by Chris Pike
The stress of the situation manifested in the haggard appearance of the group of survivors, yet when they met, hearty hellos were exchanged along with meaningful hugs.
Oscar barked his approval, and thumped his tail.
“Is everybody ready to go?” Joe asked.
His question was met with a chorus of positive answers.
“Great. I want to let you know I’m proud of everyone here. Each one of you has stepped up to the plate and hit a homerun. Not everyone survived, but we will. We have a long walk in front of us and with luck, we’ll be home by midnight. If we need to stop and rest, then we’ll make a camp and sleep on the road. Let’s say goodbye and good riddance to this place.”
“I second that!” Tyler said. “It’s about time we blow this place. I’m starting to smell like a dead fish.”
“I could use a long, hot bath.” Kinsey ran her fingers through her hair to untangle it. “And a shampoo. Clean clothes and something good to eat. I think I’ll burn these jeans.”
Joe led the way out of the stadium and into the parking lot. “Before we go any further, I promised a woman I met yesterday something. It’ll only take a few minutes for me to find her car then we can be on our way. Is everyone okay with that?”
“I’ll stay here and rest my leg,” Becca said. “It’s already starting to hurt.”
Becca hobbled over to an empty car and sat in the back seat. The group huddled near her and talked among themselves.
“Lexi,” Joe said, “if you’re up to it, will you walk with me?”
“Sure.”
When they were out of earshot of the others, Joe asked, “How are you feeling?”
“Besides my massive hangover, I’ve got a throbbing headache. My mouth is sore too.” Lexi massaged her temples using her index fingers and thumbs.
“That’s to be expected.”
“I need a strong cup of coffee.”
“I’ll stop by Starbucks and get one for you.” Joe gently bumped his elbow against hers.
“I wish.” Lexi took a big breath and let it out.
“Do you remember anything about getting your tooth pulled?”
Lexi thought a moment. “Not really, other than it hurting like hell. I guess I passed out.”
“You did.”
“Why do you ask? Did I say or do anything stupid?”
Joe chuckled. “You did.”
“What?” Lexi furrowed her brow. “Tell me.”
“Never mind. It’s in the past. I shouldn’t have said anything.” Joe diverted his eyes from Lexi so she couldn’t see the side of his mouth curling into a grin.
“Tell me,” Lexi demanded. “You can’t leave me hanging. I’ll wonder about it forever.”
“You were really wasted.”
“And…what?” Lexi’s anxiety rose, and the uncomfortable revelation worried her.
“I had to hold you down.”
“Why?”
“Hannah didn’t want you to thrash around.”
“What did I say?” Lexi glanced at Joe, waiting for his answer.
“I had to straddle you while you were on the table. The things that came out of your mouth were so funny.”
“Like what?”
“You said, hey big boy. Whatcha doin’?”
“Oh.” Lexi put her hand to her mouth, horrified. “Anything else?”
“Something about being a strong woman.”
“That’s not too bad,” Lexi said. “I am a strong woman.”
Joe’s attempt at stifling a laugh got Lexi’s attention.
“What, Joe? What else did I say?” Lexi’s tone of voice got Joe’s attention.
“You said—” Before Joe could answer the question, a woman ran up to him, crying.
“Joe, is that you? Do you remember me?”
“Of course I remember you, Caroline.” The elderly woman smashed into Joe, hugging him. “Did you find anything for my husband?” she pleaded.
Surprised by the overly friendly gesture, Joe only said, “I did.” He reached into his backpack and retrieved a bottle of aspirin and a package of Pepto Bismol.
“Bless you!” Caroline clasped her hands over her bosom. “Thank you, thank you. I think he’s got a bad case of indigestion. I told him not to eat the chili/cheese dog and popcorn. Not to mention the beer he drank and woofing down two large chocolate bars. He’s been good sticking to his diet until lately.”
“I’ll say,” Joe muttered.
“I can’t thank you and your wife enough for this.”
