The trio turned towards the voice.
“Who’s that?” Kevin asked.
Sabrina stepped into the light. “It’s Sabrina. We met earlier.”
“Oh yes, hi,” Kevin said, standing up. He turned to Megan and said, “This is Sabrina. I met her at the ranger station earlier.”
Sabrina was followed by two other people, a man and a woman. “This is Trent and Ashley.”
Kevin, Megan and Paul all greeted them and welcomed them to take a seat around the fire.
“I have a bottle of Fireball to trade,” she said, pulling it out of a bag. “What do you have?”
“Oh, um,” he said to Sabrina. He faced Megan and said, “I said we might be up for a trade of food for a bottle of booze.”
“You did, huh?” Megan said, her lip curled in a way that showed Kevin she was not amused.
“Paul, you want some Fireball?” Kevin asked.
“I’ve never had it,” Paul said, his gaze fixed on Ashley.
Ashley was short, standing about five feet two, and had long blond hair, large breasts and milky skin. By all accounts she was considered attractive.
“For some food you can have it,” Sabrina said.
“Can I try it first?” Paul asked.
Sabrina looked at Ashley and Trent, who nodded their approval. She opened the bottle, handed it to Paul, and said, “One drink, no more.”
Paul hesitated at first, unsure what to expect.
“It tastes like spicy cinnamon,” Megan said.
Paul put the bottle to his lips, tipped it back and took a gulp. After he swallowed, he started to cough.
Sabrina laughed. “You don’t drink much, do you?”
Handing the bottle back to Sabrina, Paul said, “Not really.”
“No deal,” Megan snapped.
“But we were under the impression you’d like to make a deal,” Sabrina said.
“Well, we’re not,” Megan fired back.
Seeing the tension build, Kevin stepped in, “Do you have any vodka?”
Sabrina looked at Trent and Ashley. Trent gave her a nod.
“We have a bottle of Ketel One,” Sabrina said.
“What do you want for that?” Kevin asked.
“We’re not trading food for alcohol,” Megan snapped.
Ignoring Megan, Sabrina put her attention on Kevin and said, “Enough food that will last us a day, three meals.”
“Three meals for the three of you? No,” Kevin said.
Sabrina once more looked at her friends.
“Enough for two meals and three bottles of water,” Trent said.
“Here’s what you’ll get, three cans of baked beans, three cans of corn, nothing else. Take it or leave it,” Kevin said.
“Kevin, what are you doing?” Megan asked.
“Deal,” Sabrina blurted out.
“Damn it, Kevin,” Megan barked.
“Megan, we can use the alcohol for antiseptic too; plus I could use a drink after everything we’ve been through,” Kevin said.
Sabrina reached into her bag and pulled out the bottle of Ketel. She walked across the campsite and handed it to Kevin. “Here you go. Where’s the food?”
“Come with me,” Kevin said.
The two walked to Kevin’s tent. He pulled a bag from inside and pulled out the desired cans, handing them to her.
She held them up and said, “Good deal, thank you.”
“Thank you,” Kevin said.
“Your girlfriend, she’s bossy,” Sabrina said.
“She has an opinion, like all of us,” Kevin said.
“Do you mind if we eat here with you all? It’s sort of nice meeting new people considering everything that’s going on,” she said.
“Sure,” Kevin said, knowing that Megan would protest, but at the moment he didn’t care.
The two went back to the fire.
Sabrina divided the cans between her and her friends, who immediately opened them up and began to devour the beans and corn.
Kevin sat back down and watched.
Megan glared at Kevin, her jaw clenched and arms crossed.
Wanting to spark up a conversation, Kevin asked, “Have you seen any of the attacks yet?”
“Just a few videos on our phones when they worked,” Trent replied. “Have you?”
“Yes,” Kevin said.
“Kev killed one,” Paul said proudly.
“You did?” Sabrina asked, looking up from her can of beans.
“I had to do it; it was attacking someone,” Kevin said.
“You both have referred to the people attacking as if they’re not human,” Sabrina said, noticing the terms it and one.
“They look human, I suppose; though did you notice the huge black pupils of that one you killed?” Paul asked.
