Other Side

by Rose, Isabella C.

  Buck cocked his rifle as Hugh opened the door for him. Hugh held up a hand to stop the rest of us from charging in and from any of us getting hurt in the process. We heard yelling from the other room and Buck came back to let us in.

  Inside the theater Roth was laid out on the floor unconscious. I moved stealthily to his side, giving him a little not-so-soft kick. Roth groaned.

  “I like you, youngen,” Buck said laughing.

  “What now?” Annette said.

  “We will keep him in one of the rooms down here for now. Locked in, of course. We can discuss what to do with him after we get the supplies out of the truck. We are a team,” Hugh said, winking at me. “Jaime, help me move him to the room at the end of the hall. Annette honey, please remove anything he could use as a weapon.”

  Annette disappeared down the hall to one of the doors I had not been into. Jaime and his dad dragged the unconscious Roth to the room, flopping him on the bed. The room here was a stark difference to the upstairs bedrooms. The walls were a plain white; the bed had no frame—it sat directly on the floor, Asian style. One end table sat next to the bed. That was all that was left in the room. No comforts adorned the room. Was this an unfinished part of the house? The room seemed to have not have wall furnishing or nails that I could see. I noticed the door was thicker than the rest too. I hoped it was made for noise control, not a prison cell that the room reminded me of. What did Jaime say his dad did again?

  “Okay people, out.” Hugh ushered us out.

  We filed up the stairs. The kitchen was a mess. Dishes sat in the sink and counter. Food was opened all over the counter. Trash was littered all over the room. What did Roth do in the few hours we were away?

  “Y’all need a maid,” Gracie said.

  “I am sure we can find a nice young lady looking for the job,” Peggy Sue joked with her.

  Gracie seemed to disappear after that.

  “I will start in here while you all unload the truck. Julia, do you think you could give me a hand?” Annette said.

  “Of course.” Julia rolled up her sleeves.

  Connor was not sticking to his mom’s leg either. I heard giggling from the hall that led to a room off the kitchen. Maybe Gracie and Connor could play together. Tiffany had pulled Jaime to the side, having a conversation. I tried not to listen, but I wanted to know what she was telling him and his reaction. I had decided to reject him anyway, no need for me to listen. I took the opportunity to walk away distancing myself. I leaned against the wall preparing to unload the supplies.

  Jaime came up a few minutes later. “You okay, Vi?”

  “Yes, I am fine,” I said curtly.

  “You don't sound fine. You don't have to be worried about Tiffany if that is what’s bothering you.”

  “No, I am not bothered by her. You are free to talk to whomever you wish,” I replied.

  Why was he talking to his ex-girlfriend, irritating me so much? I would turn him down. Now would be as good a time as any. I tried to start, but nothing came out when I opened my mouth. Get it out, Violet. This distraction is no good. No words would come again.

  “You have such beautiful eyes. They are so dark, it’s like a pool of black ink,” he said caressing my face.

  That thing my stomach did when he was near started again. Brandi, Buck, and Peggy Sue joined us in the hallway. I stepped away from Jaime.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Brandi winked at me. I rolled my eyes back at her. I knew she would interrogate me later.

  Hugh came up a few minutes later and checked the surveillance cameras. “Looks like we didn’t bring any zombies back with us. The faster we get unloaded, the safer I will feel.”

  “Same,” added Buck.

  “We will need someone to stay here and open the door for us when we come back with the bags,” advised Hugh.

  Tiffany joined us. “I will, Mr. Birch,” she said enthusiastically.

  “Of course, you would,” I said under my breath.

  Where was this coming from? I was never mean to others. Maybe I should talk to Brandi and figure out these emotions I was having. She had been away for a year to college. She might be more experienced with boys.

  Brandi leaned into me and whispered, “Jealous much?”

  Was this jealousy? It was an odd feeling. It made my gut clench up and my chest tight.

