by Lucas Coon
downather.“Solet’strythatagain,whatdoyouwanttoget?” Alex’squestionwasfollowedimmediatelybythesoundofa screaminginfected.Hishopesofthestorebeingemptywere quicklysetintheirproperplace;theyweren’tasaloneashe’d hoped,andtheycertainlydidn’thavethetimetokeepjoking aroundwitheverything.“OK,weneedtospeedthisup.Ciara, whatdoyouwantspecifically?Makesureit’sonthissideofthe store.”
“Uh…”Shefranticallythoughtaboutthequestion.“Yeah,I want… um…”
“Honey,Iknow youdon’tdowellunderpressure,noneofus do,butrightnow Ineedyoutothrow outthefirstthingthat comestoyourmind.”
“Peanutbutter.Yeah.Thebreadaisleisrightthere,andnext toitisthepeanutbutterandjelly.”Shepointeddownthenext lane.“Anykindwillbefine.”Alexpushedthechairasquicklyas hecouldwithoutmakingmorenoisethannecessary.The screamingcontinued,butithadbeencomingfrom theotherside ofthegrocerystore;Alexknew theyhadafew minutesatthe least.Hesteppedasfastashecouldintotheaisle,grabbedbag afterbagofbreadandthenseveraljarsofpeanutbutterandjelly. “That’sgood,let’sgetoutofhere,dad.”
“Agreed.”Heturnedthecartaroundandlightlyranthrough theaisleandtowardthefront.“Weshould’vestartedwiththe breadandworkedourwayup,huh?”
“Thatwould’vebeenagoodidea.”Ciaraagreedwithhis comment.“Nexttime,forsure.”Alexcontinuedtopushthechair throughtheaislesinthedirectionoftheexit.Hestartedtoturn downoneoftheaislesbutimmediatelystoppedandturnedback whenhesaw afigurestandingattheend.
“Notthatone.”Alexpassedoverthefew andgottothearea withtheregisters.Thefrontwasclearofanyinfected.“Almost there.”Heshovedthechairthroughthesecondarydoors,then pulledthefrontdooropen.Thewheelsofthechairrolledover shardsofglassastheycrunchedundertheweightofthecart’s contents.Heopenedthepassengerdoorofthetruckandhelped Ciarastandfrom thechair.
“Dad,they’recomingthisway!”Ciaralookedbehindhim with ashockedstare.Heglancedbackintothestoretoseefour infectedstaringoutthroughtheglass.
“Yeah,well,hopefullytheyhaven’tfigureddoorsout.”Alex liftedherintotheseatandshovedthecrutchesintotheback seat.“Bucklein.”Hepulledbackandshutthedoorasquicklyas hecould.Hepushedthecartbacktowardtheshortenedbedof thetruck,thenlookedbackbehindhim.Therewasnowayhe wasgoingtohavetimetounloadallofthegroceriesintothe vehiclebeforetheinfectedgottohim.Heglancedbackatthe cart;itwasamanualwheelchairwithnomotororheavyparts. Theheaviestpartofitwasgoingtobethecartanditscontent. Thesoundofglasscrackingwasenoughtopullhisattention backtothedoors.Oneoftheinfectedhadgrabbedtheglass withintheholethatAlexcreatedandwasattemptingtopullit from thedoor.Smallpieceswerebreakingoffandcuttingthe infected’shandopen,causingsmallamountsofbloodtostainthe groundnearthedoor.“Itseemstheymeanbusiness.”Hestared backatthecartandsighed.Hewrappedhisarmsarounditand squattedtoliftitintothetruck.Hisfacewrithedandturneda brightredasheshovedtheentirethingintothebackofthe truck.Onceitlookedlikeitwouldstay,hetookadeepbreathand steppedswiftlybackintothedriver’sseatofthevehicle.Onceit wasshutandhepausedandstaredoutintotheparkinglot. Ciarastaredathim withconcern.
“AreyouOK,dad?”Sheleanedforwardandlookedintohis reddenedeyes.Hisbrow wascoveredinsweatandhisfacewas reflectingabrightred.
