Danny’s heart sunk.
Every sob, every labor of heartache cut through him. It was the beginning. Soon everything felt in that clinic would ripple through the town, provinces … everywhere.
It would impact every single person.
Not a soul wouldn’t feel the loss.
Danny typed the message.
Pressing send would make it real, and he didn’t want it to be real, but the news needed to be heard.
Considering the events, Danny knew he was now the leader, he had to be, at least for the time being. He supposed it could have waited, He could have gone on Danny Broadcasting or the radio. He could have reached out to each town leader for them to make the announcement. However Danny wanted it to be instant.
He wanted everything and everyone to stop.
In his instant anger and bitterness about the loss, Danny didn’t want a single smile or laughter to resonate anywhere, not in that moment, not just yet. Not when the person with the most genuine smile and laugh … was gone.
The loss of Robbie Slagel punched a hole in their world and it would never be filled.
Before hitting send, Danny looked at those around him.
Frank had stormed by him.
Hal, Jimmy, Andrea and Ellen.
They were expressing their sadness, but any noise, any word they spoke was completely blocked out, muffled by the anguish sound of a father’s grief seeping into the hallway as he reconciled and faced the reality that he had lost his son.
Danny pressed post and then Danny walked out. He said nothing, he just left.
He knew it was time.
Time as leader to face and prepare for what he believed would be the aftermath of a huge and heartbreaking loss.
<><><><>
The sound of laughter startled Jenny Matoose as she sat at her desk. It seeped in from the modular addition Danny added the previous week to the one room school so Forrest could teach the older children and Jenny could focus on the young ones. However, the silence of her classroom was disrupted and each of her students looked up from their vocabulary tests. The second classroom and the noise from it would take some time to get used to. It reminded Jenny of her own school days. Sitting in a class then hearing some sort of outburst, good or bad, carry down the hall from a nearby room.
Jenny smiled at the students, watched them return to their tests and she lifted her phone.
She was proud of the new vocabulary test she created, it was original and she wondered how many adults in Beginnings would do better than the students in her class.
The best way for her to test people was on Hoibook.
She placed a test on her desk and positioned it for a photograph. She thought of her caption and opened the Hoibook site.
Instantly, in her newsfeed was a post by Danny Hoi. Danny, as the creator, had posts that visually stood out. Their font was bigger, the letters bold and they were always pinned to the top of the newsfeed.
She panned on not reading it, but her eye caught the name... Robbie Slagel and she read it.
Immediately her heart took a nosedive and her phone toppled from her hand and landed with a thump on the desk.
The students looked up.
‘Oh my God, oh my God,” her mind screamed. “No, this isn’t true, it has to be a joke.’ She stood up, knocking her chair over.
After grabbing her phone, she hurried over to the connecting door and walked through it.
“Jenny,” Forrest said with surprise.
“Can you … can you watch my class please,” Jenny said frazzled. “Thank you.”
“Is everything alright?”
“No. No it isn’t. Nothing will ever be right again.” Leaving the door opened she stepped back into her class room and saw them. At that instance, they stood out.
Alex, Billy and Joey.
Robbie’s family.
She pursed her lips holding back her emotions and before she left the class, she paused to run her hand down Alex’s hair.
She wouldn’t say anything. It wasn’t her place. Besides, she probably couldn’t even speak the words.
Jenny ran out and stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
She didn’t know where she was going, why she ran out. What she would do. Would she find the Slagel family? Where would they be? She knew Robbie was fighting an infection, would they be there? She felt a drive to find the family. Ellen, Frank, any of them. Outstretch her arms and let them know she was there. Whatever they needed.
In the meantime, she’d pray it was a mistake.
What the hell happened?
Jenny was in a state of emotional panic. Her face was flushed, her heart raced and she found it hard to breathe.
She took a moment, took a breath, got it together and headed toward the clinic at a fast pace. Her eyes kept shifting down to the phone, looking at the post.
She had read it a half dozen times, was so consumed with it, that she slammed right into someone, nearly knocking her off balance, and once again, sending the phone from her hands.
Only this time, the phone broke.
“No, no, no, no, no,” she whimpered, dropping down and grabbing the pieces. “No, no.” immediately, she started to sob, grabbing at the broken phone as if the loss of it was a precious heirloom.
“Hey, Jenny,” his voice said as he crouched down. “It’s phone. No big deal. Danny will get you another.”
She exhaled in relief when she heard the voice.
Robbie.
Jenny lifted her eyes. The sun was behind him and cast a shadow over his face, that gleaming smile was right there.
For a second she felt silly, then he moved.
It wasn’t Robbie.
It was Jess.
“What is it?” Jess asked. “What’s wrong?”
Holding the broken piece, Jenny slowly stood.
“Jenny?”
He didn’t’ know. He couldn’t know.
“Have you … have you been on Hoibook?”
“Not recently. Why?” Jess asked.
Her hand shot to her mouth and she closed her eyes.
“Jenny.” He placed his hands on her arms.
“Rob…” She choked on the name. “Robbie.”
