The Changing Earth Series (Book 1): Day After Disaster

by Hathaway, Sara F.

  “Remember, we’re here to help. We’re going to get you to a safe place,” the soldier told the crowd, urging them forward.

  Erika advanced slowly with her family. The gates towered above them as they approached. Erika stared up at them. Whey would they build these? she wondered to herself. Inside the gate there was a holding area where guards waited.

  “We’ll need your weapons,” a guard told them.

  “What?” Greg asked.

  “Your weapons, you can’t carry them during transport,” the guard informed him.

  “But we’ll get them back when we get there, right?” Greg wondered.

  “We’re taking you to safety. You won’t need them,” the guard replied, gripping his rifle tightly. The other guards were growing more tense as well.

  The group disarmed, piling their firearms on a table against the wall.

  “Your bow too, ma’am,” a guard told Erika.

  “But this was a gift from my brother,” Erika protested.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, but rules are rules,” the guard replied.

  Erika slowly put the bow down on the table.

  As they passed through the next gate, the horses were guided off into another direction.

  “Where are you taking them?” Kim protested.

  “To the stables, little miss. Don’t worry they’ll be fine,” the guard replied, dismissing her protests.

  Erika watched them lead Kit away too while they were led down an aisle toward another holding area.

  “We need you to separate into three groups. Single males, single females, and families,” the guard instructed.

  “Why?” Erika protested, vocalizing everyone’s curiosity.

  “It’s just for processing. We need to respect everyone’s privacy on the journey south. Plus, we need to find out what your former occupations were. Volunteers will be sent to help with relief efforts,” the soldier explained.

  “Then the earthquake didn’t affect just California?” she wondered.

  “No ma’am, we’re doing the best we can to assist, but we got a big mess on our hands,” he replied honestly.

  Erika halted her questioning as they began to be sorted.

  “Truthful but vague,” Erika mumbled to Vince.

  “Very vague,” Vince agreed.

  They took Dexter, Star, and Ripper and joined Greg and Penni’s and Harold and Betsy’s families. Then the soldiers lined them up for questioning, which basically amounted to state of residence and former occupation. After they were questioned they were directed toward a large covered metal building. Cots formed aisles and chain link prevented them from leaving.

  “I used to work in a kitchen doing prep work,” Erika answered the woman questioning her.

  “The animal will go to the kennel for quarantine,” the woman told Erika bluntly.

  “What?” Erika questioned.

  “Your dog,” the woman explained, like Erika didn’t know what animal she was referring to. “It has to go to the kennel for quarantine.”

  “No way,” Erika told her. “He’s had all his shots. He’s perfectly healthy. He’s friendly. There’s no way.”

  “Look, ma’am. We don’t allow dogs in with the refugees. We’ve already lost too many people to disease,” the woman explained.

  “I understand,” Erika replied. “In that case, my family and I will leave with my dog, my horse, my bow and my mother, thanks.”

  “We can’t allow that either, ma’am,” the woman said flatly.

  “What are you saying?” Erika raised her voice, drawing the attention of the others. “Are you saying we can’t leave? Are you saying we’re prisoners here?”

  Vince watched the nearby soldiers readying their weapons as the soldier that spoke with them before approached.

  “What’s the problem, ma’am?” the soldier asked innocently.

  “She wants to take my dog,” Erika explained.

  “Don’t worry, ma’am. The animal will be housed at the kennel right over there,” he pointed to a covered area with cages and outside kennels. “Then he’ll be transported right behind you.”

  Erika looked to Vince, unsure of what to do. He shrugged at her, conflicted with the decision himself. He loved that dog just as much as she did, but he remembered the soldiers with rifles surrounding them.

  “It’s only for a little while,” Vince suggested.

