by Payne, T. L.
Isabella’s hair was pulled back and stuffed inside a ball cap. She wore an oversized T-shirt, baggy jeans, and Timberland style boots. Will did a double-take. She looked like a dude.
“Is that a five o’clock shadow on your cheeks?” Will leaned in to get a closer look. Her previously feminine eyebrows now appeared bushy and unkempt.
“It’s amazing what you can do with an eyebrow pencil.”
“Why?”
“Women were targets for all sorts of perverts before all this lawlessness. I don’t want to stand out as weak. From a distance, someone will think we’re just three dudes. It might deter trouble. At least, that’s the hope.”
The corners of Will’s mouth tilted up in a weak smile. “It could work, I guess.” He doubted it would fool anyone up close, though he hoped to avoid people in general as much as possible.
“I think you look good as a guy,” Cayden said.
Isabella laughed. “Thanks. I think.”
Cayden pointed at her legs. “You still walk like a girl.”
“Oh, yeah. Should I walk like this?” Isabella stood with her legs squared with her shoulders and moved like a bowlegged cowboy from a spaghetti western.
Cayden chuckled. “No. Definitely do not walk like that.”
“I’m with Cayden. You walk like that and you’ll attract attention for sure,” Will said, throwing a backpack over his shoulder. He pulled open the door and came face to face with Gus.
“Well, hello,” Gus said. “We came to see if you guys were heading out anytime soon?”
Jaz stood beside him. She was not disguised as a man. In fact, there’d be no mistaking her for a dude in her tight shorts and a tank top. A small baby bump was barely visible. If he hadn’t known she was pregnant, he might not have even noticed. At least she was wearing running shoes. No doubt, within five minutes outside, she’d regret not covering up every inch of her skin. The mosquitoes after a hurricane were relentless.
“We’re heading out now. I was going to go see if I could locate that bike you told me about and we’ll see if we can find a couple more on our way,” Will said.
Jaz’s face lit up. “How about a ride in a car?”
“You found a running car?” Isabella asked.
“We did. Well, a crew cab pickup truck. It’s old and beat up, but it will fit all our stuff and still have room for the three of you.”
Isabella turned to Will. Her eyes were brighter than he’d ever seen them. “Did you hear that? I don’t have to walk around like a dude and worry about getting attacked by perverts.”
“Where did you say you were going?” Will said. He didn’t want to burst her bubble, but if they weren’t heading in the same direction, it wouldn’t work.
“My mom lives in Liberty,” Jaz said.
“See, Will. That’s sort of on the way to Louisiana,” Isabella said.
It was forty miles north of Interstate 10. They’d have to take US 90 into Louisiana. It wasn’t a deal-breaker since they’d be traveling by vehicle, at least to Liberty, but he wasn’t sure.
“We thought the Crosby Freeway would be the best road to take. It likely had less traffic on it when the event happened,” Gus said.
The more Will thought about it, the more he agreed. He just wasn’t as familiar with that route. He’d selected places along I-10 that they could stop and rest and maybe find supplies. He’d be blindly taking another way.
“You can have the truck after we reach my mom’s,” Jaz said. Gus’s head whipped around, a look of surprise filling his face. She smiled, and his features softened.
“Yeah. You can take the truck. It’ll be safer,” he said, casting a glance at Cayden.
A smile crossed Will’s face. Things were looking up. In a few hours, they’d be rolling into Vincent, Louisiana. He hoped Savanah had something hot and spicy cooking. He was dying for gumbo and boudin.
Two
Isabella
Day Seven
Isabella found it challenging to do anything with her left hand in a splint and her right forearm sore from second-degree burns. Getting dressed had taken far longer than normal, and applying the makeup to disguise herself was painful. She hadn’t been at all looking forward to walking all the way to Louisiana, so when Jaz and Gus showed up offering them a ride, she’d been beyond thrilled.
Isabella made one last sweep of her apartment while Will and Cayden carried their supplies down to the truck. She stared at the framed photos of her family lined up on top of her chest of drawers, running a finger across a black-and-white photo of her mother when she was Isabella’s age. She’d been beautiful and lively. Tears welled in Isabella’s eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Would she ever see her parents again? Were they safe?
Her mother kept a small garden and a few hens. They should have food for a little while. But knowing her mother, she’d share with the neighbors so it wouldn’t last that long. If her sister were smart, she’d take her family to their parents’ place. Oklahoma City was no Houston, but by now, people there would be desperate enough to be dangerous.
The small town of Chickasha, Oklahoma, where Isabella was raised, was filled with friendly and generous people. They always knew their neighbors and often ate with them following church on Sundays. It had been such a shock to her when she’d moved to Houston and people were so standoffish. It had taken her a while to adjust and not have her feelings hurt when people didn’t respond to her friendly greetings. Soon she learned that people who lived in cities the size of Houston just weren’t as trusting of strangers as she was.