“Oh, uh, we aren’t married.” A rosy color of embarrassment crept up from Lexi’s neck to her face.
“Well, you should be,” Caroline teased. “You’d make a lovely couple.”
“Thank you, ma’am. Take care and good luck to you and your husband,” said Joe.
“Bye now!” Caroline waved to Joe and Lexi as they walked away.
For a few moments Lexi and Joe walked in silence, their shoes scratching against the loose gravel in the parking lot. Most people had left the area, leaving their cars to be vandalized. Joe considered Caroline and her husband to be lucky they hadn’t been preyed upon by thugs.
“Aren’t you going to tell me?” Lexi asked.
“About what you said?”
“Yup. I want to know.”
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“Nope.”
“Okay. You said I have kissable lips.” Joe met Lexi’s eyes and waited for her response.
“Oh.”
Lexi was the first to break eye contact. She couldn’t think of anything else to say, although the rosy flushing of her cheeks said more than words could, a fact not lost on Joe. She didn’t ask any further questions, afraid of what Joe might tell her. The exhaustion, the pain, the entire ordeal had broken through her defenses, leaving her to voice her feelings. She admitted she had been thinking about Joe, waking up at night wondering about him and his former life which she knew nothing about. They had been so busy staying alive and searching for food, she was in the dark about his life. Or former life, or whatever life he had. An abscessed tooth, rotting bodies, and an upside-down world just wouldn’t set the stage right. The goodness and tenderness he displayed was unmistakable, qualities she found attractive in a man.
Joe noticed her flushing alright, but chose not to tease her about it. She had shown great bravery and the will to live, and Joe doubted he could withstand a tooth being pulled without any anesthesia. She was a strong woman. And talented. It took guts to get up in front of millions of people to sing the National Anthem.
One thing was for sure. She had kissable lips too.
Chapter 27
The ragged group of survivors welcomed Joe and Lexi back.
Oscar’s tail thumped against his dark fur, and his entire demeanor brightened when Joe returned. The dog sensed Joe had saved him, and they were now bonded. Oscar licked Joe’s hand and barked a high-pitched vociferous bark, signaling his relief at Joe’s return.
Joe knelt and took Oscar’s face in his hands, saying, “We’ve got a long way to go, boy. You ready?”
Oscar cocked his head, studying Joe and the meaning of his words. Though the words were a jumble of sounds, Oscar understood the tone was one indicating a change was about to happen, and a journey would begin soon. Oscar had sensed the change was coming, as indicative of the group’s increased energy and gathering of food and other supplies. It reminded him of when his handler would get ready for a camping trip or another type of journey.
Oscar would do his part, using his superior eyesight and hearing to guide his new group as best he could. If they were in danger, he’d growl or point his nose in the direction. If bodily harm was imminent, he’d protect his group with his life. That was his purpose. That was the kind of dog he was.
“You ready?” Joe repeated.
Oscar jumped and barked, his eyes blazing. Yes, he was ready.
The darkening sky, the rush of cold air, and a sprinkling of rain spoke of the
incoming blue norther, a cold front with the propensity to drop the current balmy temperature by forty degrees.
Hannah crossed her arms over her chest, rubbing the sides of her arms to provide warmth. Joe noted her clothes weren’t suitable for cold weather. His weren’t either, but since men could withstand colder temperatures than women, he’d be okay. Lexi and Becca weren’t dressed properly either, a fact that could cause trouble and slow everyone down.
The short walk from the inside of the stadium to the parking garage affected Becca the most. She rubbed her leg and grimaced as she put her weight on it. Joe surmised her leg hurt worse than she was letting on.
If hypothermia set in, they’d all be in trouble. The route they planned to take offered no form of shelter, and instead the opposite considering the elevated level of the tollway connecting the inner city to the suburbs to the west.
Forty miles of travel with no protection from the wind or rain would make for a hard trip.