  Erika sighed heavily, squatting down to pet the soft fur that coated Ripper’s head. He nuzzled his head into her and Erika hugged him tightly. Staying conscious of the dog’s ability to sense her feelings, she tried to mask her sorrow. She smiled, telling him, “Now you be a good boy for these men, and momma will see you as soon as we get wherever we’re going.” Suddenly she realized she still didn’t even know that. “Where are we going?” she asked the soldier as Vince, Dexter, and Star showered Ripper with love.

  “Las Vegas,” the man replied, looking at the woman’s paperwork.

  A sickening feeling overwhelmed Erika as they led Ripper away, but she walked through the gate into the holding area without further protest.

  Chapter 3

  “There you are!” Erika yelled when she found her mother inside.

  “They wouldn’t let us go back to get you,” Nancy explained. “But at least we have finally been rescued.”

  “You think so?” Vince replied, unsure.

  “Why? What’s up?” Nancy asked, noticing Erika and the kids were very upset.

  “They took Ripper to a kennel for ‘quarantine,’” Vince explained, holding his fingers up in quotes. “They said he’ll ride down in another bus.”

  “Ride down where?” Nancy wondered.

  “I guess to Vegas,” Vince replied. “That’s what that soldier told Erika.”

  Penni hugged Erika, trying to reassure her.

  “It’s only for the ride, right. We have to trust them,” Penni told her.

  “I know. That’s what they said,” Erika replied but she wasn’t convinced.

  Within the hour, busses arrived to take them down south with the other refugees that were being held there. The busses were equipped with strange bars shooting out horizontally from the bottom. Asking a soldier about it, Erika was told it prevented the bus from tipping in an earthquake. Eyeing the kennels carefully, Erika was relieved to see another bus with dog housing arrive. She watched carefully to ensure Ripper was loaded onto it.

  “You’re looking better,” Vince said, sitting down next to her on the bus.

  “They loaded Ripper,” Erika told him.

  As the bus pulled away the couple watched the bus with the animals start up. It pulled in behind the other busses and was lost from sight.

  “Maybe we can trust them,” Vince said cheerfully, bumping into her.

  She smiled at his antics, feeling relieved. They chatted with their friends as the bus rolled on. Hours passed, and the other refugees started sharing their stories. Erika and Vince were dismayed by their news. Most of these people were Californians who were out of town for one reason or another. Attempting to make their way back home, they were all stopped by the soldiers. No one could enter California and no messages could be sent in. Most people were fearful of what happened to their loved ones. There were so many questions and so few answers.

  Their fellow refugees were enthralled by stories from the people who made it out of California and somber when they heard the news of the wave. Erika’s story was especially interesting, and Greg made sure to say,” Yup, she’s the lone survivor of Sacramento.”

  “I wonder why they cut California off like that?” Erika wondered to Vince, stepping off the bus with Dexter and Star. They needed a potty break.

  “I don’t know,” Vince replied, perplexed. He followed Erika’s gaze down the row of busses.

  “Where is it, Vince?” Erika wondered, her heart pounding.

  Vince couldn’t believe it. “It’s gone,” he said. He approached one of the soldiers with Erika. “Where’s the bus with the dogs?” he inqui
red.

  “They went to quarantine. There’s no animals allowed at the refugee camp,” he explained.

  “What?” Erika snapped.

  “We were told they were traveling with us. To meet us down there,” Vince told him. His blood was boiling. Ripper was one of the family.

  “Look sir, I don’t know what you were told but there’s no animals allowed in the refugee camp,” the soldier insisted sternly.

  Vince looked like he was turning to leave when he suddenly turned back around and punched the soldier across the face. The soldier punched back and another one approached. Ignoring Erika, he stepped in to beat on Vince, but Erika threw a well-aimed front kick straight to his jaw, sending the man flying backward. Two more soldiers approached, and Greg and Harold jumped into the fight, defending their friend. Watching their men in battle Penni and Betsy grabbed whatever they could and started smacking soldiers across the helmet. It was punching and cussing until the Captain shot his gun into the air.

  “What the hell is going on here?” the Captain blared. “Line these six up against the bus.”

