Convinced that traveling under the cover of darkness was safest, she sat and waited until the sun disappeared over the horizon.
Like the other nights, the early evening was pitch black and with no better time to go, she stood and stepped out from behind the dumpster. She knew the route she’d travel and had planned each turn she’d take while lying in wait all those hours.
She found comfort in the dark, but it wasn’t enough to prevent her heart from racing. The sounds of horror and violence echoed from all directions. Gunfire cracked to the north while screams and shrieking pleas for help came from the south. To the east a window shattered somewhere, followed by voices arguing then a gunshot.
The city had fallen into violence and chaos in a matter of days. She found it hard to believe that society could collapse so quickly. She questioned how civilized a civilization they actually were. How could this be? she asked herself. Why so fast?
Counting each step helped her focus and kept her mind from wandering into those deep recesses of fear and paranoia. She heard people close by but couldn’t see them and knew they couldn’t see her either. She’d pause and listen, then move quickly.
When she made the left onto the condominium property, she sighed. She bent over and wiped the sweat from her brow. Knowing she was less than a minute from her front door, she decided to sprint the remaining distance.
As she cleared the stairs up to her second-story balcony, a booming voice called out, “You’re late.” Her heart skipped a beat. She grabbed her knife and called out, “Who’s that?”
“Frank, your neighbor.”
Unable to see him and unsure of his intentions, she warned him, “I have a knife; don’t think about trying anything.” She held the knife blindly out in front of her.
“Your sister is worried sick about you. A sweet girl, that one.”
“What about my sister?”
“We chatted earlier. She’s in your unit right now, frantically waiting for you to return.”
Lexi again began her ascent and reached the landing. She sidestepped left and reached her door, still keeping the knife at arm’s length. “You just stay where you are.”
A tortured metal squeak came from his folding chair as he adjusted. “I’m not going to hurt you. In fact, I might have saved your life.”
Lexi hated that she couldn’t see him. “Oh yeah?”
“Go ask your sister.”
Lexi reached for the doorknob and expected to find it locked, but it wasn’t. “Stupid girl,” she said, turning it and stepping inside.
Just as the door closed, Frank said, “I’ll be right here when you want to talk about my gift.”
Carey called out, “Lexi, is that you?”
The room was bright with the orange glow of two dozen candles. Her eyes quickly adjusted. It felt good to be able to see again. “Yeah, it’s me.”
Carey ran and hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re back. I was worried sick.”
Lexi returned the warm embrace. It felt good to hold Carey again.
After the two reconnected, Lexi pulled Carey off and chastised her, “Why wasn’t the door locked? You have to protect yourself; you don’t know who could come in here.”
“Jessie just left; she came by to say hi. She was coming back in a bit; we were going to have a smoke. I need something to take the edge off.”
“Carey, this is not a good time to get stoned. We can’t let our guard down, ever.”
Carey suddenly noticed Jeff wasn’t there. “Where’s Jeff?”
Lexi placed her right hand on Carey’s cheek and replied, “The day was a total loss. No car and…”
“Where is he?”
Lexi shamefully looked down.
Carey took Lexi’s right hand in her left and squeezed it. “Lexi, answer me.”
Unable to make eye contact, she solemnly said, “He’s dead.”
“What? How?”
Lexi pulled away from Carey and stepped to the couch and plopped down. Her shoulders shrugged forward and her head hung low. “Everything was going so smooth. I should’ve known that was an omen, nothing goes that smooth, it was too easy.”
Carey sat next to her and just stared in disbelief.
“We got there, found cars that might work, found the keys and BAM,” she said, motioning with her hands then slapping them together hard when referencing the shock of confronting the armed men. “We turn; there’s a group of armed men. I think they were all men. I didn’t get a good look.” Lexi paused and thought again about what happened. “He saved my life. He saw the men, pushed me back inside and closed the door.”
Carey reached for Lexi’s hand.
“All I know is I’m on the floor and, boom, a gun goes off. They shot him.”
“How did you escape?”
“I just ran. Thinking about it now, it all seems like it happened so fast. I hit the floor, I look up, I hear a gun go off, his body comes flying back inside, he’s dead, I find a back door and run. I ran for…I don’t know how long I ran, I just ran. I found a dumpster off of Acacia just up from Depot Sushi. I hid behind it until it got dark.”
“Oh, my God,” Carey gushed, her hand covering her mouth. She looked at Lexi and could see the guilt and fear written all over her face. “I’m so sorry you had to experience that.”
“I’m sorry for Jeff, I couldn’t help him. There was nothing I could do,” Lexi said, punishing herself.
“You said there was a group, all with guns.”
“But I couldn’t do anything; I’m about as useless as tits on a bull. How am I supposed to help keep you alive if I can’t even fight?”
Carey scooted closer and put her arm around Lexi. “We’ll make it because we’re together. We’re tough you and I, we’re resilient. We’ll make it through this, I know we will.”
“I’m beginning to doubt that, Carey. Yesterday I get knocked out; today I ran away like a coward as Jeff was murdered. How are we going to get to a safe place if we can’t get a car?” Lexi lamented.
