by Tara Brown
“So bad. I can’t even describe it. Her family is a mess, and I don't think it’s just the apocalypse. Her older sister, the kid’s mom,” his tone dropped so low I could barely hear him, “she’s sassy. Like the kind of spicy you try to avoid. Scary boss material. But at the same time, she’s dying tonight, so I cut her some slack. Thankfully, her husband was a delight. Roland. Very sweet man. Her brother, Michael, and his wife seemed kinda rude. Nothing serious. But the other sister, the one that came, she’s a nightmare. Ruined the entire visit. Spoiled little princess. She has a mouth on her and a sense of entitlement I’m not fond of.”
Milo dissing anyone was a whole thing. Celeste’s sister had to have been downright awful to him to make him say that.
“Is she going to be okay?” I worried about her.
“No. For sure no. She is really upset. The sister that came was terrible.”
“Okay.” I sighed, completely exhausted but not feeling sorry for myself. Milo had to be beat and Celeste was keeping it together for the kids. “You need help?”
“No, these things practically fly themselves. I need some sleep though. I can’t wait to get there. We’re close. How was your visit?”
“On par with Celeste’s in some ways. No one acted crazy but the whole thing—I wish I hadn’t gone.” I bit my lip, preventing myself from saying more. He didn't need my troubles too.
“I’m so sorry, Zo.”
“Why didn't you want to see your family?” I pried.
“Nothing to do with not wanting to see them.” He furrowed his pale brow. “And everything to do with they live in Alaska. Tired of the heat and humidity and needing a change from Florida, they moved there a few years ago. We said goodbye before the phones cut out.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. The week the fifties died they left anyway. Hunter was my only family here. Hunter and Stan and now you guys.” He smiled but his eyes were glossy.
“I love you, Milo.” It slipped out.
He started bawling.
I hadn’t meant to make him cry, but I needed him to know it. Just in case.
“I love you too,” he sobbed, forcing Celeste to get up and rush to us.
“What’s wrong?” She was panicking.
“We just love each other. And we love you.” Milo sobbed more, pulling her in. She started to cry too, making me cry. Something I wasn't sure I would do again. Not for a while.
“I love you guys too.”
We hugged and ignored the spectacle we had to be.
After a few minutes we pulled apart. Jack was scowling, likely regretting this choice, and Bethany was sneering, also likely regretting it.
Hannah had a sad, drawn face, not regretting the situation as much as she was likely beginning to sense the truth of this apocalypse for the first time.
I couldn't imagine how it had been for their parents, letting them come and saying goodbye.
Did they tell them things, promises of heaven and seeing them again? I would have.
I went back to my seat where the snacks were laid out. I grabbed a bar of chocolate and started eating, trying to lose myself in the surgery snack.
“You guys okay?” Jacked asked, still noticeably nervous but he sounded as though he genuinely cared.
I decided to answer him like I would have Owen, “No.” I leaned forward, whispering, “Everyone is sad.” I narrowed my gaze. “The three of us have gone through something terrible. And the journey across the country was almost unbelievable.”
“That sucks.” He was like me. He didn’t know what to say. We hadn’t talked a lot, neither of us pried or offered much.
“It does,” I agreed. “And now all of us are losing people tonight.”
“Yeah.” He shrugged, trying to be indifferent. If I didn’t know myself, I’d think it was weird that he wasn't sad. Our parents were dying tonight, and he didn't really care. But I had a feeling we were alike and he didn’t know how to be sad, not properly. Maybe he needed a sad movie or an Owen.
“Five minutes, guys,” Milo said after a moment of awkward silence.
“Finally,” Bethany complained.
“Yeah, riding on this private jet has been hard, huh?” Celeste’s tone bordered on the spicy one she’d only used in front of me a few times. Before Bethany could answer, Celeste turned to the kids and smiled wide. “You guys pumped to see the air force base? There’s cool stuff there. A bowling alley. And a pool. And a playground. And bunk beds.”
