The Black Tide I: Remnants (Tides of Blood)

by Baileigh Higgins

  I slumped down even further but was smart enough to recognize the warning signs. “Fine, I'll go. You don't have to be so pushy.”

  “The money's on the counter,” was the only reply I got.

  The moment she was out of sight, I sighed and texted Brian. “Gotta go to the shop. Mom's nagging me. Chat later.”

  “Sure thing, Red. XXX.”

  I smiled and texted a few kissy faces back. This earned me a row of hearts, all in different colors. Basking in the warm glow of adoration, I sent back an 'I love you' waiting with baited breath for the expected, 'I love you more.'

  Ten minutes later a shrill “Ava!” rang through the air and I jumped when my mother's head popped around the corner. “Go to the shop now!”

  “I'm going, I'm going.”

  God! Why did she have to be such a bitch about it? I got up with reluctance and padded to my room, searching for a clean shirt among the piles of clothes on the floor. No success.

  “Mom. I've got nothing to wear,” I whined. “What if someone sees me?” Going out in my current outfit would mean social death.

  “You'd have something to wear if you helped me with the laundry every now and then.” Her angry face appeared in the doorway. “And for the hundredth time, stop tossing your stuff on the floor. There's a basket for that.”

  “I'm sorry, okay? I promise I'll help with the washing but I can't go out like this.” I know I sounded like a six-year-old nagging for more sweets while I tugged at my stained shirt, giving her my most pathetic look.

  “Oh, for goodness sake.” She tossed her hands in the air. “Fine. I'll go. Make sure the rice doesn't cook dry and the roast doesn't burn. Can you do that, at least?”

  Relieved I wasn't going out, I nodded, eager to get rid of her and back to the couch and Brian. She stomped out, slamming the door behind her. Not being a total idiot, I waited until I heard her car pull out of the driveway.

  Finally.

  I slunk to the kitchen and grabbed a packet of potato chips then settled down on the couch again. Back to Brian. The minutes ticked by, and I got lost in the minutia of school affairs, who was dating who, when the next party was, and which of us loved the other the most.

  “Ava! Something's burning.” Lexi's voice pulled me away from a virtual kissing session. I sniffed the air and sure enough, smoke.

  “Oh shit!” I vaulted off the couch with a remarkable turn of speed, running to the kitchen. My stomach sank as I eyed the rice, popping on the stove like popcorn. I grabbed the handles and pulled it off the plate, burning my fingers in the process. “Fuck.”

  “You said a bad word,” Lexi crowed from the doorway. “I'm telling Mom.”

  “Get lost, Lexi.”

  I had to clean up this mess fast before my mom got back from the shop and had no time to waste on my stupid little sister. Pulling on the oven mitts, I grabbed the pot, dumped the burned rice into the dustbin then tossed it into the washbasin.

  “Great,” I muttered as I surveyed the blackened mess at the bottom and rolled up my sleeves. Half an hour later I was still scrubbing and using the entire repertoire of swear words at my disposal while Lexi gloated from the doorway.

  When the pot was clean at last, I put a fresh batch of rice on to boil then belatedly remembered the roast. I opened the oven, releasing a cloud of steam and lifted up the edges of the tinfoil, holding my breath that the meat hadn't turned into a lump of charcoal. It hadn't, proving that my luck wasn't all bad.

  My phone beeped and I pulled it from my pocket, answering Jeanette, my best friend while keeping an eye on the food. Another half hour later, the rice had cooked, the roast was finished and Mom still hadn't returned from the shop.

  A few minutes later the doorbell rang and I answered the door with a frown. “Who is...” My words dried up at the sight of the police uniform filling the doorway. “Uh, can I help you?”

  “Yes. Is Mr...” the officer looked down at a pad of paper in his hands, “Greene here?”

  “My Dad?” I asked. “He's still at work.”

  “Is there any way we can contact him?”

  “Not really. He's not allowed to take calls underground.”

  The officer hesitated, seemingly at a loss. A sense of foreboding took hold of me.

  “Is there anybody else I can speak to? An aunt maybe? Grandparent?”