  “Sir. This man punched me,” the soldier declared, pointing at Vince.

  “They told us our dog would be coming with us,” Vince insisted.

  “I watched him get on the bus that was behind us,” Erika said, supporting Vince’s claim.

  “Look sir, ma’am, it is what it is. We’re trying to restore order to chaos and we’ve all make sacrifices,” the Captain told them. “Zip them up,” he ordered the soldiers as he left.

  Their hands and feet were bound with zip ties before they were loaded onto the front of the bus. Erika cried with her children as the engine roared to a start. She knew she’d lost him forever. Vince shed his own tears, quietly. For his actions, he was sat next to the soldier stationed to their bus for the rest of the ride to Vegas. His eyes were sad and lonely as he looked back at Erika and his children.

  Erika stared out the window watching the desert mountains go by. The hours passed and finally they cleared the mountain and saw Vegas lying in the valley. Erika’s ears perked to a sound in the distance. She looked to the eyes of her companions. They heard it too. Gunfire, Erika thought, craning her head to see out the window. She saw smoke on the horizon.

  “I thought they said we were going someplace safe?” Star asked, eyeballing Erika nervously.

  “They said a lot of things,” Erika replied.

  “What’s going on down there?” Vince asked the soldier.

  “Looks like the fighting has flared up again. Don’t worry, it’s on the other side of the city,” the soldier told him.

  “That makes me feel much better,” Vince answered sarcastically.

  Bumping along the remains of the road, the evening turned dark as the bus entered a city in ruins. The quakes shook it to bits. Erika gasped at the number of military vehicles illuminating the streets. She could still smell smoke and saw it in the lights continuing to rise in the distance. Erika took note of the Airforce base as they passed it. It glowed in the night. She guessed it was the military base of operations for the city, judging by the amount of activity there. The shells of buildings lined the streets barren of life. The bus rolled on headed for the Las Vegas Airport. They entered through the gates and most of the bus was unloaded at the front.

  “Sit down,” the soldier told Erika when she attempted to leave with the others. “Your friends and your families are starting out someplace else. We have a special camp for refugees who like to make trouble,” the soldier said, chuckling to himself.

  “Awesome, I’m so fucking stoked we got rescued,” Erika said, cynically as she turned to go back to her seat.

  The bus drove to the back of the airport and into a refugee compound surrounded by its own chain links.

  As they pulled up to a large warehouse, Erika mumbled, “Oh look, more fencing.”

  Vince smiled at her joke.

  “Come on, this is your stop,” the soldier commanded.

  “Looks cozy,” Erika jested.

  “Freaking five star,” Greg laughed.

  Exiting the bus into the Las Vegas night the wind whipped across them as they were escorted inside with their belongings. Above them soldiers walked on a catwalk.

  “This is going to be fun,” Penni said in disbelief.

  “I hope they intend on feeding us sometime soon,” Mitchell protested.

  “Thank you for helping us, guys. Sorry we got you into this,” Vince admitted humbly.

  “I’m glad my dad punched that guy. They took my horses too!” Kim hissed angrily.

  “Besides, we got your back, buddy,” Greg told Vince, giving him a one-armed hug.

  “We’re all in this together,” Betsy told them.

  Chapter 4

  They tried to make themselves at home under the watchful gaze of the soldiers above. Once they set up their sleeping area, they ventured around the warehouse. Many others disagreed about going into refugee housing. They too were upset with the circumstances and tried to leave. Most were just curious why they couldn’t go back to California to find their loved ones that were left behind.

  The sound of gunfire in the distance became a norm as they adjusted to life in the warehouse. Erika was bored. There was nothing to do here. She played cards with the children and passed her days contented with her family. Her body began to weaken from lack of nutrition and exercise. All the meat they prepped in Tahoe was “re-appropriated.”

