Surviving The Grid (Survival Series Book 1)

by Kip Nelson

  “They’re all going to be disappointed. I hate to say it, because it’s a grim thing to think about, but a lot of people out there don’t have what it takes to make it in this world. I don’t want us to be like them,” he said.

  “I don’t want us to be like that either,” Brent said.

  While the father and son had been talking, Michelle had been nestled against Darren, keeping quiet. She closed her eyes and curled up against his chest. Darren was stroking her comfortingly.

  “Then let’s not be,” Darren said.

  “I love the both of you,” he kissed Michelle on the top of her head.

  “I know we’re going to get on each other’s nerves, and there are going to be a lot of times when you’re going to be frustrated with me, but I don’t want to let that take away from the experience of us living together like this. Being away from you so much has been killing me. It hasn’t been easy working two jobs, and then not being able to enjoy the time I do get with you because I’m so tired.

  “I need to tell you both a secret. When I was out in the city and it all went dark, I started to think about what might happen. At the time I figured it was just a power outage and the lights would come back on within a few hours, but as the night passed, I realized it was something more serious. I was scared, of course, but I also was excited.”

  Brent and Michelle stared at him with wide eyes, wondering how he could have been excited about the end of the world. Darren smiled.

  “I was excited,” he explained without having to hear them ask why, “because I knew I’d get to be spending more time with you. It’s not a fun thing, knowing that you have to work to live. There were so many things I knew I was missing out on, and the last thing I wanted to make you feel was that I was gone as well as your Mom. And even now, I know that it’s not a dream scenario to live in a place like this, but I get to be with you all day and every day, and that’s something that I cherish.”

  He smiled warmly at his children, basking in the glow of their love. Despite his exhaustion he felt as though his anguish had been soothed. Brent seemed a little more cheerful as well.

  “I’ll try not to be too scared,” Brent said, and then chuckled to himself, “I guess it wouldn’t have made much of a difference anyway. It’s not like I would have been able to outrun that animal. I’m so stupid for letting myself get so scared.”

  “It’s not stupid at all. It happens to everyone,” Darren said, thinking about his own paranoia. Both he and Brent had conjured up fears and let them invade their minds. It was important to steel himself against the pressure that was building up inside him. It was likely there had been no cough at all, and all this turmoil had been for nothing.

  Darren told Brent to get ready for another day’s hard work.

  “One of the main things I want to do is figure out how to fix a door to the mouth of the cave. At least then we don’t have to worry about any stray animals wandering in. That bramble isn’t going to keep out people forever, and if people do start coming around here, they’re going to see us at some point.”

  Brent nodded and rose. Darren then looked down at Michelle and cupped her face in his hands.

  “I love you,” he said, and kissed her forehead. Then, he pushed himself up and hoped that tonight he would at least get a decent night’s sleep.

  Chapter 18

  Darren and the kids settled into a comfortable rhythm over the following few days. Michelle was the one who found it the hardest to adjust to the new schedule, so she had to take frequent naps, but Darren and Brent managed quite well. The two of them worked hard together, and Brent became quite the skilled apprentice. The work that would have taken Darren days only took hours with Brent’s help.

  It took them a great deal of practice to figure out how to cut the wood in the right way, but they had little else to do with their time, so they were able to hone their skills at a quick pace. Their bodies did not adjust as quickly as their minds, though. Thick knots formed in their shoulders and backs. Darren longed for a warm soak.

  In the early hours of the morning, when the sun just had dawned and the sky looked as though it was bleeding, Darren and Brent would go out to cut wood from fallen trees. They ended up with a lot of different-sized pieces, but some of the trees were so huge they were able to saw down great sheets of wood. These became their beds. While they were still hard, they also were more comfortable than the uneven rocky ground.

  They worked their bodies so hard that by the end of the day they were ready to sleep. Michelle didn’t want to be left out either, of course. She wanted her own duties, so she was in charge of keeping the tools nice and neat (aside from the sharp ones), and of making sure that all their food and other equipment was stored neatly. Darren often watched her with amusement as she carried Applejack along by her side, explaining what she was doing.

  Either he or Brent always stayed with Michelle. Watching her was a delight, for she didn’t seem to be aware of the dangers that were present in the world. Her Daddy had told her that everything was going to be okay, and she trusted him.

  If only everything could have been that simple.

  The efforts to make the cave a comfortable environment weren’t going as well as Darren had planned. The image he had in his mind wasn’t the same as what was happening in reality. He knew from working on a construction site that plans were important, but he was lacking too many things to bring his vision to fruition.

  This could have led to much frustration, but the quality time he spent with his children more than made up for it. These days passed exactly as he had hoped, taking joy in them all being together, unburdened by thoughts of having to work or how they were going to have enough money to afford everything this month.

  In fact, Darren was convinced that even if someone came back to him and told him the world had been saved, he’d want to stay out here.