She picked up her nephew’s baby picture. He was five years old now. Old enough to understand that things were different. Her heart hurt thinking of him living through this nightmare. What type of childhood would he have if the lights didn’t come back on soon? What about Cayden? He had turned thirteen on the day of the EMP. How different would life be for him than when she was a teen? There’d be no Friday night football games, no homecoming dances, and no graduation. Will had said that his sister homeschooled her children so at least Cayden could continue his education. She was sure that Will would do everything he could to give him as normal a life as possible. She just wasn’t sure what their new normal would look like.
“Isabella, we’re ready,” Cayden called from the living room.
In a few hours, they would be in Louisiana, and she’d be meeting Will’s family. She almost felt guilty that she had somewhere like that to go, not knowing if her own family was going hungry. How long could someone go without food? She couldn’t stop thinking about them. Maybe after we get to Savanah’s, I can take the truck and go get them. Would it be too rude to ask her to take on several more people?
“Okay, I’m coming,” Isabella called back.
She scooped up her family photos and shoved them into the backpack with all the socks and panties from her drawers. Since they wouldn’t be walking now, she could bring more than two pairs. Isabella glanced in the mirror as she turned to exit her bedroom, surprised by how effective her disguise was and how much she looked like a guy. She patted her chest and considered loosening the ace bandages binding her breasts. She raised her shirt, found the end of the bandage, then stopped. Will’s Jeep had been carjacked, leaving them on foot. If that happened again, she’d still need the disguise. Out of habit, she flicked the light switch off before closing the bedroom door.
“Otis! Here kitty, kitty!” she called. Isabella stopped at the door to the guest room and waited for the black-and-white cat to emerge. “Otis, come on, buddy.” There was no sign of him. He always came when she called him.
“Cayden, is Otis in his spot in the kitchen?” she asked as she walked down the short hall leading to the living room.
“I haven’t seen him today.”
Isabella stopped still. She hadn’t either. Her head pivoted toward the open window where a hole had appeared in the screen. Isabella ran over and touched the spot. “Otis must have clawed his way out sometime in the night.”
“Oh
no,” Cayden said. “I’ll help you look for him.”
“He might be in the woods behind the apartments. He goes there when he escapes. If he’s up a tree again, I’m going to…”
Isabella and Cayden raced past Will and Gus as they were loading the truck to search under cars and around piles of debris. After searching the grounds around Isabella’s apartment and the woods behind the complex, Cayden finally found Otis stalking birds near the playground.
“You scared me to death, you bad boy,” Isabella scolded the cat. Once Otis was tucked inside his carrier, Isabella joined Cayden near the truck.
“Let’s get the heck out of here,” she said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m so glad we’re not walking or taking bikes,” Cayden said.
“You and me both, buddy.”
“We could actually be there by lunch. I bet Aunt Savanah has bread baking right now. I can almost smell it.”
“Stop! You’re making my stomach growl,” Isabella said.
Will and Gus spread a tarp over the bed of the truck, concealing all their belongings. It looked like Jaz had packed their whole apartment. Isabella wondered if the sight would make them a bigger target like a running vehicle wasn’t enough to attract attention.
Isabella awkwardly grabbed a handhold with her right hand to pull herself up into the back passenger seat of the old pickup. Cayden placed the cat carrier on the floorboard at her feet. There wasn’t much room to stretch her injured leg. She’d just have to grin and bear it until they reached their destination.
“What’s with the disguise?” Jaz asked as she climbed into the front passenger seat.
“I’m hoping to not become a victim out there.”
“Well, that will probably do it. Sorry to say, but you make a cute dude.”
Isabella chuckled. “Thanks.”
Cayden walked around and climbed into the middle seat next to Isabella. He placed his book in his lap and looked for a seat belt. “How old is this thing? Does it even have seat belts?”
“Old, I think. Maybe from the seventies. My mom said they didn’t have seat belts when she was a kid. It’s a wonder they survived, the way my grandpa drove,” Jaz said.
“My great grandpa’s Jeep had seat belts and that was from the seventies.”
Isabella twisted and dug inside in the crack between the seats, finally finding the strap for the middle belt.
“Here,” she said. “Buckle up for safety.”
“My mom used to say that,” Cayden said, his voice low.
“I bet you miss her,” Jaz said. “How’d she die?”
Isabella winced. That wasn’t something she thought people should ask a kid. The boy had lost his mother. It was likely too painful to talk about.
“Car accident,” Cayden said, picking up his book and turning to a dog-eared page.
“Sorry. That sucks,” Jaz said.
Something loud banged in the back of the truck. Isabella jumped and spun in her seat to see Gus dropping a long, thick chain into the bed. Her heart was still racing when he climbed in the pickup’s cab. “What is that for?”
“In case we need it. It came with the truck,” Gus said. “Is everyone ready?”
“Freaking more than ready,” Jaz said.
“Absolutely,” Will said, climbing into the seat next to Cayden.
His smile warmed her heart. She couldn’t recall ever seeing his teeth. He had a nice face. A flush grew behind her cheeks as she recalled their kiss, and she turned away.
“Let’s get the heck out of here,” Jaz said as Gus put the truck into gear and pulled from the parking space in front of their building.