  To keep her body in shape, Erika began practicing her martial arts again. She started out on her own, doing pushup, squats, and kicks to stay in shape. Her family and friends joined in with her, and even Betsy liked practicing forms. The lethargy of living in the warehouse was overwhelming. The guards became concerned when others started to join in the practice with them.

  The refugees couldn’t do anything about the lack of food. The guards handed out each of the refugees in the warehouse one plate of food a day. It didn’t matter what was on it, they would all lick it clean. Erika’s thoughts went to places she wished they wouldn’t. She wondered what would have happened if they would have fought the few soldiers that came to get them. Her mother was already at the checkpoint, though. She couldn’t leave without her. What happened to Big John? she wondered, having never seen him after he left for his scouting mission that morning.

  A week passed before they were allowed into general population. A soldier came and brought them a card with an assigned sleeping area on it. As they were leaving the warehouse the soldier called Erika aside.

  “I don’t want to see you teaching that crap to refugees. Do you hear? You’ll get plenty of daily exercise,” he said sarcastically.

  “People have a right to know how to defend themselves,” Erika countered the soldier.

  “Not these people. Do not make waves here, Erika Moore,” the soldier warned.

  Finding their assigned sleeping area in the airport, Nancy was there waiting for them.

  “Mom!” Erika cried.

  “Everyone okay?” Nancy asked, hugging them.

  “Yeah, we’re fine,” Vince replied, throwing his pack down on the cot.

  “Good to see you guys,” Brett said as he approached. His mustache and beard had grown. He hugged Erika.

  “How is it here?” Greg asked, curiously.

  “There’s too many refugees and not enough food,” Nancy replied.

  “They’ve been trying to build a fence to expand the camp,” Brett told them.

  “To keep us in or danger out?” Erika wondered.

  “To keep us safe, Erika. Have you not heard the gunfire? It’s chaos out there. We need the fence to keep all these people safe,” Brett explained.

  Erika looked at Vince. She would feel much better out there than in here. Vince shrugged.

  “You’re not buying that crap are you, Brett?” Greg asked. “We’re obviously prisoners here.”

  “Yes, but we’re safe here too,” Brett explained.

  “I guess,” Vince said sarcastica
lly.

  “I’m just saying there’s work to be done here. We can help build the fence and shelters for people, Vince,” Brett said, pointing at him. “You could help establish gardens to feed them. These people don’t have anywhere to go home, to just like us. We can help them.”

  “Always the good Samaritan,” Nancy laughed.

  “Maybe that’s just what we need,” Betsy interjected. “I mean if we’re going to be stuck here, at least we could help.”

  Penni nodded her head. She wanted to improve everyone’s standard of living around here. As far as she was concerned, it was at an all-time low.

  A young man in uniform approached them. “Getting settled in?” he asked.

  “Yes,” they affirmed.

  “Good, we need volunteers for the fence and food prep,” he explained.

  Erika was scanning his uniform. He wore a name tag that read Alex Bingham.

  “Bingham?” Erika asked. “Any relation to Andrew Bingham?”

  “Yes, Andrew’s my brother. Have you seen him?” Alex asked eagerly.

  Erika looked at Vince. She never imagined telling someone their loved one was gone could be so hard.

  “He’s dead, isn’t he?” Alex asked. He had experience in Erika’s position and knew that look.

  “Yes, he is,” Erika admitted.

  “How?” Alex wondered.

  “In the wave. He was taking care of a large camp in Lotus, California,” Erika explained.

  “He was a wonderful leader,” Nancy interjected. “Without Andrew, a lot more people would have died.”

  “He was one hell of a guy,” Brett agreed.

  Alex paused for a moment, thinking on their words. “You guys were with him? You survived the wave?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Erika admitted, “we left before the wave, but he chose to stay. He didn’t want to leave people behind.”

  “Sounds like him,” Alex agreed. “Damn, I was hoping he made it out somehow.”

  “Why didn’t you call him or text him?” Erika wondered.

  Alex lowered his voice. “They cut all communications in and out of California. We couldn’t save both coastlines at once.”