by Hayden James
The twins returned with Regis and piled into the van. Rachel said to them, “Time for bed, girls.”
“I guess,” responded Addy with a huff. “Can we sleep outside?”
William interrupted the request instantly, “No. Why do you want to sleep outside?”
“That’s where Vince and Gary are going to sleep tonight. We’ve been sleeping outside during this whole thing before we were taken,” answered Maddy.
Rachel was quick to put the kabash on that, “You heard your father. You are sleeping in the van with us. Someone already tried to take you while you guys were sleeping outside before.”
“Vince and Gary will protect us,” countered Addy.
The added pressure made Rachel come undone, “Under no circumstance will you two sleep outside with those men!” Rachel shouted.
“Gees, mom. Calm down. All right, we’ll sleep in here,” relented Maddy. Addy stomped off, and went to her pack to get ready for bed. It was clear to Rachel that Addy definitely wanted to sleep out there with Vince and Gary, but Maddy was not as sold on the idea.
Rachel looked out the window to see Gary and Vince set up their sleeping areas. They appeared as though they did not hear her outburst, so she that relieved her.
For the first time in five days, all but Liam were under one roof as they fell asleep. Rachel felt as though she was putting the pieces back together of her family since the pulse hit.
Chapter Two
Liam Conner
Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
10:45 PM
“Shit!” Liam shouted as he came to a complete stop yet again. “I thought once we had crossed the Nashville city limits we would have smooth selling.”
“I know, I thought we would move right along as well,” affirmed Prue.
The vehicle that Mr. Patterson gave them earlier that day had been holding up fairly well considering the restoration of the 1957 Chevy Bel Air was not yet complete.
“Damn, there seems to be another fire after every turn. Good thing got the map, and you’ve been doing a great job navigating,” Liam complimented Prue. He turned to see her reaction after he said that. He saw she smiled.
“Make a right here,” directed Prue as she read the map. Liam turned the car, moving down a street from where they were. They had exited the highway because of the backed up traffic.
“Even though those Bubba Brothers really were aggressive, I don’t regret going in the gas station and getting the map,” said Liam, steering the vehicle as the traffic moved. The surface streets were congested, but the traffic flowed.
“Oh, no!” Prue shouted.
“Not another one!” Liam shouted. A large, fourteen-story building at the edge of Nashville plumed clouds of thick black smoke. Flames engulfed the structure that once was a record studio.
“Oh dear, that’s Nashville’s Music Recording Studio,” explained Prue. “I’ve recorded there at least a dozen times with different singles that I had been releasing over the years. This is all so heartbreaking.”
Liam saw that Prue was disheartened by watching the place where she was beginning her career come crashing down. From what he understood, she seemed to take this sight metaphorically.
“Prue, you are awesome at your vocals. You’ll get signed in no time. I’m sure this year even. You have what it takes,” said Liam, as he braked the car to a dead stop as the traffic had come to a standstill. “Not again. We are locked in here, while we watch Nashville’s Music Recording Studio burn to the ground! I’m not going to stand for this! We have to get out of here now!”
Liam put the car in reverse after seeing that moving forward was not an option. Placing his hand on the passenger seat headrest, he maneuvered the car backward, guiding it to the left, around the stack of cars that locked him in from behind. “Damn it, I’m going to have to go up on the curb to get around these guys,” announced Liam. “Brace yourself.’
Prue took Chewy from the back seat and placed him on her lap. “Ouch,” shouted Prue as Liam guided the rear driver’s side tire into the curb, smoothly giving it more gas and using the friction from the spinning tire to pull the car up on the curb. The driver’s side front tire followed, making it so the driver’s side of the car was on the sidewalk and the passenger’s side was still on the street.
“Now I can squeeze by,” said Liam while he guided the two passenger-side tires around the cars that were behind him. “Who ever thought that there were so many cars that don’t have computers on the road,” said Liam as he glided by the cars.