  They quickly had gone through all of the freshest food, and now had started in on the cans. Their contents weren’t too delicious, but food was food. Darren looked at the stockpile of cans and knew that at some point he would have to go out hunting. It had been a long time since he had prowled the forest for dinner, and he would have to teach Brent those skills too.

  The days blurred into each other. They would get up just as the sun was beginning to set and arrange the cave so it was nice and neat. Then Brent and Darren would get to work on whatever was needed. When it got darker they might go for a walk to stretch their legs and prevent themselves from developing cabin fever. Darren always was looking around at the sky to see if there were any pinpricks of light penetrating the darkness, but so far there weren’t any.

  They made a daily trip to the stream as well to keep themselves clean, and they used the stream to wash their clothes. It was important to keep themselves feeling fresh. With all the hard work that Brent and Darren were doing they sweated profusely, and the last thing any of them needed was to live in a cave that was filled with the stench of body odor.

  Brent always felt a little trepidation whenever they went to the stream for fear that the beast would return. Darren felt the same, although it was because of people. Aside from the family Brent had observed by the stream, they hadn’t seen any sign of other living people. The cough definitely seemed to have been the product of his own mind. As the days flowed into one another he felt more secure in his surroundings, even though he was sure that others would start coming into the forest, fleeing from the city.

  Sometimes he entertained the idea that the world had gotten itself back on its feet and he was living in ignorance, but he easily discounted that because he would have heard the roar of a car.

  Some days he spent looking down into the gorge, wondering if any of his ancient ancestors had stood in the same spot. They surely wouldn’t have been able to fathom the advances made in the modern world. But really there weren’t too many differences between himself and this imagined ancestor. They still loved, hurt, cared for their family. It was strange to think that not much separ
ated them, aside from the years that had passed.

  There still was plenty in this world to explore as well. Darren felt as though he was on some desert island like the Swiss Family Robinson, stranded with nothing but their wits and nature to help them survive.

  Being alone with Brent and Michelle actually suited him. It meant he wouldn’t have to deal with the danger of other people. Now that he knew Brent’s true feelings, Darren wondered if his attempts to suggest that Darren should open himself up to romance were actually a shield. Brent probably didn’t want his Dad to know that he still pined for his mother to return, especially since Darren had made it clear that he didn’t want anything to do with Stacie again.

  The only problem Darren could foresee with being alone was the effect it would have on Brent and Michelle. Darren had been worried about Brent for a long time because he seemed to spend more time with his friends online than he did outside. It was probably just a generational thing, but with little chance to socialize in the future they might never learn valuable skills. Michelle was the one he worried most about. At least Brent had had a chance to develop social skills. Michelle’s best friend was Applejack, and that couldn’t last a lifetime.

  When he looked at her he was filled with worry for her future. All he wanted was for her to have a good life. He hoped that he was enough.

  The nights were the time they came alive and then, through the daytime, they fell asleep. After a few days of this Darren realized how enslaved he had been to society’s way of ordering life. So much revolved around the working schedule when really there weren’t any rules, and for the first time in his life he felt truly free.

  The air was filled with the sense of freedom. It was sweet and clear every day. After the violent storm that had shocked the world, there had been nothing but blue skies. The area around them smelled earthy. He had to get used to the new textures and scents around him, much harder than the soft, friendly fragrances that were bottled up in air fresheners.

  All in all, Darren felt content. There was no trouble around, and he could allow himself to be immersed in the blissful feeling of a new world. When he fell asleep he often imagined paradise, and every day they grew closer to it.

  “So, have you gotten over the withdrawal from your games yet?” Darren asked one night when he and Brent were getting ready.

  “My thumbs still are twitching. I swear, if we ever get back home and things go back to normal you aren’t going to see me for a few days. I have a lot to catch up on,” Brent said.

  “I bet a lot of people were upset they didn’t have access to Facebook or Twitter,” Darren said.

  “I’m sure they have other things to worry about. Dad, how long can we really stay out here?”

  “I don’t know. As long as we need to, I hope.”

  “But, I mean, what about winter when it gets cold? What about when the food runs out? What if--”

  Darren held up his hand, gesturing for Brent to stop talking.

  “There are a million things that could go wrong,” Darren said, “and we shouldn’t let them rule our thoughts. I’m not saying this place is perfect, but it has a lot going for it. And don’t forget that a long time ago people just like you and me lived in caves, and they managed to do alright for themselves.”

  “They were hardly like us,” Brent scoffed.

  “They had arms and legs, families, imaginations; they probably had games as well. Survival is in our DNA. It just so happens that we developed a lot of technology to help us in that regard, and that led us to focusing our energies in different areas. All we need to do is embrace this side of ourselves and we will be fine. Winters have come and gone before, we can endure them. If we need to leave this place, for whatever reason, then we’ll find somewhere new. There’s a whole planet out there, and I’m sure we can find some small part of it and make it our own.”

