by North, Geoff
It wasn’t my fault, Louie thought as he peered through a crack in the plywood covering the fourth-floor window. They had it coming. They weren’t any better than me. Not the people in the DSC. Not the people left in the city. None of them were any better than me.
“They deserved what they got.”
“What did you say?” Grace asked.
Louie turned and smiled. “I said we’re not going to get caught. Tomorrow at this time we’ll be miles away from Odessa, and Fiona will have no idea where to find us.”
“I don’t know about that. The woman’s like a bloodhound. Once she catches your scent, she never gives up.” She moved to the window and peeked out through the same crack. “Any sign of her?”
“Not yet. No sign of anything moving out there. Living or dead.”
“There’s nothing living out there anymore.”
Louie rested his hand on her bare shoulder. “Are you scared?”
“Of course I’m scared, aren’t you?”
He kissed the skin along her neck and wrapped his skinny arms around her waist. “I would never let anything happen to you. I love you too damn much.”
Grace caressed his cheek. “Is that what you said to Roy?”
“I never slept with Roy… he was way too ugly.”
“Look where that got him.”
“It wasn’t his looks that put him down there, but the same thing will happen to us if Fiona figures out we’re more than just fuck buddies.”
Louie Finkbiner was a lying, little shit. But he had his charms. He had developed them over the years. They allowed him to squirm his way into relationships where he didn’t naturally belong. He knew how to use people to get what he wanted. He led Grace to the single mattress sitting in the corner of the abandoned office. “We’ve got some time. Let’s put it to good use and I’ll show you just how good a fuck buddy I really am.”
Grace kissed his lips. “We can do all the screwing you like once we’re away from here. But we have to keep our heads clear and focused until then. She’ll be back soon, and we have to be ready.”
Fiona had left earlier that morning on one of her weekly searches in the surrounding towns and farm yards looking for supplies. She had returned from the last few runs with the back of the ATV empty—not counting all the guns she had taken with her. But she kept going every week anyway. Both Louie and Grace knew it was more than just searching and looting. Fiona liked to hunt. And the things—the animals and humans that were no longer living—were her prey. Why else would she need to take so much weaponry? One gun was enough protection, but Fiona took armloads.
She went out to kill the tickers. It’s what Louie called them, but he kept the word to himself. The last thing he needed was either woman questioning him about the origins of the name. The bloated corpses Fiona was killing weekly were tick-ridden and deadly. Louie was the only person—or so he thought—left on earth that knew exactly what they were.
Grace’s eyes opened wide. “You hear that?”
“Hear what?” No sooner had he asked the question when he heard the familiar small engine whine. Fiona was heading back. They went back to the crack in the window and watched as the ATV bounced over the packed down snowdrifts on the main road leading into the Odessa mine shaft complex. Louie grabbed the binoculars and trained them on her. “No supplies. No surprise. Are you ready to do this?”
“No, but I’m doing it anyway.”
The woman always returned a sweaty mess—hot and bothered as Louie had said more than once. She would go immediately to the shower rooms and clean up. Louie and Grace planned to lock her within and make their escape. The woman was resourceful, however, and tough as nails. She wouldn’t be held long. The two would have to work fast, refilling the ATV with a full tank of gas and throwing their supplies in the back before running.
“Keep her occupied,” Louie said. “I’ll take care of all the rest. Meet me outside when the bitch is locked away and don’t look back.”
She kissed him one last time and headed down the stairs. A part of Louie wanted to stay in Odessa; they had fortified the entire facility against tickers and the occasional wanderers seeking refuge from the cold. Those still-human wanderers visited less frequently. They had either frozen, or the ticks had picked them off one by one, transforming them into walking corpses. Louie knew the only thing keeping them truly safe was Fiona. The psychopath had kept them alive. But if the woman even suspected his relationship with Grace had deepened, Louie would be taken a mile under the ground and left in the darkness, where there was a good chance of running into his old buddy, Roy, once again. Louie had no desire to meet up with that crazed fucker ever again.