“Iam inalevelofpainthatIcannotdescribe.”Hiswords soundedliketheyweredifficulttoform.“I’m prettysureIpulled somethinginmyhips,orbackwhenIpickedthatthingup.”He huffedandleanedforward,placinghisforeheadonthesteering wheel.“Oh,god.”HeturnedhisheadtolookoveratCiara.“Do notgetold,Ciara.Donotletyourbodystarttogettothatpointof ‘givingup’.”Shechuckledathiscomment.
“Idon’tthinkIhaveachoiceinthematter.”Shecontinuedher slightlaughter.“Whatwasthepointofgoingtothegym allthe timeifyoustruggletoliftsomethingwhenyouneedto?”
“Youreadmymind…”Alexsmirkedandhuffedagain.“Itwas agreatwasteofmoney,huh?Liftingweightsdidnothelpmeat all.”
“Well,youwereabletopickitup.That’ssomething,right?” “Oh,it’ssomethingalright.”Alexlaughedagainandleaned back,poppinghisback.Hewincedandstaredattheceilingof thetruck’scab.Hecountedthesecondsinsilenceuntilthepain finallystartedtosubside.“Weshould,uh…”Heclosedhiseyes andtookadeepbreaththroughhisnose.“Yeah.Weshouldgo.”
Alex’shandspulledthekeyforthetruckfrom hisrightpocket andshoveditintotheignitionwithoutlooking.Heturneditand theenginegrumbleduntilitstarted.Thesoundwasn’tagood one,itsoundedlikeastruggle,butAlexwasn’tacarmechanic andtherewasnowayhewasgongtobeabletodiagnoseany problems.Itwasn’tlikehewasgoingtohavethetimetodoso anywayandafull-scaleoutbreakseemedlikeagoodreasonfor thelocalmechanictotakeacoupledaysoff.Heshruggeditoff andshiftedthevehicleintodrive.Hestaredattherear-view mirrorashepulledawayfrom theparkinglot.Theinfectedthat werechasingthem werenow wanderingaimlesslyinthearea neartheentrance.TheonlydescriptionthatAlexcouldcomeup withforthatsituationwas‘closecall’.
“Thatwasclose.”Ciara’smonotonestatementmirroredAlex’s thoughts.“Wediditthough,right?Wegotenoughfoodtolastus foralittlewhile.Now wecangohomeandtrytofigureoutthe restofwhatweneedtodo.”Shepaused.“Afterwetakecareof Howard…”
“Now,now;don’tstartonthatagain,please.”Alexshiftedhis eyestolookather,hecouldtellshewasstillmentallystruggling. Hestaredather,thenbacktotheroad.“It’ssuchanicemorning, weshouldrollthewindowsdown.”Hepressedthebuttononthe driver’ssidedoortorollhiswindow downandwaitedforCiarato dothesame.Shekeptherfocusontheemptyspacebetweenher andthewindshield.“Doyouwantyourwindow down?There’sa reallynicebreeze.”
“No…”Herresponsewasquietanddirect.
“WouldithelpifItoldyouIwashavingahardtimewithall thistoo,Ciara?”
“Whatdoyoumean?”Shequicklyglancedupathim. “I’m strugglingtokeepitalltogetherinmyhead.”Alex frowned.“I’vebeenhavingjustasmuchtroubleasyouhavewith everythingthat’sgoingon.I’vehadtomakesurethatyoustayed safeforthelasttwoweeks.Thatyouhavesomething,anythingto eat.Thatyouarecomfortableinourhome.Iknow you’reyoung, sweetheart,butyou’realsoincrediblysmart.So,Ineedyouto understandsomething.IneedyoutounderstandthatIneedyou tobejustasstrongasIam.Ifyoustarttobreakdown,ifyoustart tocrack,thenIhavetotrytocarryyou.Now,I’m notsayingI won’tcarryyou,orthatIcan’tcarryyou.WhatIam sayingis thatImayneedyoutocarrymeeveryonceinawhile.Evenifit’s justacouplefeet;Iwillneedyoutotakemyhandandhelpme up.I’vehadnightmareseverysinglenightaboutlosingyouto variousthings;infected,Andrei,fire,themilitarycominginand shootinguptheplace.I’m soscaredthatsomethingwillhappen toyou.I’m terrifiedthatI’m goingtoenduplosingyou.”Alex couldfeelhisfacegettingwarm.“I’vealreadylostmywife,my…” Hethoughtabouthisphrasing.“Iguessyouwouldcallhermy girlfriend?Anyway,I’velostthetwoofthem andI’velostareally goodfriendofminefrom whenIwasamuchyoungerman.That’s nottomentionthefactthatIhadtokillthemanthathasbeen myneighborforfourteenyears.So,yeah,Ciara;I’m struggling justasmuchasyouare.Idon’twantyoutothinkyou’realone hereandIdon’twantyoutothinkthatIdon’tcarewhatyou’re goingthrough.Idocare.It’sjustthatI’m tryingtokeepmy composuresoIcanhelpyouwhenyouneedit.”