  Brent seemed reassured by his father’s words and was in much better spirits after their argument. Darren looked upon his children with pride, knowing they were thriving in the face of adversity because of him and the knowledge he had imparted. He grudgingly acknowledged that Stacie had some part to play as well, although it was only minimal.

  When Darren could, he played with Michelle. The cave was big enough to play hide and seek, although Darren had to twist his body around to try hiding himself. Michelle often asked if they could go out to the forest in the daytime and play. Darren reluctantly told her no, that they had to stay inside for the time being. It killed him to see the disappointment on her face, but she took his word for it and didn’t question him.

  In the wee hours of the night he took her out on walks, but there was too much to be done to play. He tried to tell her about life and impart his wisdom, but she wasn’t really paying attention. She was too young for that. It was a shame, because he wanted to teach her everything he knew in case the unthinkable happened. It made him long for a journal because then he could have written down his thoughts, and if anything happened to them, there would at least be some record of what they had been through.

  Sometimes in life the only thing that matters is what we leave behind. Darren had given Brent and Michelle to the world, but there was so much more he wanted to give to them. It almost broke his heart to think about all the things they never would be able to enjoy, such as going to a midnight showing of a movie, or eating ice cream on the beach, or flying across the country, looking at the world below you, so small it almost seemed as though you could step from state to state.

  One early morning just before dawn, when Brent had gone outside and Darren and Michelle had been left in the cave, Darren was playing at a make believe tea party with Michelle. The only ones present were the two of them, Applejack, and a rock that Michelle had taken a liking to. When Darren had asked her why she had chosen that particular rock out of all the others she hadn’t been able to provide him with a rational answer, but it seemed to make sense to her.

  Darren was comforting her because she missed her stuffed animals and other toys.

  “I’m sure they miss you as well,” Darren said, “but they’re taking care of each other, just like we’re taking care of each other.”

  No matter how much he tried to explain it, she still was sad, and wished that she could return home. Darren hated saying no to her, but he had little choice. Their tea party was interrupted by Brent rushing back so quickly that he almost got tangled up in the brambles and tumbled right into the cave. There was a shocked look on his face, one that chilled Darren to the bone.

  “Dad! There’s something you need to see!” he said. Darren sensed the urgency in his voice. He looked down at Michelle and picked her up, even though he didn’t think it would be suitable for her eyes. He couldn’t leave her in the cave alone, though.

  As they were walking, Darren asked Brent what he’d seen. Brent just told him to see for himself, which annoyed Darren, but he didn’t make a point of saying so since Brent seemed so shaken.

  They walked into the forest. Darren scanned the area, trying to see what he should be so afraid of, when Brent suddenly stopped and pointed. At the foot of a tree was a huge dog. Michelle took one look at it and cried out. Darren shielded her eyes. Its fur was stained with blood, and it laid lifelessly on the ground.

  “It’s the same one that chased after me the other day. I was out here and I caught sight of it. I almost jumped out of my skin until I realized it wasn’t moving. But it gets worse, take a closer look,” Brent said.

  Darren handed Michelle over to her brother and crept forward. The dog didn’t look as though it had been dead for very long, but there were flies buzzing around the corpse. Its beady eyes looked at him just as the eyes of the dead man in the truck had. It was completely unnerving. Darren cast his gaze over the dog’s body, then gasped as he realized why Brent had brought him out here.

  There was a thin cut across the dog’s throat, coated in blood now. The cut only could have come from a knife, and only could have been made by a human.

  Th
ey weren’t alone in paradise.

  Chapter 19

  “We have to get back to the cave,” Darren said.

  He turned his back on the dead dog and took Michelle from Brent’s arms. He walked with urgency back the way he came. The fear and paranoia that had fled from his mind had returned in full force. His heart raced, and it felt as though eyes were upon him from every direction, watching his every move.

  And they had left the cave unguarded.

  He was relieved to see the bramble still in its place when he returned, and that the cave was empty. Darren placed Michelle down and paced.

  “What does it mean?” Brent asked.

  “It means there are other people out there. How long for? I don’t know. I should have been more careful, should have watched the area for any sign of movement. I was so sure that I’d be able to notice any activity I didn’t think to check. It’s been so quiet here. I didn’t want to seem paranoid…”

  “Dad?” Brent asked. Darren stopped pacing and looked at his son, who was worried.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to panic. I just hate the thought that people could know about us. Chances are that our plan has worked. I’m thinking that whoever these people are, if indeed it is more than one person, they’re living through the days. We’ve been careful to go out mostly at night, and we haven’t seen anyone around here. I doubt they even know we exist,” Darren said, more to try convincing himself than anyone else.

  Inwardly, he cursed himself for letting go of his paranoia. It had been there for a reason. Now, he wondered if there was in fact more to that cough than there had seemed to be. He knew he had heard something. He never should have given up without examining it fully.