by JJ Liniger
Monica hobbled over to the rocks she had gathered earlier and placed the helpless animal against the hard, flat surface. Her other hand felt along the bottom of the cavern until it found a heavy stone with pointed edges. My brain registered what she was about to do seconds before she slammed the rock against the head of the rabbit. With another smack and a final scream, it was dead.
She used the sharp teeth attached to the bracers along her forearm to slice through the belly of the animal and blood poured out over the white stones. With her bare hands, she ripped the rabbit apart and sunk her mouth into the animal. My stomach turned.
For some reason her eating fish raw made sense, but watching her bite into the animal made my insides want to resurface. I bent over. Sweat beaded along my forehead, trickling down my face.
The alligator by her side bellowed and stomped its front feet like a puppy trying to wait patiently for its owner to throw it a bone.
I heard rocks shifting seconds before I realized they were beneath Samuel’s feet.
Damn it! What was he thinking!
The boy’s hand weaved through the lush greenery that surrounded the dam. This little clove was so different from the rest of West Texas. When I saw it for the first time, I felt amazed by the beauty of the shrubs and grass and the tranquility of the pond.
“It’s like the picture books,” Samuel mused.
He should've waited! Had I known it was dinner time we would’ve visited later. The beast wouldn’t hesitate to make us its appetizer.
“Who?” His mother crouched toward Samuel, her hand stroking the scaly animal next to her.
“I wanted to meet you,” Samuel replied.
“Come, from come?” Monica’s eyes narrowed, and she sniffed the air.
“What?” Samuel said.
“Monica, he’s with me,” I said.
Her head snapped in my direction. “Back again?” She smirked.
“Yes, and I’ll keep coming.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I care about the people of Becton. I want to find a solution to the problem we created.”
Her cackling laugh raised the hairs on my body. “Problem, gone!” She hobbled closer to me, leaving her pet behind. The alligator took silent steps closer to Samuel while Monica continued in my direction. “Left friends, hide shame of my body. Curses, curses the belly that grows. I stop it!” Monica grinned happily. “Shaking, shaking. Life gone, killed it. Took to church, to bury it. All better now.”
“Monica, it’s not—”
“Mom,” Samuel said.
Monica hissed, her lip curling back to expose her teeth.
“You may have tried to end my life, but God preserved it,” Samuel said.
For him, everything came back to God. Maybe the boy had a point. Without Samuel they never would’ve figured out the root of the poison which spread throughout Becton.
I didn’t understand it all, but something connected Samuel, Monica and I to the problem. Knowing the source didn’t matter if it wouldn’t lead us closer to a cure. My shoulders fell forward in exasperation, but my gaze remained locked on her.
Monica squared her shoulders and rested her weight on the balls of her feet like a bull ready to attack the boy.
“Don’t!” I lunged toward her, but remained several feet away.
I shouldn’t have brought Samuel. It was dangerous, but I thought Monica would save her son, not kill him.
“Samuel, run!” I yelled.
The instinct to protect overwhelmed me and I couldn’t understand how Monica didn’t feel the same.
The alligator continued to pursue me as Monica did the same toward Samuel.
Instead of fleeing, the boy reached out his arms to his mother and her vicious claws wrapped around his forearms. The fabric of his jacket provided minimal protection, but he still gasped when her nails found their way to his flesh. When I hugged him earlier, I felt how frail he had become in captivity. Monica had grown stronger relying on herself to survive on a daily basis.
Though I saw the alligator and Monica, I couldn’t focus my attention on both at the same time. The scaly beast snapped his long mouth at me. I swung the long flashlight and struck him between the eyes.
“No, no! No hurt him!” Monica shrieked.
Her pet and I looked at her. It appeared neither of us knew who she reprimanded.
Samuel struggled to pull his arm from her grasp, but winced from her nails puncturing his skin.
Something flew past me, prompting the alligator to stomp after it on stumpy legs.