“I’m sorry,dad.”Ciarastaredathim.“Idon’tmeantomake youworry.” “Theentirecityisinfectedwithsomesortofparasitethat’s makingthem turnintopsychoticmonstersandourfrontdoor won’tlock.I’m goingtoworry.”Hegrinned.“That’snotwhatIwas goingforthough,kiddo.IjustmeanthatIneedtomakesure you’reable–.”
“Uh,dad.”Ciaracuthim off. “No,letmefinish.I’vespentalotoftimeoverthepastcouple ofdaystryingtoperfectthisspeechandyou’regoingtolistento me.”Hekepthiseyesonher.“Anyway,asIwassaying–”
“Dad!Watchout!”Ciarascreamedandpointedforward causingAlextoquicklyturnhisattentiontotheroadagain.He quicklyjerkedthewheeltoavoidthepersonstandinginthe middleofthestreet.Thetruckswervedtotheleftharshly.Alex triedtocorrectthemotionbyquicklyturningtotheright.The truckswervedbacktotheotherside,thenoffthesideofthe road.Alexcouldfeelthetruckbeginningtoleanasthefront wheelonthepassengersidefellintoaslightravineonthecurb. Heattemptedtocorrectthisbypullingleft.Thesoundofmetal scrapingtheasphalt,andthehardleanofthetrucktothefront lefttoldAlexallheneededtoknow.
“Areyoualright,Ciara?”Alexlookedoveratthegirlthatwas sittingwithhereyeswideopen.“Didyouhityourheador anything?”
“No,I’m fine.”Shetookadeepbreath.“AreyouOK?” “Yeah.MinusthefactthatIcan’tseem tomovethetruck.”He unbuckledhisseatbeltandcrawledove
rtoCiara’sside.“Don’t mindme,I’m justneedingtochecksomething.”Hiseyesmetwith thesightofashreddedtireanddestroyedwheelsittingofftothe sideofthecar.“Well,that’sunfortunate.”
“What?”Ciarahadalookofpanic.“Whathappened?” “I’m thinkingthat,whenthetruckwentofftheroadandI triedtocorrectit,somethingbroke.”Hestaredoutthe windshield.“Carsarenotmything,butI’m prettysurethat shouldn’thavehappened.I’m prettysurethewheelshould’ve stayedonthetruck.”Alexmaintainedhisstareoutthroughthe windshield.“Yeah.Thisisgoingtobeagoodtime.”Hiseyesmet withthoseofaninfectedmanstandinginthefrontyardofthe housetheywerestoppedby.Itwasthenthathenoticedthat therewereseveralothersstandinginseeminglyrandom locations,justwaitingforaneasytarget.Unfortunately,theyhad certainlybecomeaneasytarget.
