by A E Faulkner
For once, Jim has my attention and I want to hear what he has to say. “Jim, what are they saying? What happened? And what’s happening out there now?” I jab a thumb toward the door.
Jim takes a big bite of meat and leans back in his chair. He loves feeling important. It probably doesn’t happen too often. He’s going to savor this moment, along with that stringy white meat he just shoveled into his mouth.
After a nice long pause for effect, Jim wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and finally explains that three days after the wreck, right about the time Riley and I tuned out the news, there was a fracking accident in the river basin. He rests his elbows on the table and steeples his hands. Apparently, this was controversial because months before some environmental group—“tree huggers”—as Jim calls them, were fighting to ban fracking anywhere in the state. A judge disallowed the proposed ban and a company swooped in and started drilling into rocks. While the initial earthquake didn’t appear to impact the fracking site, aftershocks did. “Anyway, this company was out there, pumping thousands of gallons of water into the drill site when a pipe sprung a leak, dumping contaminated water into the basin,” Jim concludes.
“So, this is all related,” Riley says with a pained expression.
“That’s right,” Jim says, facing her. “Some random ass earthquake happens in the Atlantic, then its aftershocks screw up a fracking site. And we’re kinda sitting in the middle of it.”
Riley and I face each other, the same questions racing through both of our minds. What about home? How far did the aftershocks reach? I vaguely remember the news mentioning Pennsylvania, but I was half-zombie at that point.
Riley voices our fears. “Jim, did they say anything about Pennsylvania? Was there a lot of damage there?” Jim slips on his imaginary concerned mask to answer her. He reaches over and rests his hand on hers. “Riley, the news is saying that thousands of people are dead or missing. Between the highway accidents and bridges collapsing—”
“And more bridges could have fallen,” Dan says, hunching his shoulders in question. “I bet all kinds of buildings could have toppled like dominoes.”
“Government’s stepping in,” Jim says. “They’re telling everyone affected by the earthquake to go to designated shelters throughout the state. This thing ran up the East Coast, but Delaware got hit pretty bad, no doubt about that.”
I’m not sure if I’m more shocked by this information or by the fact that I actually want to hear what Jim has to say. “So, Jim,” I start, “do you think it’s all over now or do you think it’s going to get worse?” My eyes meet Riley’s as understanding washes over us. This is so much bigger than us.
“Well, I do think things are about to get worse,” Jim says. “I think that earthquake was just the beginning of a shit storm.”
Chapter 12
The rest of dinner is pretty quiet as Riley and I contemplate this newly-acquired information. My brain battles between wanting to ask more questions and wanting to shut down. My inner sloth wins, and I stop asking questions.
Once the guys clear every last crumb of food from their plates, I stand and start clearing the table. This conversation has wiped me out, and I’m tired of pushing the gristly meat around my plate. Before I even make it to the sink, Jim pipes up, “How about you girls clean up while Dan and I have a beer?” And I’m suddenly reminded why I don’t spend more time with the Masters brothers. I have enough manners to help clean up after a meal, but I don’t appreciate the whole women clean the kitchen, so the men can sit and drink expectation.
Riley stands, shooting me a keep-your-mouth-shut look. She responds before I can. “Sure, Jim. Thanks again for dinner, guys. We appreciate it. We’ll clean up.”
The guys stop by the fridge and grab a six pack before they head outside. Riley and I swing into action. I beeline back to the table and stack the remaining dirty dishes while Riley fills the sink with warm, soapy water.
While she starts scrubbing plates, I gather the empty packaging Dan left behind when he tore open the noodles. Organic Pad Thai Rice Noodles. Hmmm, I don’t picture Dan and Jim the type to buy healthy foods. They’re more beans-and-weenies kind of guys.
“Quinn,” Riley whispers in my direction. Confident she’s captured my attention, she continues. “What do you think that meat was? It was really greasy.”
I didn’t notice she actually ate it. “Riley, I didn’t eat any. I didn’t like the looks of it, so I ate the noodles and hid the meat under my napkin.”
“I wish I thought to do that!” Riley says. “Let’s finish up and get out of here.”