“I didn’t. I think I had tunnel vision. All I saw was a man covered in blood, biting and ripping at another man,” Kevin said.
“Do you think they’re all on drugs like that one, what was it?” Ashley asked.
“Flakka,” Sabrina replied.
“Yeah, that one,” Ashley said.
“Maybe it’s bath salts,” Trent said.
“I don’t think that’s what it is. It’s like these people aren’t people; it’s like they’re animals, like they’re mutated,” Kevin said.
“It’s a mutant apocalypse,” Paul said with a smile.
“You think this is funny?” Sabrina asked.
“Ah, no, just coining a phrase,” Paul said.
“Yeah, a mutant apocalypse, that’s kinda like a zombie apocalypse,” Trent said.
“Except mutants are alive…” Paul said.
“And zombies are dead,” Trent said, completing his thought.
“Exactly!” Paul yelped.
“Now that we’ve established that these two are apocalypse fan boys, what do you all have planned?” Sabrina asked.
“To hang out and see what happens, I suppose,” Kevin answered.
“We’re thinking about heading to Twin Falls. I have some family there,” Sabrina said.
Unable to handle any more small talk and beyond annoyed, Megan blurted, “It’s almost ten, time for us to go to bed and start our watch.”
Sabrina raised her brow and said, “You all have a bedtime?”
“No, we just set up a time for a night watch, and it begins at ten,” Kevin said, trying to make what Megan said not sound immature.
“We sort of do have a bedtime, meaning whoever has other shifts should get to bed so they’re rested, right, Kevin?” Megan growled then gave Kevin a hard stare.
“I see that we’ve worn out our welcome. Thank you for the trade, and maybe we’ll see you around the park,” Sabrina said, standing up.
Trent and Ashley followed her lead.
“Have a good night,” Kevin said.
“You too,” Sabrina said. The three walked off into the darkness.
Megan walked up to Kevin and pelted him on the arm. “I saw how you were looking at her.”
“Who?” Kevin asked.
“Sabrina. I saw you!” Megan exclaimed, waving her finger.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kevin said, walking off towards his tent.
“Don’t think about cuddling up to me later,” Megan fired back.
“Go easy on him,” Paul said.
“You’re on his side?” Megan asked.
“He’s a good guy, and you can be a bit judgmental.”
“I’m your sister and I’m not judgmental. If I didn’t look out for everyone—”
“None of us need a mother, Meg. I appreciate you thinking you’re mine, but you’re not. The world has changed, and I’m going to change with it,” Paul said confidently.
Kevin was in the shadows, overhearing the conversation. He was happy Paul was sticking up for himself and keeping his promise that he’d talk to Megan.
“I’m not acting like your mother,” Megan said, defending herself.
“Meg, I love you, I reall
y do, but ease up a bit. I’ll be fine, and Kev is a good guy. I didn’t see him looking at Sabrina,” Paul said.
“’Cause you were ogling Ashley. Don’t think I didn’t see you salivating over there,” she said.
“I was, so what? She’s hot; there, I admit it. Am I not supposed to look at hot chicks, ever?” Paul asked.
“I didn’t say that,” Megan said.
“Then what were you saying?”
Frustrated by everyone and everything, Megan stormed off.
“Meg, don’t go away angry. We can talk about this,” Paul called out to her.
Megan ignored his pleas and strode out of the campsite and down the moonlit road.
Kevin emerged from the shadows. “I should go after her.”
“You were listening to us?” Paul asked.
“I overheard a little. It wasn’t on purpose; the campsite is small,” Kevin said.
“No, don’t go after her. She needs a little time to decompress,” Paul said.
“Are you sure? What if one of those people attacks her?” Kevin asked.
“A feral? I think if one was around here, we’d have heard it by now. Those things are vicious,” Paul said.
“You sure?” Kevin asked again.
“Positive, now go to bed. I’ve got the first shift,” Paul said.
“Good job today, and I’ll see you in four hours,” Kevin said. He turned and went to his tent.
