Solar Fury

by E A Chance

  “How can you think of killing him? He could be Bambi’s dad.”

  “Because in two days we’re going to starve if we don’t find some food. Bambi’s dad would feed us for the whole winter.”

  “Didn’t think of that. Is there another way to catch him?”

  Riley raised her eyebrows. “Catch him? He’s not a dog.” Their conversation became moot when the buck bounded down the hill. “He might come back. I’ll try to think of a way to lure him closer to the cabin, and maybe we can trap him. Wish we had grain of some kind.”

  “We shouldn’t have eaten all the popcorn.”

  Riley reluctantly turned the sled and pondered how to trap the buck as she dragged the sled back to the cabin. If Coop didn’t show up soon, it was up to her to make sure they didn’t starve.

  Riley was dreaming she was at a luxurious banquet with Coop when an earth-shaking crash startled her awake. Julia’s screams followed seconds later. Riley had moved to Coop’s room around one when Julia’s snoring was keeping her awake, so she grabbed a flashlight and raced back across the hall.

  Chunks of plaster and wood littered the floor, and Julia’s door hung by the hinges. She ducked through the opening and found Julia on her crutches staring at the side of the room where Riley’s bed should have been. It was buried under the collapsed roof and mounds of snow. Julia repeated “Mom, mom” in a daze.

  Riley shined the flashlight in her direction. “I’m here, sweetheart. I was sleeping across the hall. I’m not hurt.”

  Julia let out a cry and nearly fell off the crutches in her rush to get to Riley.

  “I thought you were dead and I was left alone in this demolished cabin with no food and a bum leg. I love you, Mom.”

  Riley unwound herself from her daughter’s grip and looked into her eyes. “I love you, too, sweetheart. Are you hurt?”

  Julia checked her arms and patted her torso. “I’m good.”

  “Excellent. We have to get out of here before the rest of the roof crashes in on us. Go to the living room while I grab the emergency supplies. We’re going to take cover in the shed.”

  Julia went toward the living room, carrying her boots by the laces while Riley gathered what they needed to survive the night. She ran toward Julia when she was ready, but stopped in shock at the sight of the living room. The entire left side of the roof was on the floor. All that remained was a narrow opening between the roof and the woodpile. It was just big enough for them to get to the back door. The couch and the rest of the supplies were buried.

  Riley cautiously led Julia to the door but had to yank on it with all her strength to open it. She lowered Julia into the sled and pulled her toward the shed, grateful she’d kept the trail to the woodpile clear.

  She left Julia outside while she shoved rubbish out of the way so Julia could maneuver inside the cramped space inside the shed, then she helped Julia to a wooden crate. She covered her with a sleeping bag before turning to leave, but Julia grabbed her wrist to stop her.

  “Don’t leave me, Mom.”

  “I have to go back to the cabin. We need more supplies and blankets, or we’ll freeze to death.”

  “What if the rest of the roof caves in and crushes you? I’ll die out here alone.”

  “It won’t. The roof has stopped falling. I have to hurry, Julia. Please, let go of my arm.”

  Julia put on her brave face and released her. Riley gave her a quick nod and dashed back into the night. She was terrified of going back inside the cabin but knew she had to or there was no chance they’d survive. She loaded every blanket and article of clothing that wasn’t buried into the sled and went back for their last bit of food.

  The boxes of med supplies and tools were blocked by a fractured support beam, so she had to let those go. As she took the sled handle and started for the shed, the section of the roof over Coop’s room collapsed. She ran to Julia as fast as she could across the packed snow.

  “I made it. I’m safe,” she said, as she unloaded the sled and wrapped Julia in blankets.

  “I knew you would be. You’re Wonder Woman.”

  Riley cuddled up next to her for warmth and struggled to catch her breath. “Wish I had an invisible jet. I’d take us to get our family, then fly to the warmest spot on the planet that has lots of food.”

  “Sounds amazing.” She was quiet for a moment, then said, “Mom, what are we going to do?”