The old saying—can’t live with her, can’t live without her—had never been truer. Louie and Grace had to leave. He could figure out the living without her part later.
He ran down the stairs half a minute behind Grace, counting off the seconds in his head, and picturing where Fiona would be and what she would be doing. He jumped the remaining three steps to the third floor landing. She’s pulling into the garage… parking the ATV. He had less than a minute to get to the storage room on the second floor and grab the garbage bag stuffed with their escape supplies. They would have enough water and food to last two, maybe three weeks. Where they would go and how they would survive after that was unknown, but Louie would survive. He had made it through the last year on lies and cunning. He would endure years more if he remained being Louie.
Grace stopped at the interior door leading out to the big garage bay. She could hear Fiona pulling on the chain, drawing the garage door open. She tried to compose herself, calmed her breathing.
Act normal, act carefree and easy. Nothing wrong here. Yeah, I can do this. By the end of the day we’ll be away from here, away from her.
She reached for the handle and hesitated again. She’s paranoid. She’ll know something’s wrong. Grace shoved her hands into her pockets and turned in a circle. Perhaps things weren’t so bad here with her. Fiona was tough, but she had kept Grace alive. Could she say the same thing about Louie? She wondered if heading out there with him was a mistake.
No! He loves me, and I love him. We have to do this. We have to get away.
She grabbed the handle before her mind could convince her otherwise.
Fiona had already moved the ATV inside and was bringing the big door back down. Grace placed her hands nonchalantly back into her pockets and approached. “How did it go? Find anything useful?”
The woman looked at her and hiked one eyebrow up. Damn, she knows already. Fiona shook her head. “Nothing. But then again, we both know that’s not the main reason I go out. It isn’t all about supplies. I’m trying to keep us safe by cutting down all the fucking monsters in sight. It’s getting better… haven’t seen any for days, and most of the infected animals have moved on as well.”
“Well that’s good to hear,” Grace said with a smile on her face. “I guess you’re gonna go for a shower now?” Stupid stupid stupid. Don’t push her. Just let things happen and keep your dumb mouth shut.
“Yeah, may as well.” She pulled off the heavy parka and stepped out of her ski pants. Her tee-shirt was drenched in sweat. “Where’s the weasel?”
“Hey, there’s no need to call him that. He’s been working out well with us.”
“He’s the only man we’ve found without insects crawling throughout his body. He’s a lousy lay, but I guess he’ll do.” Fiona paused in the doorway Grace had come through. “Don’t get too attached to him. He’s still a man… don’t forget what men reduced this world to.”
“Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten.”
Fiona took Grace’s chin between her thumb and finger and gave it a playful twist. “Good, keep it that way. Now what’s his name again?”
“Weasel.”
Fiona squeezed. “Try again.”
“Louie the backstabbing weasel.”
Fiona patted her cheek and started down the hallway towards the shower rooms. “Goo
d girl. See you in fifteen.”
Two minutes. She should be in the shower now, or at least undressing. Time to move. Louie hung the garbage bag over his shoulder and ran from the storage room. He flew down the steps to the ground floor. He peeked through the interior door into the garage to make sure she wasn’t there. Nobody, all clear. Louie rushed in, hoisted the heavy bag into the back of the ATV and went for the jerry can. His heart raced and his hands trembled as he emptied the gasoline into the vehicle’s tank.
If he’d had his way, Fiona would’ve died in her sleep. Louie would’ve slit her throat in the dark and left her corpse for LDV-3 to find. But Grace had talked him out of it. The woman’s paranoia was too unpredictable. She would wake up, or she wouldn’t have been sleeping in the first place. Louie and Grace were no match for her. Their only option was distraction—lock her away for as long as possible, and flee.
He ran to the big bay door and started pulling on the chain. If we’re going to get caught, now will be the time. Fuck, this thing is loud. He went back to the ATV, started it up, and reversed it outside. His part was done. All he could do now was wait, and hope Grace had managed to get Fiona into the showers and locked away.
