by Francis Bate
Jarvis nodded and focused on the road. He followed the dirt road down to a river bank. Parking at the empty space, they both moved out before he locked the door. The boy edged to the trunk and grabbed all the supplies. He walked towards Jarvis who was standing on the concrete river bank.
Placing the supplies down, they fixed the fishing rods putting the bait on it. Jarvis gripped the rod around the reel seat, reeling the bait from the rod tip. Flexing his index finger and pressing the line against the rod, he opened the reel bail and swung it back passing his shoulder. He swept the rod forward and released the line.
They both left the fishing rod in a slanting position. Jarvis sat down beside it while the boy went out to look for more bait. He watched him pull out some worms from the mud putting it in the pail. The long slimy creature crawled as if looking for somewhere to escape.
“Are you from here? Are you living alone?” Jarvis asked the boy, making him glance up at him. The scorn on his eyes told him about something even deeper.
“Yes, I’m from here and I’m living with my father,” he answered back with disinterest.
“Then why are you in the open alone? Does your father know how dangerous it is to be out in the wild?” Jarvis asked in a grim voice. The boy avoided his gaze concentrating on what he was doing.
“He does not care as long as he eats three times a day and that I could provide a different kind of foods each meal,” the boy responded in a low tone. He pulled another worm and placed it in the pail.
“What kind of father would do that? Is he sick or something?” Jarvis fired another question but he remained cool.
“He’s fine and I’m used to it, though,” the boy replied boring the mud with his knife. When he took an amount full of worms, he picked the pail and placed it in the bank.
“He’s an ass. I hope he does not hurt you, though.” Jarvis glanced at the fishing rod but it has not changed.
The boy sat next to him watching the water ahead of them.
“He does but I don’t fight back,” he answered staring at space. With a faint smile on his face, he shrugged his shoulder and slumped it back.
Before the boy could hear his reaction, they looked back to see a big man stomping his feet as he edged towards them.
“You irresponsible, boy! I am going to kill you if you ever fail to give me a sumptuous meal! You left your spears, how could you catch a delicious fish if your equipment is incomplete?” The old man cursed angling the item at him as if hitting him with it.
Jarvis angled his hand warding the blow off, hitting his forearm. He twirled his hand grabbing the spear from his grip. The man was taken aback leaving his jaw widely hung open.
“Leave, old man before I could do something about this,” Jarvis said showing the red mark on his forearm.
“And who are you to tell me what to do? That’s my son and I do have all the right in the world to do whatever to him!” He shouted, pointing his index finger at Jarvis.
“That’s not how a father would act. You’re not more than a man that only hides under his skin,” he hissed at him.
“Be very cautious of your words, you do not tell or question my ways of disciplining my child. If he was really mine, I would love him unconditionally. But I couldn’t! That is just a bastard left to me by his bitch mother.”
Jarvis looked at the young boys and his face was blank. He has managed to cast a neutral look, ignoring the cusses he was receiving. He heard it all, he knew it. But he has grown to respect the man that took care of him before they have learned about the story.
“Then that does not give you the authority to hurt him or anyone else! You’re lucky because if I were him, I could have killed you the first time you laid your fingers on him. Now, do yourself a favor and leave!” Jarvis exclaimed, in a harsh voice.
His eyes were excreting the smokes he has built in.
“You, ungrateful prick! I will kill you,” he threatened. The man cursed and scowled at them. He threw threats and dares at the boy before he left them there.
“That was your father, huh. I am sticking with my statement and first impression, he’s an ass,” Jarvis exclaimed chuckling at him. He rubbed his forearm but immediately fumbled when they felt a movement on the fishing rod. The boy set the hook when he felt a tug on the line and hooked the fish. Gripping the rod firmly, he rapidly jerked backward and up.
He pulled the fish concurrently reeling it. When it was on above level, Jarvis took the net and carefully removed the hook through the mouth of the fish.