  “Give me a minute to make a plan. Don’t worry, I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure we make it through this. I know you’re cold, but put your head on my shoulder and try to sleep. You’re going to need your strength.”

  Julia leaned against her and closed her eyes. Riley stroked her silky hair and fought the wave of panic rising like a tidal wave. They’d faced impossible circumstances on their rabbit hole journey, but she had no clue how she was going to save her daughter.

  “Mom, snap out of it,” Julia shouted. “You have to save me.”

  Riley was desperate to answer but couldn’t move her mouth. She was barely able to breathe and didn’t know where she was.

  Julia shook her by the shoulders. “You can’t do this to me. I need you or I’ll die.”

  When she still didn’t move, Julia slapped her hard on the cheek. Riley bolted upright and looked around in confusion. They were in a tiny, dark, freezing room. She rubbed the spot where Julia had slapped her.

  “Where are we?”

  Julia lowered herself onto a wooden crate and broke into sobs.

  “The cabin caved in. We’re in the shed. I woke up and you were just staring at nothing. I shined the flashlight in your eyes, but you didn’t move. You scared me so bad. I thought you had a stroke or something.” She wiped her face and took a deep breath. “It’s morning, and it’s starting to snow. We have to get out of here before the shed roof caves in, too.”

  Memories of the night before flooded over Riley. She must have hyperventilated and passed out. She stood and hugged Julia before opening the shed door. The wind was calm, and the storm didn’t feel like a blizzard, just an average snowfall, but Julia was right. They had to get moving before a worse storm hit.

  Their sources of shelter and food were gone. She’d have to make a rope harness and tie it to the shovel handle on the sled to pull Julia. Getting her down the hill would be a monumental challenge, but once they were on the road, the going would be more manageable.

  She rubbed her gloves together. “Time to load the sled. You’re going to get that adventure you’ve been begging for.”

  “What if Coop comes back?”

  Riley had little hope of that. Three days had passed since he left. They had to face the fact that he was gone.

  To appease Julia, she said, “We’ll leave a note. Do you see paper or a pen?” They searched the shed but found nothing useful to write a message for Coop.

  "Scratch a message on the door with a nail, Mom. That way, it can’t get wet or be erased.”

  “Right. Start packing while I do that.”

  Riley hadn’t dug a path to the front door from the shed, so she went to the back of the house and pulled her skis and poles from the wreckage, then skied to the porch. She scratched a message telling Coop they were headed for I-81, then carved the address to the ranch in case he didn’t catch up with them before they made it to Wytheville.

  She skied back to the shed to help Julia finish the packing and rig a harness. When they were set, Julia climbed into the sled, and Riley arranged their meager supplies around her. The sled was heavy in the powdery snow but didn’t sink in too far for Riley to pull it. She didn’t know how far they’d get before her strength gave out but was determined to power on until they found safe shelter. Their lives depended on it.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Riley stabbed her ski-poles into a drift and lifted her goggles as she toppled into the snow. Flakes landed on her lashes, but her arms were too tired to brush them away.

  “Why are you stopping, Mom? You told me not to let you stop, no matter what.�
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  Julia’s muffled voice came from under the layers of blankets covering her face. Riley barely heard her over the wind.

  “I can’t go on. My legs won’t move.”

  Riley pushed up her sleeve to check the time. She’d been pulling that sled for five hours. By her estimation, they should have reached I-81 an hour earlier, but it was nowhere in sight. She hadn’t seen a sign or mile marker and wasn’t even sure they were traveling in the right direction.

  Her muscles screamed. Their food was gone and her energy drained. They were out in the open, exposed to the elements. She’d searched for signs of any structure they could hole up in while she rested, but she was too short to see over the drifts lining the road. Her only solution was to kneel in the snow and wait for death. Julia yelled at her, coaxing her to get on her feet. When Riley didn’t respond, Julia gave up and sat weeping in the sled.

  Riley hated herself for failing her daughter, for failing Jared and Emily, and for failing herself. Millions had died since the CME, but she’d deluded herself into believing they’d survive. Was she more deserving of life than they?