“Sounds good to me,” I say, suddenly remembering the scream I heard the other night. With all of our dinner talk about the disasters, I’d forgotten to tell Jim and Dan about the body and ask if they saw or heard anything suspicious. “Hey, you keep going in here and I’ll go out and check on Jim and Dan. You know, see if they need anything.”
She narrows her eyes. I get it. I would never offer to do something nice for Slim Jim. “Look, I need to take the trash out. I don’t want that rank meat from my napkin to stink up the place. If they smell it, they’ll know one of us just pretended to eat.”
“Okay!” Riley returns her focus to the sink. “I just need a few more minutes here.”
With that, I grab the trash and scurry out the front door. Jim and Dan are settled in their green and tan lawn chairs, guzzling away. Jim looks surprised to see me, his eyes shooting to the garbage bag in my hand. He jumps out of his chair. “What are you doing taking the trash out? That’s a man’s job. You go back to the kitchen.” He reaches to grab the bag, but I side-step him, abruptly slamming into Dan. I drop the bag in surprise and its contents spill. In my rush, I neglected to tie it shut.
“Jesus, Dan. I’m sorry. I didn’t see you,” I stammer. Before Dan can respond, Jim curtly commands, “Go back inside. Dan and I will clean this up.”
In that instant I decide I don’t care if they see the uneaten meat. They are more than welcome to pick up the trash with their bare hands. I scan the mess, barely visible in the fading daylight. Just as I turn to step back inside the trailer my eyes land on a shiny yellow collar.
Flashbacks of my run flicker through my mind. The cat-infested yard. Tiger’s squishy belly and scythe-like claws. A yellow collar. I remember the shiny flecks that shot tiny glares into my pupils. Slowly walking back inside the trailer, I fumble over my own feet. The heat of Jim’s gaze bores into my skull. I stumble back inside the trailer, a little dazed.
“Hey there,” Riley greets me. “All done in here. Ready to go?”
I nod my head quickly, meeting her eyes.
“Quinn, what’s wrong?”
I shake my head and whisper. “We’ll talk at home. Let’s get outta here.”
We breeze past Jim and Dan, thanking them in passing. Riley mumbles something about us wanting to get home before it gets too dark outside. When I glance back, Jim’s eyes follow us intently. He knows we’re spooked.
As soon as we make it back to the trailer, we slip inside, lock the door, and plop on the couch. Riley turns sideways, facing me. “Quinn, what is it? What’s wrong?” I unload my suspicions slowly. I can’t just blurt out that I think Dan and Jim caught and served up Tiger on our plates tonight. Riley’s face morphs from disbelief to disgust. As I speak, her hand flies to her mouth.
“Quinn, I ate that meat tonight! Are you telling me I ate a cat?”
The living room lamps are pretty dim. Since people know we’re here now, there’s no point in keeping them off anymore. Even in the dim light, Riley’s complexion tinges green. I can’t lie to her. “Riley, I’m sorry, but the more I think about it, the more I think I’m right.”
Riley jumps up and races to the bathroom. In this small space, I can clearly hear her retch and then rinse her mouth. A few minutes later, she returns to the couch, slinking into the cushions. Her face looks gaunt, her skin paler than usual.
“Why don’t you just lay down and relax while we
wait for Aidan and Jeff to show up?” I urge. Thankfully, she humors me. When she curls up on the couch, I grab a thin blanket from the bedroom and cover her. Her back faces me, so I can’t tell if her eyes are open or not. Either way, I think some quiet time is just what she needs. I decide it’s a good time to inventory what’s left of our measly food provisions.
Chapter 13
In the rapidly fading sunlight, I remove every consumable crumb from each cabinet and drawer. I move systematically from left to right, placing all of my finds on the kitchen table. Our stash consists of two cans of fruit cocktail, three cans of tuna, one very dusty can of beef stew, a partially crushed box of spaghetti, a six-pack of pineapple juice, and about a dozen single-serving sized water bottles. We gave the last of our saltines to Jim and Dan, so no more crackers.
