“We haven’t forgot.” Caroline said. “We ain’t. It’s just that this is all we can do for now. Some of us don’t have that choice. Most of our families is right here.” She glanced at Tommy. “We have to stay with them. Do what’s right for them.” She looked at him meaningfully, and Josh knew that she may actually understand.
Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a small pocketknife, and handed it to Caroline. It wasn’t the only one he was carrying, but he knew giving it up put him at a bit of a disadvantage nevertheless.
“Take it. Protect yourself. For your family.” He stated, simply, walking out the door before she could even thank him. She has her family. I have to find mine.
CHAPTER FOUR
Josh looked around as he went outside, once more double guessing himself until he thought of Emily’s face. He looked out at the water, and realized just how bad it’d be if he gave up now. She’s stuck over there. Wondering. He thought to himself, quietly. That’s when he didn’t hear the chuckling behind him.
“You really think it’ll be that easy?” The guy from before was still standing there on the car, looking at him. “There really are very few boats left, and people just don’t want to part with them. Unless you have something to trade, and I doubt you do, I just don’t see you getting over there. You already gave up your biggest trade you had.” His voice was leering, and just nasty. The man didn’t look all that much better.
His hair was slimy looking, and his skin was tough and yet dirty looking as well. To Josh the man just screamed bad news even before he could see him, but when he could it was just all the more obvious.
“What would that be?” He said, putting his hand in his pocket over his knife, just waiting cautiously.
“The woman, of course.” He said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Don’t you see it? Women and goods are going to be what people trade.” He sneered at Josh, as if he were a child that couldn’t understand the ways of the world.
“You don’t trade people.” Josh said sternly, thinking of his mother or Emily being traded to a scumbag like this. His knife was at the ready, and yet the man did nothing but laugh.
“You didn’t. That’s what you mean. We had stopped trading people.” He just smiled that slimy smile at Josh. “You see it too, don’t you? Look in there. There are people acting like we’re in the Middle Ages, drinking ale as tavern wenches bring them more, and it’s more of an inn than a hotel. It’s going back, boy.” He said, looking at him and then over the waters.
“Maybe you do belong over there, but you’re stuck here. Don’t expect it to be different. This island doesn’t belong to God anymore. This world don’t either. The skies were red, boy.” He looks at him. “So what do you have to trade?” He asked him, eying him up carefully.
“Show me the boat, and I’ll show you what I have.” Josh told him sternly, looking him over. The man eyed him, but nodded.
“My shift’s about over anyways.” He stated, as if he wasn’t giving in to Josh’s demands at all. “Jack!” He called, and yet another man that Josh didn’t trust came over to sit on the hood of the car and watch over.
“I’ll be back. It’s about your turn anyways.” The man shrugged and started off, and out the gate, tossing the keys back to Jack. Soon they were walking in silence towards the docks.
Most of the boats had already been sunk, broken, or just the keys were nowhere to be found. With things being as motorized in the day and age they lived in, it was harder to just get a boat out on the water and running. The sailboats didn’t survive the wave, and the few people that had keys to the boats were most likely dead, not going to the docks, or already took the boats away. It was really that simple, and it left people like Josh out of luck.
Eventually they came to a shed, where there was a padlock. For a moment, Josh just gave up hope. There was nothing in there that could possibly be worth the look on the man’s face, but then he saw the man pull out the key. It made Josh incredibly suspicious, but he waited.
As the doors opened, he was able to see a kayak. There were obviously a few more, and as the man went to go in, expecting Josh to follow, Josh knew that this was his only chance. Taking a piece of wood that washed up nearby, he hit the man in the head once, and then in the back, and the head once more. Josh waited a moment, expecting him to move, but he never did.
Josh didn’t have the heart to see if the man was dead or alive, and he knew that he really didn’t want to know. We don’t need men like that when we’re rebuilding anyways. He tried to convince himself, and eventually he reached into the man’s pockets. He took yet another pocket knife, some matches, cigarettes which would later come in handy most likely, and some gum. It wasn’t much, but perhaps it’d be enough to trade later on. He stored them in his bag before he started to haul a kayak and all the supplies he’d need out of the area. Someone might come looking for him. Now where to go?
Luckily, he had spent time exploring the island, and so he decided to take to the sand dunes for the night, hoping they’d provide shelter. Don’t let me get jiggers. Don’t let me get jiggers. He picked the kayak up as much as he could, meaning to conceal where he was going. Once in the dunes, he bunkered down for the night as much as he could, knowing there was no way he’d make the journey this tired and this late at night. Looking up at the moon he was lost in thought until he drifted to sleep. I’m coming for you, Em.
CHAPTER FIVE
The morning sun rose, unforgiving and Josh thought once more how he worried that there wasn’t any rain at all since everything got caught up. What if we’re going to go through a drought? He thought, worried about it, but before long he put the thought out of his mind. Instead, he looked at the kayak that he had in front of him and his backpack. There were two seats to the kayak, and he decided he’d nestle his backpack in one because otherwise it’d just get a little too heavy on one side.
