Reaching up to rub his temples in an effort to relieve the throbbing between them, he shrugged and swung his feet over the side of the cot. Clenching his teeth, he fought the urge to vomit as the pounding in his head reached a crescendo, sending his world spinning. Taking deep, slow breaths through his teeth, he waited for the vertigo to pass, relaxing his muscles as he was able. Darvski had told them that they might be dying. The strange radiation was breaking down their DNA. He had said the effects could be irreversible and likely fatal. Jack couldn’t help but smirk over the irony of it all. He was dying because of the alien invaders, but he was also supposedly prophesized as one of three who would rid the world of the invaders with his powers that came as a side effect of the poisoning that was killing him in the first place. He assumed that it probably served the alien invaders right, to be destroyed or driven away by something they essentially created. Karma. Apparently it was universal.
Slowly leaning forward, Jack peered into the darkened chamber to look over the sleeping forms of those who depended on him. Tammy and Sam weren’t much smaller than he was. Not really. But they depended on him to be strong for them. Jack knew that either one of them was smarter than him, but even so they looked to him to lead. And Will… Will expected him to have the answers for everything. To have every solution, and show him how to become a man. Will wanted Jack to be like Dad, and so far, Jack guessed he had been. Every important decision was accompanied by the question; What would Dad do? Jack knew if anyone could make sense of this new world and get them through it, it would be their dad, but without him the responsibility had fallen to him. Jack hated admitting it to himself, even though he had already given up both of his parents for dead weeks ago. He hated knowing that it was already done. He was Dad. At least now. At least to Will. Will looked up to him the same way as he looked up to Dad. So it was his responsibility to do what Dad would do and keep them safe and show them that even in a world such as this one there were still things that made you human. Still things that set them apart from the animals and other aliens who would act out of aggression or emotion. That, Jack knew, was why he would take them on this supposed quest to save the world, because if there was a chance to set it all right, Dad would have taken it.
Looking across the room again, his eyes fell on his little brother. Somehow, Will managed to sleep with his bottom straight up in the air, with his knees tucked beneath him, snoring slightly and likely drooling all over his cot. Jack knew his little brother was excited. What seven year old wouldn’t be? To wake up one day and discover that you and your family all had superpowers was something right out of a kid’s cartoons. Will was not only ready to go fight the aliens, but he was both excited about it and anxious to do it. His childlike expectations, driven by the very cartoons and comics as his only reference, made such a thing look and sound heroic without the slightest chance of defeat, but Jack knew better. Nothing was won until it was won. Nothing was given, it was earned. Dad’s words. In the darkness that allowed all those around him to sleep, Jack prayed that the cost to earning this victory was not too great. He couldn’t let any of them down. Not Dad. Not his siblings. And not Tammy or her people.
Rising from his cot, Jack ran his fingers through his hair. He really needed a haircut. Like five months ago. Bending down he lifted his pack, and pulling it open, he sat it on the cot in front of him. It took only seconds to pull the small pill bottle from the bag and spill its contents into his open palm. There were only a few of the pills left and as such he returned all but one to the small bottle. Clapping his hand to his mouth he tossed the small white pill into the back of his throat and swallowed, lifting a bottle of water from the bag with his other hand and unscrewing the cap. Washing down the pill, it was only moments later, with all contents returned to his bag, that he knew it was time.
Rounding each cot he awoke Sam and Tammy, finishing with Will before throwing the door open to let in the faint light of the coming morning outside. Taking a breath of the cool, fresh air, he stepped outside as Sam half growled while stretching, and he shook his head. How in the heck were they supposed to save the world?
* * * * *
Cracking her ankles and then her toes, Sam relaxed her arched back to fall limply to the cot once more before twisting her fingers together to crack her knuckles as well. Shaking out her limbs, she felt the newly invigorated circulation surge through her and sitting up she was happy to find that her headache was all but gone. Across from her Tammy also sat up, reaching both hands towards the ceiling as she yawned like a lioness. Smiling at her friend, she turned to watch Will rub his eyes and then his tummy, before rubbing his eyes again. She couldn’t help but grin as he sat up, looking around blinking as if just waking from a dream. In a way, she supposed they were all waking from a dream. The dream had been their lives before the invasion. Though they might have hated things about how it had been, now, waking to this reality, their problems from before seemed rather insignificant. What she wouldn’t give to glare across the lunchroom at the lip gloss brigade for pointing at her and laughing? But that was the past. It was the dream. And now they were awake and had more important things to worry about. Today was the day they finally had a purpose and a destination for the first time in what felt like forever.
Watching Will close his eyes as he himself stretched, Sam decided to have a little fun with him. Concentrating on the point right in front of her little brother she blinked out of her cot and into the space right before him.
“Boo!” Sam half shouted, grabbing Will’s shoulders.
Like a spring wound too tight, Will erupted from his seated position upon the cot, swinging his little fists to little effect before realization dawned on him and his face changed from fear to anger.
“Dang it, jerk. Now I really gotta pee.”
Turning towards the door, Sam watched as her little brother vanished around the corner, but he didn’t leave without warning.