“Well, this is the South, people here don’t get rid of anything,” chuckled Prue. Liam laughed as it was definitely true. He guided the car to the end of the street where the two driver-side tires rolled off the sidewalk. The car realigning itself as it became flat once again.
“I think we should try a different way,” suggested Liam, chuckling at the joke he made.
“Make a left,” relented Prue, appearing disappointed at her error navigating the situation.
“It’s not your fault,” affirmed Liam. “How are you to know what is burning down and what isn’t.”
“I guess,” replied Prue. Still appearing to be disappointed in herself.
After Liam made the left, the street became clear. Liam said after driving a few miles without a car insight, “Think we should get back on the highway?”
“Let’s try it,” replied Prue. “Head straight and then make a left. That should get us back to the highway.”
Liam followed Prue’s directions, make their way back onto the highway. As they went up the on-ramp, Liam could see how the traffic faired. “Looks better than the surface streets for the moment.”
“Yeah, seems OK. I hope it stays like this. I’m still very glad we have this map. But goodness, those Bubbas are wretched people. Apparently, Mr. Patterson thinks they are selling drugs,” said Prue.
“I don’t want to see them again. I don’t think we will,” replied Liam.
“That was a situation I don’t want to be in again. Gees, Liam! They were going to kill us if you did not pull out that gun in time.. They I really got scared when we saw them driving down the street when we snuck into Mr. Patterson’s house,” Prue said, recounting the events that led them to gaining the car.
“I’m sure glad we’re no longer have to deal with them and are out of Nashville,” emphasized Liam.
“Liam, we are barely out of Nashville. Gees! I thought we would have been farther along now,” agreed Prue.
“Relax. We will get far enough away from the Bubbas. They are not going to hurt us,” said Liam, not fully believing what he said.
“They seemed to sure have an operation going. I’m sure they will take more and more advantage of people as everyone who stayed in Nashville runs out of supplies,” replied Prue.
“Right, which makes me worried for Mr. Patterson. Gees, I hope he decided to get out,” Liam said as he thought about leaving Mr. Patterson. “Arguably, between him and Mrs. Grandy, they saved our lives.”
“We owe them everything,” said Prue as she fell silent.
“What’s wrong?’” Liam asked.
“This whole thing is just a big mess. I mean, Mr. Patterson is not going to leave and I hope Mrs. Grandy’s family has come and gotten her. I still need to get in contact with my parents in Spartanburg. Thank God we went back and got Chewy, or I don’t know what I would do!”
“That’s right, we have to get to your parents,” said Liam as he realized that Prue still needed to.check on her family.
The traffic open up, allowing Liam to drive the vehicle further down the highway. “Well, we are moving again,” said Liam. Driving only a mile, the traffic came to a stop once again.
“Shit! Not again!” Liam lamented.
“Holy Moley! Liam! Look at that up ahead,” shouted Prue pointing to the horizon.
Liam squinted at the horizon, but from his angle, he could. “What is it?” Liam asked. “I can’t seem to make out anything beyond the sea of cars. What do you
see?”
“Liam, I cant believe what I’m seeing,” started Prue. “At the horizon, I can make out an orange glow.”
“An orange glow?” Liam said, confused at what she was insinuating.
“It looks like there is a bug fire, right at the horizon. Look! The smoke is starting to turn black,” explained Prue to Liam who was intent on driving the vehicle.
“Goodness,” whispered Liam. “I can see the thick black smoke now. It must have just started. What do you think we should do?”
“We shouldn’t head in this direction anymore. I mean, we are headed right to the large blaze,” Prue concluded. “Let me see if I can figure out where we need to go from the map. You said we are headed to Townsend?”
“Right, Townsend. Technically, my grandpa lives in Tucker Hollow, but it’s right near Townsend. Tucker Hollow is a small unincorporated town right near Townsend, Tennessee,” Liam said, giving Prue more information that was necessary at the moment.
“You’re chatty when you’re nervous,” teased Prue.
“Perhaps?”
