Seven Days: A Post-Apocalyptic Novel

by G. Michael Hopf

  “You’ll let me work with Joe Donaldson?” Arthur asked.

  “Yes,” Kincaid answered.

  “When can I start?”

  “Immediately, today; if you haven’t noticed, we’ve had some issues,” Kincaid said.

  “The flickering lights, yes, those are power surges. I think I know how to fix that,” Arthur boasted.

  “Then today it is for sure,” Kincaid said.

  Arthur walked up to Kincaid and handed him the key fob. “I’ll need to meet with whoever is taking the car. I’ll need to make sure they understand how it works.”

  Kaitlyn smiled and said, “Not a problem, you stay here, and I’ll have them here within the next two hours.”

  ***

  Reid stood at the door, shocked by the news Kaitlin had just given him. He could go. He had been given the green light, and it appeared he also had a vehicle. He had a couple of conditions, and one was that he and Hannah had to wear decontamination suits while they were inside the town limits. There was no way Kincaid would allow a sick girl to travel across town, being a carrier of the disease.

  Time was of the essence, so he immediately started packing. He needed to get what he thought he could use on the trip and get to a house in the north end of town in the next hour. He tore through his garage and found a large backpack. In it he stuffed a laundry list of items. When he was done, his pack weighed close to seventy pounds. He didn’t care because he didn’t plan on having to carry it. He reemerged from the garage, to hear Hannah crying.

  He raced down the hall with the decon suit in his arms. When he entered her room, he saw her sitting up in bed. “What’s wrong?”

  “I had a bad dream,” she whined.

  The morning light had begun to spill into the room through the slits in the blinds, and her lantern was still on.

  He went to her bedside and put his arms around her. “It’s just a dream, nothing more.”

  “I’m scared,” she cried.

  “It was just a dream,” he said in a soothing tone.

  “I’m not scared about the dream, really, I’m scared about…” She held up her arm and nodded to her wound.

  His heart again melted at the sight of the bandaged bite mark. “I’ve got some good news. Do you want to hear it?”

  She nodded.

  “We’re going somewhere to get you…” he said then paused. He had lied to her and for what? They were about to embark on a long and dangerous trek, one where they might not return or even make it, yet he felt compelled to lie.

  “I’m going to die,” she said.

  He took her hand and squeezed it gently. “No, I will do anything, and I am. We are going to be taking a trip.”

  “Where?”

  “The coast, you will get to see the ocean finally, like I promised.”

  “Are you taking me there before I die?” she asked.

  “Stop talking like that. We’re going there because there’s a place that might have a…cure.”

  “Do I have it?”

  He hesitated. He wondered how he should reply. Should he lie, or should he tell her the truth? In a split second he decided to be honest, or as honest as he could be without causing her undue stress. “There’s a chance that you do, but we’re not confident yet until you get tested.”

  “Did you find the dog?”

  “The authorities did,” he answered.

  “Was the dog sick?”

  “Yes.”

  She looked away and began to cry. “Then I’m going to die.”

  He pulled her close and said, “Don’t say that.”

  Tears streamed down her face. “It’s true. I’m going to die like Mommy.”

  He took her face in his hands and stared deeply into her eyes.

  She looked away.

  “Hannah, look at me,” he said.

  She continued to look away.

  “Look at me,” he said again.

  She locked eyes with him.

  “I know this is hard, but I need you to be strong, that includes to think strong, think positive. Can you do that?”

  “But I’m…I’m going to die,” she cried.

  “We’re going to the coast, and we will find a cure. The trip will be tough, but we’ll make it. I need you to be strong. Tell me you’ll be strong.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Hannah, please, tell me you’ll be strong.”

  “I’ll be strong,” she whimpered.

  With his finger, he wiped a couple of tears away. “I love you, Hannah banana.”

  “I love you too,” she said, her voice just above a whisper.

  “How do you feel?”

  “My arm hurts.”