“Bunk beds!” Marshall exclaimed. “I want the top bunk.” He was missing a couple of teeth so his lisp was perfect.
“Top bunk it is.”
Hannah didn't say a word so Celeste wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in, holding her tightly. The small girl’s eyes would haunt me for a while. They were so filled with despair they were overflowing.
“Okay. Seat belts,” Milo called. The jet was going lower, making me shudder.
The landing was much smoother than the one with the cargo plane, but when the doors opened there were guns in our faces.
“Oh good, a welcoming committee,” Bethany said with a laugh. “I knew you were lying.”
“What in the world were you three thinking?” a woman in her late thirties who seemed too young to be in charge, but this was the world now, stepped forward. “You steal a FedEx plane, then come back in this. Someone better do some talking. Get out here!” The men with the guns backed up so we could deplane.
“It’s my fault.” Celeste came forward. “I needed to go and find my sister’s kids. They would have been alone.”
The woman stepped closer. “And you didn't think to ask us? I don't have time, literally, for this shit. You are reckless and foolish. I don't know what God is thinking leaving the world to you idiots.”
“I didn't want to risk asking. In case you said no.”
“You could have been killed. This was reckless.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Celeste agreed. “But we weren’t and we got my niece and nephew and my sister and Zoey’s brother. They’re here now. And able to help with things and keep kids safe.” Celeste used words she knew they’d want to hear.
“Don't pull a stunt like that again,” the woman snarled. “And you, come with me.” She pointed at Milo.
“Yes, ma’am.” He sighed and followed her as did the gunmen.
“So you can fly, huh?” Her voice trailed off as she grilled him and marched off down the tarmac. “I wanna hear about these old people before I end up in the incinerator room.”
“That was terrifying,” Jack said under his breath.
“Yeah. I think that’s the major. It’s our first time meeting her too.”
“You dragged us here and you lied about it being some sanctuary. I knew this was shit. There probably isn’t even a house. You showing up all raggedy looking, hair all crazy, and shouting shit so Audie would listen to you—”
The sound of a slap snapped mine and Jack’s heads around. Bethany was holding her face and Celeste was leaning in. “Not everything is about you. You will shut up or I will shut you up.” She turned and strode off, holding Marshall’s hand and being followed by Hannah.
Jack and I walked past Bethany, who was crying now, leaving her behind.
I wasn't sure bringing Bethany had been such a good idea, but she did make me feel better about Jack not being a big talker.
Especially since our parents would be dead in less than two hours.
Like the major had said, the thirties were out of time.
35
The Thirties
Celeste
“Oh thank God!” Aaron exclaimed loudly when we walked in the front door. He took multiple deep breaths, creating a soundtrack to Rozzy screaming at us.
“WHERE WERE YOU? HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME?” She crutched over to us. Tears flooded her face, but I didn't make the mistake of believing they were sorrow or sadness. She was rage crying.
“I’m so sorry.” I rushed her, hugging her hard as she
trembled against me. “We didn't leave you. We ran and got my sister’s kids and Zoey’s brother. I swear to God, we didn't leave you. We were hoping to be back before you got out of the hospital. We left you a note, it’s on your bed.”
“You’re a dick.” She shoved me but pulled me back for a hug. Her fingers dug in. “You scared me.” She sniffled and settled, wiping her face and turning to Zoey, likely to shout at her too, but she paused. “Oh shit.” She wiped more and sniffled less. Jack had that affect on me too.
“This is Jack.” Zoey pointed at the smoke show of a brother. Of course he was hot. Zoey somehow had the cutest guys ever in her life. It was perplexing but also very typical Bella Swan. I’d thought the books were a little far-fetched for me, but here we were. Jack was Edward. So that was a twist. Bella’s brother, Edward. Tall, fit, dark hair, lush lips, perfect teeth, and honey-brown eyes that twinkled with mischief.
He was going to be a problem for Rozzy.
“Sorry, I’m not normally like this.”
“Yes, you are,” Zoey laughed and stepped forward, bringing her into her arms and hugging hard. “And we’re so sorry for scaring you.”