The time to leave was now considering the worsening conditions at the stadium. They all looked to Joe for leadership and decisions. If Ethan didn’t agree with him, he’d speak up to voice his opinion, and since Ethan hadn’t challenged him on any decisions, Joe was making smart moves.
“Alright.” Joe took a deep breath. “Is everyone ready?”
“We are,” Ethan said.
Joe took a head count before setting off. He was one short. “Where’s Tyler?”
“Right here!” Tyler yelled, running up to the group. “I got extra coats.”
Joe grinned. “Good thinking.”
Tyler passed the coats out.
Kinsey held a coat in front of her. Sniffing it, she made a face. “I’m afraid to ask where you got this.”
“You don’t want to know,” Tyler replied.
“I can only imagine.” Kinsey shuddered at the thought Tyler had removed the coats from corpses. The stink of death permeated the jackets. Fortunately, Kinsey had kept her scarf. She folded it into several layers then tied it around her head, covering her nose and mouth.
“Can I catch anything from this?” Kinsey asked, holding the coat at arm’s length.
“You can catch your death from the cold,” Joe said. “I suggest you put it on regardless of where it came from or how it smells.”
Kinsey mumbled something under her breath.
“Put it on,” Becca said. “It’s better than freezing.”
“Listen up, everyone. Myself, Lexi, and Hannah will take the lead. Ethan, you, Becca, Kinsey, and Tyler follow us. We need to stay together and stay alert. That means everyone. Understood?”
The group agreed.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. And if our ancestors could endure hardships of travel by foot in all sorts of weather, so can we. Let’s go.”
Joe took the first step, Lexi and Hannah by his side. The other four followed behind. Five silent minutes passed as the group left the parking lot then made their way to a side street.
Oscar padded by Joe’s side, keeping step with his new owner. Oscar glanced at Joe for direction and guidance for his purpose, and when Joe didn’t acknowledge Oscar, the dog nosed him to get his attention.
“I know,” Joe said. He reached down to Oscar and stroked him on the head. “I’m winging it here, and doing my best. The journey has just begun, so you stay with me, and don’t run off. Okay?”
Oscar thumped his tail, not because he understood anything, rather he understood the feeling, knowing he had found his pack.
“Stop,” Becca said. She leaned to one side, putting her weight on her good leg. “I won’t be able to make it. You’ll have to go on without me.”
“Mom,” Kinsey pleaded, “you can’t stop. Tyler and I will carry you if you can’t walk.”
“Impossible.”
“Then we’ll think of something else. Like make a stretcher of some sort like they did in the old west.”
“I’ll slow everybody down. Leave me here. Once I’m better I’ll meet you at our house.”
“No way,” Ethan said. “Kinsey is right. You can’t stay by yourself.”
“Then I’m staying.” Kinsey crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not leaving you, Mom.”
“We’ll die here,” Tyler protested. “We can make it home, Mom. I know we can. We will help you any way we can.”
The back and forth between Becca and her two children went on for several minutes, and Joe decided it was best not to butt into a family squabble. He exchanged glances with Lexi, Hannah, and Ethan regarding the situation becoming grim. Joe didn’t know Becca or Ethan, yet he felt an unexplained camaraderie with them. He had to admit he didn’t know Lexi well either, only briefly when she was a kid, and had only met Hannah the previous day. Both showed grit, a quality he admired.
It was also obvious Ethan admired Becca’s family, staying to help them when he could have left. He owed them nothing, except for the fact it was the right thing to do. He’d be the kind of guy to have your back.
They needed to stay together as a group.
“Hey, hey!” Joe yelled, interrupting the squabble. “Break it up. We should all stay together because there’s safety in numbers. We are not leaving anyone. Somehow, we’ll manage, and I’ll scout for another place we can stay until Becca can walk. Perhaps a hotel.”
“No!” Tyler butted in. “I want to go home. We’ll find a way for my mom to travel with us.”
“Unless you have a futuristic prototype flying car or an old jalopy the EMP wouldn’t have affected, we’ll need to—”
“What did you say?” Tyler interrupted.