In the seconds I was distracted, Monica laid our son along the same rocks where she had taken the life of the rabbit. Samuel could escaped if he tried. The boy’s hazel eyes locked onto his mother’s as he laid on her altar.
Did she see the same love I saw when he looked at me?
“Rid of the problem, for all. Fill ground with blood.” She scooped a palm full of dirt and sprinkled it over the boy. “Dra-Dra can feast upon your remains.”
“Monica, no!” I yelled. “This can’t be the solution.”
She made a clicking sound and a moment later her alligator returned to her side. His eyes didn’t leave me, his mouth snapping when I took a step toward them.
“Together. Destroy this parasite.” Her razor-sharp forearm came to Samuel’s neck.
I had to think fast. “Monica! He isn’t the problem. He’s the cure! My mother is sick. Remember her?” I told her the names of as many other people I recognized from Down Under, hoping one of them would help her to reconnect to her humanity. “They need us!”
My son grimaced as she squeezed his arm tighter. His hand rubbed across the pockets of his jeans. The knife.
He should use it to defend himself and break free. Yes, he would have to hurt his mother, but she had detached from that role years ago.
Samuel’s smile melted and his shoulders trembled. This first meeting was nothing like the boy probably imagined.
An animalistic growl rumbled from her chest, echoed by the beast at her side. “Keep away,” she nodded my direction, and the alligator turned facing me. “I end it…” she leaned closer to Samuel’s face and hissed. “It is finished.”
I lunged toward them. The alligator snapped at me. I didn’t care! Grabbing Monica’s arm, I pulled her from our son.
“Stop it!” She screamed and shoved me.
Her pet barely shifted to chomp down on my right calf.
I screamed as I fell to the ground. Instinctively, I kicked and squirmed. Using the long-handled flashlight, I beat repeatedly against the scaly nose. Pain soared as his sharp teeth scratched against the bone in my lower leg. My vision blurred and voices shouted from all around.
“No!” She screamed.
After another tug, I became free from the beast.
Where did it go? Using my arms, I shifted further away from the animal. What was happening to Samuel? I listened and heard mumbled prayers. She hadn’t killed him.
“Stop it!” she hissed. Her arm poised at his throat trembled and she clamped her lips shut. Her eyes squinted into a glare.
“You have no one, but you don’t have to be alone,” Samuel said. His hazel eyes glazed with tears. “We can be together.”
“No! Not want me!” she yelled.
It felt like she spoke to me, but her eyes never left her son. I used my arms and scooted closer.
“I do,” Samuel declared. “You may not have meant for me to live, but you still gave me life. For that I am grateful. I've loved you before we met and if you kill me now, I will still love you.”
Monica’s breathing labored as she processed the words our son told her. It had to be more than good teaching from Reverend Brown to influence Samuel to goodness. Something was different about his heart. Her hand landed on the boy’s chest, her own heaved with each breath she took.
She paused. I had to take advantage of this moment.
“He isn’t the only one who wants you.” I needed her to believe we had a futu
re even if it wasn’t true. “You asked me if I still loved you. I didn’t answer your question earlier. I’d been gone too long and had forgotten many of the things that made home special. I think you’ve forgotten as well. The Friday night lights and friends gathered around cheering for each other. Game Zone. The pizza is the same as when we were dating. Do you remember driving around at night with no real destination, up and down the same strip? We can have it again, and we can have it together the way we had dreamed it could be.”
Her eyes blinked as tears gathered.
Was this working?
Despite the savage form she had become, I saw the person she had once been.
Samuel sat up on the altar of rocks and reached out, taking his mother’s hand.
She frowned at him and flinched from his touch.
Crawling from her, Samuel came to my side. “Dad, you alright?”
I nodded, but my head felt heavy and my breathing slowed from the blood loss.
Monica watched Samuel with me. I didn’t understand why I was important to her or why she treated me differently. When her pet injured me, it made her angry at him.