“You guys suck.”
“I concur,” Aaron added, standing and patting his son’s shoulder. “You scared the devil out of me.”
“We made a deal, I won’t let you down.”
“Thank you.” His eyes darted to Marshall. “Joey, why don’t you show this young man the game you’re playing on the iPad?”
“I have one too!” Marshall reached into his bag and pulled it out.
Joey glanced up as Marshall marched over to the sofa and plunked down, lifting his iPad and the boys disappeared into their own world.
“I’m going to head over to the hospital and tell Tasha it’s time to stop working.” Aaron’s eyebrows knit together with worry and fear. “But I’ll make sure we have reinforcements. I spoke to the major and she agrees with me and understands.” He couldn’t say what he meant in front of his son.
“We got this,” Zoey nodded, her eyes darting to the boys. “He’ll be fine.”
“I’m not going to say goodbye.” His voice cracked, matching his trembling lip. “If she escapes, just don’t let her in the house. Once I leave, that’s it, okay?”
“Okay,” I said.
Aaron turned, forcing a brave face and a smile. “Okay, champ. Dad and Mom are going on that trip I told you about.”
“Okay.” Joey didn't lift his gaze.
“Joe, look at me.” Aaron knelt beside the sofa, leaning on the armrest to stare into his boy’s eyes. “We love you so much. You be good for Zoey and Celeste and Rozzy. Okay?”
“Okay, Dad!” He was impatient to get back to the game.
“I love you, Son.” He brushed his hand over the stubble of hair that was growing back after the cancer treatments.
“Love you too.” He nodded and let Aaron hug him. “You’re squishing me,” he complained and we all laughed, but there were sounds inside the laughter. Pain and anguish that couldn’t be hidden. Wouldn't be.
Aaron stood, tears popping from his eyes as he spun and walked to the door. He said nothing, simply left us there with his boy.
Zoey locked the door.
“We lit a fire in the backyard. We have s’mores and hot dogs.” Rozzy motioned her head at the back door. There was a haze of smoke coming from the fire and people sitting around it. It wasn't noticeable yet because the sun had only just sunk below the mountains. “The other people from the barn who aren’t passing are out there.”
“Okay.” I glanced at Hannah. “S’mores?”
“Sure.” She followed me to the door, as did Bethany though I was still so angry with her I couldn't bear to look at her. She was acting like a petulant child. Which she was. I turned back to the rest of them to make sure they were coming.
“The barn?” Jack asked, giving Zoey a puzzled look.
“You wouldn't believe me if I told you,” she said deadpan. Rozzy put a chair under the door handle. Probably in case Tasha came back.
I knew she wouldn't. No one would let her murder her son who just beat cancer. No one. The world was screwed but no one was that cruel. Except Tasha.
“Milo’s with the major, telling her about Helen. We can’t lock him out.” I widened my eyes at the chair.
“He’ll come in the side yard.” Rozzy shrugged, hopping over to us with the crutches.
“Okay,” I muttered with a sigh and opened the large sliding door.
The crowd smiled wide seeing us.
“Hey!” One of the girls lifted her casted arm, like we should hug.
“She’s still on some morphine.” One of the other girls laughed.
We sat around the fire, enjoying the glow and laughing at the girl on morphine with the broken arm. Even Bethany smiled every now and then.
Hannah ate s’mores and licked her fingers, hopefully forgetting what was happening. I wished I could. But as the clock ticked down to the deaths of my siblings, and Aaron and Tasha, and all the people in charge of the base, my nerves worsened. They were strangling me.
The sky darkened slightly as the fire flickered and seemed brighter.
“How did you all meet?” Jack asked as he swallowed a bite of hot dog.
“These badass bitches saved us.” One of girls smiled at Zoey and me.
“Zoey saved you?” His eyes narrowed in disbelief.