  “Let me look at it,” he said.

  She pulled away from him.

  “I just want to take a quick look. I might need to bandage it again,” he said.

  She gave in and offered her arm.

  Reid untaped one end and pulled it back to reveal the wound looked less swollen than the night before. “It looks good.”

  “Does that mean I’ll be fine?”

  He taped the bandage back up and replied, “I need to pack up a few things for you, and then we’ll go see the car we’re taking to California.”

  “We’re driving in a car?”

  “Yes, isn’t that exciting?” he said with a smile. “Can I get you to pack up some things? Treat it like a sleepover. Pack several pairs of pants, shirts, underwear, also get your—”

  She hopped off the bed and went to her dresser. “I’ve got this, Dad.”

  Just like that, her demeanor had changed. He gave her a perplexed look and asked, “Need my help?”

  “No,” she said as she pulled out the pants and set them on top of the dresser. “What’s that you’re holding?”

  “Oh, this, this is a suit you need to wear. We need to make sure no one else gets sick,” Reid explained.

  “Can I get people sick?”

  “I don’t think so, but they’re being cautious. You’re not contagious until you develop symptoms, but listen, I’m wearing one too, so consider it like a father-daughter costume.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ll go get a bag for you to pack your stuff, and don’t forget—”

  “My toothbrush,” she said, cutting him off a second time.

  “Yes, your toothbrush.” He chuckled. He stepped out of the room and took a few steps down the hall when a wave of emotion crashed over him. He began to cry. Not wanting her to hear him, he shuffled down the hall and went into his bedroom and closed the door. There he started to sob. He had asked her to be strong and there she was doing it. Oh, how he loved her. She was so special, so sweet. He couldn’t imagine living his life without her. He had to get her to the coast as fast as possible.

  ***

  “You can’t bring all of that stuff, nope, no, not that, no, no room, s-s-s-sorry,” Arthur blared as he looked at the bags and gear Reid had before him. He gave Reid and Hannah a puzzled look, then shot a concerned look towards Kaitlin. “Are they sick?”

  “No,” Kaitlin replied. “She’s got the disease, but she’s not symptomatic yet.”

  “Oh, o-o-okay,” Arthur said then turned his attention back to Reid. “No, no and no on all that stuff.”

  “But I’m going to be gone for a long time,” Reid complained. The suit was making him sweat already; he hated it with a passion. It also reminded him of when he’d worn it to visit Evelyn during her time in the infirmary.

  Kaitlyn walked over and said, “He’s the expert and this is his car. Do what he says.”

  “But—” Reid protested.

  Kaitlyn pulled Reid aside, out of earshot of Arthur and Hannah. “I’ve also packed a rifle, ammunition, food and water. If you’re going to make it the entire way in that car, you just don’t have the room inside. The backseat is full, the generator helps to convert the power generated from the sun, and the other equipment takes up a lot of space.”

  “Let me strap it to the doors,” Reid
offered.

  “I heard that! No, you’ll create more drag and reduce your range,” Arthur chirped from the far end of the garage.

  “So what can I take?” Reid asked.

  “What I said plus the medicine you were given, and maybe a change of clothes,” Kaitlyn replied.

  Hannah lifted up her arm and asked, “Can I bring Meow Meow?” In her hand was a stuffed animal that looked like a cat.

  “Meow Meow can go,” Kaitlyn replied.

  Hannah squeezed the stuffed animal and cheered.

  “Fine,” Reid said. He tossed his bag aside.

  “Good, now let’s have Arthur go over the details of the car,” Kaitlyn said.

  He took her arm and stopped her. “This is all approved?”

  She nodded.

  “The mayor has given this the green light?” he asked.

  “Yes, he was just here an hour ago. You can go,” she answered.

  “And can we return?” he asked.

  “If you find a cure, yes, come back and tell us,” she replied. “But I can make no guarantees now that you’ll be able to return if you can’t find anything.”