I made progress with Monica and didn’t want to lose it. Inching to them, the movement sent pain up my thigh. I groaned and leaned forward.
Samuel assisted me into a standing position.
“Bad Dra-Dra, bad!” she said, shaking her fist at the alligator.
My breath caught, and I felt weaker. Blood pooled around my lower leg. “Help me,” I whispered to her.
Monica’s claws barred as she gestured with her hands.
“Get me back to the SUV and you can drive me to the hospital.”
“I can’t,” she whispered.
“Yes, you can.” I leaned into Samuel and reached out a hand, helping her to a standing position. How long had it been since she stood upright?
She looked around like the sights appeared foreign.
Samuel lightly touched the mess of hair tangling down past her thighs.
Again she frowned at Samuel, but didn’t recoil from his touch.
I saw the chocolate in her almond eyes and the alligator teeth she glued to her chin. I kept saying she had changed, but inside she was the same woman I had known. She had become lost.
“Come on, let’s help Dad.”
She nodded. “Drago, home.” She motioned to the cave, sending her scaly friend scampering away.
Taking off my shirt, I tied it around my calf. Once secure, I leaned into Monica’s strong body and limped to the ravine’s edge. Grabbing the roots, I pulled myself up the ledge. Once in the SUV, I rested in the passenger seat. Samuel sat in the back, leaning between the front seats. Monica ran her hands over the steering wheel.
“Can’t, can’t, can’t,” she mumbled.
“Yes you can, I’ll help you.”
I handed her my keys and then reached down to inspect my leg. My shirt became soaked with blood. “Samuel, can I use your jacket?”
“Yes, here.” Samuel handed it to me.
“Thanks.” I unwound the material from my skin and replaced it with the coat. The bleeding had slowed, but I wanted to keep pressure around the wound so I tied his jacket tightly around my calf.
“Ready?” Monica asked.
I nodded. Hopefully, driving a car would be like riding a bike and you never forgot what to do.
Her hands fluttered around the steering wheel until she found where to place the key to start the car. The dashboard lights made her jump. They were brighter than the dull glow older cars used to have.
The throbbing in my leg made each second feel like an hour.
“Come on, Mon.”
She shifted the gears to drive.
“Wait! Stop!” I yelled.
“What?” She glared at me.
“Reverse! Or we’ll be on the bottom of the ravine.”
“I could drive,” Samuel offered.
“You don’t know how,” I said, my patience wearing thin.
Monica gave a grunt and shifted the car into reverse, then stomped on the gas.
The SUV flew backwards, propelling my body forward. My injured foot banged against the floorboard causing me to curse loudly.
Monica screamed.
“Dad!” Samuel yelled, placing his hand on my shoulder.
Monica slammed on the brakes and another stream of curses spilled from my mouth.
“You shouldn’t say that,” Samuel interjected.
“Try getting your foot bit off and see if a few bad words don’t slip out!” I yelled.
“They wouldn’t.” Samuel mumbled, shifting in his seat.
We had flown backwards far enough for Monica to safely drive forward.
“Headlights,” I said to remind her to use them.
She stomped her feet on the floor board. “Where?”
“Left of the steering wheel.” I pointed in the general direction.
She fumbled with the wiper blades, hazard lights and honked several times before finding the lights.
“Stupid car,” she huffed.
Monica’s driving would make a drunk person appear like a professional as she weaved and over-corrected with each turn. I gave her directions.
“I really could drive,” Samuel said for the fourth time.
“No!” Monica and I yelled together. We glanced at each other and smirked.
The pain never stopped racing up and down my leg. In the hospital parking lot someone struggled against a person in a white coat. The aftermath of the escape continued.
My head leaned against the window, my eyes begging to close. The adrenaline pumping through my veins had passed, and I felt weak.
“No sleep! We here,” Monica commanded.