  I shook my head, convinced now that something was seriously wrong. Why didn't he ask for my mom? That would be the logical thing to do.

  “Look, I know I don't look it, but I am eighteen.” I drew myself up to my tallest height. “Whatever it is, I'm sure you can tell me.”

  The officer studied me, weighing his next words. “All right, Miss. You might want to sit down for this.”

  “I'm fine. Just tell me whatever it is.” My hand tightened on the door jamb, knuckles whitening.

  “I'm afraid Mrs. Greene was involved in a car accident approximately forty-five minutes ago.”

  “A car accident?” I echoed, my voice sounding hollow to my ears. “Is Mom okay? Is she in hospital?”

  The officer's eyes were kind but sad. “I'm afraid your mother passed away before the ambulance could arrive. The paramedics did everyth—”

  I gasped, and the world spun around me. I clung to the doorway, the officer's words fading away as a buzzing noise filled my ears.

  No. It can't be. Not Mom.

  Black encroached on my vision and my knees buckled. Hands caught me beneath the arms, propping my body up as the officer led me inside. Lexi caught my hand, her voice shrill with concern.

  “Ava? What's going on? What's happening?”

  I couldn't answer her, my mouth working but failing to form any words. A single thought stood out amongst the jumble of others that milled through my brain as I collapsed onto the nearest chair: It should have been me.

  ***

  When I woke up, it was still dark. My tears had dried beneath my cheek, the material of Andy's shirt sticking to my skin. I lifted my head, unclenching my fingers from the material. Beneath my palm, his skin had cooled, the warmth of life leaving his flesh.

  I pushed myself upright and my eyes fell on his face, stark and still. A whimper bubbled to my lips. He really was gone. Just like my mother. Just like my father. And it was all my fault.

  You should never have let him go.

  I had known something was off, had felt it.

  You should have stopped him.

  It hit me then what an idiot I'd been, playing with fire. My actions thus far had been selfish, exhibiting the recklessness and abandon of a child. My thoughts whirled, a pattern of faces presenting themselves, their eyes accusing.

  My conscience tortured me with useless regrets. In the end, I had failed them. All of them. I had let Andy go, let my mother go, let my dad go. Even Brian. I had pushed him away and now they were all dead.

  Not all.

  The words rose to the surface of my turbulent emotions, allowing me to rise from the pit I found myself in.

  I still had Lexi.

  She was alive and well, presenting a chance for me to redeem myself, to fix some of the wrongs I had done. A sense of purpose took hold and I got to my feet, packing my things into the backpack.

  After covering Andy with a blanket, I hesitated. He deserved a proper burial. One which I could not provide. Clearing my throat, I spoke.

  “I...I'm sorry this had to happen to you. For what I let happen. You were so strong...so full of life. My voice broke and I had to pause for a moment. “Just know that I loved you, Andy. I really did.”

  Before the sight of his still form could envelop me in despair again, I set off into the night. The wind brushed against my cheeks as I settled into a jog, my steps echoing my heartbeat. Grief coiled inside me like a snake, pumping venom into my veins each time I thought about Andy. Yet circumstances forced me to ignore it.

  Thirty minutes later, I sat huddled behind a bush a few houses up the street from Andy's place. The street lamps were out, the only light the d
ull glow emanating from windows. Windows behind which families sat, talking, laughing, having dinner—or so my overwrought mind imagined.

  My stomach cramped at the thought of food, and I fished out the last chocolate bar and a juice from the backpack. The sugar made me jittery. My knee jiggled up and down as I stared into the gloom.

  It was quiet. Too quiet.

  I settled down to wait. After watching for two hours, I had yet to see a single patrol. Was it a trap? My instincts told me it was and I wasn't about to ignore them for the second time.

  With infinite care, I moved away from the house, tracing a large circle until I was inside the yard of the neighbors behind the house. It was a risky move as soldiers could be stationed there as well. It was a risk I was willing to take, though.

  I sneaked through to the back, keeping a wary eye out. Seeing nothing, I peered over the wall into the backyard. It was empty. After watching for a few more minutes, I scaled the pre-con and climbed into the same tree Andy and I had used to cross over on previous occasions.

