I never called them again.
Instead, I hid. I drew my arms and legs deep inside of myself, where no one could find me, and began planning my exit. I learned to lie. I studied. I finished the degree I started before I married Nelson. I squirreled away money working odd jobs and paid internships, until one day I was finally ready.
I was going to leave.
Then the world ended, and I left Nelson for dead on a sleepy road in Holland county…closing the door to one hell only to find myself in the middle of another.
I shake off the memory.
It's cold and thinking of Nelson makes me feel colder. I close my eyes, forcing my body to rest. I don't want to, but I'm too tired to take another step. I must rest, or I'll make myself sick. Rest is as vital as food and water. I spend the last few minutes before I doze off thinking about a man with a kind face and the bluest eyes I've ever seen...and a tender kiss by a midnight fire.
Chapter Seven
Chloe
The scent of freshly brewed coffee rides the early morning breeze into the tent, reminding me that when things seem bleak, I can always count on a good cup of coffee to perk me up. I climb out of the sleeping bag and walk to the campfire. Erek hands me a mug filled with coffee. I thank him and offer it to Emily with a smile.
Southern hospitality at its finest.
She waves it away. "I only drink herbal tea."
My smile falters. "Oh...well, we don't have any herbal tea," I say.
"I would be shocked if you did."
I bite my lip to keep from saying something I might regret later, but after a moment of reflection my pride gets the best of me. Just like it usually does. "I'm trying to be nice to you, but you're making it really difficult. You know that, right?" I ask, irritated.
"You're precious, really," she says, smiling sweetly.
"Okay, that's it..."
"Chloe, I would like the coffee...if you're still offering," Landon interjects.
He holds his hand out and smiles apologetically. I hand him the cup, still fuming. What is wrong with her? She’s my age, or close to it. You would think we'd have things in common, and could hold a civil conversation, but no. She's been looking down her nose at all of us since she got to camp yesterday.
It's really starting to irk me.
Erek winks at me. "What's wrong, Princess? Finally find someone more spoiled than you?"
Emily and I both say, "I'm not spoiled!" at the same time.
"Thanks for proving my point, ladies," Erek says with a laugh.
"You kids want breakfast?" Wayne asks Kate and Jax, ignoring the rest of us in his typical Wayne way.
They nod, but don't speak. He shrugs and puts a bowl of oatmeal over the fire. A shiver crawls up my spine. The kids are quiet. Too quiet. Don't get me wrong, quiet is good…less exposure...but their ability to remain completely silent unnerves me. Especially considering their ages. I’ve never met children who exercised such self-control. Granted, I haven’t known many post-apocalyptic kids, but it still seems strange.
Erek flips a bucket over and sits down. "So, what did you do before the world went down the crapper?" he asks Landon.
A light blush colors his pale cheeks. "Oh...I worked for the family business. Nothing glamorous."
Emily rolls her eyes. "Don't minimize, Landon...it doesn't suit you," she says, admonishing her husband. "My father's business is...or rather, was...the largest furniture manufacturer in the northeast. Landon managed the international sales department. He's been very successful...haven't you, darling?"
Landon doesn't respond, but the blush works its way over the rest of his face, and down his neck. I feel sorry for him.
"Sounds like cashin' in on daddy's money to me," Wayne says, stirring the oatmeal.
Emily's back straightens. "Landon was a very important member of my father's team. We have a house at Charleston and one in Bald Mountain. What do you have?" she asks Wayne with a sneer.
"Self-respect. Daddy's money can't buy that," he says, and tests a bite of the oatmeal. He nods and pours two small bowls for Kate and Jax, seemingly oblivious to the daggers in Emily's eyes. "By the way," he adds, "you had a house in Charleston and one in Bald Mountain. Past tense."
Her eyes narrow. "Well, I think I've had enough social interaction for one morning. I'll be in the tent if you need me, darling," Emily says. Without another word, she stalks over to the tent and crawls inside. A second later the opening zips shut.
"Lady's gonna need to understand that pre-status doesn’t mean nothin' now. Especially to me," Wayne says.
Landon sighs. "Emily comes from a very wealthy family. She's...well, she's had a hard time adjusting to the way things are now." He diverts his eyes. "I'll leave it at that."
Wayne shrugs. "Not my problem."
"No," Landon agrees. "Unfortunately, it's mine."
"So, before that got all weird," Erek says, "I was going to ask how you two ended up in Eden."
"We were trying to make it to Charleston, but we didn't get very far," Landon says, getting a faraway look in his eyes.
"Why Charleston?" I ask, suddenly curious.
"One of my father-in-law’s friends on the coast contacted him just before the cell towers failed. He said those…things…weren't going near the water or couldn’t swim, or…I don’t remember exactly,” he says, shaking his head. “Anyway, we decided heading to the coast was our best bet for survival."
“And you were just gonna drive to Charleston and find a new place to live?” Erek asks.
Landon scratches the back of his neck. “No. We owned a house in Charleston, remember? We shared the deed with Emily’s father.”
"Uh-huh. Where's daddy now?"
Landon looks down at the ground. "He...died a few days ago."
"Bit?" Erek asks.