Two minutes, that’s all I’m giving her. I care for the girl, but not enough to chance having that crazy bitch catch me out here. Two minutes, and if she’s not here by then, I’m gone.
At ninety seconds Louie was putting the ATV into drive. Grace rushed out from the darkness just before he could pull away. She jumped on the back and squeezed his narrow waist. “Were you going to leave me here?”
“What? Leave you? I wouldn’t dream of it.” The front wheels popped up off the ground as he pressed the accelerator. Grace clung tighter, and the two raced away from Odessa.
Chapter 4
“Fill ‘er up.”
The man standing at the bowser grinned a toothless smile. “You want regular unleaded or premium?” Owen Blakey was ancient, old enough to be the doctor’s father.
“We still have that choice these days?” Fred asked, putting the car into park.
“Hell yeah, you’re my best customers.”
“We’re your only customers.”
He went to turn the car off. It’s what was expected at gas stations. Hayden reached across Nicholas and took hold of Fred’s hand on the keys. “Leave it running. I don’t think he follows those rules anymore. Besides, we have to keep the vehicle warm, it’s minus thirty-seven outside.”
“It’s already too hot in here,” Michael whined from the back seat. He was squeezed between his sister and Caitan, Angela was squished up against the door directly behind Fred. The old Buick was big, but it wasn’t meant to hold seven people and all their belongings for any extended period of time.
Amanda tried to poke him in the ribs with her elbow. “Quit complaining. At least we’re on the road again, no more cabin fever.”
Nobody laughed. They were looking at a twelve to fourteen hour drive, and that was only if the roads remained open the entire way. Chances were most had been abandoned and left to fill in with snow for months. Hayden and Caitan had replaced the plastic windshield with actual glass, but it hadn’t sealed properly. It whistled and blew cold air in on the passenger side at speeds faster than thirty miles per hour. They would have to drive carefully in treacherous conditions, and they wouldn’t be setting any speed records.
“Yeah, it’s gonna be one hell of an adventure,” Caitan muttered. Her face glowed in the back seat from the screen of her smart phone held inches from her nose. She was still trying to establish an Internet connection. “Stupid thing, it’s showing all bars… I should be able to load a page.”
“The laptops were doing the same thing back in the cabin,” Angela said. “Solid connection, but nothing to show for it.”
“Nothing but this stupid pop-up about Cuba.” She smacked the phone into the back of the passenger seat. Hayden twisted around. “Take it easy with that thing. Maybe once we’ve gone a hundred miles or so south you’ll begin getting reception again.”
Michael laughed out loud. “Reception? How do you think the Internet works? It isn’t a stupid radio.”
Hayden slumped down in his seat. “You know what I meant.”
Owen tapped on the passenger window with a weathered knuckle. It was open a crack, and he had obviously been listening. “You’ve been getting that dumb Cuba ad on your phone, too? Did you ever think to click on it?”
Caitan looked over at Angela and the woman shrugged. She got blank stares from Hayden and Fred as well. She pressed the ad with her thumb and the image of a jumbo jet streaking over a sandy beach lined with palm trees disappeared.
A white background appeared with blocks of simple black text on top. The words hadn’t been organized into paragraphs, and most of the punctuation had been overlooked as well. She began reading the words out loud, exactly as they were presented on screen.