“That wasn’t funny, Sam. Next time you do it I’ll make you pee on yourself.”
Sam’s laughter was only matched by Tammy’s as Jack peeked back in the door he had only exited a moment ago. Once she had settled down and managed to stop giggling, Sam returned to her own cot and bent to the floor. Untying her dead dolly pack from the makeshift leg of the cot, she grinned to herself. She couldn’t believe she was tying the thing down so Will and Jack wouldn’t use it against her. When it was untied, she pulled the straps over her shoulders just in time to see Will return with a baleful look upon his face.
“Grab your stuff, kiddo. It’s time to hit the road,” Sam said to her little brother.
“No duh, Sam,” Will replied.
She must have made him angry with her little prank. Either that or he was just hungry. He was always a bit cranky when he was hungry.
“Awe. Did Mr Grumpy Wumpy pants wake upon the wrong side of the bed?”
“Cut it out, Sam. I’m not a baby.”
“Are you sure, Grumpy Wumpy pants? Do you need a huggy wuggy?”
Sam held her arms out and began walking towards Will, jutting out her bottom lip in a feigned pout.
“Come here, Grumpy Wumpy. Give mean ole’ Sam a hug and make it all better.”
She watched as Will stifled a giggle. She had him. Lunging forward, she snatched her little brother clean off the ground and squeezed him to her, peppering his face and head in kisses.
“OK. OK! You win. Let me go, you dork,” Will shouted, kicking and twisting to get away.
“No way, you’re my little Grumpy Wumpy pants forever and ever,” Sam said, tickling his ribs as he squirmed.
It didn’t take long, and Will managed to wiggle himself free. Panting, he grinned at Sam and she knew his foul mood was over. Now she just needed to get him fed lest it return.
* * * * *
Will couldn’t help but grin at Sam again as they left the silo, probably for the very last time. She was a dork. That was for certain, but she was a fun dork and he liked when she played with him. He doubted that they
would have much time to play in the days coming up, but was excited anyway. They were going on an adventure. A quest. Just like superheroes. Though both Jack and Sam had turned down the notion of finding costumes, Will knew that if they found some he could get his siblings to wear them with just a little prodding. After all, what good was a superhero without a great costume?
Crossing the empty expanse between the silos, they were greeted by several of Tammy’s people and they waved and shook hands, smiling to words they couldn’t understand. Will was tempted to reply in gibberish. Something like; taco poo poo gupta yum turtle soybean sandwich, but was afraid it might actually mean something in the people’s native language. So instead he just nodded and smiled as they passed.
Entering the silo opposite theirs, they were greeted by a table filled with as much food as their hosts could muster. Feeling his tummy growl, Will hoped they didn’t plan to do much talking before they could begin eating. If it looked like that might be the case, he would have to use his power to alter their plans.
Sitting upon the ground, he took his place at the table, smiling to those who stared at them from all around the room. Looking first to Jack and then to Sam, Will proceeded to look from face to face around the room as he reached out slowly to grab a small loaf of the corn bread that Tammy’s people made. No objections forthcoming, he quickly snatched another and scooped himself a large helping of fried crow and a glass of the corn-sweetened drink provided. It was the same old thing they had eaten the last few days, but Will wasn’t about to complain. It was food, and it was hot, and like Mom always said, it was better to be thankful for what you had, than to complain about what you didn’t.
Devouring his meal, he listened as Jack and Sam spoke to Tammy’s people, and Tammy translated. It really wasn’t any new information, speaking mostly of their plans to seek out the scouting party and prophet that Tammy’s people had sent to look for a safer location. Already knowing their plans, Will turned his attention back to his food and only listened halfheartedly as he chewed one mouthful after another.
It wasn’t long until his stomach was stuffed and Will sat back daydreaming while his brother, sister, and Tammy finished their meals as well. Roused by Jack some time later, Will realized they had all finished eating and rose to join his siblings. Picking up his pack, he shoved his arms through the loops and pulled it onto his back before bending to retrieve his tire iron. Feeling he was as ready to go as he would ever be, Will turned back to the room before exiting the door and waved to all those whose eyes peered back at him.
Waving, Will said the only thing that he could think of.
“Don’t worry, folks, we’ll save you.”
* * * * *
Tammy shook her head as she followed Will out the door. He was a strange little boy, though she could only assume that all little boys from earth were strange. After all, they were aliens. Bidding her people farewell as they walked out from the circle of silos, she chose not to look back. She would instead just hope that they would return so she could see this small group of her own people again. For now, she would just do what she could to fulfill her portion of the prophecy. She would guide. Kind of. They already had a direction to travel, and Jack planned to drive. So, at least for this first leg of their journey she would more or less back-seat guide.
Grinning to herself at her imagined pun, Tammy quickened her pace to walk between Sam and Will. Smiling at both as they turned their faces to her, she winked at Will and returned Sam’s smile as they crossed the street. Following the road, it was not long until they reached the car they had stashed days before, and climbing inside, Tammy buckled herself in as Jack fired up the engine. Only seconds later, Tammy gave in to her urge and turning she watched the cluster of metallic cylinders fade into the distance behind them. It was sad, watching the only place she had felt safe in months disappear in the distance, but this is where she felt at home, among her friends.