  “I can’t believe you made this happen,” Reid said.

  She gave him a slight nod and said, “Time is everything. Let’s get you schooled up on the car; then we’ll get you loaded and see you off.”

  Arthur covered with Reid how the car ran, and stressed that he’d need to keep his speed at a reasonable rate to maximize the battery charge. He covered how it recharged and told him the dos and don’ts.

  Reid had never driven a Tesla, but for the most part, it ran like any other car.

  “Do you have any q-q-q-questions?” Arthur asked.

  “No, I’m good to go,” Reid said.

  Arthur pushed his way past Reid and ran his hand over the car. “I’m going t-t-to miss you, girl.” He suddenly turned and jogged over to Reid. “I almost forgot.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a map of the southwest United States. “This is an old map of charging stations. It’s from an old brochure. It shows where Tesla had charging stations set up along the route I believe you’ll be taking.”

  “There’s charging stations I can stop at?” Reid asked, shocked by the revelation.

  “Yes, well, if they’re still working. You see, um, um, Tesla had begun to build self-sustainable charging stations along remote routes like th-th-the desert. This was a new development before everything went to-to shit. These were powered by solar and the energy stored in Tesla batteries like the ones they use for their power walls. I-I-I-I’m not sure if you’ll run into any, but you should check.”

  “I’ll do that. How will I know where they are?” Reid asked.

  “If you’re taking the interstate, look for the symbol on signs. It looks like a-a-a gas pump with E-V on it. The sign will be blue,” Arthur answered.

  “Good to know.”

  Arthur walked off.

  Reid turned around and said, “I’d like to say I’ll bring it back in one piece, but…”

  “She is not an it,” Arthur barked as he whispered to the car.

  “He’s attached to the car, as you can see,” Kaitlyn said as she gave Reid a nudge with her arm.

  “I see that,” Reid replied.

  “When are we leaving?” Hannah asked. She walked up to Reid with Meow Meow cuddled in her arms.

  “Soon,” Reid answered.

  “How do you feel?” Kaitlyn asked. The question triggered everyone and reminded them of why Reid was leaving.

  “I feel fine,” Hannah replied.

  “That’s good, dear,” Kaitlyn said warmly.

  “Hannah, jump in the car,” Reid said. His nerves became heightened as the reality of it all began to sink in. “This is so surreal. Just yesterday I was in the garden with Hannah; now we’re leaving Deliverance and she’s got seven days or so to live.”

  Kaitlyn touched his arm. “I wish you all the luck in the world.”

  “When I found out she’d been bitten, I was sure she’d die. Now I have hope at least, and I have you to thank for that.”

  “Just come back with Hannah well, a cure, and word that there’s more out there than death,” she said.

  “I’ll do my best,” Reid said. He got into the car and started it up. He missed the guttural sound of exhaust, but who cared? This electric marvel was his means of getting them across the thousand miles they had to travel. He pulled out of the driveway and drove it down the streets slowly.

  Passersby stopped and pointed, with many trotting to keep up. They were curious as to where the car had come from and where it was going.

  “Everyone is staring at us,” Hannah said. She pointed at the people through the heavily tinted glass.

  “They haven’t seen a car run in a long time,” Reid said. He turned right and pulled up to the main gate.

  A guard grabbed his handset and radioed in, “He’s arrived.”

  “Open the gate,” the voice crackled on his radio.

  Perched in his office and staring down the street at the car, Kincaid watched. He knew without a doubt that would be the last time he’d see the car or its passengers. The hopes and aspirations that Kaitlyn had fed him were, to him, nothing more than fantasies, hence why he was fine with the deal he’d made. In Arthur he’d found a man very capable of handling many of the technical issues in town, in addition to Donaldson. “Goodbye, Mr. Flynn,” he said. He turned around and went about his normal duties.

  The guard unlocked the gate. The metal creaked as it swung wide enough for the car to fit. It had been years since it had been open.

