by Kip Nelson
Tillman wanted to help the man but figured that since the dog was standing guard he only would be placing himself in danger. With the dog as protection, he was sure the man was healthy and probably just was sleeping. With a watchman as fierce as that, the man could afford to take a nap in this vulnerable area.
Tillman was about to make a tactical retreat when he caught sight of something that chilled him to the bone. A dark, scarlet stain spread out from the man. At first, Tillman had believed it to be a shadow, but now that he looked more closely he could see clearly that it was blood.
The dog was doing a good job defending its master, but the man could need serious medical attention. Tillman couldn't just let the man bleed out. He had to find some way to distract the dog so he could examine the man, but how?
Then it hit him, the jerky he'd gotten from George. He carefully pulled out the jar and unscrewed it, not wanting to make any sudden movements to provoke the dog. As soon as the lid was removed, the dog sniffed the air, and looked primed to move. Tillman reached in and grabbed a piece of meat, then tossed it away. The dog scampered after it, its leash dragging across the ground, its hunger seeming to override protecting its master.
Tillman sprinted to the body, tossing away a few other pieces of meat. The dog snarled as it devoured the meat. Tillman looked down, and it only took one look for him to realize the man was dead. Blood had dried underneath him, and it looked as though a stab wound to the stomach had been fatal. Tillman's head shot up, but there was nobody around. Another murderer was free to walk the streets. There was no chance of finding out who did it.
The dog still was gorging on the jerky. Tillman pulled up the man's body to take his jacket away from him, then used it to cover the man and give him some dignity. Pain was etched on the man's face. He had died here, all alone, and for all the dog's devotion it was unable to save its master's life.
Tillman hung his head and offered a mournful thought for the man. He didn't get a chance to see if he would make it through the apocalypse. His life had been stolen from him. Tillman set his jaw and urged himself to not make comparisons with himself and the murderer of this man.
The pitter-patter of four feet came up behind him. Tillman rose and saw the dog looking at him with innocent eyes and his head tilted. Did he know that his master was dead? Tillman tossed him some more meat. As the dog bent down to eat Tillman inspected his collar to see if there was a name. The dog was so consumed with the meat that he didn't attack Tillman. Then again, animals always had gravitated toward Tillman.
Major was the dog's name. He finished off that piece of jerky. Tillman tossed him another. He took out a piece of meat for himself and chewed, then patted the dog on the head.
“Well, Major, what are we going to do with you? You want to come with me?” he asked.
The dog, of course, didn't reply, but he seemed docile enough. Perhaps the snarling visage had been just a front and really the dog was as cute as could be. He didn't look to be the ideal companion in a situation such as this; he didn't have powerful legs or snapping jaws, but Tillman didn't want him to be a stray, or to leave him in this alley to stay with the dead body.
“Major, heel!” Tillman said, hoping his master had trained the dog well. Major came to him, and to reward him Tillman tossed the dog another chunk of meat.
Chapter Four
Tillman took the leash in his hand and kept a firm grip on it, not wanting Major to get away. The dog's pink tongue lolled out of its mouth and as they moved away from the dead body the dog craned its neck back to look at his master. It whimpered, and in that whimper was the mourning of a loyal soul. Tillman well could identify with the pain the dog was going through, its heart breaking. Perhaps dragging the dog away from its master was cruel, but Tillman knew if he didn't take care of the dog, it would become a stray. Then it either would become a predator, or prey.
The other thing he realized, as he walked along with Major on his leash, was that the dog would be a good deterrent to other people.
“Well, Major, I guess it's just the two of us for the time being. It's a shame I don't have anything of Jessica for you to sniff, then you could lead us right to her,” he said.
“Still, it's nice to have someone to talk to. I don't like talking to myself. It makes me think I'm going crazy. I find I'm missing the others. You'll get to meet them soon enough. I'm sorry about your master, by the way. Well, I guess I'm your master now. Hopefully, we'll be able to look after each other, Major.” The dog looked up at him, his feet continued pattering against the ground.
Tillman sighed as he continued walking through the town, idly talking to Major now and then, but always keeping his eyes out for potential threats. He didn't much like the name Major, though. He would have preferred to call him something like Bowser, but Major the dog had been, and Major the dog would stay. Giving the dog a new name now only would confuse it.
Suddenly, Tillman felt Major tugging at the leash. Assuming that the dog wanted to return to its master, Tillman shook his head.
“No, Major, we need to keep moving. We can't go back,” he said.
But Major kept tugging, and then began growling. Since Tillman didn't want to get into a tug of war with the dog he had no choice but to relent. Tillman let the dog scamper away, and to his surprise Major didn't return to the alley at all, but instead went toward a drain, where water was dripping out. He lapped up the water frantically, and Tillman realized the dog must have been parched. He quickly got out his bottle of water and poured it into a dip in the ground, forming a puddle. Major quenched his thirst, then panted.
“I'll take care of you, boy. Don't worry,” Tillman said.
He led the dog away and chewed on some jerky himself. He rounded a corner and the movie theater came into sight, wider than most of the buildings around it.