Listening for people, he waited a moment. That’s when Josh heard them. They had found the unconscious body, and he knew that someone would probably come looking for him. Scum like that travel in numbers. He thought bitterly, thinking about Tommy and Caroline and how they had to fend for themselves because good people just didn’t find others.
Josh decided to go over to the other side to launch the kayak because he’d still be covered by the sand dunes so that no one would see him. He was lucky for that, as Josh didn’t want to deal with any confrontation. He was determined to get to the mainland and find his family, but that’s when a tremor started once more and the waves began to get rocky.
Josh started to fall, and he landed face first in the sand. He heard others cry out from where the shed with the kayaks as well, but Josh couldn’t go look no matter what. He worked on sitting there and securing his backpack into the seat so that he wouldn’t lose his supplies. Other than that, Josh sat there waiting for the tremors to subside. In the distance he could hear people crying out again, and he couldn’t help but wonder what building had fallen this time. It only made him feel even more determined to start getting this journey underway.
He took something from his bag before he went, to make sure that he had energy for what he was about to embark on. Taking a few pieces of dried jerky and a little bit of water, Josh made sure that there was something on his stomach since he didn’t eat much last night.
Once the tremors settled he waited a minute, knowing the waters probably wouldn’t calm all too quickly and even if they did, this was the perfect time to go. So he did. He got in, and he started off. Josh thanked heaven that he was still in good enough shape to feel as if he could cross this without a ferry, but he knew that it wouldn’t be too easy.
The waters weren’t too hard, even though they were choppy at the beginning. Josh made sure to circle around and avoid any area that was too shallow. The hardest part was really getting out there without anyone noticing or making too much noise. However, he finally managed to do so. Once he was out on the waters, it felt like he was leaving everything behind with th
e hope of starting again in whatever was left.
There has to be something out there. It’s not like the world just imploded. There’s something and someone. Just probably not in the immediate area. He reasoned with himself, while he continued to cross to the mainland. The waters began to get choppy again, but he tried to stay calm, telling himself it was only a minor tremor. He knew that he was too far out to deal with swimming, especially if he was going to try to save the backpack. I’d have to start over, but I’d make it. Josh tried to stay determined throughout it all despite the worry of what he was doing.
It seemed like hours out there passed by, and he could feel himself burning in the unforgiving sun. He cursed himself for not putting a water bottle within reach despite packing them. His eyes started to blur, and it was like the sun was glinting off of the water, blinding him for some of it. Despite how tired he got, he knew he couldn’t let himself drift if he wanted to get to the mainland.
He was almost at shore after a while, and his muscles burned with exhaustion, but he wasn’t going to let himself give up. Soon he reached shore, and had to jump in the remaining water to get out, grabbing his backpack with him. There were people there, watching him, but they weren’t going to come see him. However, he could see that there was a man eying his backpack, which made him hold it even tighter. Frowning, he started to march despite his inner self protesting.
As he marched into the city and general harbor, he realized that they were even more destroyed than the island had been. There were more people here, more violence, more blood stains, and more broken homes and stores. Dead bodies had been kicked in alleyways, and it had been less than a week since the incident where everything started to fall apart. It was tearing at Josh’s insides. He ended up looking into the alleyway for a moment where he was passing an old shop he used to visit.
He saw an entire family laying there, covered in blood, rotting in the sun, and there were cats eating on them. They had been picked a part a little bit already, and it made him sick. He couldn’t help but wonder if he had passed them once on these streets. Looking at the mother and father, he was just sad, worrying that it could have been his own parents that met this fate, but then he saw the baby in the mother’s hands, or what was left of it. It looked like it had cracked open its head when she fell, and they had bullet wounds in their backs.
It made Josh shutter and keep going, tearing his eyes away from the horrible sight that would probably haunt his memory. There were dead people on the island too, but he thought that truly it wasn’t that bad on the mainland where they weren’t isolated, but Josh could see now that he was wrong. Everything that he had hoped would be different wasn’t. In some cases, it looked like the mainland had fared even worse.
His knife was on him, and he had it at the ready, but Josh didn’t have a gun. Right now, looking at the countless bodies, he wished that he did. Josh marched on, knowing that the sun was setting soon. He needed to get to his old house where Emily and his parents should be. He prayed they still were, but his hope was slowly diminishing. The devil seems to be everywhere. He thought grimly, but he couldn’t help but to pray that he was wrong.
CHAPTER SIX
The sun was setting as he got to his old home, and he saw that it, like many of the homes in the area, had mostly been destroyed. It upset him, but he dealt with it either way, trying to swallow the fear that was trying to consume him. He looked around, looking for a sign of life, but it looked like for the most part since this was one of the most destroyed parts of town, that there wasn’t that much life around here.
He jumped when a meow came from behind him. Turning around, he saw a yellow tabby cat that still looked fat. Of course you’re alive, Ginger. He thought as he looked at the family cat, which was fatter than what he remembered. He thought about the cats eating at the dead flesh in the alleyways as he ventured over here, and tried not to think about why Ginger would be so fat now. It sickened him to think about, but the image came unbidden, with Emily decomposing in their living room.