“Whatdowedonow,dad?”Shesoundedlesspanickedthan heanticipated. “Yep.I’m thinking.”Alexfocusedontheareasurrounding them.Theyweresittingducksatthispoint;thetruckwasn’t goingtomoveandtheinfectedwereineverydirection.They couldn’texactlygetoutandaskforhelpandtheroadshadbeen emptyforwhatseemedlikeforever.“Well,Ithinkweneedto–” Alex’scommentwascutshortbyhisdaughterscreamingand him jumpingatthesoundofathumpagainsthiswindow.An infectedhadshoveditsarm throughthecrackandwas attemptingtograbatanythingitcould.Aleximmediatelypulled thewindow buttontoraisethewindow,itclimbedasfarasit coulduntilitwasstoppedbythewristoftheinfected.Despitethe block,Alexcontinuedtoholdthebutton.Theinfectedscreamed athim andhittheglasswithitsotherhand.Whenthatfailed,it turneditsattentiontothestuckwrist.Itopeneditsmouthand bitintothefleshofthestuckarm,gnawingashardasitcould.It continuedthismotionoverandoveragaininanattempttoget free.ThehorrifyingscenewasenoughtomakeAlexfeelsick.He pushedthebuttondownfarenoughforthemonstertopullits arm backout,thenimmediatelypulleditbackuptorollthe window backintotheclosedposition.Bloodslowlyrandownthe glassasithittheclosedpositionandtheinfectedstaredatits injury.Thepaindidn’tseem likeenoughtostopitforlongasit quicklyshifteditseyesbacktoAlexandstartedtohitthewindow again.
Alexsaw onlyonepossiblesolutiontothissituation,andit wasonethathedidn’twanttouse.Hereacheddownandpulled hishandgunfrom hisbelt.Hepulledtheclipandstaredatthe numberofroundshehadleft.Sevenwouldbeenoughtotakeout theclosestones,butthentheywouldhavetofigureoutwhereto gofrom there.Thehousewasanoption,theywouldjusthaveto hopethatthereweren’tanymoreinfectedinthere.Ciaralooked overandsaw herfatherpullhisgunfrom hisholster.
“No,dad!”Sheyelledathim.“Pleasedon’t!Thesearepeople too!They’rejust…”Shestaredatthebleedinginfectedsmacking thewindow.“…sick.”Alexkepthishandonhispistolforafew seconds.Hesighedandputitbackinhisholster.Shewasright, thesewerepeople,atonetime.Atthispoint,Alexdidn’tknow if theywerestillhuman,buttherewasonethinghedidknow;they wereoutnumberedanddidn’thaveaplan.Nottomentionthefact thattheydidn’thaveanywheretogofrom theircurrentlocation. Hestaredatthedarkeyesoftheinfected;maybetheywouldjust getboredandmoveon.
“Well,Iguesswe’lljustsithereandwaitforhelptoshow up…”Alexknew thatwasn’tgoingtohappen;theywoulddieof starvationbeforesomeonecamedowntheroad.
“So,whatdoyouwanttobewhenyougrow up?”Mitchell glanceddownattheyounggirlinthepassengerseat.“Ifyou couldchooseanything,Lilly,whatwouldyouchoose?”
“Iwanttobeafarmer.”Lillystareddownatherfeet.“Ilike horsesandcows.”
“OK,soyouwanttoworkwithanimals?Doyouwanttowork withalotofdifferentanimals,orwouldyouratherjustworkwith horsesandcows?”Mitchelllookedoveratherinquisitively.He wasusedtoworkingwithchildrenthatweremucholderthan Lillyandtheiranswerswereusuallyalittlemoreprofessional.He wasgoingtohavetogetusedtothis.
“IthinkIwanttoworkwithpolarbears,too.Therewasthis bigpolarbearatthezoolasttimeIwentwithmommyanddaddy, andIthinkhewascute.”Shesmiledbackupathim.“WhenI workatthezoo,I’m goingtoridethepolarbear.”
“OK.Soyoudon’twanttobeafarmer,youwanttoworkatthe zoo?Thatmakesmoresense.”Mitchellsmiled.“Idon’tthinkyou canridethepolarbearsthough,Lilly.”
“Yeah,Iwanttoworkatthezoo.”Lillyglancedbacktothe window.“Canwegotothezoowhenwegettoournew house?” ThisstatementwasoddtoMitchell,hehadn’tmentionedanew houseor,really,anythinginvolvingwheretheyweregoing.