Many of his friends had been obsessed with movies. The town’s youth pretty much could be split into two camps – those who hung out at the arcade, and those who hung out at the movie theater. It often showed old movies for a dollar, so was a prime place for kids to go and kill a few hours on the weekends. Tillman had spent a lot of time there, especially when Angela grew bored of the arcade, but he was by no means a regular.
The movie theater now looked more rundown than he remembered. Time weathered all things. One of the letters had fallen onto the ground, but at least the windows weren't smashed. The ticket booths were empty. A ream of tickets had been pulled out through the small window, and resembled a tongue licking the air. Tillman wondered if Jessica was in here. He hoped his search would be over.
“Come on, boy. Let's go find her,” Tillman said.
The movie theater was a large building that had been standing for many years. Its red paint made it stand out from the rest of the town, but now it was flecked and faded. The golden door handles had dimmed. Tillman remembered how resplendent this place used to be when he was younger, but it had been weathered and worn down like so many other things in life. He opened the heavy door and was swallowed in darkness.
The lobby still smelled like popcorn, but none of the machines were whirring. The carpet was soft under his feet, and his steps were silenced. Major's head twitched this way and that, searching for any sign of anyone, but it all was perfectly quiet. Tillman didn't want to make any noise in case it alerted people to his presence. He walked past the counter, annoyed that there weren't healthier snacks available, ones that he would be able to take back to his family. It was such a waste of food, and it once again depressed him to think about how people never paid attention to their diets.
A lot of people were going to be in for a shock when their bodies started to adjust from all the processed foods they had been fed. Tillman had studied diets for a long time, wanting to eke out any kind of advantage against his competitors. It disgusted him when he saw his peers stuffing themselves with processed foods and artificial sugars. It was why Greg was suffering so badly now, and it only would get worse as his body suffered from withdrawal.
/> Tillman rounded a corner and almost jumped, jerking backward. Major snarled, and Tillman shook his head. He'd been scared by a cardboard cutout of Tom Cruise.
“Keep on your toes,” he reminded himself.
He continued to the set of double doors and walked into the movie theater. The wide screen was naked and blank. The place was dark. The doors opened on the rear of the screen, and the rows of seats cascaded down in a waterfall.
Tillman heard a gasp, and then a stifled whisper. He was instantly on his guard.
He walked slowly down the aisle, peering into the darkness. There was another shuffling sound, and his head jerked around. His eyes had begun adjusting, and he saw forms of people hunched in between the seats. Some were sitting down, but most of them were crouched. A faint ember flickered, and he realized that one of them was hiding the flame of a candle.
“Jessica?” he asked.
“Who are you?” a gruff voice answered.
“My name is Tillman. I'm looking for my niece, Jessica. I heard she liked this place, thought she might be around here,” he said.
“Sorry, but there's no Jessica here. You'd best move along,” the voice said again.
“Are you people okay?” Tillman asked.
“Sure we are. Just leave us be,” the man said again. Then there was another voice, a softer voice.
“Wait,” the man said, and rose from his hiding place. He walked out and uncovered the flame. He and his companions were illuminated by the soft glow, and Tillman saw a range of people.
“I'm Jerry,” the man said, “and my wife wants to know what's going on.”
“I'm afraid it's as bad as you fear,” Tillman said, deciding there was no point sugar-coating the issue. “All the electricity is gone, and there's no way it's coming back. I'm not being dramatic when I say that the world has ended. You're doing the right thing by staying in here. This place seems secure.”
“We figured it was. We all live around here, and we came out last night when we heard a noise. We knew something was wrong, and we figured there was strength in numbers. We only have candlelight, though. I'm starting to think we should have picked a place with windows.”
“Well, the town is quiet at the moment. You shouldn't have to stay in here if you don't want to. Go out there and try finding food but be careful. There are going to be dangerous people out there. There's a store, though George owns it. He's open as usual, and I'm sure he'll help you out if you need anything.”
There were murmurs of acknowledgment. People clearly knew who George was and didn't seem surprised he was open for business. Jerry looked around at his people and put his hands on his hips.
“I think we'll do just that. It's a hell of a thing what's happened. I'm not sure how we're going to do next here.”
“Just try doing your best and keep your loved ones close. That's all any of us can do, really.”
“You say you're looking for your niece?” Jerry said.
“Yeah, Jessica, she's about sixteen. She was traveling with a boy. You can understand why I'm worried. I'd rather not search through the entire town for her.”
“I get what you mean. I'd be devastated if I lost my little one,” Jerry said, looking back at the huddled mass of people. “So, there's no chance of the power popping back on?” he asked, more out of hope than anything.
“Sorry, but no, it's the end.”
“Damn. No offense, but you look as though you've been through hell. Are you alone?” Jerry asked.
Hell was an apt way to describe what Tillman had been through.
“I'm alone at the moment, but I'm staying with my folks. Trying to work out what to do next. I came from the city, and there's no way I'm going back there. I saw planes fall from the sky, people losing their minds. Trust me, you're better off out in the wilderness.”
Jerry cupped his jaw. “I don't much like thinking about leaving our homes. I'm sure we'll find a way out of this,” he asked. So many other people would think the same, but they all would end up with the same fate. All of them would be struggling to survive. Tillman moved in closer, wanting to ensure he couldn't be overheard.