Landon shakes his head. "Self-inflicted."
After that, we slip into an awkward silence...sipping coffee and eating lukewarm oatmeal...and thinking about a time when death wasn't the main topic of breakfast conversation.
* * *
Daniel
Erek approaches me, spit cup in hand. He glances around the camp. "If you’re done being mad at me, we need to chat."
I roll my eyes. "What's up?"
"We just talked to Landon. He said daddy money-bags had a rich friend living at the coast…back in May when everything was in its early stages."
"Okay."
"This friend claimed the Revs wouldn't go near the water." He squints against the morning sunlight. "So, it got me thinking. We were talking about moving on from here, anyway. What about Wilmington? Or Myrtle Beach? Either one is closer than Charleston. If we can get to the coast, we'd only have to watch three sides…or one, if we lucked up with a small peninsula."
I run a hand through my hair. "The coast. How far is that by today’s standards?"
"Far," he admits.
"And Asheville?"
"We've already talked about that, Daniel. There's no reason to risk it. I promise you...the city is a dead-zone."
I sigh. "And Chloe?"
He shrugs. "Blame it on me. She hates me, anyway."
"When are y'all going to drop this grudge match?" I ask.
He spits into the cup. "When she admits she's a hard-headed brat who doesn't listen."
"Okay, so never. Good to know," I say, shaking my head.
"Just think about it, okay?" he says, and walks off.
I stand still for a minute, conflicted.
Deciding to leave camp isn't difficult...I agree with Erek completely...we need to leave. True winter is coming, and when it does, these flimsy tents aren't going to offer much in the way of warmth. But convincing Chloe to abandon the search for our parents is another thing altogether. I'd have better luck walking to the coast without getting killed in the process.
Chapter Eight
Allyson
A pillar of gray smoke rises in the east. I take a moment to review my options, and quickly realize I have none.
I'm alone.
> Tired.
Thirsty.
Hungry.
Cold.
Sheer exhaustion has me considering foolish things...things like seeking out the person or people who started that fire. Finding them could be a mistake, but I decide the potential benefit outweighs the risk, so I continue my quest. I can only make educated guesses as to how far I’ll have to walk before I reach my destination. Physical distance can be deceiving in the mountains. I doubt I'll reach the fire by nightfall. Disheartened tears prick my eyes…which makes me angry because I’m dehydrated and don’t have the moisture to spare.
I take a deep breath and dare myself to weep.
I look back at the column of smoke.
It is what it is.
I start walking again, praying with each wobbly step that the fire belongs to a benevolent and kind group of survivors. Since I'm a female, and nearly dead at the moment, they might be more willing to take me in.
They'll think I'm weak and I'll let them.
My fingers tighten around the gun in my hand.
If the fire belongs to a group like the one I just left, I'll kill them all.
Chapter Nine
Chloe
We’re huddled around the campfire, eating freshwater fish Erek prepared for us. They’re small and bony, but it’s protein and it tastes okay. We’ve all but given up on making small talk. Toward the end of the awkward meal, Daniel wipes his mouth on the sleeve of his shirt and says, "We need to find a new camp," as nonchalantly as announcing the sky is blue.
"Thank you, Lord," Emily says emphatically.
I don't share her enthusiasm.
I'm not sure I have it in me to pack up and move. The camp has everything we've needed; there's a healthy stream which provides a nice source of water, a pond that provides fish, snakes and turtles, and dense woods along the perimeter that provide much-needed coverage from outsiders. And Revs. We've been here for two months and five days…nearly forever by the new standard.
Now, Daniel wants to pack up and move.
Plus, relocating insinuates ending the search for our parents.
"Why do we need to leave? Why right now?" I ask.
Daniel refuses to look at me. "We need something more secure. This camp doesn't give us much warning if a herd of Revs wanders in through the woods. You of all people should know that.”
"That was just a fluke. We’ve never seen that many before, or since," I reason.
“Chloe, you have to know it’s only a matter of time before more and more Revs start making their way here from Asheville.”
“Especially when they start running out of food in the city,” Erek adds.
“But I don’t know that. You don’t know that,” I argue.
Daniel shrugs. “We're going to need sturdier shelter once the freezing temperatures set in. Relocating is the best chance we have for surviving the winter."
“But…”
“The decision is made,” he says, finally meeting my eyes. “We’re leaving. Soon.”
I throw my hands up, frustrated. "So, what’s the plan? Is there a plan?"
“We’re going to head south, toward the coast,” Erek explains. He looks at Landon and Emily. “I think daddy’s friend might have been on to something.”
Emily cuts her eyes to Landon. “You told them about the house?”
He shrugs. “They asked how we ended up in Eden.”
“What else did you tell them?” she asks evenly.
“Nothing,” he says, shaking his head.
“What else is there?” Erek asks.
Landon shakes his head again. “It’s personal. Nothing that would impact the trip south.”
Daniel nods, accepting Landon’s non-answer. "We'll take the box truck. It won’t be a comfortable ride, but we’ll scout for temporary shelter as we make our way south. That will give those riding in the cargo hold a chance to rest each day.”
“The box truck is old. What if it breaks down?” I ask.