  From behind the wheel, Reid watched in awe as the gate opened fully. Straight ahead of him lay the road. He hadn’t driven on it in over nine years. Weeds, grass and debris lay strewn across it.

  The guard waved him on.

  Reid didn’t move. He kept his gaze fixed on the furthest point on the straight road ahead. Soon he and Hannah would be there, then farther until they lost sight of Deliverance.

  “You’re clear, now go!” the guard howled.

  Reid pressed the accelerator.

  The car moved without making the sounds he had grown accustomed to in a normal combustion engine.

  They crossed through the gate and were now on the far side. He stopped and looked into the rearview mirror as the gate began to close. He saw the curious faces of the townspeople slowly disappear until the gate shut with a loud clang.

  He reached over, took Hannah’s hand, and asked, “Are you ready to go see the ocean?”

  “I am,” she replied.

  CHAPTER THREE

  FIVE MILES WEST OF LOGAN, NEW MEXICO

  Michael stood in the hallway and listened to his mother crying in her room. It had been over a day since his father and brother had left to go into town. The previous times his father had left, it took him twelve hours at the most to make the round trip. With the time passing twenty-four hours, it appeared that something horrible must have happened.

  He walked to her door, raised his hand, but stopped short of knocking.

  “Psst, just let her cry,” Nana said behind him.

  Michael turned to find Nana standing in her doorway. “Why are you up? You should be resting.”

  “How am I supposed to sleep with her crying nonstop?”

  Michael went to Nana and said, “How are you feeling?”

  “It’s gonna take more than shitting blood to keep me down,” Nana blurted out.

  Repulsed by her choice of words, Michael steered the conversation to something else. “Can I get you something to eat or drink?”

  “I am hungry. Is there any more chicken stock left?”

  “Can you have that?” he asked, concerned that she might be asking for something not on her diet.

  “Will you get it for me, or do I have to go do it?” she snarled.

  He sighed. “I’ll go get some, but first you need to go lie down.”

  “Fine, now hurry up,” Nana said. She stepped back into her room and
closed the door.

  He went to the kitchen but couldn’t find the stock they’d had the night before. He rummaged through the pantry, looking for a can he could open, but found none.

  “What are you looking for?” Tanya asked.

  Michael jumped, startled by his mother’s surprise presence in the kitchen. “Oh, um, I’m looking for chicken stock. Nana wants—”

  “We’re out of canned,” Tanya said. “I can make her something else if she’s hungry.”

  Michael didn’t reply. Instead he walked up to her and said, “I heard you crying.”

  She couldn’t lie; her swollen eyes were evidence. “I’m worried about your dad and brother.”

  “Maybe they went farther to look,” Michael said.

  She poured water into a saucepan and dropped in a chicken-flavored bouillon cube. “Maybe they did.”

  “I can go and look for them,” he offered.

  She shot Michael a look and said, “No.”

  “What if they need help?”

  “No.”

  “You just told me that I needed to be more like them. I’m capable of helping them,” Michael declared.

  She faced him and said, “I’m sorry I said what I said to you. I was merely saying that things could change, which would change your role in the family.”

  “I’ll be fine. Let me go and find them,” Michael said. He was serious, though the idea was frightening, but proving to her that he could be just as useful as Chase drove him to the idea.

  “I need you here more than ever,” she said.

  “But what about Nana?”

  “If something bad happened to your father and brother, I can’t risk losing you too.”

  “But what about Nana?”

  She faced the counter again, her gaze now cast out towards the field and trees beyond. The morning’s light was just peeking over the horizon. “She’ll have to make do without her medicine. It’s just the way it is.”

  “So my life is more important than Nana’s?”

  “Michael, stop with all the questions,” Tanya snapped.

  He stepped closer to her and said, “I can find them, I can.”

  “You don’t even know where they went or where to look for them. You haven’t been to Snowflake in years. Sending you out there would be a mistake.”