“New house?”Mitchellliftedabrow atthisstatement.“What new house?”
“Mommytoldmethatyouweretakingmetoyournew house. ShesaidwhenwegetthereIhavetodoeverythingyoutellme andbegood.”
“Oh,wellthen…”Therewassomuchthathe’dwishedthey would’veexplainedtohim,butheunderstoodwhytheycouldn’t. Timewasn’tonanyone’ssideinthissituation.Itwasan unfortunatetruththathewasgoingtohavetolearnhow to handleLillythroughtrialanderror.Ifnothingelse,heknew they sharedanallergy.“Ifthat’swhatKaylatoldyou,thenthat’swhat we’redoing.We’regoingtomynew house,somewherefar,far awayfrom thisplace.Ithinkit’ssafetosaythatwe’llneverbe comingback.“Toansweryourearlierquestionthough;yes,we cangotothezoo.”
“Isyournew housebig?”Lillylookedbackovertohim. “Doyouwantittobeabighouse?”
“Idon’tknow.Iwantmyownbedroom andmommyanddaddy needtheirownbedroom.Youneedabedroom,too.Ifmommycan findKit-Kit,heneedshisownroom.So,that’s…”Shestartedto countonherfingers.“Um,that’s…”
“Four?”Mitchellhelpedhergettotheanswerofhermath problem.
“Yeah,weneedfourrooms.”LillylookedbacktowardMitchell. “Isthatabighouse?”
“It’snotsmall,that’sforsure.Ithinkwecouldmakethat workthough.”Hesmiledagain.“So,whenwegettoournew house,maybewecangetanothercatforKit-Kittoplaywith.That wouldbegood,right?”
“Yeah!Iwantanothercat!”Lillygrew excitedoverhis statement.
“Therewego!That’sthespirit!”Hematchedherenthusiasm. “Boyorgirlcat?”
“Girl!”
“Andwhatwillwebenamingher?”
“Frisbee!”
“I…”Mitchellwasconfusedbythisanswer.“Idon’t understand.WhyFrisbee?” “Ilikeit.”Lilly’sresponsewasoneMitchellcouldn’targue.It seemedthathewouldsoonbetheproudownerofacatnamed Frisbee,whetherheunderstoodhow itgotthatnamewas somethingelsealtogether.Cat’sdon’tdiscriminateagainstnames thatdon’tmakesense,theytendtojustacceptthem.Thiswas,at theleast,onethingthatLilly’snamingconventionhadgoingfor it.
“Frisbeeitisthen.Maybewecangetaturtleandnameit Walnut.”Hesmirkedathissarcasticsuggestion.
“OK!Iliketurtles,too!”Onceagain,herenthusiasm was unmistakable,aswasherinabilitytoprocesssarcasm. “Lilly,wereallyneedtoworkonyourabilitytounderstand whenI’m makingajoke,don’twe?” “No,Ilikeyourjokes.”Shesmiledupathim again.“You’re funny.”Mitchellshookhisheadandlaughedatherresponse.He wasn’tgoingtogetthroughtoher,hewasgoingtohavetoaccept itforwhatitwas.Thiswasn’tgoingtobeaproblem forhim,it wasjustgoingtotakesometime.
Thetwoofthem continueddowntheroad;Mitchellhadbeen drivingaroundthecityforalittlewhile.Hedidn’tknow whyhe hadn’tleftyet;maybehejustwantedtotakeeverythinginone moretime.Heknew theyhadtogetaway,butawaywas somethinghewashavingtroubleaccepting.Wherewouldthey go?Whenwouldtheystop?How wouldtheyknow theyweresafe? ThesewerequestionsthatMitchellwaslookingtoanswerashe drovearound.Thestreetswereeerilydeserted.