“Pretty sure. Anyway. Let’s get off a the next exit, and we can take a smaller road that we could use to get further out of Nashville,” directed Prue. Traffic moved more, which allowed Liam to exit the highway.
Liam steered the car off of the off-ramp and on to the surface streets. “Ok! Where do I go now?” Liam asked.
“Make a right,” replied Prue. Liam did as Prue directed.
“Shit! Again?” Liam shouted, his frustration continued as after he made the turn, he was met with more traffic. “Seems like everyone had the same idea,” muttered Liam.
“Oh, no!” Prue shouted, “I did not realize that everyone would be on the surface streets as well. This whole place is just chaotic. I’m sure people are headed out of the city, and then they are turning around when they realize that they can’t get through.What do you think we should do?”
“I think we should find somewhere to stay the night. I mean, if we wait this out, the fire might burn out and not be an issue in the morning. Then we could get to Townsend,” Liam explained as he thought of a strategy of what to do.
“Seems like a good idea as any,” affirmed Prue. “What if it gets worse?”
“If it gets worse, we cross that bridge when we get to that. We have to have some saving grace sooner later,” reasoned Liam.
“You don’t think we were given all the grace we will get?” Prue asked.
“That’s the thing about grace,” explained Liam. “It is given, even when you’ve already been give it.”
“Makes sense,” said Prue.
The vehicle only had moved a few feet since they exited the highway. “All right, let’s park the car here in this park parking lot,”’ suggested Liam. Liam turned the car into the parking lot of the park. “Let’s stay here for the night. I don’t think we should be advertising that we having a working car, so let’s see if we could hide it, somehow.”
“Great idea!” Prue exclaimed. “Where we going to hide it?”
“Good question,” replied Liam. Liam kept driving further into the park, through the parking lot. And onto a dirt road that led into the park grounds. The park had several spots with tree coverings. “I think I can back this car into one of the pots that has a lot of trees, what do you think?”
“Looks good. At least we won’t be spotted from people passing by on the road,” affirmed Prue. Liam drove to where the dense trees near one endless of the path and back the car between several of the tree trunks.
“Well, here we are fo the night,” announced Liam.
“Yeah, I really hope the fires die down and the traffic thins out tomorrow.”
“Me too!” Liam Replied.
Liam and Prue both sat in the car that the trees shielded from those passing by. “Hungry?” Liam asked.
“Yes, was just going to say something,” responded Prue.
“Guess its going to be a freeze-dried dinner tonight,” answered Liam, getting the backpack full of freeze-dried food front he back seat. After pulling the backpack on his lap and opening it up, he took out a few packages. “The good news is we have options!” Liam exclaimed.
“Let’s here the choices.”
“We have freeze-dried beef dices, freeze-dried white chicken, or freeze-dried combo can. Which is sounding the most appetizing, er the least offensive to you?” Liam asked.
“Well, the white chicken sounds the least offensive. But, I’m curious about the combo-can,” answered Prue.
“Excellent choice! I don’t think we should risk the combo can. Not yet,” Liam opened the package and handed it over to Prue.
She took out a piece and tried it. As the piece hit her tongue, her face scrunched up, “Oh that’s bad!”
“Let’s see how bad, bad is,” replied Liam, taking a piece of the freeze-dried chicken from the opened a bag that Prue held.
He popped the piece into his mouth and started to chew. “Oh dear! That is downright terrible. This stuff gives chicken a bad name! They shouldn’t even call this stuff chicken. It should be called If You Hate Yourself, Eat This.”
Prue giggled at Liam’s joke. “Good one! That’s exactly how it tastes. Gees, and we have a whole backpack full of this stuff?” Prue rhetorically asked.
Laughing harder, Liam replied, “Merry Christmas to me!”
Prue bursted out laughing at Liam’s reply as replied, “Grandpa Dwight, aka Santa Claus. He meant well.”