  The door opened before I had more time to analyze the feeling. We were on the move. We ran to the truck, and Buck jumped in, handing bags down. Jaime kept an eye out for anything while we unloaded. I took two canvas bags that must have been full of cans because they were extremely heavy. I trudged up to the cabin and Tiffany barely opened the door for me to get past, but when Peggy Sue came next, she opened the door plenty. I dropped the bags in the hall and ran back out to grab more bags. After three trips, we had all the bags inside. A mound of bags sat on the floor.

  Annette came out of the kitchen. “We can put these in the pantry when you all have had time to rest.”

  She picked up a bag, carrying it back to the kitchen. We were slumped on the couches in the sitting room. Tiffany plopped down next to Jaime, who sat next to me. I couldn't take it anymore and got up to carry bags into the kitchen. I sat the canvas bag on the counter that was now spotless. They made quick work of cleaning up. The kitchen had a breakfast nook that Julia, Connor, and Gracie were sitting at. I sat down with them.

  “How are you holding up?” I asked Julia.

  Connor and Gracie had a coloring book out coloring vigorously.

  “I am holding up much better thanks to you.” Julia reached across the counter and placed her hand on mine.

  “I didn't do anything,” I confessed.

  “You are so modest. You kept us going. When I was freaking out and ready to give up, you pushed me on. I didn’t want to go out that day we met at the bus stop. I had been depressed since his dad died. He begged me to go to the park. That was where we were heading,” she said looking at Connor with all the love I had wanted my mother to show me.

  I didn't know what to say. She was confiding in me.

  “But that is all over now.” Julia looked back at me, smiling. “You are the glue to this new family, Violet. Thank you.”

  I squeezed her hand back. If we had become a family, I was okay with that. My own real family was never really a family at all. Blood did not make a family.

  “What are you two coloring?” I asked the kids.

  “It’s one of my brother’s coloring books. He loved Pokémon,” Gracie told me.

  “Do you want to color too, Vi?” Connor pushed a crayon toward me.

  He had never spoken to me before. Kids were easy to be around.

  “Why yes I would, as long as I get to color Bulbasaur.”

  “You know Pokémon?” Connor asked excitedly.

  “Didn't I tell you I am a Pokémon Trainer?” I teased.

  Jessica had liked Pokémon. The only time we could spend together without my step-father interfering was on Sunday mornings when he would take my mother out to breakfast. I was instructed to babysit. I didn’t mind because I loved my baby sister. It was the only joy I had before all this. I got lost coloring with the kids for the next few hours. Julia must have slipped away at some point. She probably needed a break. Kids were great, but they had never-ending energy. My neck was stiff by the time Annette came in to relieve me of kid duty.

  “Connor and Gracie, would you help me make dinner? We can have whatever you want,” she informed them.

  “Mac ’n’ cheese?” begged Connor.

  “I think that would be an excellent dinner. How about some chicken nuggets to go with the mac ’n’ cheese?” she suggested.

  “Oh, I am so in on this meal,” Gracie added.

  I slipped out while they went into the pantry to find the food. I needed some alone time. I made my way upstairs before anyone could interrupt me. I walked to my room, going over all the day’s events. Upon entering my room, I saw a note with a flower sitting on my bed. I walked over
smelling the flower that was an African violet. How had he found a flower with my name? I picked up the note underneath.

  Vi,

  I said I wanted to get to know you. Will you join me

  tonight, for a movie of your choice after dinner?

  Yours,

  Jaime

  Watching a movie in the house's safety couldn't hurt, could it? I could tell him no after the movie to his question. I was nervous. How was I to tell him I didn’t know what movie to pick because I had never seen a movie outside of school, and I was too young to remember any movies before my mother married my step-father? I was not allowed to watch TV. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I tried to think of any of the girls at school talking about the latest movie that had come out at the theater. Nothing came to mind. It was time to ask Brandi for help.