I moaned as the vehicle came to a stop. The backdoor opened quickly, followed by my own. Their voices were muffled like speaking into a long tunnel. Forcing my eyes to stay open, I saw the bright entrance of the hospital. Monica’s strong arms kept me from falling forward.
A nurse with a wheelchair approached us quickly and then stopped when she saw Monica. Samuel spoke to her in a soothing voice, but I couldn’t understand what he said. The nurse nodded as Monica lowered me into the wheelchair. My head slumped forward, and all went black.
CHAPTER 20
TREATMENT
I awakened to bright lights flooding through the window and blinked slowly. My foot felt heavy, and I found it bound tightly. How long had I been sleeping? Sitting up, I noticed a bed next to mine.
My mother smiled at me with warm hazel eyes. Her salt and pepper hair tumbled over sagging shoulders. If I didn’t already know she was sick, her pale face and hollow cheeks gave it away.
Why hadn’t I seen it before?
She had aged twice as fast as she should’ve, but I thought it due to stress.
How soon will she be taken Down Under with the others? What became of those who escaped? Where would they be placed? Would the glass be repaired? My mind raced with questions.
“Hey.” My voice broke and my mouth felt dry. I tried to swallow.
Mother pressed a button to the side of her bed and spoke. “My son’s awake and could use water.”
“Y’all need anything else?” asked somebody through the speaker.
“Are you hurting?” Mother looked at me. I shook my head. “He feels fine.”
“Alright, Mrs. Porter, we’ll be right there,” said the same voice.
Other than a dry mouth and the weight of the bandage, I felt good and shifted on the bed. I expected to see Monica and Samuel and wondered where they were, but being with my mother was exactly what I wanted.
“Where’s Samuel and Monica?” I said, coughing.
“I’m not sure,” Mom answered.
“How are you?” I whispered to her and cleared my throat to speak easier.
“Bless you, dear. I’m well.”
“Really? I haven’t seen you since your heart attack.”
“My heart’s stable. I’ll leave the hospital tonight or tomorrow. We might
be released together.” She grinned.
I wanted to feel glad, but I didn’t believe she’d be going home. Had no one told her she was infected? It’s time for me to take responsibility for my family instead of relying on Alex or someone else to handle the difficult situations.
“Mom, I was Down Under and I heard the Takers. Apparently, Alex’s been trying to delay it for a while, but your doctors confirmed it. You’re infected.”
Her face softened and her head shook slightly.
A knock on the door drew our attention.
“Come in.” Mother welcomed the nurse, rolling in a cart that had a solid white plastic jug.
“Here ya go, Mr. Porter. It’s your water.” She checked the bag hanging next to the bed connected to my arm. “You have pain meds in your IV. When it’s out, we’ll remove it and switch to pills. Y’all hungry?”
“I am.” I took the cup from her hands and drank. The cool liquid felt good going down my dry throat. “Do you know where Samuel and Monica are?”
“Bless your heart. I don’t know them. Sorry.” The nurse touched my bedrail. “I’ll have food brought up.”
She made sure my mother didn’t need anything with more “bless you’s” than I’d ever heard. Considering it was my mother’s favorite phrase it took a lot to top her. Once the nurse left, then Mother’s frail hand patted my bed with a smile.
Did she remember the news I tried to share with her? I didn’t want to tell her again.
“Mom, you know I’ll do what I can to help find a cure.”
“There’s nothing else for us to try.” She frowned and her head hung toward her chest.
I reached my hand to hers. “Did you not know?”
“Of course I did,” she answered. “I didn’t think anyone else knew. That’s sweet of Alex to protect me, Bless him. I’ll become useless if I go Down Under.” She tucked her hair behind her ear.
“I’m sorry, Mom.” I frowned and squeezed her hand. “What has been tried so far?”
“The antibiotics keep the symptoms at bay.”
I nodded. “What if you treated it like a cancer and used radiation or chemo?”