“This is a big catch,” Jarvis stated, tapping his shoulder. He placed the fish on another bucket and helped him fix the bait.
After placing the fishing rod in its position, the boy took the spear and wore his gears.
“I’m going in so we could catch some fish faster,” he said bending to fix his necessities.
Jarvis glanced back at a creeping sound from behind. He scanned the area but saw nothing. When he heard a shrilling metal sound, he stood up straight pulling his gun from its holster and aimed at a man. The bullet pierced through his body faltering from the truck to the ground creating a loud thud to a rock.
They sauntered towards the man and Jarvis knelt to check his vitals. He was no longer breathing as the blood drained from his head and body.
“Thank you,” the boy said, Jarvis was overwhelmed making him halt in pace. “Thank you for doing that. I thought of doing it many times but I could not. He was still my father, I mean my step-father but I denounce his wickedness.”
Jarvis faced the boy holding him on his shoulders. He was bowing his head as if shunning him from his gaze. “Look at me,” he said tilting his head into his eyes. Tears welled in his eyes and he whirled him in a manly hug. “You can come with me if you want.”
The boy beamed at him but he shook his head. “I’ll stay here until this will be over,” he responded still maintaining the smile on his face. Jarvis nodded patting his head.
He led him back to the riverbank and stayed quiet for a couple of times. “I will transfer the body later,” the boy exclaimed in mid-air receiving a silent nod from Jarvis.
The rod moved feeling a tug on the line. Jarvis hooked the fish repeating the cycle as it is. At the end of the day, they caught four fishes and they went back to their shack. Jarvis stayed as they waited for the fish to cook.
“You sure you don’t wanna come with me?” Jarvis asked again, hoping for an affirmation. The boy shook his head in negation sticking with his decision.
After the meal, Jarvis left the shack after thanking the boy. When he has driven off, he realized that he has not asked his name, not even introducing his self. He rubbed his stomach, burping in progress.
Driving more miles, Jarvis counted the empty houses as he passed through the small undeveloped city. As he reached the city limits, he approached Brooksville. Big old houses were sleeping on every corner of the street. Broken pieces of the sculptures and monuments scattered on the ground. Dried leaves flew from the branches to the grassy plot.
Jarvis took the long road out, thinking it would be reserved. He drove silently, taking a peek out of the car window. His attention went out of the vehicle, flashing with memories.
He focused back on the roadway adding some speed. Jarvis pressed the brake pedal in a sudden producing a slight squeaking noise.
Glancing back at the road, there was an average-sized figurine lying in the middle of the road. He creased his brows and tried to figure out what it was. Jarvis gripped at his gun and went out gradually trudging to the object.
It was facing upside down, so he twisted it revealing its cushiony materials. The huge eyes stared at him in wonder and the tiny lips smiled in awe. It has no nose as if it was erased in time.
The doll was covered with slick, donning a pink tiny dress patterned with flowers and leaves fitting its impressive size. With its smile on, everyone will be appealed to hold it. He grabbed the hair, raising it in the air.
He smiled thinking to bring it home wit
h him to his pregnant wife. She was five months pregnant when he left and she should be almost six or seven months by now.
Jarvis glanced to his car at the sound of an opening door. It was odd because he left it close and there was no other car in the area. A man with a black bonnet covering his face was trying to step into the driver’s seat.
“Hey! That’s my truck!” Jarvis yelled, grasping at the gun on the concrete and he rapidly stood up straight.
The man looked at him with a smirk on his face as he climbed into the driver’s seat. Jarvis ran towards the truck and fired a shot hitting the man on his leg. He heard him cringe in pain as he hit another shot.
“I said, this is my truck!” Jarvis yelled, grabbing the collar of the man. “No one steals from me!” He exclaimed turning the man to face him as his knuckle landed on his face.
The man returned a jab but Jarvis quickly dodged it. Jarvis let out another striking blow hitting him on the face. Cross punching the man, his unconscious body dropped down to the floor with blood seeping from his body.