Mitchellpressedonthebrakepedalasthevehiclepulledupto astopsign.Heglancedleft,nothing.Heglancedrightandhis attentionpulledtowardanothervehicle,Itwasstopped,halfof thevehiclewasleaningoffthesideoftheroadandthecaritself wastiltingwiththefront-passengersideclosesttotheground. Mitchellstaredatthetruckforafew momentsandthoughtabout thepossibility.Ithadbeenslightlymorethantwoweekssince thisallstarted.HeandtheBarbershadbeenalloverthe downtownareaandtheyhadrunintoafew survivors.Mostof thepeoplethatwerestillinthecitywerethereoveraweekago, butthatwasn’ttrueofeveryone.Ashlynandthemilitarywere stilltheretwoweekslater.Therewasalsotheguyinthechurch; SantaClaus,asLillywould’veputit.Ifsomeonehadputinthe effortandstayedindoorsforthewholetime,itwaspossiblethey could’vemadeitthislong.Thebedofthetruckhadawheelchair init,andtherewasasignificantamountoffoodinthebedand strewnaroundthegrassnearthevehicle.Ifthetruckhadbeen thereforseveraldays,wouldthefoodstillbetherelikethat? Thentherewastheothersideofthatcoin;thevehiclewas partiallysurroundedbyinfected.Thiscouldaddtothepossibility thattherewassomeoneinthetruckthatneededhelp.However, italsocouldmeanthatthepersoninthetruckhadalreadydied andtheinfectedwerejusttryingtogetataneasymeal.Wasit
worthriskingthemselvesjusttocheck?
“Hey,Lilly…”Mitchelltappedherontheshoulderandpointed outherwindow.“Doyouthinkthere’ssomeoneinthattruck?” “There’smonstersoverthere.”Hervoicewasslightlywavering. “Right,butdoyouthinkthere’ssomeoneinthetruckthat needshelp?”
“Idon’tknow.”Herresponsewasn’tashelpfulashe’dhopedit wouldbe.
“Shouldwegooverandcheck?”
“Idon’twanttogobythemonsters.”Sheshookherhead. “Yeah,you’reprobablyright.There’sprobablynothingwe coulddo.”Mitchellsighedandpressedonthegaspedalslightly. Heimmediatelyshiftedhisfootbacktothebrake.“ThenIhaveto ask;whatifthereissomeoneinthere?Whatifsomeoneinthe truckisscaredfortheirlifeandneedshelp?Ifwepassitupand don’tlookback,thenit’sourfaultthattheydie.Wecan’tdothat, wecan’tjustnottrytohelp,right?That’snottherightthingto do.”HelookeddownatLilly.“Thenthere’sthefactthatIhaveto keepyousafe…”Hestaredatthetruckandthoughtaboutthe possibilities.“Ithinkweshouldcheckitout.Theremightbe someoneinthere.”
“Yeah,theremightbesomeone.”LillyagreedwithMitchell’s statement.Mitchellguessedthatsheagreedforthesakeof agreeing,notnecessarilybecausesheactuallythoughtthere mightbesomeone.Mitchelllookeduponcemoreandhitthe signal,turningrightontotheroad.Thewheelsrotatedslowlyas thetruckmovedforward.Mitchellshiftedhimselfintheseatand triedtolookintothetruck.Therearwindshieldwasblockedby thechairandthebackoftheseat,butMitchellcouldseethe backofsomeone’shead.Hestoppedandstaredintothevehicleto seeiftherewasanymovement.Thepersoninthedriverseat shiftedhisheadandwasvisiblydistraught;atleastthismeant theywerealiveUnfortunatelyforMitchell,thisalsomeantthat theywouldhavetodosomething.Hepressedthepedalalittle harderandpulledthecarasclosetothetruck’sfrontwindow as hecouldwithouthittinganyoftheinfected.Hestaredover throughthepassengerwindow andintothedriver’swindow of thetruck.Therewasamanwithshort,darkhair,andagirlin thepassengerseatwithglassesandlong,dark-brownhair. Mitchellstaredattheothertwopeopleforseveralmoments.
AlexkepthisfocusonCiaraashetriedtothinkofsomething, anything,thathecoulddotogetoutofthissituation.Hewas thinkingthathecouldpossiblytrytorunthetruckwiththree wheels,butitdidn’tsoundlikesomethingthatwasgoingto actuallywork.Hehadnevertried,buthavingfourwheelswas somethingthatseemedlikearequisiteofdrivingavehicle.