A. R. Shaw's Apocalyptic Sampler: Stories of hope when humanity is at its worst

by A. R. Shaw

  “I don’t really remember,” she said.

  Looking at the girl, Campos turned to fill her glass with water as he said, “I saw you coming up the road last night. You must have been worn out by the time you got to the top of the road. You collapsed right in front of me. Then I heard a dog barking, so I thought that maybe you were running from him. It’s lucky you found me. I brought you here and stopped your bleeding lip. Let’s start with names. I’m Campos. Who might you be?” He handed her the water and pills, then went to the cupboard and returned with a bowl and spoon while he waited for her to answer.

  Marcy kept doubting herself. This just couldn’t be the same man from the night before. She knew she’d let the question linger too long unanswered. “My dad lives in an apartment complex near here. I wanted to see if he’s still there. I haven’t been able to get hold of him. Mom died, you see.”

  “I see. I’m sorry for your loss. Well, I can take you over there later but I’m sorry to say I haven’t come across anyone alive in that direction, other than a lady who died of an accident shortly afterward. Where did you come from?” Campos asked.

  Marcy was glad he’d let the name question go for now. She had always been taught that you never tell strangers your name and personal information. This conversation broke so many rules, but then again, she knew she had to survive. “I walked from Gilman,” she said.

  “Did you see anyone else along the way?” he asked.

  “No, no one. Is everyone gone here?” she asked, trying to divert attention from herself.

  “Looks that way. I’ve seen a few, but no one worthy of staying here. Except maybe you.” He nodded in her direction.

  “Excuse me?” Marcy asked, not knowing what he meant.

  “Well, I’ve been cleaning up this town, you see, and since your dad lived here, you can stay here too, as long as you’re willing to work. We’ll set you up in your dad’s place if you like, or another house closer to me if you don’t feel safe there. I must warn you, though, he’s probably not alive at this point. You may not want to live there if he’s been shut up all this time. It might not smell good, if you know what I mean.”

  Marcy sniffed and tried to stem the flow of tears. Even though she knew it was probably true, she felt more scared and alone now with the certainty with which Campos spoke. He wasn’t unkind in his revelation, and this confused her more than ever. Suddenly the tears broke through to stream down her cheeks. Marcy sobbed and sniffed hard.

  “It’s all right. I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Campos said. He handed her a paper towel. “Wipe your eyes and blow your nose. Things like this are a commodity quickly running out, so try not to waste paper. You’ve been through a lot, you poor girl, but you’re safe now.”

  Marcy looked at the man. She wanted to believe his sincerity, and he seemed genuinely kind, but she knew something wasn’t right with him. It was all so confusing, because she definitely remembered the harsh way he’d spoken to her the previous night, and how he had hit her. He had not seemed like the same man who knelt before her now. She was not sure why he was being so nice to her. She decided she’d have to get away from him as soon as possible; he just couldn’t be trusted.

  “When do you think we could go check out Dad’s place?” she asked.

  “Well, I have a few things to get started this morning and then we can go over there. If you’d like to finish up eating, you can then use the restroom to clean up down the hall and meet me over at the gas station next door. Do you know where you are?” he asked her.

  “Yes. So the gas station is right next door?” she asked, glad to have a reference, finally, to where she was.

  “Yep, right that way. Take your time. Um, just one thing. Make sure you clean your dishes and put the milk back in the fridge. I like to keep things nice and clean. I really don’t like bugs running around.”

  The way he said, “bugs” kind of made Marcy’s skin tingle: he means he really does not like bugs. She nodded, and Campos headed for the door, adding, “I’m glad you’re here. It’s nice to have someone else to talk to. What did you say your name was?”

  She smiled and knew she couldn’t get out of it this time. “My name’s Marcy. Thank you for having me,” she said, smiling at his retreating form and pretending to go back to her cereal, which wasn’t worth eating with the pain the split lip caused her.