CHAPTER FIVE
BIG BEAR LAKE, UTAH
JUNE 2, 2020
“Kevin, wake up!” Paul shouted.
Kevin opened his eyes, but all he saw around him was darkness. He sat up but could tell Megan wasn’t there. In the distance was the sound of heavy gunfire as if a battle was under way.
“Kevin, get up. Something is going on, and Megan never came back!” Paul hollered, panic in his voice.
Hearing that Megan hadn’t returned sent a shiver down Kevin’s spine. “How long has she been gone?” Kevin asked as he put on his shoes.
“Since you went to bed,” Paul replied.
“When was that? I don’t know what time it is,” Kevin said, grabbing his Glock and unzipping the tent. He stepped out into the crisp night air.
Paul stood feet from him, a flashlight in his hand.
The gunfire kept going, volley after volley of automatic and heavy machine-gun fire.
“Sounds like a war out there,” Paul said.
“Stay here; watch our stuff. I’m going to go find Meg,” Kevin said and took off at a full sprint towards the truck.
A beam from another flashlight crossed his path.
“Who’s that?” Kevin called out. “Meg, is that you?”
“No, it’s Sabrina. I heard the gunfire and didn’t know what was going on. I thought…I don’t know what I thought. Is your girlfriend gone?” Sabrina asked.
“Yeah, we…” Kevin said, about to disclose their fight but stopped short of doing so. “She went for a walk and has been gone for two hours now.”
“She took a midnight stroll?” Sabrina asked.
“I can’t talk right now,” Kevin said, unlocking the truck and getting in.
“Can we help?” Sabrina asked.
“You know something, you can. Can you drive south and look for her?” Kevin asked.
“Yeah, we can do that,” Sabrina said and immediately took off towards her camp.
Kevin sped off north down the gravel drive that led to the interstate. With the window rolled down, he called out, “Megan! Megan!” He knew he was drawing attention to himself, but at the moment he didn’t care.
Miles and miles he drove, but nothing; it was as if she had disappeared. He noticed the gunfire had ceased. Had she been somehow involved in that? he wondered. But how? It was another mile or two away by the sound of it. There was no way she could have made it, nor would she have walked that far.
Around and around he drove through the park calling her name. The minutes turned to hours, and still he hadn’t found her.
He returned to camp to see if she had shown up, but she hadn’t. His concern was now turning to gut-wrenching panic.
“Kev, is she dead, huh, do you think she’s dead?” Paul asked, his voice cracking.
“We don’t know anything. She’s probably lost is all,” Kevin said, attempting to ease his fears though he was close to needing to be reassured too.
Headlights of a car approached.
Kevin touched the back strap of his Glock tucked in his waistband and waited to see who it was.
The driver’s door opened and out stepped Sabrina. “Kevin, you need to come with me.”
Hearing those words and the tone she used told him everything. “Where is she?”
“Oh no, no,” Paul wailed, tears flowing from his eyes, as he too knew what Sabrina’s tone and word choice meant.
“Just come with me,” Sabrina said.
Kevin’s legs felt weak. If he took a step, he might crumple to the ground.
Seeing the pain he was in, Sabrina came to him and put her arm around him.
“Where is she?” he asked, his voice trembling with grief.
“She’s alive…” Sabrina said.
“Wait, she’s alive?” Kevin said, his voice perking up.
“I need you to come with me,” Sabrina said.
“What is it?” Kevin asked.
“Oh no, God no.” Paul kept crying. He dropped to his knees and was wailing.
“Please, just come. You have to hurry. I don’t think she has much time,” Sabrina said, finally giving him a clue.
“She’s…um…she’s been hurt?” Kevin asked.
Taking him by the arm, Sabrina walked Kevin to her car and put him in. In the back Ashley sat, her face showing the intensity and emotion of the situation.
Kevin sat unable to think clearly.
Sabrina got in the car. She touched Kevin’s arm and said, “She’s asking for you.”
Kevin wiped tears from his face and said, “Take me to her.”
Sabrina drove a little over a mile down the road south. She pulled off near a fork in the road and got out. She ran over to Kevin’s side, but he was out and looking around. “Where is she?”