“If it stops running, we’ll walk until we find another ride. It won’t be our first time traveling on foot."
"I might remind you the last time we were walking up and down the open roads, we lost four of our own, five if you count Meredith leaving." I gesture to the trees surrounding us. "At least here we're hidden."
"Until we're not," Erek says.
I turn to look at him. He's leaned back in an old camping chair, with his feet propped up on the overturned bucket. He lifts a cup to his mouth and spits. Seeing him so relaxed makes his comment even more irritating.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" I ask.
"It means what it sounded like, Princess. We're only safe so long as no one stumbles on our camp or sees the fire." He pauses and looks me dead in the eye. "When we have one burning, that is."
That was a cheap shot, and judging by the set of his jaw, he meant it to be. I don't give him the satisfaction of an answer. I turn to Daniel. "I think we should wait a little longer before we leave."
Daniel uses a long stick to stoke the fire. "Why?"
"Well, for one, we need to move when there’s less to haul. You just brought a truckload full of supplies back."
"So? The truck’s coming with us."
"Yeah, but we can't all fit in the truck if it’s packed full of supplies. Landon and Emily found that out firsthand. They had to hold the kids on their laps to make it work. Where would I fit?”
“We could squeeze you in the cab with us.”
“Daniel, you know that won’t work. That was the reason I stayed behind this last..."
Erek turns to Daniel, interrupting me. "When we leave, we need to go at first light. I think we can find..."
I reach over and smack the spit cup out of his hand. We both stand, and before I know it, we're nose to nose. I don't care. I won't be ignored. I won't let him treat me like I haven't earned the right to have a voice in decisions that affect my life.
"What did you do that for?" he yells.
"Because you're not using good judgment!"
"Okay, stop!" Daniel says, trying to separate us. "Let's all just calm down a minute!"
I refuse to break eye-contact with Erek. "I'll calm down when you start listening to me," I tell him through gritted teeth.
Wayne saunters up, holding a dead opossum in his left hand. He drops it to the ground and looks at each of us. "Is this what happens while I'm out huntin'?" he asks.
Erek waves him off. "It's nothing. Just a little disagreement."
Wayne looks from Erek to me, then back to Erek again. "Maybe, but I still ain't never seen a reason to get in a woman's face."
I look at him. "Thank you!"
He shrugs. "What's the disagreement?"
I gesture to Daniel and Erek. "They want to pack everyone up and leave camp."
Wayne waits a moment before responding. When he finally does, he addresses Erek. "Where're we headed?"
"East, toward Wilmington," Erek says, glancing at Daniel.
"That's nearly 400 miles," Wayne points out.
Erek nods. "It is."
“Not sure that old dinosaur’ll make it that far,” he says, gesturing toward the old box truck.
“We’ll find something else if it breaks down.”
"What if we don't?"
Erek rolls his eyes. "What are you, Chloe's parrot?"
Wayne shrugs again. "Nah, just like to have a solid plan 'fore I take off headin' clear across the state."
Erek spits into the dirt. "Landon said some rich fart called from the coast back when everything turned upside down…claimed the Revs wouldn't go near the water." He looks around the group, judging our reactions. "If we can get to a beach, maybe we won't have to constantly look over our shoulders all the time. At least in one direction."
"He could have been wrong," Wayne points out.
I throw my hands up. "Exactly! This is all unnecessary risk based on unfounded theories!"
Erek glares at me. "Well, what's your plan?! Just sit here and wait to die?"
I close my eyes and count to ten. I must steady my nerves before I answer Erek, because right now I could murder him. I release a long, steady breath. "Please, Erek, just give me one more week. Then we'll head east," I say, trying to reason with him.
He spits one last time, then walks off without a word. I'm almost certain I hear him call me a nasty name as he walks away, but I don't care...I bought us more time.
* * *
Daniel
Chloe isn't thinking clearly.
She's scared. She won't come out and say it, but I know that's what it is. She doesn't want to leave the camp because it's become normal for her, it feels safe, but I need her to understand how dangerous things will get for us once winter really hits.
I pull her aside as the group disperses. Landon and Emily walk back to their tent, while Kate and Jax stay seated by the fire, not saying a word, as usual. Wayne is cleaning the opossum, seemingly at peace with the group’s decision to move on in a weeks’ time. Maybe he’s at peace no matter what happens…the quintessential drifter sharing the nomadic experience with a bunch of novices. I wish I could be more like him. Maybe I already am to some extent.
Chloe tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "What, Daniel? Oh, and thanks for backing me up earlier. Swell guy," she adds, angrily.
"You didn't need any back-up. It was just Erek."
"Yeah, all six feet of him…right in my face!"
I roll my eyes. "You were in his face, too. Look," I say, holding my hands up, "If it had been anyone else, I would have intervened. I promise. But we both know Erek would rather die than hurt you," I add.
She snorts. "He has a funny way of showing it."
"He could say the same for you."
She waves me off. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
"I need you to understand why we need to leave."
She sighs. "I do, Daniel. I get it. What I don't understand, is why it has to be Wilmington."
"Erek thinks Wilmington is our best shot."
Revenants Series (Book 2): Remnants Page 4