  Once the door closed, Marcy looked into her bowl as if the answers might be in there among the floating flakes. She wavered. He doesn’t seem so mean today. Maybe I should have told him about Macy so he’d help me find her. She’s probably scared to death about now.

  Getting up from the table, Marcy went quickly over to the window. Unfortunately, the house was situated on the other side of the gas station, blocking her view of where she knew Macy must be hiding. She must have gone through the woods to Dad’s. Maybe she’ll be there.

  Quickly she emptied the bowl down the drain and cleaned up her breakfast, as Campos had said to do. She didn’t want to provoke the temper she feared lurked inside the man. Afterward, she walked, feeling a little dizzy, to the restroom. She felt quite guilty that, more than likely, Macy had slept outside, probably freezing.

  One look in the mirror brought reality sharply into focus. Her reflection stunned her and left no doubt in her mind what had taken place. Not only was her lip swollen and crusted over with a scab, but her eye was black and blue with hints of green. She also displayed a painfully sore lump on her forehead. No wonder she was woozy.

  Seeing the results of what she was sure she remembered from her meeting with Campos conflicted with this morning’s events. Tears flooded her eyes as she accepted that the man was, without a doubt, crazy and dangerous. She could not trust him, and she had to find Macy. She needed to get away before his temper flared again.

  The mistake she’d made by telling him where her Dad lived could be a problem if Macy were hiding there. She did not want to put her twin sister in danger too. She’d just have to play it cool and hopefully tonight she could escape and find her.

  Running her hands through her hair to straighten it as much as possible, Marcy splashed a little water on her face. It stung. She dried off, patting gently and, after one last look, she broke herself away from the horrible reflection.

  Marcy headed out of the little house, scanning the woods beyond and trying to subdue her worried reflections. She knew Campos could see her approaching. She found him pulling back a crude fence from across the main road where she had come in the night before.

  “Hi there, Miss Marcy, you’re looking better,” Campos said.

  “Thank you, Mr. Campos. What can I help you with?” she asked him.

  19

  A Night in the Woods

  Graham woke in the night with Bang murmuring and flailing in his sleep. Graham pulled the boy up into his lap and tucked his head under his chin, cuddling him into his warm jacket to keep him warm. “Shhh . . . it’s okay, Bang,” he whispered, and the boy settled down against him. Looking over to his fellow guardian he noticed the dog shutting his eyes again after the brief disturbance and continuing his light but vigilant rest.

  Graham listened to the quiet night for a few moments, lulled by the rhythmic breathing of the boy he held. God, how he wished it was his Nelly or their child that he held. Knowing there was no room for those thoughts now, Graham forced them from his mind and allowed himself to fall asleep once again.

  The next thing he knew, a wet sniffle in his ear disrupted his sleep. He pulled away slowly and opened his right eye to see if the animal was friend or foe. Indeed, the guard dog had come up close and personal.

  Bang held very still in his arms, but started to move his hands toward his bow and arrow, which lay beside them. Graham used one arm to lower the boy’s. The dog sniffed the boy, then turned to look at the girl, who was staring at them.

  Graham watched as the dog walked around the boy and licked his face. Bang quickly wiped off the goo, saying, “Ugh.” Then he giggled.

  Gr
aham smiled at the scene, and then he noticed the girl, expectantly awaiting his attention. Sitting across from him, holding out her ruler and looking none too happy, she asked in a hushed tone, “Who are you?”

  Holding up his hand in a peace gesture, he said, “Hi, my name is Graham and . . .”

  “Like the cracker?” she asked.

  “Uh, yeah, like the cracker. And this is Bang,” he said in a reassuring tone, pointing at the boy.

  “We saw what happened last night to your sister. I’m sorry I didn’t stop the man before that,” Graham said.

  “Wait! You know him?” she asked, getting angry, or scared, or both.

  “No, I don’t know him. I was warned about him, and I was watching him, trying to figure a way around him last night when you and your sister walked up,” Graham said, lowering his head. “I should have shot him when I had the chance, or stopped you girls before you got too close. I’m sorry.”