  Nestled inside a fork, I waited.

  Waited and remembered.

  Remembered the way I fell into Andy’s arms on my first outing, the way our bodies seemed to meld into one. My throat constricted, and I swallowed hard.

  In an effort to stay calm, I fixed my eyes on the house. The curtains were drawn and the lights were out, so I couldn't see inside. I thought about Lexi and Jacob. Mrs. Peterson. Were they okay? Were they in there? It was all I could do not to jump down and run across the lawn to hammer on the doors.

  Hours passed up in that tree, the moon arcing across the sky as I fiddled and fidgeted. My legs cramped, my joints grew stiff, and my ass ached. My thoughts kept wandering back to Andy and his terrible death. Each time I'd start to cry, then forced it down by focusing on Lexi. I was not about to make another stupid mistake. This time, I was doing things right.

  My new-found wisdom was rewarded when the curtains covering the patio door swept aside just before dawn. An unknown male dressed in fatigues stepped outside and lit a cigarette. Smoke curled from his nostrils, drifting across a face scarcely old enough to be out of nappies. His hair was shaved, making him look even younger; his shoulders were bowed beneath the weight of the rifle slung across his back.

  “I knew it.” The sound of my voice startled me, the raw anger painful to hear. Rage overwhelmed me. For a brief moment, my vision darkened. I clutched at the trunk, sending a tiny shower of tree bark falling down. The whole raid had been a set-up. Lloyd lied and ratted us all out.

  What I couldn't understand was why. Lloyd had been part of the group for weeks. He'd stolen the food to give to his own cousin, for God's sake. You were Andy's best friend. Why did you do it?

  Whatever his motives, if I saw him again I was going to jam my hand down his throat and rip his heart out. A small familiar figure walked out onto the patio, tearing me from my revengeful thoughts and I craned my head to see better.

  Lexi.

  She tugged on the soldier's arm and with her usual exuberant manner, spoke to him. Her little hands flew, punctuating each word. I could see she was upset about something. Her face was all scrunched up and at one stage she even poked him in the stomach.

  I held my breath, frightened at her temerity. What if she pissed him off and he hurt her? But I was worried about nothing. The boy soldier looked more harassed than angry. With a helpless shrug, he stubbed out his cigarette and went back inside the house. Lexi followed but only after casting a lingering look over her shoulder. I could swear she was looking at me.

  No, it can't be.

  That brief sighting was enough to keep me glued to my spot. In any case, the sun was rising which meant I was stuck. I could not move around during the day with any safety. Thank God, the tree I was in was big enough to hide me and of the evergreen sort.

  Not long after, Mrs. Peterson opened all the curtains, affording me a glimpse inside the house. I watched hungrily for even the smallest glimpse of my sister, glad to see she was okay. Whatever I had done, whatever Andy had done, the army had not harmed our families.

  The day progressed slowly, offering nothing to entertain me. The old couple in the house behind me came out at one stage, weeding and pruning the garden. I couldn't see the point. It was winter, after all. Everything was dead. I did worry that one of them might spot me, though, and kept quiet. But I guess their eyesight wasn't all that great either and they never saw me.

  Around midday, I drank the last of the fruit juice and ate the crackers. By then I was so bored, playing Russian roulette with my gun seemed like a fun option. I crawled around, stood up and stretched my limbs. Even the ants became a fascinating subject.

  My spying expedition was interrupted by the realization that I needed to pee. Badly. Since I couldn't get down, I had to improvise. Squatting in a tree with each foot balanced on a branch, peeing into an empty bottle was not fun. It was disgusting. Even more so when I had to stash the warm urine in my backpack.

  The sun crossed overhead, beginning its descent and I looked forward to being able to get out of the damn tree. My attention was captured by the sight of Jacob, however, leaving the house and crossing the yard towards me.

  He carried a book in one hand and very casually sat down below, leaning with his back against the trunk, pretending to read.

  “Ava? I know you're there,” he whispered loudly enough for me to make out the words.

  “What? How?”

  “Lexi saw you. This morning.”

  Oh, crap. If she saw me, who else did?