  I put the note with the one he gave me this morning. I went into the bathroom to find something to put the flower in. I found a small cup under the sink that I filled with water. I sat the flower on my nightstand. I left my room, and found Brandi in the living room talking to Julia and Peggy Sue. Brandi smiled and patted the spot next to her on the floor in front of the couch.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  I listened to the three ladies chat about their lives before all of this. Peggy Sue had been married to Buck for the last twenty years. She had worked as an in-home nurse taking care of an elderly couple. She had been off the day the outbreak had started. Buck was a trucker and was home for a break after he had dropped a load off in Arkansas. They were planning a weekend to the cabin and had already loaded their trunk when the streets became ravenous. They didn't know what was happening at first, but had the good sense to get inside. After the first night in their tiny apartment and the news not giving much information, they headed to the cabin to wait out whatever this was.

  Julia had told me some of her story. She relayed a portion of it to the other two. She was taking Connor to the park. His father had died a few months prior at the military base in a freak accident. She didn't have a job, and the bills were coming in. She had been thinking of moving back home to Florida with her father when the outbreak happened.

  Brandi told the ladies she was on break from college. She hadn't wanted to come home, but needed to check on her sisters. She squeezed my thigh at this. I knew she meant she wanted to make sure we were alive. She told them how Jaime and I found her, and all the rest of that eventful day.

  The conversation moved to other topics. Music, make-up, family, and then to boys. That is when I sat up. This was what I needed knowledge on.

  Before any of them could let any information slip, Annette came in to tell us, “Dinner is ready. The kids would like you to join us for Connor and Gracie's Diner.”

  We all got up to follow Annette into the dining room. They had transformed the room. I had only glimpsed the room in passing to the kitchen before. The room had candles lit on the table. Connor had a rag over his arm and told us where to sit. Gracie came around with a jug of water and asked each of us if we would like a refreshment. Hugh and Buck came in after we were seated. Annette brought in the food. It smelled delicious. We all sat around the large dining table. Once the food was served, Connor, Gracie, and Annette sat down.

  “Can we eat now or do you say prayers first?” Gracie questioned.

  “Do you say prayers at your house, Gracie?” Annette inquired.

  “Yes, ma’am. Ma will smack Bailey’s hand when he tries to eat before we say them,” Gracie informed her.

  “Well then, I think we should say grace for Gracie, any objections?” Annette asked looking around the table.

  No one said a word. Annette was seated next to me, and she reached her hand out for me to take. I looked at her hand, unsure what to do. She reached for my hand, and linked hers with mine, and nodded for me to take Brandi’s hand, who seemed just as confused as me, but once we started the rest of the table held hands.

  “Gracie, would you like to say grace?” Annette asked her.

  “Oh, sure. Umm… can I say it my way?” she questioned.

  “Any way, you would like, decent though,” Annette told her with a firm voice.

  “Oh, yes, ma’am. Dear Lord, thank you for this food we are about to receive. Thank you for my new friends who saved me. Thank you for letting us not be one of them things. Help Ma, Pa, and Bailey. My tummy’s a rumbling, so I’ll stop mumbling. Let’s eat. Amen.” Gracie looked up smiling.

  “Very nice. We will work on that end,” Annette said, giving Gracie a smile.

  Gracie turned a little pink. Was this what normal families did at dinnertime? We released hands, and Annette picked up a dish and scooped out some on her plate, passing the bowl to me. I looked inside to find mac ’n’ cheese. I took a small spoonful and passed it on. The next dish was a bowl of chicken nuggets. I passed on them. I was not much for processed meats. Rolls, broccoli, and a salad were also passed around.

  As we ate, we heard a loud banging and then Roth's voice. “Let me out of here!”

  Hugh spoke over Roth, “This looks to be a good meal you three have prepared.”

  “It sure does,” Peggy Sue complimented the kids.