  She unhooked her skis and crawled to Julia. If they were going to die, at least they’d do it together.

  As Riley closed her eyes and rested her head on Julia’s leg, a man’s voice said, “Riley Poole, on your feet.”

  Riley lifted her head and turned in the direction of the voice, but no one was there.

  “I never pegged you for a quitter,” the voice chided. “I said, on your feet.”

  She didn’t bother to look the second time, knowing she was hallucinating or losing her mind. That sometimes happens with people in dire distress, and after her bizarre episode that morning, it wouldn’t surprise her.

  “You’re so close, Riley. Just a little further. Don’t quit yet.”

  Relief poured over her as she recognized the voice. Was it Coop? No, not Coop. Zach. She hadn’t heard his voice in such a long time. It took a moment to remember the sound. That proved she’d lost her mind? Zach was dead.

  “You’re stronger than you know, Riley. Julia needs you. Emily and Jared need you. Get off that snow and start walking.”

  Julia reached her hand out from under the blanket and tapped Riley’s shoulder. “I’m not ready to die, Mom. I know the sled is heavy, but you have to keep going. We’ll find somewhere to stop soon.”

  Riley squeezed Julia’s hand before tucking it back under the blanket. She and Zach were so confident she could make it. Could they be right? And what did it matter if she died walking or curled up in the snow? She’d be just as dead, either way.

  She snapped on her skis and struggled to her feet. Julia clapped as she slipped into the harness and slid her ski across the snow. One step at a time, Riley Poole. Just keep going, one step at a time.

  She kept up a lively conversation with Zach as she slowly glided along for what felt like an eternity. It was fortunate no one could hear her ramblings, or they would have locked her in a padded room. On second thought, a warm padded room sounds lovely, she told him and giggled.

  She trudged along, numb and insane until she heard what sounded like an engine. She wondered if it was one of Branson’s gang coming to drag them back to the compound and realized she didn’t care. She’d find out Angie’s fate, and she and Julia would be warm and full. She could hang out with Branson, one psycho to another.

  She laughed at her hilarious joke and pulled the sled to the side of the road to await their fate. The truck pulled alongside them and slowed to a stop.

  Julia threw the blankets off her head and cried, “That’s our truck. These are the guys who stole our truck.”

  “Hush,” Riley said. “Keep quiet. I’ll handle this.”

  A strikingly handsome lumberjack of a man climbed out of the driver seat and walked around the truck to Riley. He wasn’t one of Branson’s men. She would have remembered him.

  He held his hand out to her, but Riley didn’t move. “I’m Bryce Casper. What are you two doing out in this storm?”

  Riley straightened and crossed her arms. “Where did you get that truck?”

  “We found it abandoned by a fallen tree. Finders keepers these days.”

  “That’s my truck. Return it immediately. I’ll drop you off wherever you want.”

  A man in the back seat had rolled down his window to listen. He stuck his head out and said, “Prove it.” Riley glared at him and rattled off a list of everything she could remember that they’d left in the Humvee, down to Julia’s book. The man nodded and turned to another passenger. “It’s her truck.”

  As Riley was about to demand again that they return it, the world spun, and she crumpled onto the snow. Bryce went into action, unhooking her skis and lifting her into his arms like she was a toy. As he carried her to the truck, he ordered the two other men and a woman to load Julia and the sled into the Humvee.

  “Watch my daughter’s leg. She’s injured,” Riley said, as Bryce lowered her into the back seat.

  One of the men laid Julia next to her, then climbed into the third row of seats with the other man. The woman sat in the front with Bryce.

  “This is Laura,” Bryce said, cocking his thumb at the woman. “Those two in the back are Tyson and Lance. Mind telling us who you are?”

  Riley met his gaze in the rearview mirror and said, “I do. Where are you taking us?”

  “There’s no reason to be afraid of us,” he said. “We won’t harm either of you.”

  Riley lowered her eyes. “Then you’ll be the first.”