“Lexi, don’t beat yourself up. There wasn’t anything you could do.”
“We need a car, but more importantly we need weapons. Not pieces of shit like this either,” she said, tossing the kitchen knife on the wood cocktail table.
“We’ll figure it out,” Carey said.
Lexi sighed and leaned back into the couch.
Carey watched the dark shadows bounce off Lexi’s face. Seeing her suffer made her suffer.
“I just feel worthless,” Lexi pouted.
A loud thump at the front door jolted them.
Lexi jumped up and grabbed the knife.
“Hey, you locked the door!” Jessie called from outside.
“Hold on,” Carey said, bounding towards the door. She unlocked it and opened it wide.
Jessie raced in holding a bag and vaporizer. “Pedro got me some good stuff today.”
Lexi glared at Carey.
Jessie looked up and said, “Lex, hey, how are you doing? You don’t look so good.” She briskly walked in and took a seat in the cushioned chair across from them.
“Jessie, it’s not a good time,” Lexi said.
“What?” Jessie asked, looking up. “I think it might help, you look like hell.”
“Please, Jessie, now is not the time,” Lexi urged.
Carey looked back and forth but gave in to her sister’s wishes. “Jeff is dead. He was killed earlier today. Maybe tomorrow.”
“Oh no, what happened?” Jessie asked.
“He and Lexi were getting a car…” Carey said but was interrupted by Lexi.
“Jessie, please, go, now!” Lexi barked.
Raising her eyebrows and looking shocked, she stood up and growled, “Screw you two.” She stormed out and slammed the door.
“Did you have to be so mean?” Carey asked.
Lexi gave Carey a blank look and said, “I love you, but you’re clueless.”
Carey took the insult but didn’t respond. She melted into the couch and thought.
“The sinks don’t work,” Carey informed her.
“No!” Lexi bellowed.
“Stopped working not long after you guys left.”
“Whatever, I’m going to bed; I’m tired and please lock the door.”
“Not to take away from us mourning Jeff, but I have some good news,” Carey said.
“Unless it’s something like the power is coming on tomorrow, I don’t know if it can be good news.”
“I found a car,” Carey confessed.
Lexi snapped her head around and asked, “Where?”
“Your neighbor Frank, he’s giving us his.”
Lexi leaned back and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t understand.”
“He said he doesn’t need it.”
“Who gives away a car, who?” Lexi asked, her tone signifying her skepticism.
“He does, I guess,” Carey responded.
“That doesn’t make any sense, none at all,” Lexi said, perplexed.
Carey stood up and headed for the door. “Come, find out for yourself.”
“Hold on, wait, do you trust this guy?”
“He’s harmless.”
Lexi shook her head and said, “No one is harmless these days.”
Carey knocked on Frank’s front door.
Lexi stood behind her, holding a flashlight in one hand and a knife in the other.
Hacking and hoarse coughing could be heard inside.
Carey again knocked.
“I’m coming, hold your horses,” Frank hollered then coughed.
Carey looked back at Lexi and said, “I forgot to mention, he’s dying from cancer.”
Deadbolts unlocked; then the door opened softly. A soft orange glow poured from the condo. Frank stuck his head out and asked, “Yeah, what do you want?”
“It’s Carey. Lexi is here with me. I told her about the car.”
“I was expecting you.” Frank chuckled then coughed again. He opened the door fully and waved them in.
Carey took a step forward, but Lexi grabbed her arm. “Let’s chat out here.”
Taking this cue, Carey stopped.
Frank wiped his mouth and said, “I need the fresh air anyway.” He came outside and stepped over to a lawn chair. He wore a thick maroon robe and flip-flops.
Each step Frank took, Lexi took one away from him. She figured he was harmless as Carey said, but trusting him wasn’t something she could do just yet.
Frank lowered himself slowly then quickly plopped into the chair. He adjusted himself until he was comfortable and coughed. After wiping some phlegm, he said, “Now you understand what I was telling you earlier.” This comment was directed at Lexi.
“Yeah, it makes sense now, but it also doesn’t make sense. Who gives a functioning car away?”
“I see you’re becoming jaded already. That’s good, stay that way, it’ll keep you alive longer.”
“So why are you being so generous? You don’t know me. In fact, I used to ignore you in the past,” Lexi said.
A distant gunshot rang out.
Carey and Lexi both swiveled their heads and looked.
Frank didn’t bother; he knew it was far off.
Lexi faced Frank and again said, “You didn’t tell me why you’re giving away your car.”
“Because I don’t need it, it’s just that simple. I’ll be honest too…”
“You weren’t before,” Lexi interrupted.
“Ha, you have a sense of humor too. You see, I’m dying; I have a couple months, maybe less. Where am I going to go? I have nothing but this place, boxes full of crap and a car that I believe runs. I spent a lifetime protecting Americans and I want to go out doing what I did most of my adult life. If that car works, then you two have a shot at surviving this thing. You’re right, you don’t know me and I really don’t know you, but we have something in common.”
“What’s that?” Lexi asked.