“I was being sarcastic.”
“EMPs don’t affect jalopies? As in old cars?”
“Right,” Joe said.
“As in how old?”
“Anything made prior to probably 1970.”
“Holy crap!” Tyler clapped his hands together in excitement. “I’ve got the solution!”
“What is it?” Joe asked.
“Doesn’t anybody know the antique car show was scheduled to begin in two weeks?” Tyler paced back and forth, unable to contain his enthusiasm.
“What good will that do?” Kinsey asked with a dose of sarcasm. “I don’t see any antique cars anywhere.”
“Of course not. The cars are in the convention center across the parking lot.” Tyler pointed to the building.
In unison, the group turned their attention to the convention center.
“There’s nothing advertised,” Ethan pointed out. “And it appears empty.”
Tyler waved him off. “It doesn’t matter. My dad was on the mailing list, and we were planning on going together for my birthday.”
“Which is in two weeks,” Becca added.
“Right,” Tyler said. “Dad knew I liked cars. We worked on them together on the weekends.”
“Even so,” Joe said. “I doubt the keys would be laying around or even in the ignition.”
“Not a problem.” Tyler beamed.
“Why not?” Joe asked.
“I know how to hotwire a car.”
“You do?” Joe tossed Tyler a skeptical glance. “How?”
“YouTube. Everything is on YouTube.”
~ ~ ~
The realization they’d be home in an hour provided the group with the boost they needed. The past seventy-two hours had tested their will and ability to cope in the degrading situation. Gunshots regularly rang out during the night, and roaming gangs patrolled cordoned off areas, not allowing anyone passage unless a toll was paid in supplies. A proper meal had become a thing of the past.
Personal cleanliness had become an issue, and normally innocuous infections could easily turn deadly. The group needed to bathe and change into clean clothes. Everyone was feeling the morale busting effects of three days without proper bathing.
A gust of cold rain blew in and the group huddled over, pulling jackets over their heads as they hurriedly crossed the parking lot to the convention center, dodging puddles
of water and empty cars.
Oscar loped with the group, keeping an eye on them, and listening to their cadence. He sensed a change was in the air by the way the group interacted with each other, particularly how Joe spoke to the group. When the group came to a stop, Oscar squinted his eyes at the sprinkling of rain. He glanced at the towering stadium where his handler had taken his last breath. A sense of loss came to him at that moment. Now, his allegiance was with the man known as Joe.
“Invigorating!” Tyler exclaimed. “Nothing like running in the cold rain to get your blood going.” He rubbed his hands together to get circulation in them.
Hannah scanned the massive wall of plate glass held together with a metal frame. The doors were secured with chains and a padlock. “Got any ideas on how we’ll get in?”
“Break a window,” Joe said.
“You gotta be kidding?”
“I’m not.”
“You’ll be destroying property,” Hannah said. “We could be charged with a felony offense.”
“See any police around here?”
Hannah scanned the area. “No, but what about CC TV? All these places have cameras. In fact, there’s one up there in the corner.”
“Cameras need electricity to work.”
“I know. I’m not stupid. Places like these have generators.”
“I’m not going to argue with you.” Joe stepped closer to Hannah, glowering at her. “We’re in a life or death situation in case you haven’t figured it out.” Joe stepped away then came back to her. “By the way, letting the animals loose from the zoo is a form of property destruction. Ever think about that?”
“Those were different circumstances.”
“Not in the eyes of the law.”
“Point taken,” Hannah said meekly.
The group quieted during the tense exchange. Tempers were obviously short. Joe contemplated the type of tool he’d need to break a pane of the glass window. He’d need something big enough to where he could stand back, and out of the way of flying glass. The last thing he needed was a cut from a dirty window. Thankfully his tetanus shot was up to date. He discussed the issue with Ethan, going over possible avenues to break a window.
“I have an idea,” Ethan offered.