  She merely looked at him. “He must have heard you coming,” Graham went on. “So afterward he hit your sister and carried her away. I followed you in here to make sure you were safe. When I finally found you, your guard dog here was taking good care of you after all. Are you doing okay?” he asked.

  “No, I’m not doing okay!” she snapped, “Do you know where he took my sister?”

  “Yes. Into that little house next to the gas station,” he said.

  She jumped up. “Right. I’m going to go get her.”

  “No,” Graham said. “Trust me. He’s really crazy. You can’t just storm in there and get her yourself.”

  “I don’t even know you,” she said angrily, “so why should I trust you? That guy hit my sister last night and took her. I don’t know who to trust.”

  “I know,” Graham said. “All I can tell you is that I’m really sorry that I didn’t intervene. I already have Bang here to take care of.” He glanced over at the boy becoming fast friends with the German shepherd, who’d lain on his side so the boy could give him a belly rub.

  “I’m trying to get through town so I can get to my cabin up near Cascade. Where were you two trying to go?”

  “My dad’s place, over at the apartments a few blocks down through town.”

  “All right. What’s your name?” he asked.

  She stared at him, her expression filled with doubts and questions. “Macy. My sister’s name is Marcy, and this is Sheriff,” she said, pointing to the dog.

  “Oh jeez, so we have a Bang and a Sheriff?” he said.

  She turned her head and watched Bang brush his hand along the dog’s side. “Yeah and they seem to like each other. We found him yesterday with his dead owner. He’s a police dog.”

  “I thought so after I saw his collar. Luckily, he doesn’t seem to be reverting like the others.” Graham drew a deep breath and let it out in a long, resigned sigh. “All right, Macy, I think we should get ourselves together and figure out how to get your sister away from that guy. Then I’ll take you over to your dad’s and we can see what to do from there. Sound good?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Her lips trembled. “Do you think he hurt her?”

  Fearing that this was likely the case, Graham said, “I just don’t know. I couldn’t really see much last night. When I watched him yesterday, he changed his voice a lot, so I’m not sure. He seemed normal sometimes and then he sounded like someone else entirely, as if he’s arguing with several people. He’s certainly dangerous. Hopefully, he’s been nice to her because she’s a kid and not a threat to him, but I just don’t know. I think the longer she’s with him, the more danger she’s in. We need to watch them and then try to snatch her when he’s not looking.”

  Graham noticed she was still holding her ruler toward him unconsciously, only now it was not shaking. “I see you’re pretty good with that ruler you’re holding, but I don’t think that’s going to do it, Macy. I feel really awful I did not warn you two, so I’ll help you get your sister back. Then you can do what you want, but I don’t think you should stay around here.”

  Macy was thinking the same thing. “Listen,” she said as a screeching, metal-on-metal sound came through the trees. “Did you hear that?”

  “Yeah, sounds like he’s up. Let’s be really quiet now,” Graham said. He got up, dusting the forest debris off his jeans.

  Macy noticed Graham’s gun lying nearby, and this made her more comfortable. She hoped she would see her sister again soon. Leaving the boy behind, Sheriff ambled his way over to her and licked her hand. She looked at Sheriff and said, whispering loud enough for Graham to overhear, “Good morning, handsome. Thanks for keeping me warm last night. I think you must trust this guy or he wouldn’t be here right now.” She scratched him under the collar to show her appreciation.

  “He’s a great guard dog,” Graham said. “There’s no way I was getting anywhere near you. You’re lucky to have him.” He reached down to let Sheriff smell his hand.

  Another metallic screeching sound came and the dog suddenly went on the alert, ears perked up. A low growl came from his throat. Graham started to reach for Sheriff’s collar, but Macy shove his hand away. She squatted by the dog, one arm around his neck. “Hey, boy, no barking. Let’s keep it quiet,” she whispered, hoping the dog would listen to her commands.