“We’re human, and the reason this world, all of this is falling apart so fast is because people have forgotten that. They’ve forgotten what it truly means to be human,” Frank said and paused. He looked to the sky, smiled softly and continued, “I know my life won’t end when I die. I know this is but one expression of my journey. I’m actually looking forward to that next part. If I could give you more, I would.”
“Do you have a gun?” Lexi asked rudely.
“Lexi, he’s being so generous already,” Carey reprimanded.
“Ha, you definitely have game, girl. Yes, I think I have one you can take with you.”
Lexi stood up, anxious, and blurted out, “Great! So tell me where I can find this car.”
“Easy, tiger, I appreciate how eager you are, but going at night is something I wouldn’t suggest,” Frank countered.
“We’re leaving tonight, period. I can’t sit around and wait for something bad to happen. Everything is falling apart so fast; I need to get me and my sister out of here.”
“Maybe he has a point,” Carey chimed in.
“Carey, Jeff is dead. He’s dead, don’t you get it? We went for a simple walk to check out cars and he was shot,” Lexi exclaimed.
Frank leaned back; he was shocked to hear about Jeff. “Your friend, the big guy I helped earlier?”
“Yeah, he was gunned down today at the car lot off of PCH,” Lexi replied.
“I’m sorry, he seemed like a nice guy,” Frank said, genuinely offering his condolences.
“Frank, I don’t know you, but you’ve just given us the one thing that might save our lives. I can’t wait around anymore. We need to head out now, get the car and get the fuck out of town,” Lexi rambled.
Frank could tell by her frantic pace that she was in a bit of shock. He meant what he said about helping them, and if he was going to die anyway, why not go out fighting. “How about I go with you?”
Lexi looked at him oddly and instantly rebuffed him. “No.”
“Lex, he can help,” Carey said.
Looking at Frank’s frail body in the chair, Lexi wasn’t so sure about that assessment. “Look at you, you can barely stand.”
“I won’t deny I’m not in the best shape of my life, but I’m just tired from that hump yesterday. Don’t count me out, I can be of help,” Frank declared and stood.
“Give me a gun, plenty of bullets, and let’s hit the road,” Lexi said.
Frank stepped forward, put his hand out and said, “Deal.”
DECEMBER 7, 2014
“I would rather die a meaningful death than to live a meaningless life.” – Corazon Aquino
Solana Beach, CA
Frank took pride in his past career as a Border Patrol agent. After graduating college with a degree in natural resources, he first went to work for the Department of the Interior, but he quickly found the job as an interpretive ranger was boring. He wanted some action, so he shifted to the law enforcement side of the house. His first job as a law enforcement ranger found him at Lake Mead, working undercover narcotics. After several weeks on the job, he was hooked, he loved it, but soon that enthusiasm waned, and by year two he was burned out. Following a friend who had made the jump, he applied for the Border Patrol; there was a bonus and the transfer was easy.
The years melted away quickly, and before he knew it, he had spent over twenty-five years in the service of the country he loved dearly. Along the way he had found and lost love but never was blessed with children. It was the only thing he truly regretted.
Upon agreeing to help the girls, he needed to ready himself for the thirteen-mile walk. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was concerned. His health was fragile and the short walk from his part-time job at a smoke shop the day before had taken it out of him. Even all his bravado couldn’t hide his weakened state from Lexi.
Lexi showed up at his front door and banged. “Come on, old man, we’re packed and ready to go.”
Frank looked at his watch. “Hmm, it’s a new day,” he mused as he mentally
chalked up another day alive.
Lexi again banged on the door.
“It’s open, come on in!” Frank cried out.
Lexi and Carey came in.
“You ready to go?” Lexi asked.
Carey stood behind her and was struggling with a strap on her small backpack.
Frank walked over to his dining room table and said, “Come over here.”
Lexi did as he said and got excited when she saw the armament and equipment that was spread out. Unable to contain herself, she reached for the first pistol she saw, a Glock 17.
Not concerned about upsetting the girls, and establishing that he was the alpha, he swatted her hand away. “You don’t just come up and start finger fucking someone’s firearms.”
At first Lexi recoiled, but she regained her composure and said, “You said you were going to give me one.”
“I am but not that one. First thing I need to know is, have you ever shot a gun before?” Frank asked. He had his hands on his hips and looked down on Lexi.
“Nope,” Carey answered, still fiddling with her pack.
“No, but how hard can they be?” Lexi asked.
He picked up the Glock and held it gently in his large rough hands. “They’re pretty straightforward, but to someone unskilled and untrained, they could end up being nothing more than a paperweight if you don’t know how they function.”
Lexi reached out to grab the Glock, but he pulled away.
“Little lady, if I’m going to give you a gun, you need a little training.”
Lexi grunted, “Come on.”
Done with whatever she was doing, Carey eagerly stepped forward and said, “Teach me.”
Frank smiled at Carey then gave Lexi a smirk. “Your sister is a smart girl.”
Lexi exhaled heavily and crossed her arms.
Not wanting to argue, Frank went into a quick class on the Glock. He covered the parts, functionality and basic fundamentals of marksmanship. As he covered what was needed, he could see Lexi intently listen without further complaint.
Nemesis: Inception Page 7