Hour after hour, Jack guided their travels down one stretch of road and then another. Everywhere they went the scenery was much the same. Here a charred farm house, there a field of overgrowth and weeds. Occasionally they would see a metal building that still stood among the wreckage of those surrounding it but Jack appeared to have no intentions of stopping to investigate. They had been given enough supplies for several days, so Tammy supposed there was no real need to stop and scavenge.
It was perhaps around mid-day when Jack pulled the car to the side of the road and turned the ignition to stop the engine. Without a word he stepped out of the car as Tammy and her other companions watched him walk to the back. Opening the trunk, he removed their last can of gas and proceeded to pour it into the tank of the car. That was it. If it didn’t last them to wherever it was that they were supposed to be going, then they would have to go on foot, a thought they all likely shared as Tammy looked to the frightened faces of her friends. None of them wanted to be outside the security of their car.
Looking back to Jack, Tammy watched as he let the final drops of fuel drip from the can into the car and returned the cap. He didn’t even bother to keep the can. Instead, he placed it at the side of the road and slammed the trunk closed as he returned to the driver’s seat.
“That’s it, guys,” Jack admitted. “I can’t say exactly how much was left in the tank, but that was only about four more gallons. I figure we have two to three hours of driving left, then it’s… Well, you know.”
“How far do you think they might have gotten?” Tammy asked in reference to the group of scouts they sought.
“I don’t know. We haven’t seen any sign of them, but they have had weeks. Who knows how far they might have gone? They might have even changed directions. There is no way to know. All we can do is keep going and hope to find answers along the way. It’s gotten us this far,” Jack said.
Tammy didn’t like it. She thought that they would have found some clue by now. Maybe they missed something. It was frightening to know you were moving towards an event that was already determined, but not knowing what might lay ahead in wait upon the path that destiny had chosen for you. All she could do was have faith that they would succeed, as Jack said, simply by continuing on with the hope of finding something. For now there was nothing she could do about it, and so she turned her attention back to her window, searching everything she could see for a sign that would tell them they were headed in the right direction.
Her eyes flitting from one object outside their car to another, Tammy focused on her task as Jack pulled the car back onto the road and onward towards whatever awaited.
Chapter Ten
With the engine sputtering and threatening to stall, Jack pulled the piecemeal import off the side of the road out of habit more than necessity. It wasn’t like he needed to clear the lanes for traffic. Turning the key to kill the engine, Jack sighed. He hadn’t been too far off. The gas had lasted about three hours by his guesstimate, and carried them over the back roads for nearly two hundred miles. All the while he had searched everything ahead for any sign that they might be going in the right direction, but there were none.
Wherever they were, it was rural and for miles on end they hadn’t seen so much as the charred remains of a single farm house, at least not until the last hour or so. For the last fifty miles, Jack had noted that intersections came more frequently, and then the collapsed, burned out husks of houses. Occasionally there were signs beside the road, but the paint was burned off. Even so, signs were proof of communities and even though they had yet to pass through anything he would call a town, he was certain that he was staring one down as he unfastened his seat belt.
Just beyond the horizon ahead, there appeared to be a collection of buildings. With all the charred signs and homes they had passed in the last five miles or so, he imagined it had to be a decent sized community at one time. If there were going to be people, of any race, it would make sense that they might have chosen here to hide. If not, they might have at least left clues as to where they went, or where there were other
people, or where the enemy might be. The enemy… it was weird to think of it like that. Sure, they had been attacked and invaded by some species of aliens from a far off world, but an enemy? Jack didn’t really know what to think about it. So he chose not to. At least for now.
Climbing out of the car with the sun already well past its apex, Jack pulled his backpack from the car. It was a dangerous decision to continue on when night was only a few hours away, but staying here in the car wasn’t any safer. They would have to look for shelter elsewhere, and the most apparent location was straight ahead.
Waiting for his siblings and Tammy to gather what few belongings they had, Jack stared out across the miles to what appeared to be the remains of a town. From here it was obvious that some buildings still stood in various states of destruction, but there was no telling how large a community it might have been. At least not from here.
“Let’s go, guys,” Jack said, starting off down the center of the road.
Without a word of reply, all four began to trundle along, each lost in their own thoughts. Jack peered about to either side of the road, preferring if possible to spend the night outside the town ahead, but the prospect was not looking likely. As far as he could see, either side of the road was populated only by empty fields or the charred, skeletal remains of what were once homes and barns. Once, he noted the remains of a horse-drawn cart, and wondered if this was once an Amish community, though he doubted it. If what Davrski had told them was true, then only houses with electricity would have burned, but if that was the case, then did that mean the Amish were spared from the initial attack? It was a possibility he hadn’t pondered before and it sent his mind reeling about the origins of the rider, the man who had followed them only to save them from the ape-like aliens, what seemed like a long time ago.
Children of the After: The Complete Series Page 32