“What about Robbie?”
“Jess, oh, Jess …Jess … he died.”
All expression dropped from his face. “No.”
She nodded.
“No, Jenny, you read it on Hoibook?”
“Yes.”
“Then it has to be a mistake. It has to be. I just saw him before lunch. He was fine. We laughed. No, it’s a mistake. Come on,” He placed his hand on her back. “Let’s go to the clinic. I’ll show you.”
“You really think?”
“I do. Honestly, I just saw him.”
“But Danny posted it.”
“And Robbie probably put him up to it.”
“Oh, I hope so.”
“I’m positive. Let’s go give them hell.”
They only took a few steps toward the clinic, when the doors opened up and Andrea stepped out.
“Look there’s Andrea,” Jess said. “Let’s go ask her.”
They didn’t need to.
No words needed to be spoken, no questions asked.
Andrea said it all without speaking.
She stood on the steps of the clinic, then reached for the railing. She swayed back and forth, as she walked down the stairs and once she reached the bottom, Andrea stopped and dropped to her knees, crumbling physically and emotionally right on the street.
It was true. Without a doubt.
Jenny and Jess rushed her way.
<><><><>
For as quirky and eccentric as Danny Hoi could be, George knew that it didn’t take much for the pre apocalypse business man to emerge as it did when Danny ran things.
His Hoibook, unanimously embraced by all, was one platform where he didn’t joke around. When Danny posted it was usually an update about the site or some sort of news. He and Frank were the only two pe
ople that George signed up for alerts from.
Danny for information. Frank for a laugh, whether intentional or not.
So when his phone beeped that alert tone, George knew it was one of the two.
He was working on of the small twin engine planes, getting it flight worthy, when it came though.
He finished the adjustment, wiped his hand and pulled his phone from his pocket.
When he read it, every single fiber in his body shut down and he was instantly paralyzed. It took a moment, seconds of staring into space.
Finally he was able to move and he muttered out, “Jesus Christ this didn’t just happen.”
His mind raced to Joe, to Frank, Hal, Jimmy and … Johnny.
He knew the agony Joe was going through, he too had lost a child. He knew the pain was unimaginable and since it just happened, Joe was only scratching the surface of what was to come.
George was in Bowman, and the only other Slagel there was Johnny. Quickly George looked at his watch. Johnny was working at the hospital. He immediately, hurried to the jeep and got in. He had to get to Johnny. He needed to be the one to tell him, someone that he knew, the last thing he wanted was for Johnny to see it on Hoibook.
He made a mad dash into town, breaking the struck rules of speed limit that Hal had set forth and headed straight to the hospital.
“Where’s Johnny?” he asked as soon as he stepped in.
One worker said he was in the ER, setting a broken leg.
“Do you want me to get him?” the worker asked.
“No, just tell me which room.”
“He’s the only one back there with the only patient. He’ll be easy to find.”
It was an old school hospital, unlike the clinic in Beginnings. George went thought the maze of hallways to get to the Emergency room department. Had he known he was there, he would have parked outside that exit.
He could hear Johnny’s laughter as soon as he entered the treatment area and George followed the voice.
It was a curtained off area, no walls and George cleared his throat, then knocked on the metal frame of the privacy curtain.
“Oh, hey, George.”
“Johnny,” George said solemn. “I need to speak to you.”
“Okay, I’ll be done in ten minutes.”
“I understand. But I need to speak to you … now.”
Johnny stared at him, then looked to his patient. “I’ll be right back to finish this.” He removed his rubber gloves and stepped from the examining area.
George led him a few feet away,
“What’s going on, George that it couldn’t wait?”
Georg reached out and placed a firm hand on Johnny’s arm. “Johnny,” he exhaled heavily. “I have some terrible news. It’s about … it’s about your Uncle Robbie.”
<><><><>
Elliott felt invincible.
For a man who was shot in the chest and head not a week earlier, he felt great and he knew it wasn’t good genetics or a lucky miss, it was whatever Dean gave him.
He kept up the pace at training with men a half of his age. He didn’t even get winded.
He filled in for the Captain and did so at an impressive rate. In fact he his day was done early. Granted he missed lunch in the mess hall and had to grab a quick bite at the Hoibucks, but figured he’d eat that sandwich at his desk while finishing the paperwork. It was still early in the day and there would be enough time to meet Father Michael to go over the music selection he wanted to do for mass.
Rehearse with the priest who Danny said rocked guitar better than anyone he ever met.
He had just stepped into the Captain’s office, sat down and reached for his coffee when Sergeant Owens blasted in the office without knocking.
He looked frazzled, almost panicked.
“Sergeant Ryder,” Owens exhaled as he said his name.
Owens looked pale, sweaty and out of breath.
“What’s wrong?” Elliott asked.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
“Why didn’t you radio?”
Owens shook his head. “I couldn’t. Not this.” He stepped in and closed the door.
“What’s going on?”
“You need to get to Beginnings,” Owens said. “The Captain needs you.”
“When did he call?” Elliott asked.