I drop my head and rub my forehead. We don’t have much food left. Luckily, our appetites have been nearly non-existent, but we do need to think about the future. I’m startled out of my thoughts by a sharp knocking. I glance over at Riley, who is sitting up on the couch. Was she just sitting there watching me? I rush to the door and peek out. Sure enough, it’s Aidan and Jeff. I open the door a little wider and motion them inside.
“Hi, guys,” I say in greeting. “Looks like you found us again with no problem.” They both stare as their eyes fall on Riley. “Us?” Jeff questions. “I didn’t know someone else was here.”
As Riley rises from the couch awkwardly, I quickly step between her and the guys. “Yes, I guess I didn’t mention it before. This is my sister, Riley.” She extends her right hand and the guys reciprocate. She gives each a nod, telling them it’s nice to meet them.
Jeff’s eyes twinkle with amusement as he glances around the trailer. “You hiding anyone else in here?”
“Just our two pet Dobermans, but they only attack on command. Oh, and when they’re hungry. And did I mention we’re almost out of dog food?” My tone remains steady as each lie rolls off my tongue.
The guys shift uncomfortably and watch me carefully. The moment my eyes meet Riley’s, we both burst out laughing.
Jeff rubs his chin and Aidan pastes a smirk on his face. “Boy, Riley, I didn’t know your sister was such a comedian,” Aidan says.
We dial back our laughter to quiet chuckles and give the guys our full attention.
“I’m sorry, I just needed a little humor,” I explain. “Seriously guys, would you like to sit down?” I motion to the couch. They eye it as if it’s a hungry Doberman for a moment before cautiously shuffling toward it and easing onto the dusty cushions.
Riley and I sit in the recliners on either side of the couch.
Aidan is the first to speak. “So, Quinn, I assume you filled Riley in on...uh, what we found yesterday?” I nod. “Yes, we actually went and confirmed what you saw,” I say.
Aidan eyes us both incredulously. “You went there? Just the two of you?”
Riley and I look at each other and then turn back to Aidan. “Yes, we went. We had to know you were telling the truth. I had to see it for myself,” I explain. “It looked like someone ransacked the place for food. Did you see the kitchen?”
“Yeah,” Jeff says. “Looked like they tore it apart. Took every last crumb.”
“Actually,” I correct him. “They didn’t take everything.” Both Aidan and Jeff lean toward me. “We found a cupboard, one cupboard, and it was packed with boxes and cans of food.”
“So,” Jeff begins casually. “What did you do with all that food?”
Riley and I glance at each other. Dammit. I didn’t think to grab any of it. I wanted to get out of there as fast as possible after I paid my respects.
“We fed it to the Dobermans,” Riley says.
A genuine laugh escapes my lips.
Aidan and Jeff narrow their eyes at us. “You left it there, didn’t you?” Aidan scrutinizes.
“We did,” I say. “We were kinda freaked out; we just wanted to get out of there.”
Jeff runs a hand through his hair. “I guess it’s kinda up for grabs then, right? I mean, technically, Aidan and I found it, and you wouldn’t have even gone there if we hadn’t told you about the…situation.”
I narrow my eyes and open my mouth, but before I can spew a retort to remind Jeff that the only reason he was even here was to steal, Aidan raises his palm before me. “Look,” he says, shifting his gaze between us, “that food doesn’t belong to any of us, but it’s not doing any good just sitting there. And whoever did that to that woman, well, they don’t deserve it. I say we split it. It might as well go to good use, and we deserve it more than some thug does.”
I glance at Riley and she gives me a subtle nod. I meet Aidan’s warm blue eyes. “That sounds fair.”
We all turn toward Jeff, who rubs his chin and nods. “Alright then,” Aidan says. “That’s settled. Now, on to the next order of business.”
Riley raises her eyebrows and crosses her arms. “And what would that be?”
The guys glance at each other before Jeff answers. “What’s your plan? Do you live here?”
Riley and I take turns telling the guys about our failed vacation. We skim over the car accident and explain how we’ve been hiding out at the trailer since then. The guys listen intently. When we finish, they volunteer their story.