Trent waved a flashlight. “Over here.”
Kevin ran towards Trent. As he got close, he saw the grisly scene feet from where she lay. He slowed his pace and looked around at the blood and bits of her that were strewn everywhere. He glanced up next to Trent and saw Megan’s blood-splattered face. To the right of her, he spotted someone else; he looked more closely and saw it was a child.
“Kev…come,” Megan said just above a whisper.
He snapped back and went to her side. Taking her hand, he held it close to his chest. “What happened?”
“I went and got myself killed is what I did,” she joked.
“No, we’ll get you fixed up. Yep, we’ll do that,” he said, looking at her battered body. Her left arm was shattered, and when he saw her lower abdomen was ripped open, exposing her intestines, his hope vanished. “That child did this to you?”
“I thought she was lost. I was going to help her and she…it attacked me. She was so strong. I managed to get my knife out and stab…” she said but paused as she began to cough. She opened her mouth to talk again, and blood poured out. “I feel strange.”
“You’re hurt, that’s what it is,” Kevin said.
“No, I feel strange. I’m having weird sensations. I think…I think I’m turning into one of them,” she said.
“No, God no, that’s not it. You’re in shock is all,” Kevin said.
“Where’s Paul?” she asked.
“Back at the campsite.”
“Good, I wouldn’t want him to see me this way,” she said. “Kev, remember that promise?”
“Yes.”
“I need you to keep that promise. I need you to look after Paul. He’ll need you even more with me gone. I know he’s trying to be more responsible, but with me gone, he’ll be affected; he’ll need your strength. P
romise me you’ll never leave his side.”
Tears flowed down Kevin’s face and dripped from his chin. “I promise.”
“I’m getting cold now, I think…” she said, closing her eyes for a few seconds then opening them. “I’m going to go now.”
“Don’t leave me,” Kevin cried.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you too,” he said.
She let out a heavy sigh and closed her eyes.
He waited for her to open her eyes again, but she didn’t. “Meg? Meg?”
Sabrina came up behind him and touched his shoulder. “I’m very sorry.”
“I, ah, I can’t believe she’s gone,” he said, holding her hand firmly. “What’s fucking happening?” he asked, looking at Sabrina before sobbing heavily.
CHAPTER SIX
BIG BEAR LAKE, UTAH
JUNE 4, 2020
Paul was inconsolable. He hadn’t left his tent except to bury Megan and then promptly returned to it afterwards. Having lost his parents at an early age and now losing his only living relative was bringing back all the pain of his childhood.
Kevin didn’t know what to do or how to handle it, but he’d promised and meant to keep his word to Megan.
Sabrina, Trent and Ashley kept stopping by and eventually decided to move their campsite next to theirs so they could help Kevin.
Kevin welcomed their proximity and liked having others around. They hadn’t worked out a formal arrangement, but they all seemed to be working well with each other.
After Megan’s random attack, they devised a watch list, rotating people twenty-four hours a day. They also came to the conclusion after the child attacked Megan that whatever was changing people could be contagious.
The gunfire from the other night was still unexplained, but Sabrina and Kevin agreed to finally find out what had happened.
Kevin found Sabrina, Trent and Ashley to be interesting, unique and, with Megan gone, a breath of fresh air. With them around all the time, Kevin watched and listened so he could get to know them better, and after two days had come away with a good snapshot of who his new friends were and their idiosyncrasies.
If someone had to describe Trent with one word, it would be surfer . If they were given two words, they would no doubt be surfer dude . It wasn’t just his look, shoulder-length dirty blond hair, which he often whipped off his face with a quick snap of the head, it was his vocabulary—though limited, he always had something to say and it was usually a joke. Trent was very athletic; he’d been a star football player at Stanford until his senior year when he shattered his knee. It was an injury that had ended any chances of becoming a professional, but wasn’t enough to stop him from another passion of his, surfing. Although he was a Stanford graduate, along with Ashley and Sabrina, he didn’t appear to have learned a thing. He wasn’t the most articulate, nor did he seem to have intellectual curiosity.
Detour: A Post-Apocalyptic Horror Story Page 5