  We all ate and chatted, ignoring Roth’s outbursts, which eventually stopped when no one paid him any attention. He deserved to be out with the zombies, but Jaime’s dad spared him. This was the second time he had betrayed us when he got the chance. I picked up my roll, taking a bite. The conversation seemed to avoid the obvious… zombies. It was as if they wanted to make small talk to feel better. I didn’t understand the reasoning. Why not get to the problem and get it out? Find a solution. We couldn't just hole up here for the rest of our lives. We needed to do something. I thought of my bag on the road in town. I needed that bag. The conversation went on to talk about how everyone’s day was. I couldn't take it anymore.

  I burst out the first thing to come into my head. “I want to go back to town for my samples.”

  The room grew silent, and all eyes turned to stare at me.

  “Are you mad, girl?” Hugh implied.

  “No, I am not. I don’t understand why we are avoiding the situation. We need to do something,” I objected.

  “And we will, Violet. We also don’t need to talk about all this in front of the children,” Annette pointed out.

  I looked over to where Connor and Gracie were sitting. Connor looked a little terrified, but Gracie was stone-faced.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, looking down at my plate.

  No one said anything for a few minutes until Gracie spoke up, “She’s right, Mrs. Birch. My Ma, Pa, and brother are out there somewhere as one of them things. I would want to help them if I knew how. I am not scared to talk about them.”

  “Me neither,” Connor joined in.

  “Connor baby, you don't have to worry about any of this like I told you,” Julia said to him.

  “No, momma. I don't want you to treat me like a baby. I am a big boy. They want to eat me too,” Connor replied.

  Julia looked up to the table for help. I felt terrible that I couldn't hold my tongue. It had always got me in trouble when I first lived with my step-father.

  “Violet’s right, dad. We need to talk about this. The kids need to know too. What happens if one of them wants to go outside and play inadvertently opening the door? They need to be educated just like the rest of us,” Jaime said in my defense.

  “They are right. We need to be aware. All of us,” Buck added.

  Hugh sat his fork down. “Okay. We will discuss this.”

  I sat up straighter now that my voice had been heard and I wasn't getting smacked for it.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Hugh looked to Julia. “Are you okay if Connor is here?”

  I watched as Julia looked at her young son. I would be concerned too. He was still so young, and needed to remain a child for as long as he could. I should know. My mother married my step-father when I was about his age. I didn't stay a child for long after that. She also had to think
of his and the others’ safety. He needed to know that things outside weren’t safe. Julia took a few minutes before she answered. Connor watched her, waiting for her answer too.

  At last she said, “Yes, I am okay with it.” Turning to Connor she said, “If any of this scares you, tell me and you can go play.”

  Connor hugged her. “I am not scared, mommy.”

  “Okay, down to business. Who thinks we should go back to town for the medical bag? A show of hands will suffice,” Hugh asked the group.

  I looked around the table one by one. Jaime’s hand came up, Tiffany's stayed down. Buck’s hand went up along with Peggy Sue’s. Annette’s hand stayed down. Gracie’s hand was down. Julia's hand was down. Connor’s hand went up. My hand went up. I turned to my sister to find her hand down. I felt betrayed. The one person I thought would have my back.

  “Nothing against you, Vi. I want you safe. I know if you get that bag, you will obsess over finding out what is happening to humans. You will eventually want to capture one to examine it. Tell me I am wrong and I’ll go with you,” she said honestly.

  I could not tell her otherwise because she was right. The only vote left was Hugh. We all turned to him. He studied me for a long time. I never let my gaze drop as I would have in the past. We needed to help those people that were infected. His hand came up. Five to go, and five to stay.

  I got up to distance myself from my sister.

  “It looks like a tie,” Hugh stated.

  “How can you be so selfish?” I screamed.

  “It’s not selfish to want to be safe, Vi,” Brandi breathed.

  That stopped my pacing. We knew what it was to not be safe in your own home. I took my seat to calm down. Think rationally.

  “It’s not. I’m sorry, but we cannot just sit here and do nothing for the people who have turned,” I said.

  “I am sure the CDC and government are working on a cure, dear,” Annette interjected.

  “What if they are infected too? Who is left to find a cure? Or what if the government did this? Have you ever thought that?” I asked the group.