Instead, he tried to shake the thought away. He picked his way inside carefully, looking for the worst. As he looked for dead bodies of those he loved, he tried to harden his heart, but when he went further the smell of rot assaulted him, and it made him want to retch while tears welled up in his eyes. He thought he was going to lose it.
In the kitchen he saw his mother, bent over the stove, with the cabinet on top of her form. There was blood dried on her mouth. Josh prayed that she died quickly, but looking at her form, with blood on the tile where her fingers were, he didn’t hold out much hope for that.
He looked away, not knowing what else to do. There was nothing to do right now. He had to find his father and Emily. He went further into the house, and his dad was there in his study which was half broken as well. A tree had fallen through the house from the backyard, and it had went through the wall. His dad did look like he died quickly. One of his granite bookends looked like it had fallen on his head. He was simply there, dead on the ground. Once more, Josh tried to keep from crying.
How many times did she cry out for him? For Emily. For someone before she gave up. Before she died. He tried not to think about it, but the thoughts were assaulting him. No matter how many rooms he went to, Emily wasn’t there. It caused him to panic, and he knew that he’d have to come back later if he could to bury his parents, but now wasn’t the time. He went to the cupboards, grabbing some supplies.
Please be alive. He thought, picturing his sister’s face staring up at him with a smile on the day he left. How she had told him to come back and visit soon, and yet he just hadn’t found the time to do more than a phone call while he tried to settle in to his new life on the island. It was probably one of his biggest regrets as he looked at his mother’s body on the ground. They’d want me to find her. He thought, convincing himself that he just couldn’t waste any more time here at all. Josh felt that he had to find Emily, and he was scared that all he’d find was her body.
He shook the thought from his mind, and he made himself go into another room, further away from the smell of rot. It wasn’t the only time he smelled rot, but he didn’t like the idea that it was his parents in the other room. It actually made Josh feel sick.
So he let himself sleep, with his hand on his knife and his backpack under his head. It wasn’t the most comfortable place in the world, but it was better than being out and about in an area that he was no longer as familiar with as he once was. Josh thought it was best to stick with the same routine that he had while he was on the island.
Hours could have passed, or it may have only been a half hour, but when Josh woke up he had no idea how long he had been out. He just knew that the smell of rot was still around him, and that the moon was still in the sky. Maybe I should look in the morning. Josh thought to himself, trying to figure out the best course of action. That’s when he thought of Caroline before and Tommy. I have to go get her. I have to try to find her. I’ll sleep more after looking.
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Josh made sure to have a small meal before continuing, as well as making sure that he had some water. Taking the bag with him, and making sure to have his knife and a flashlight in his pocket, Josh decided to set off.
This part of the city seemed to be too broken for people to be inhabiting still, but he did hear a few people off in the distance. There were babies crying still, people talking, and there was even the smell of food wafting in the air, meaning someone was cooking. He tried to remind himself he just ate, but Josh had been rationing his food so long he couldn’t help when his stomach growled.
The further out he got the busier the city became. It seemed like only younger men and a few older were out on the streets. Women and children seemed to be either hiding or just not around anymore. Josh made sure to stay out of sight for a long time, but he did realize that he couldn’t stay out of sight for long. It seemed like small areas were forming just like the hotel on the island. Sadly, they’re closer together.
> Josh just stayed out of sight before he could dodge into one of these establishments, which was a small bed and breakfast that was quite popular before everything happened. Josh put on his best smile as someone greeted him, but he didn’t realize that he was greeted with a gun.
“What do you want?” The woman asked him, her red hair glinting slightly in the dimly lit candles everywhere. The sun had faded long ago, but there were people still up. All of them looked unfriendly.
“To talk.” He said, trying to keep his voice even and not make it obvious that he was reaching for his knife in case things went sour, even if it was a long shot to beat a gun.
“That’s the guy that came in a kayak.” Someone spoke up, and it was obviously a male voice, but Josh didn’t have the time to worry about looking for who it was. He couldn’t even tell if the man was on his side or not. Instead, he just sighed, waiting for the woman to make her decision.
“Offer him a seat, Meredith.” An older man spoke, walking up and putting his hand on her shoulder. She reluctantly lowered the gun, and the guy motioned for him to sit down.
“It’s a night watch right now, so you better talk quickly. We’re not offering hospitality or provisions if that’s what you’re here for. We have enough people.” He stated gruffly. Josh just shook his head, and sat a chair close to the door.
“I just want to ask about what’s happened. The island lost all communication.” He stated simply, trying to keep his voice steady and emotionless.
“The end of the world.” Someone said obnoxiously from the back, but the older gentleman raised his hand for silence.
“Only as we know it.” He stated, looking Josh in the eye. “We lost communication too after reports of tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, sinkholes, and avalanches went on for days. We didn’t get a reason why. Just that it happened. With the death count racking up here and everywhere else, everyone’s gone a little stupid. We’re trying to be reasonable and wait for order to return, but we’re preparing for the worst too. People went really crazy.” He said, his voice even as if he had repeated this multiple times.
Devil's Island (Preppers Fiction): Indecision is Worse Than Fear (Preppers Fiction - Island Fiction - Survival - Apocalyptic Fiction) Page 2