“Don’t ever mess with a desperate man who can’t wait to go home to his family,” he mumbled pulling the man from the cold floor to the grassy area.
Blood sprinkled on the ground as his clothes wiped the droplets off the rough floor. Jarvis felt the vitals of the man, sighing when he was breathing normally. He paid him his final glance and went back into his car.
Wiping the beads of blood on the door, he stepped inside and closed it. He went back to the road leaving the area as fast as possible. He was sure that the gunshots have attracted people.
Jarvis sped up feeling the air trickle on his face. He recalled what happened earlier as his heart frantically beat fast.
It has skipped a beat, feeling butterflies in his stomach. When he felt he was miles away from the scene, he sighed in relief as if thorns were pulled out of his chest.
The moon has started to appear in the dark blue sky surrounded with the stunning Milky Way. The tiny dots shimmered above believing that there are falling meteors in the earth.
The moon smiled as it lighted the way. It was the moon or the stars that served as a guide. He was uncertain. But either way, it took him a long way that he felt he was near.
Jarvis went back to his thought, asking whether he could be able to see his family. What would have been their fate? He brushed it off ignoring the shivers it has brought him.
Chapter Ten: Dangerous Thoughts
After spending the night in the lonely forest, Jarvis woke up late feeling the heavy pounding in his head. He stumbled down when he tried to stand. Trying to get up again but he can’t, he stayed lying on the ground. The murmurs of the wind as it touched the leaves added up in his drowsiness lulling him to sleep.
It was already afternoon when he woke up. Disoriented, he rubbed his eyes feeling a bit lighter than before. He grabbed a can of food on his pack and took it in, tasting its usual taste. His taste buds must have been used to it.
After feeling the food in his mouth, he chugged a bottle of water. His headache was still crashing his skull but he thought of going home this time.
Jarvis fixed his packs back on the truck and took a gallon of gas from the trunk. That will be the last gas left for his remaining journey. He drained it on the gas tank of his pickup, throwing the empty gallon back in the trunk.
Taking the signal to leave, he climbed back into his seat and drove off. Ignoring his slight fever, the mild spinning sensation in his head reduced lightly.
While driving, he slowed down as he took another bottle of water and emptied it in one hand. He threw the bottle on the seat, trying to fight off his fatigue. He yawned and groaned convincing himself that he was feeling well.
When he felt that he was near his town, he arched a weak smile on his face with his heart thumping in glee. The boulevard was familiar to him as well as the trees and the houses lined along it. However, he observed some massive changes and just like the other towns he passed by the previous days.
Darkness enveloped the town and people were nowhere to be found. He drove slowly, glancing at every house. There was no one around.
He switched his signal light and steered to the left on the route back to his home. An old man bowed covering his head with his hands towards the car that almost hit him. The bright headlight blinded him and out of his shock, he cursed under his breath.
The driver jogged swiftly onto his side, checking if there was blood on the ground. He checked the man if he was hurt, recognizing him even with the numerous hairs on his face.
“Mr. Daniels?” Jarvis asked in a high-pitched tone, glancing at the man in front of him. “Mr. Daniels! Yes, it’s you! You look older but I could still recognize your face! How could I forget?” He exclaimed, chuckling in mid-air.
The man glanced over his shoulder, squinting his eyes trying to scrutinize the man. When it dawned on him that he looked familiar, he closed his eyes remembering him from before.
“Oh, man! Was I missing for that long that you have forgotten me?” He asked, smirking at his facial reactions.
The old man seemed to have a hard time recalling his identity. Jarvis gave him more moment to try again until he heard him snap his fingers.
“Jarvis? Is that you? Is that really you?” Mr. Daniels asked with wide eyes, looking dumbfounded by what he saw. Jarvis chuckled, nodding at his question.