“He didn’t.”
“Then how do you know he needs me?”
“You’re his best friend,” Owens said. “Sergeant Ryder … Robbie Slagel died.”
Elliott heard the words. A part of his didn’t want to believe them at all. Yet, he didn’t hesitate. He jumped up from the desk and bolted out.
Without a doubt, he was in shock and he hadn’t had time to fully absorb the news. One thing was for certain, not only would the loss of Robbie be traumatic and impacting to the provinces of Beginnings, but a truly devastating event, one beyond comprehension for the Slagel family, and he needed to be there for his friend.
CHAPTER TWO
In her distressed state, overwrought with emotions that left her frozen and with the inability to take another step, Andrea slammed her knees so hard to the concrete she caused physical damage. However, the pain from her injuries was buried well beneath the pain she felt in her soul.
When the final word came about Robbie, she like the others stood in the hallway waiting for the best, hoping that somehow Dean’s magic touch would prevail. Then Dean walked out. He said nothing, just shook his head and walked away.
No one bothered to ask anything … they knew
It was that second, that moment, the unison sound of devastating sadness was made in the hall.
Joe walked in, Frank walked out. He, like Dean, said nothing. His stride was fast and hard and he just left.
At first she believed her place was in that room, with her husband and son. Slowly, she stepped inside.
Joe was on the bed, holding Robbie. His cheek pressed hard against Robbie’s head, his arms wrapped tight around his son, holding him Robbie’s back to his chest.
“Joe,” Andrea spoke softly.
He didn’t look at her or open his eyes. Joe merely lifted his hand and that said it all.
Go away. Get out. Leave. She took it as it wasn’t her place. Not right there.
Then Andrea felt the same. The same as Frank and Dean… the need to leave. Just leave. As if running from the clinic would make it less real. She ran and then, just as she hit the steps, she grew dizzy, found it hard to keep her balance and then finally she collapsed at the bottom of the steps.
Arms clutched tight in a self-embrace, Andrea lowered her head to the cold ground, curled up in a near fetal position and she sobbed.
No, no, no, not my Robbie.
Andrea never had any biological children of her own and Robbie was no less a son to her as if he had been bore from her own womb.
She heard the call of her name, but couldn’t move, couldn’t respond.
“Andrea, please,” it was Jenny. “Please.”
Andrea shook her head.
“Andrea,” Jess said. “Come on. Let me help you up.”
He took hold of her arm, Jenny the other and they lifted her to stand.
The second her legs straightened, Andrea lost it even more. Her head flung back, mouth opened and she cried out, loud screaming sobs.
The pleas of Jenny and Jess were muffled in her ears, never in her entire life did she feel as out of control as she did at that moment.
Then came another voice.
This one soft, yet firm.
“Andrea.”
It brought her to a complete stop.
As if someone pressed a freeze button.
Slowly she brought her head forward. Jimmy stood before her.
He stepped to her, placed his arms around her, and she crumbled in his hold.
“Oh God,” Andrea cried. “He’s gone. He’s gone.”
“I can’t tell you it will be alright. I can’t,” Jimmy said. “Because it won’t be. It will never
be. All I can say, that as a family, we’ll get through this. Let’s go. Let’s get you off the street.”
“I can’t go back in there. I can’t.”
“No, we won’t. We’ll go to the house.”
“Jimmy.” Jess placed a hand on his shoulder. “I am so sorry.”
Jimmy nodded.
“Want us to walk her?” Jenny said. “We can.”
“No,” Jimmy replied. “I’ll walk our mother home. I’ll take her.”
Arm bracing her for support, Jimmy held Andrea tightly. She leaned on him heavily with each step as they walked through a Beginnings sadly void of Robbie.
<><><><>
One by one Ellen watched them all walk away.
First Dean, then Frank, Danny Hoi, Andrea, Jimmy and finally Hal. No one said a word. Leaving her in the hallway, just outside of Robbie’s door.
She couldn’t go in there. She saw when Andrea tried, and Ellen’s heart just couldn’t take that kind of rejection from Joe. Not at that moment.
She wasn’t alone. Hank, the clone was there. Just standing there quiet, obviously at first a loss of what to do or say.
How long did she just sit there, on the floor, staring at the door.
An hour maybe, perhaps even longer. Enough time that Joe allowed Melissa in to do post mortem care on Robbie. There was a soft verbal exchange between her and Joe, but Ellen couldn’t make it out what was being said.
Melissa wheeled out the cart, gave a sympathetic glance to Ellen and then kept going.
She sat there a little longer. When she finally stood, Hank spoke.
“Something terrible has happened, hasn’t it?” he asked.
“Yeah, something very terrible.”
“Is there something I should do?”
Ellen shook her head. “Nothing.” She knew he couldn’t be there, in the middle of the hallway, out in plain sight. Not that it mattered, but it was just another thing she didn’t want to deal with. She brought him into the next room, pulled out her phone and sent Danny a text.
‘Can you please take Hank to containment?’ she wrote.
Instantly, he replied, ‘yes’
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