“Yeah, some psychos in a rig hit our car, sent us tailspinning. Killed my brother—” she paused, needing a minute. “And then took us to some ranch in the middle of nowhere. These guys were all there”—she waved a hand at the other barn people—“different accidents and shit. They tied us up in the barn.” She furrowed her brow, stopping and staring at the fire as story time took a dark turn, but it wasn't her that finished it.
“They would take one or two of us in the house. There were like ten of them in there. Even some women. It was fucked.” The girl stared at the flames, speaking as though she might not know where she was, “You know that scene in the Harry Potter movies where the bad guys are all sitting around the table and that one teacher is floating in the air, all disfigured? And she pleads with Severus to save her? And they kill her anyway?” Her voice wavered, suggesting she might cry but she didn't. She grew fiercer. “It was like that but the hillbilly version.”
“Jesus,” Jack muttered, his eyes wide.
“And they made the mistake of taking their friend here.” A girl nodded her head at Rozzy whose eyes were wide with pain and memories she didn't want. I didn't want. Zoey definitely didn't want. “They came in and killed everyone and saved us.”
Jack swallowed hard, his face matching Bethany’s and Hannah’s as they looked from Zoey to me.
“They killed two of our friends first,” Rozzy whispered. “They deserved everything they got.”
“To our friends, lost but waiting for us,” the girl who was high on morphine said, lifting her Sprite can into the air.
Everyone lifted whatever they had, toasting losses with hot dogs and sodas and s’mores.
Bethany’s eyes drifted my way, filled with remorse.
I accepted none of it.
Instead, I let myself be angry with her for tainting the last memories I had of my family. And I decided I would be angry for one night. I’d forgive her tomorrow. The phrase “life is too short” had become a savage reality. One we faced with denial, a crackling fire, and silence or fake laughter until 6:00 was well over.
Milo came strolling into the yard with Aaron’s small dog, Ginger, trailing behind him.
He pointed at the house. “I’m going to bed.” He didn't wave or say anything else. Just went inside and crashed. The small dog and Stan, who was now full on hot dogs since Zoey had done the “bite for you, bite for me” with him, followed him in.
The party died down.
My siblings were dead.
Zoey’s mom was dead.
She and Jack’s dad were dead.
Everyone we loved
in their thirties was dead.
And I had one week left to live.
Left to find beauty.
Left to love something.
Anything.
36
Jack and Rozzy
Zoey
“Story on the brother?” Rozzy poked me.
I blinked, coming out of the thoughts I was lost in, nearly asking where we were, but the shout of kids playing in the pool brought me back.
Joey and Marshall were swimming and we were on duty, keeping them safe. Meaning I needed to stop zoning out.
“He’s straight. He likes BMX racing; I think he’s actually kinda good at it. He’s smart but like in the way he fixes things. Handy. He doesn't like reading. And he seems to love that small dog of Joey’s,” I said, glancing over to where Jack sat on the pool deck, his feet in the water, playing basketball with the boys in the water. The dog was lying next to him the same way Stan was next to me, panting and keeping watch. “He doesn't talk. And he didn’t cry when our parents died last night. At all.”
“So he’s hot,” Rozzy whispered, “and I’m gonna have sex with him. But I really need you to say it’s cool.”
“Here’s to number twelve.” I lifted my can of Coke, toasting her. Not only was I indifferent to Jack being my brother, but who was I to say what he could or couldn't do? He was a year older than me, and the keeper of his own heart. Not that his heart was what Rozzy wanted.
“Helen’s here,” Milo shouted and waved at us from across the pool. My stomach lurched. The uneasiness I’d had about the base had faded, but small changes brought it back instantly. Everything about this place felt too good to be true. And Helen coming was another example of that.
“Jack, you good?” I asked as Stan and I stood.
“I’ll stay with him, make sure everything is fine.” Rozzy grinned.
“Yeah, the cast is going to be super useful for rescuing kids.” I rolled my eyes and ran to Milo.
“No running on the deck,” Rozzy shouted at me. “See, I can be useful.” She and Jack both smiled.
I shuddered, realizing I didn't actually want to know what she did with my brother.