Aidan explains that he and Jeff are college roommates. Childhood friends, they decided to attend Temple University in Philadelphia together. As the end of their freshman year neared, they made plans to break up the summer with some road trips, their first one to the Florida Keys. They were headed south when they got caught in the Route One wreck that ended our family trip.
“So,” Aidan explains. “We would like to continue south, but we have no transportation. We’ve just been biding our time here, trying to figure out our next step.”
My mind wanders as a hazy plan forms in my mind. A plan that involves Jim and Dan’s dirt bikes but not Jim and Dan. I blurt out, “I have an idea!” All three of them turn their surprised expressions my way. I need one piece of information first. “Where do you guys live, when you’re not at school? Where is home?”
Jeff answers for them both, “Columbia, Pennsylvania.”
Riley meets my eyes, questioning my intent. I flash her a smile and understanding washes over her face. “We’re from Pennsylvania, too,” Riley says. “Lancaster.”
Everything’s clicking into place. If we stick together, maybe the four of us can get back home a little easier.
“Guys,” I start, and the words flow out of my mouth almost faster than I can think them. “I know where we can get two motorbikes. Why don’t we gather our stuff and get the hell out of here? Forget about going south. Let’s all go home. We can make our way around obstacles and drive through woods if we have to. Let’s just do whatever it takes to get home.”
I’m practically jumping out of my seat in anticipation, but Aidan looks away, running a hand through his hair, sending black tufts in every direction. In silent communication, he turns to Jeff, who’s scratching his chin. After an uncomfortable moment, they look from me to Riley.
“So…it’s not just the two of us,” Aidan says slowly, motioning between him and Jeff. “We’re actually travelling with some friends.”
Chapter 14
I just stare at them blankly. It never occurred to me that they were travelling in a group. There’s no way Jim and Dan’s dirt bikes can carry more than two people each. Even that would be pushing it when you consider the weight of our backpacks. My hope deflates as the plan crumbles.
Jeff leans forward, running a hand through his hair. “You could meet them, you know. Maybe we can all come up with a plan and travel together. You know, safety in numbers?” He gives us a weak smile.
Aidan’s back stiffens, and he interjects, “How about we take this one step at a time? Jeff and I can talk to our friends about you. But right now, how about we get that food before someone else does?”
Riley glances at me and answers for us. “Yeah, Aidan, that�
��s a great idea.” I finally find my voice. “We actually need to tie up some loose ends here anyway. A group is heading to a military base, and we have to decide if we’re going with them or not.”
Aidan’s chiseled features turn serious. “Alright, let’s get the food, we’ll take our share back to our camp and tell our friends about you.”
His emphasis on the word camp piques my interest. “Where are you guys staying?” I ask. The guys glance at each other again. I know we’re entering into an uneasy partnership here, but it’s not like we’re going to take our imaginary Dobermans and hunt them down.
Jeff nonchalantly nods at Aidan, consenting to share the information. Still, Aidan is vague. “We’re staying at a campground just down the road. When we crashed, we needed a place to stay, and we didn’t want to hoof it all over the place looking for shelter.”
Good enough. At least they answered. “Alright, so when do we get this food? I don’t really want to go at night, but I think the sooner, the better. The longer we wait, the more likely someone else will take it.”
“Agreed.” Aidan and Jeff say in unison.
“Look,” Aidan starts. “There’s no sense in all four of us going. It would just make us more likely to draw attention to ourselves.” He motions to me and Riley. “Why don’t you two wait here. Jeff and I will get the food and bring it back to divvy up?”
Riley and I answer him at the same time, although our responses couldn’t be further from identical. Riley squeaks, “That sounds great,” while I state, “No. One of you should go and one of us should go.”
Riley shrinks at my words.
There is no way I’m sending her over there, but I’m also not taking handouts just because we’re females—and who knows if these guys will bring our half back.
Jeff raises a brow. “You sure? You don’t have to do this, Quinn.”
“Look,” I say, “If this is some kind of partnership, we need to be equals. I’ll go. Riley will stay here. Which one of you two wants to come?”