“North Korea obliderated within first thirdy minutes Russia surrendered unconditionelly to States three days after first round of red missils went west. Eastern and Western seaboards along United States, Canada, and the major of Mexico have been wipped out All biggest cities in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, New York State, New Jersey, North and South Carolina, Florida all destroyed. Haf of missil silo locations in States and Eastern Europe impacted within first two hour of attack Heaviest damage reporded in the norther states and Canadian prairees. Seconary strikes made weeks lader at these northern locations. Winnipeg DSC primary target, possible outbrake of extremely infectus disease More strikes being considered in spring months, with cleanup skeduled year after. LDV three considered extreemly lethal. All measures okay to eraticate threat Less damage and casulaties reported in southern hemusphere. Although major cities through South America gone burned down. Radiate levels and LDV three lowest in Caribbean islands. Cuba, most largest, most secure and disease-fee. Accepding refugees in following ports. Havana. Matanzas. Santa Clara. Cienfuegos. Major cities in US not effected with heavy radiate Chicago Kansas City Memphis Houston Avoid at all cos. Heavy population now completey overun with LDV three. Island nations is best option. Is possible to live. Hoping see you soon Good luck.
There was a long pause inside the car as everyone let the strange jumble sink in.
“Wow.” Fred sighed heavily. “We’ve been stowed away so long up here it became almost easy to block out what really happened to the rest of the world.”
Owen tapped on the glass again. Hayden lowered the window a few more inches. The old man stuck his hand through with a set of keys dangling from his fore finger. “You’re awfully crowded in there. Like a tin of sardines. Take my truck. I don’t plan on using it anymore.”
They all looked to the side of the service station where a four-wheel drive extended cab sat. Hayden had seen the big red truck parked there every time he’d come for gasoline, but never bothered asking about it. “That’s yours?”
“Come as a surprise to you? Didn’t figure an old shit like me could own such a sweet ride, hey?” More silence from within the Buick. “Go on, take the damn thing.”
Hayden took the keys. “You could come with us.”
Owen grimaced and shook his head. “I’m too old to start out again, and too stubborn to leave home. I’ve saved enough fuel at the bottom of these tanks to keep me going another winter. Maybe enough even to help out a few more folks if they happen to show up this way.”
Hayden shook the man’s hand. “Thank you for everything. You’ve been good to us… given us gas and supplies we couldn’t pay for.”
“And what would I do with your money if you had any to spare? Piggy banks are about the only institutions left taking cash these days. Take care of that little boy of yours…” He waved at everybody in the back seat. “Take care of your whole family. Maybe someday you’ll head back up this way. We can go fishing.”
“Sounds good to me. Maybe the sun will be out when we come again and the sky will be blue.” Both men knew that day would never come
. Owen screwed the Buick’s gas cap back into place and smacked the car’s rear fender.
Hayden went to offer the truck keys to Fred but Caitlan lunged forward and snatched them from his hand. “I’m driving. Doc can ride shotgun if he wants.”
She dug for the door handle and exited from the back seat. The Fulger twins and Angela spilled out after her. “It would appear,” Fred observed, “that half of our crew have found nicer travel accommodations.”
The big woman stopped and hugged Owen along the way. “Look after yourself, Blakey. Hayden’s right—you’ve been good to us, a whole lot nicer than anyone’s been since this all started.” She kissed his wrinkled cheek.
Owen pulled a handful of chocolate bars from his grease-stained coveralls and handed them to Amanda and Michael. “I’ve been saving these… Don’t go looking at the best before dates, they’re still good enough to eat.” He ruffled Amanda’s hair and went inside his service station. He flipped the OPEN sign in the window over to CLOSED. The word had a felt marker line stroked across it. Below he’d scrawled RETIRED.
Hayden saw the sign and hoped the old attendant wouldn’t choose the same path as farmer MacDonald.
Caitlan backed away from the garage and gave Hayden a thumbs up. He gave it back, indicating the four-by-four was a much more suitable vehicle to break the path.
“Hell, yeah,” Michael exclaimed from the truck’s spacious back seat. He patted the black leather seats. “This is gonna be awesome.”
Angela gave him a warning look. “Don’t get too comfortable. We’ll be switching things up every so often with the others. It’s only fair.”
Caitlan pushed a half-loaded CD all the way into the stereo. Country music started playing. “Not fair they have to listen to this crap, too.” She hit eject and the disc slid back out. She handed Angela her phone. “Read that message out loud again.”