With a weary in his face, he stood up pulling him back to the car. “You drive and let’s leave the area immediately. It’s dangerous out here; bring us to my cabin near the water. That’ll be nearer to the camp the people are staying,” he stated, moving quickly as they left the road.
“What’s happening? Where are the townsfolk?” He asked, glancing at him with confusion crowding his face.
“I am going to tell you when we get there. Dim the lights so no one could see us,” he ordered, shushing him so he could focus on the road.
They stayed in a comfortable silence allowing the sound of the night to be their confounding music. He followed the trail, remembering the cabin they used to visit when they go fishing. Mr. Daniels was a short and stout man with gray hair all over his head. His big silver eyes brightened in the night adding more beauty in it.
Jarvis recalled him as the funny man he used to talk to every time he visits his place. When his wife died, he moved to his small secluded cabin and lived alone.
They reached his place and were greeted by solace. Although small, it spoke of grandiosity and relief.
“What happened back here when I was gone?” Jarvis started asking when they have moved out of the car.
“It’s a long story which I know that your family could relay. But the armies have conquered the place. At first, they tried to convince people to relocate. The day after that, they were at the town center ambushing the people without specific reason,” Mr. Daniels explained, seeking at his eyes in the black. “I told your family to escape and we found the campsite which the armies won’t think that will serve a refugee camp.”
“Then what were you doing back there a while ago?” Jarvis asked in a serious face, staring at him strongly.
“I was looting a house for medicines. Your wife will give birth within in few months and he needs some medicines and supplies for herself and the baby,” Mr. Daniels stated giving the supplies to him, smiling at Jarvis. “I found out that they are meandering the center town at night, not so much in this area.”
Teary eyed, he took hold of the supplies and gave him a hug. “Thank you for these,” Jarvis replied offering him a bright smile.
“You feel hot, are you okay?” Mr. Daniels asked, feeling his forehead with his hand. When he felt that his temperature was a bit high, he took out an aspirin and gave it to him. “Take that to help alleviate your headache and fever,” he added, staring at him eye to eye. “Anyway, take that road. That will lead you to your family. Go check them because they thought you have already died. That way, the armies could hardly detect you from their radar.”
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��Are they not leaving the town even for once?” Jarvis asked, staring blankly into the sky.
The stars were already out as if wanting to fall to the earth.
“Yes. They do not leave. They became stricter, though, killing everyone they see. So it’s advisable not to have an encounter with them,” the old man answered, shaking his head in despair. “I don’t know what this world has gotten now.”
“I think I need to go check on my family now. Don’t you wanna come and stay with us?” He asked, staring at him. He became silent for a while, weighing his options.
“I actually stay there but every night, I come back here to store more supplies for the baby. I’ll follow you there once I’ve done my part here,” he responded, earning a sympathetic look from him.
“You don’t have to risk your life for the baby. You should also think of yourself,” he stated calmly, exchanging looks with him.
“Nah, I want to do this. I want the baby to live even if it will start out in a chaotic and messy world. At least I have lived a better life even if I pass away today,” he replied with a sweet smile on his face.
Jarvis couldn’t contain his joy but at the back of his mind, he was worried about the old man’s security. He felt his excitement of having to see a baby because he never had one.
“Please take care of yourself so the baby could grow up knowing you as its grandpa,” Jarvis stated, clamping his hands and smiling at him. The old man sobbed in joy, bowed his head and leaned forward. “You should come and sleep in the camp tonight. I am asking you to come home safely tonight.”
Mr. Daniels could no longer say no but he promised to follow before midnight. Jarvis went back to his car, leaving him behind. He switched the car engine on and dimmed the lights as he headed towards the direction he has instructed him.
The small house became smaller as he went a few more distance from it. He clasped at the supplies with one hand and gripped it tightly, thinking of what they talked about.
Jarvis dried the tiny beads of tears from his eyes and clenched at the steering wheel. He cried out in frustration and anger that he was helpless about it.