  “That's why she bugged that soldier until he left. She was afraid he'd see you.”

  “Really?” I was stunned.

  “Yup. She's a lot smarter than you think.”

  “Wow, okay.” I shook my head, amazed. “What happened?”

  “I don't know. You tell me. We woke up yesterday morning and you and Andy were gone. Then the army showed up and interrogated us, saying you were traitors. They said you had help, that you were part of a group.”

  My teeth ground together as I thought about the group and their likely fate. Allen, Matthew, Thabo, Neill. “Did they say what happened to the others?”

  “Yes. They're dead, Ava. All of them.” Jacob's voice became shrill, rising in pitch until he had to pause to regain his composure. “Three were shot during the raid and the other one was executed yesterday afternoon. The army sent a truck around with a loudspeaker announcing it. They're going to execute you too. There are two soldiers waiting for you inside the house. What's going on, Ava? Where's Andy?”

  Andy.

  I'd have to tell Jacob what happened.

  I'd have to tell him his brother was dead.

  I swallowed, mouth gone dry. In a low, halting voice, I told Jacob what had happened, leaving nothing out. The entire time, he pretended to read, keeping his face blank but his knuckles were white with the effort, though. I could only imagine what it cost him.

  When I finished, I waited for an outburst, each muscle in my body tensed and ready for the fall-out. But Jacob said nothing. He simply got up and left, shoulders hunched over the book he now clutched to his chest. Anguished, I stared after him.

  I pushed my fist into my mouth, biting down on the knuckles to keep from screaming. All the emotions of the past few days washed over me. Guilt, anger, fear, loneliness, grief. They pushed and shoved each other around, each attempting to claim dominance.

  After a while, I gave up striving for control and leaned back against the tree with my eyes closed. Exhausted after the past few days, my brain shut down, sleep stealing over me unnoticed.

  I jerked upright when my body slumped sideways, gravity exerting its pull on me. My heart hammered in my chest at the near fall, and I blinked rapidly to clear the fog from my mind. “Man, that was close.”

  From then on it became a battle to stay awake, my body having tasted the sweet promise of slumber. My eyes kept drifting shut, my stomach flopping around like a landed fish whenever I began to ti
p over only to catch myself. “Night time better come fast,” I grumbled.

  What I would do once that happened, I didn't know. The army was waiting for me to show myself, and I had nowhere to go. Besides, I refused to leave Lexi. Maybe I could stay in the tree forever. Become a tree hugger. I snorted, wondering if the stress was making me snap.

  The hours crept past until the sun dropped behind the horizon, at last, signaling the time had come to move. I shifted, slinging the pack onto my shoulders. The only option I saw open to me was sneaking up to the house. Perhaps, I could speak to someone, see Lexi. I was aware that this was not the best plan but had run out of ideas. The thought of waiting for one more minute was enough to flush me out of hiding.

  I slid down the trunk, feeling for the lower branches with feet that had gone numb hours ago. It was a dangerous enterprise. I was quite high up, and a fall could easily mean a broken ankle. About halfway down, the patio door slid open and I heard hushed voices, causing me to freeze.

  Lexi's excited whispers carried across the lawn, followed by the more subdued voice of Jacob. They were coming my way and it looked like they were alone.

  Tossing away any semblance of caution, I slid the rest of the way down the tree, scraping the skin off my hands in the process. I landed with a jarring thump and collapsed at the base of the tree, my stiff legs unable to hold me. I was spent.

  Lexi dragged a bag almost as big as herself and argued with Jacob over her shoulder.

  “Lexi,” I whispered.

  Her head whipped around and she squealed, ignoring Jacob's pleas for her to be quiet. She dropped the bag and ran towards me, flinging herself into my waiting arms. I hugged her close, breathing in her familiar scent.

  It felt like I was home.

  We clung to each other, whispering stuff like 'where've you been' and 'are you okay' over and over. Jacob cleared his throat after a few moments. At the serious look on his face, I let go and rose painfully to my feet. One hand remained around Lexi's shoulder, however.

  “What is it, Jacob?” I asked. “What's wrong?”

  “Yes, Jacob. Tell her,” Lexi said before he could answer.