Kevin’s bandmates stood at the second-floor landing. Isabella raised her hand and waved. They waved back, but none of them were smiling. She regretted leaving them there like that. They might have been able to make room for them in the pickup’s bed, but it wasn’t her truck, and where would they take them anyway. She couldn’t be responsible for every person she knew. Hell, she couldn’t even take care of herself at the moment. They’d have to find their own way home or stay and fight it out with the rest of the desperate residents of Houston.
As the truck turned out of the parking lot onto the main road, a pit formed in Isabella's stomach. Dread crept up on her—the dread of the devastation they would see and the unknown dangers they faced. A couple of hours’ drive pre-apocalypse would have been no big deal, but now that same trip could be filled with danger around every turn.
Three
Will
Day Seven
There were some tense moments as the truck rolled through Isabella’s neighborhood, heading toward the freeway. Some residents were camping in tents on their front lawns due to their homes’ conditions following the hurricane. Now that the floodwater had receded, large groups had made camp in the parking lot of the grocery store where Will and Gus had been the day before. Will wondered how long they would wait around for help to arrive before leaving to find better resources. He doubted much was left inside the store and with that many people to feed, it wouldn’t be long before they ran out completely.
The on-ramp for the Gulf Freeway was filled with abandoned vehicles. Beyond them, the interchange had been blown up. They wouldn’t be taking that route. After backtracking a few blocks, they headed east to hop onto Interstate 610. When Gus suddenly stomped on the brakes, Will’s head whipped around to see why.
“Military vehicles up ahead,” Gus said.
“Are they ours?” Isabella asked.
Gus glanced back over his shoulder at her. “Who else’s would they be?”
“Um… I don’t know.”
Will leaned forward to get a look for himself just as they entered the cross street. They were American. He felt the tension ease and sat back as they disappeared from view. A moment later, a loud explosion rumbled through the area and black smoke rose above a row of businesses ahead. Gus floored it and sped through the intersection. Isabella’s eyes were wide, and her hand covered her mouth. Cayden was stiff in his seat. The event had freaked them all out.
Will craned his neck to see what had caused the explosion. One of the Humvees in the middle of the convoy was on fire. The two behind it stopped in the middle of the street. He didn’t have time to see if there were enemy fighters in the area. His head swiveled back and forth, searching for any insurgents as Gus sped down the street, swerving in and out of cars and debris left in the road by the hurricane.
“That was freaking close,” Isabella said, her hand still covering her mouth.
“Too close,” Will said, leaning back in his seat. He placed his hand on Cayden’s knee, feeling him trembling. He couldn’t wait to say good riddance to Houston and the chaos it had devolved into.
“What was that?” Jaz asked. “Did the military just blow something up?”
Will thought about telling her the truth, but if he did, he’d need to tell her all of it. He didn’t want to scare them any more than they already were. They needed clear heads for whatever they faced ahead.
“Maybe,” he said finally.
They were quiet for the next few blocks as everyone took in the damage from the storm. The destruction was massive. Shingles had been blown off and windows were broken. Trash and debris were everywhere. How would the people of Houston ever recover? Could she? Would “Texas tough” be enough this time? Maybe, if they survived the insurgency.
Gus turned the corner at the next traffic signal and again slammed on the brakes.
“What now?” Isabella asked as they were thrown forward by the inertia.
Gus pointed to two small children standing in the middle of the road. The baby, likely no more than a year old, was completely naked. The older child, a girl around six or seven, was dressed in shorts and barefoot. The girl’s eyes were as big as saucers as she eyed the truck in front of her. The dark-haired baby cried when she sat him down on the ground. The door to the truck opened, and Jaz slid out. She slowly approached them, speaking softly in Spanish
. They responded, and Jaz held out her hand.
“Gus, get me that box of crackers and some tuna,” she said.
“This is going to be a very long trip,” Gus mumbled as he exited the vehicle and went around to the truck’s bed. A moment later, Jaz was serving the children tuna on crackers and some bottled water.
“She’s going to want to take them with us. Just watch,” Gus said as he got back in.
Isabella leaned forward. “Where are their parents?”
“They said they went looking for food and didn’t come back.”
“That’s awful. Poor things.”
“Jaz, we can’t just sit here in the middle of the road like this. We’re a freaking target for a carjacking,” Gus called out of the window.
Will had a flashback of his own carjacking. Having the Jeep stolen was bad, but the terror he’d felt with his son being taken with it was beyond terrifying. He’d replayed the moment over and over in his mind trying to figure out what he could have done differently to save both Cayden and the Jeep. It had taken him by such surprise. When the police officers grabbed the guy, he’d backed off, thinking they would get things under control. They hadn’t.
Jaz waved a dismissive hand in the air and continued feeding the children.
“This isn’t good, Gus. If she’s bringing the kids, she needs to get with it,” Will said.
Gus opened his door and was about to get out when Will spotted two men approaching. A bearded man dressed in camouflage print pants and a T-shirt with no sleeves waved his arms above his head.
“Gus. We have to go. We’re attracting attention,” Will said, pointing at the men.
“Jaz, let’s go!” Gus yelled as he slid down from his seat. “We’re going now. If you’re bringing the kids, grab them up, and let’s get the hell out of here.”