  “Are you hungry?” Tyson asked. “Looks like you haven’t eaten in a while.”

  “Starving,” Julia said. She turned and looked through the compartment on her door. “Where’s my caramel corn?”

  “Sorry, I ate it,” Lance said sheepishly. “We have other food.” He picked up a pack at his feet and fished out energy bars and packets of dried bananas. “Will these do?”

  They gladly accepted the food along with bottled water. When Julia started to wolf hers down, Riley warned her to eat slowly or she’d get sick. Riley took a bite of her bar and chewed several times before swallowing.

  She felt Bryce watching her through the mirror and glared at him. “Stop staring at me.”

  “I’m sorry, but there’s something familiar about you. Have we met?”

  “I’d remember you. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but please, tell me where you’re taking us.”

  “We’ve established a community at a senior independent living facility about ten miles from here. We discovered it shortly after the CME. Most of the staff had bailed, and many of the residents died, but we’ve helped the rest as best we can and have brought others to join us. We have power and limited stores of food. We were on a supply run when we found you, and when we found your truck last week.”

  His explanation sounded too good to be true, but he seemed honest. If he was telling the truth and they didn’t run into another Branson, it would be the perfect place to recuperate until they were ready to leave for Wytheville.

  “Have you come across a man who goes by Coop?” she asked.

  “Not that I remember, but I don’t know everyone at the center. We get new people every day. Any of you guys hear of Coop?”

  The others shook their heads.

  Julia put a handful of bananas in her mouth and said, “You’d remember Coop if you met him.”

  Riley gave her a sad smile and turned toward the window.

  “Now, it’s your turn,” Bryce said. “Why were you out in a snowstorm with your injured daughter on a homemade sled?”

  Julia opened her mouth to answer, but Riley held up her hand to stop her. “That’s a long story, but to sum up, the roof of our cabin caved in from the weight of the snow. We had to abandon it.”

  “Is that how your daughter got hurt?” Lance asked.

  Julia washed down her bananas with a gulp of water and said, “No, I got shot.”

  “Julia, please,” Riley said, disappointed that h
er daughter still hadn’t learned when to keep her mouth shut.

  Julia shrugged and took another gulp of water. Riley silently watched the snow-buried world pass by in slow motion until Bryce pulled into the plowed parking lot of a lovely complex with a welcome sign reading “Blue Ridge Meadows Senior Living Center.” It reminded her of similar facilities in Colorado where she’d treated patients. Her hope that they’d found safe harbor soared.

  They climbed out, and Lance ran inside to get Julia a wheelchair. Bryce offered his hand to help Riley out, but she waved him off. The energy bar had kicked in, so she was able to make it under her own power. He led her into a spacious lobby where small groups of people sat in luxurious chairs scattered around the room. They stopped talking and stared at the sight of Riley and Julia.

  “Meet our newest residents,” Bryce said, before turning to Riley. “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch your names.”

  Riley scowled at him before turning to the expectant group. “I’m Riley Poole. This is my daughter, Julia.”

  Bryce stared at her like he’d seen a ghost. “Are you Dr. Riley Poole?”

  “How do you know that?” she asked when she’d recovered from her shock.

  Laura, Tyson, and Lance stepped behind Bryce and came to attention as Bryce lifted his hand in salute. “Major Bryce Casper, United States Air Force. It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am. I had the honor of serving with your husband.”

  The others followed his salute. Riley felt her legs go weak. Bryce jumped to her side and helped her to a chair.

  Julia rolled the wheelchair next to them and stared wide-eyed at Bryce. “You knew my dad?”

  “I did, and more. I considered him one of my best friends. He talked about you all the time. I’ll tell you about it later, but first, I’ll take you to your quarters so you and your mom can clean up and rest. Lance, get Dr. Poole a wheelchair. Tyson, find someone to help unload their belongings. Bring them to room 1224 in the south wing.”

  Lance hurried down a hall past the lobby and returned with a wheelchair. He and Laura wheeled them behind Bryce as he led them to their room.