell you, there are plenty of gaming stations and games around here now.

  Isaac, Jesse, and Soo took the gasoline tanker to the truck stop to fill the big gasoline tank as well as the truck's tank. It took two hours and a bunch of water hoses to fill the tanker.

  I found out from Jeremy that the refrigeration trailer is called a reefer. That sounds weird. Anyway, its diesel tank has been topped

  Isaac and Soo boarded up every window on the little wooden buildings that face the front of the property.

  Emma, Valerie, and Rebecca froze and preserved leeks.

  They removed the outer layer, rinsed them, sliced them, and then vacuum sealed them using the Food saver device. Emma said they'll be good for five or six months in the freezer. They also plan to dry quite a few batches in the dehydrator to store for winter.

  They'll be working on leeks for a couple of days and then they'll work on cabbage. It can be made into sauerkraut, dehydrated, or frozen as well.

  Nicholas and Deuce have been riding the horses and trying to train them. The veterinarian from Major Knellson's unit left a couple of books on caring for horses and cattle, and the boys are devouring them.

  They're also taking care of the goats, cows, and chickens. The chickens Major Knellson left have started laying eggs, so we're doing better on the fresh egg business.

  We lost four or five chicks to hawks. The rest of them are growing well and Jesse put a layer of chicken wire over the top of the run so no more hawks could get in.

  I hear that the pigs are growin' like crazy. That's good news.

  Emma has several edible flower beds around her little house. I can't wait to get Mick back and feed him flowers.

  The fly poison is working well in the barn and in front of the pig pen. There's still a lot of flies, but the population is a lot thinner than I remember it being last year. No one has spotted any HDI flies but everyone has been wearing thin, long sleeved shirts when they're working outside, along with their insect repellant.

  I can't think of anything else and I'm starting to nod a little. I think Hisa spiked that tea well. I'm having trouble with my eyes.

  I'm climbing in bed with Carisa. She's been sleeping in here since Mick's been gone.

  I plan to seriously pray for my soul and ask God to bring the “real me” back.

  Bye for now.

  Sunday, April 13

  Major Knellson and his crew have arrived. They brought four vehicles along. There were two small vehicles and two large trucks that remind me of the delivery truck.

  The Major brought two extra men to escort Sniper. He was loaded into one of the smaller vehicles and taken somewhere. I don't know where and I don't care. I never want to see his face again.

  No one asked about his injuries.

  Emma and Marisa made copious amounts of pancakes for breakfast, and sent half of them to the Special Forces guys.

  They're camped in tents behind Emma's building. I saw several of them this morning in the radio building with Josie, Ian, and Rick. Major Chris Knellson has his own tent and a young soldier at his beck and call. I believe Josie staye
d with him last night. I think Josie likes him more than she's willing to admit.

  They're preparing and planning. I believe they'll head out tonight, but I'm not sure and none of them would tell me. That includes Josie, Rick, and Ian.

  Josie and Major Knellson (oh please, I'm just gonna call him Chris) will stay in camp and man the radio building.

  The only thing I can do is worry, pace, and try to find something to do. I'm trying to send vibes to Mick that we're coming for him. I know he's alive. I can feel it.

  Carisa's about to come apart at the seams, so I sent her with Shawna and Lisa to practice martial arts and archery all day. Nicholas, Jesse, Deuce, Luke, Larson, Anna, and Sabrina are with them.

  Elaine's still in bed and won't speak to anyone except Jesse.

  I'm doctored up with a blue Xanax. Otherwise, I'd be pulling my hair out and probably someone else's as well.

  Chris said that none of us are allowed in town today. The Special soldiers will be working in and around there. He says it may take two days to get Mick back because the group has recon and planning to do based on the information they gather and observe.

  One of the small vehicles pulled out and headed toward town. I don't know how many soldiers are in it, or what they're gonna be doing, but I'm assuming it's a recon mission.

  I don't know if I can stand it. Maybe Hisa will knock me out for two days. Whatcha think? Nope? I don't think she will either.

  I clung to Carisa and Marisa all morning, and Amber sat in Mick's recliner with me while breakfast was being prepared.

  I'm headed out to pretend I'm working and try to sneak around and find out things.

  See ya later.

  2:00 PM...

  The little vehicle that left this morning returned, refueled, and headed back out with three fresh soldiers on board. I hoped they got lots of information. I asked Chris to, at least, tell me if they'd found where Mick was being held. He said yes. HE SAID YES!