  “Macy, you take Sheriff and Bang farther that way,” Graham said, pointing away from their direction of the ominous noise. “I’m going to sneak closer and look with my binoculars to see what’s going on down there. I don’t want him to hear you guys. I’ll come back and find you after I know what’s happened. Do you understand?”

  “I’m coming with you,” Bang said, holding his bow and arrow and pulling on Graham’s jacket.

  “I need you to keep Macy safe, Bang,” said Graham, looking the boy in the eyes. “I will come back for you. Girls need looking after.” Macy shot Graham a look, but didn’t contradict him. “You and Sheriff will keep her safe, okay?” Graham continued. “Stay together. I won’t be long.” Without waiting for the boy’s reply he headed off toward the tree line, holding his rifle ahead of him.

  If I can get a clear shot, I should take it and get this all over with. Graham nearly felt sick at the idea. He’d never been the kind of man to harm another, but he knew he should have taken care of this problem the night before. He just hoped he had the guts to pull the trigger when the time came.

  As he backtracked his way through the forest, Graham recognized the path he and Bang must have taken. He was very careful not to make much noise, and he could quite clearly make out two voices as he got closer to the gas station.

  Pulling up his binoculars, Graham hid behind a pine tree, large enough to conceal his presence. He could see the man talking to the girl who mirrored Macy as she stood about five feet from him. Graham could see that she had quite the shiner and seemed a little nervous, but she didn’t appear to be too afraid of the man she was talking to. The guy pointed up toward the market, telling her what it appeared he wanted her to do.

  So far he hadn’t touched her. She seemed to be there of her own free will, except that she kept scanning the tree line where Graham was hiding. She was probably looking for her sister. He hoped she wasn’t beginning to trust the dangerous man; it could mean big trouble if she told him about Macy.

  At least she looked healthy. Graham knew it would be a matter of time before the nutcase changed his demeanor again, and he watched as the pair walked toward the blue trash bin. The closer she got, the more nervous Graham became.

  20

  Once Lost, Then Found

  Campos was glad to have the girl here. It meant he would have someone to share the day-to-day workload with. But he worried that the others wouldn’t like her and would try to scare her off. He had to find his meds. If he didn’t, the others might harm the girl.

  He opened the fence barrier and noticed her coming out with her backpack and shoes on, ready for the day. She looked a little worried, but he supposed that was to be expected. He would just do his best to make her feel welcome,
and maybe she’d want to stay.

  Greeting her, Campos showed her the fences that he’d made to keep the wild animals at bay during the night. “It’s not foolproof, but at least it deters them from coming right into town,” he explained. “Let’s walk down this way and I’ll show you the market where I’ve been clearing things out. We have about two more days of work there before we need to move on to the other stores,” he said, pointing farther away.

  “I’ve been cleaning everything up so that when nice folks come into town, they’ll have a place to stay. I’m hoping we can have enough people to start a big garden come spring. We really need to plan for seed starting this winter. Things are pretty picked over. We have enough to get through the winter, but spring is going to be a problem.”

  As they got closer to the garbage bin attached to the four wheeler, Campos explained how he pulled the incinerator on wheels wherever he went to make the cleanup job easier. “Be careful, because it’s hot. Don’t touch the sides. Give me that gas can over there,” he said.

  Marcy did as he asked. He poured some gasoline into the bin, walking from side to side to spread the fuel around. He put the can down by the building door and walked back to remove matches from his back pocket. He tore several out at once, struck them, and tossed them in. The flames went up in a big whoosh, and Marcy jumped back with a scream.

  “Oh, man, that scared me,” she said. She noticed Campos’s head twitch in an involuntary tic. She didn’t think anything of it until he turned to face her with a twisted smile that didn’t seem like his own.

  “Oh, yeah, little darling. You want to get in?” he asked, smiling sadistically.

  Marcy started walking backward from his suddenly evil-looking profile, highlighted by the roaring flames behind him. This wasn’t him. This is the man from last night. She knew it now. It happened right before her eyes; he changed. There was something really wrong with this guy, and she knew for sure that she was in danger. He started laughing at her retreating form.