“If I were you, I'd take your family and be very wary about what you did next. Things are quiet at the moment, but they're not going to stay that way. People are going to get desperate. They're going to get hungry, and they're going to do anything they can to survive. I've seen the worst of humanity, trust me, and it's not going to get any better.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Jerry said. “I guess we should find a way to make this place more secure. Maybe we'll pay George a visit.”
“If you do, try to get him to come back with you. I don't much like the thought of him being in that store alone. All it takes is one wrong person to come in.”
Tillman didn't have to continue the thought. Both men knew of what he spoke. Tillman looked past Jerry's shoulder to see the families there, and worried for them. In times like these he wondered if it was truly better to be alone. There was strength in numbers, but only when those numbers had the ability to fight. While kids were precious, they were also vulnerable.
Tillman began to wonder what he'd be doing now if he had stayed with Angela and they had raised a family. It felt like heartbreak awaited them no matter what they would have done. He shook the thoughts from his mind, not wanting to drown in the sorrow of what could have been.
“So, where are going now?” Jerry asked.
“To try finding my niece. She's in this town somewhere. I've got a few places I've yet to try.”
“Well, good luck,” Jerry said. Tillman couldn't fail to notice the tone in Jerry's words, even though he tried to ignore it.
“You too,” Tillman said, and cast his gaze upon the party Jerry was leading. He truly hoped all of them would find safety no matter what path they chose, but he also knew he was unlikely to see them ever again.
Leaving the movie theater, he once again emerged into the morning light and the quiet streets.
“Well, Major, where do we go next? Tanya said they liked to hang out at the hotels and the cemetery. I guess one of those has to be our next stop.” He looked down at the dog. “Yeah, I think the hotels too. We'll leave the cemetery for last.”
The thought of going to the cemetery unnerved him, and he sincerely hoped he wouldn't find Jessica there. The hotels were likely to be another place where people congregated, so he hoped he would at least find some clue as to her whereabouts. The longer he went without finding her, the more danger she would be in.
Tillman looked behind himself and saw a few people filter out of the movie theater, moving in the opposite direction from, presumably following his advice about George. It was good to see evidence of people sticking together without resorting to violence, but he wondered how long that would last. Soon enough Jerry would feel the pressure of having to feed his family. His children would be gaunt, his wife begging him desperately for some food, and he'd find that he would do anything to get it. There was only a slim line between humanity and savagery, and many people already had crossed it after just one night.
He tried not to think that he was on some kind of wild goose chase. For all he knew Jessica was dead and there was no chance of ever finding her. But he couldn't think like that. He wouldn't. He pressed on, with determination in his heart, knowing he wasn't going to give up on his family. Because that wasn't the type of man he was. He'd already lost too much in this life even to contemplate having Jessica taken away from him, and he knew that losing her daughter utterly would destroy Morelle. Jessica was the only thing that gave Morelle's life meaning. So, for his sister’s sake he was going to find Jessica, even if it took him days. He wasn't going to return home until he had news of her, whether it was good or bad.
Major walked alongside him faithfully, and Tillman was glad for the companionship.
“Come on, Jessica, where are you?” he asked through gritted teeth He left the movie theater behind and continued moving through the town toward the first hotel, unsure
of what he would find there. Would there be more death, more enemies? Or would he actually find what he was looking for?
Chapter Five
Tillman made his way to the first hotel only to find it wasn't as he remembered. It had been turned into a small gym. He took a cursory look around, but it didn't seem as though anyone was in there, and he didn't think it likely that Jessica would be inside. Major didn't react either, so he didn't think there was anyone inside. He moved on to the second hotel, only to find that it was boarded up. The windows all were covered. An American flag was hanging halfway off the pole, ready to drop to the ground.
Tillman moved closer to the building. It seemed as though whoever was inside had been prepared. Not that it was going to help them too much. This building likely was going to burn when winter came, as would most of the buildings in this town. People would need to keep warm. The buildings would be gutted from the inside and set on fire, creating infernos that could keep people warm. It wasn't as though all these buildings were going to be used, and whoever hid in there was going to have to come out eventually.
Tillman walked up to the door. The windows weren’t boarded up but blankets and curtains blocked his view inside. Major growled. Tillman tensed. There was someone in there. Placing his hands on the doorknob, he tried pulling the door open, but it was locked. Tillman stopped what he was doing so the rattling didn't draw any unwanted attention. If Jessica was being held prisoner in there...
Anger swelled inside him, and he clenched his fists. The building towered above him. He wondered if he could get to the roof and sneak inside that way.
Then he reconsidered. There was nothing indicating Jessica was in there. He forced himself to breathe slowly and think about this rationally. He only was letting his anxiety get the better of him, and that wasn't going to help Jessica. If he forced his way in, the people inside weren't going to be friendly, and if Jessica wasn't there, he would be walking into a trap. If she was, then he would have to rescue her, but he would have to do that after he came up with a plan, and after he'd made sure she wasn't anywhere else in the city. There was no use putting himself in danger if she was elsewhere.