“He did! I’m sure he eats this stuff even when there is not a disaster, so he can accustom his tastebuds to it. If we are in a disaster, like we are now, and I am hungry, but I am contemplating starving to death versus eating any more of it, what good is having freeze-dried meat on hand? I might choose death over eating freeze-dried meat. What kind of survivalist am I?” explained Liam. He turned to Chewy and said, “Let’s see if Chewy likes it.”
Prue fed a tiny piece to Chewy who was on her lap. “Oh, look!” Prue exclaimed. “He likes it,” Chewy ate the entire piece and then stuck his head in the bag to look for more.
“Well, at least it meets Chewy’s standards,” said Liam, astounded that the pampered pet would tolerate sub-par food. “Give him another piece, apparently he wants more,”
Prue fed Chewy another piece. “I’m surprised, he usually is very picky about what he eats. He seems to like freeze-dried chicken, or at least he’s hungry enough to tolerate it, which is more than we were willing to do.”
“Right,” affirmed Liam, laughing at the little dog as it ate the freeze-dried chicken.
Liam’s face turned stark white as all the blood left. “Hear that?” Liam asked.
“Hear what?” Prue asked. Then her face turned stark white as well. Her body quivered out of fear. “I know that noise,” she lamented.
The loud vibrating sounds of motorcycle engines filled Liam’s ears, reverberating the entire car as it shook from the sound waves. He whispered, “It’s the Bubbas.”
Day Six
Chapter Three
William Conner
Underwood, Indiana
6:34 AM
“Oh thank God,” William whispered as he looked over to his wife and found her safe in his arms. He tilted his neck toward her, kissing her on her forehead. His nightmares were back, and they seemed to be worse than the ones he had after he returned from Iraq. These were the nightmares that made it nearly impossible for William to hold down a steady job. However, he would make sure these nightmares would not burden his family and compromise their safety.
Before dawn, William awoke, noticing the sunlight appearing over the horizon before the orb through the window of Ron’s VW camper van. One thing he was grateful for was that this was the first morning he awoke with Rachel in his arms. This entire ordeal had taken a toll on him, his psyche, and his sense of security and safety.
Rachel squinted opened her eyes and gazed at him as he had watched her slept. “Good morning, dear,” she whispered.
“Morning, babe,”
he responded, kissing her on her nose. “When did you want to get up and get out of here? We have a son to find,” asked William.
“Let’s see if we can get the girls up, and if Vince and Gary are ready. I would like to hit the road as soon as possible,” answered Rachel.
William emerged from the twin bench seat that they converted to a bed for the night. He put on his pants and sweater before moving to the front of the van where his twin daughters and Natasha slept.
“Girls, it’s time to start moving,” he barked. He observed each of them stir from their deep slumber before making his way outside to wake Vince and Gary.
“Morning guys, are you ready?” William asked, noticing the two firefighting brothers were already awake.
“Yes, we can be ready to leave in ten minutes,” replied Gary.
“Very good. We have to find my eldest, Liam first. He’s in Nashville, which is on the way to Townsend. I hope we can find him and take him with us to my dad’s house,” explained William.
“Sure thing,” replied Vince. “We will be ready whenever you say the word.”
“I will make sure my daughters are dressed, and let you two know when they are,” answered William. He headed back into the camper van, hoping his daughters and wife were ready to get back on the road.
He knocked on the camper door, “Girls, are you all ready to get going?”
“Not quite,” Rachel responded. “Two minutes.”
“Ok, two minutes,” William answered back through the door.
William waited while Gary and Vince packed up their sleeping blankets and placed them in their packs. He leaned up against the van while he waited, his thoughts going deeper and deeper into worry over his son, Liam. “Shit!” He muttered as he became nearly paralyzed at the thought of combing the streets of Nashville looking for him. He grew concerned with fear of the worst and wondered if the time came when they called off the search and head to Dwight’s, how would he be able to leave Nashville without Liam and head to his father’s compound? He couldn’t think of that. That could not be a consideration.