by Harley Tate
Danny couldn’t believe the words coming out of the old woman’s mouth. He’d meant to help her, not send her to her death. “Please, ma’am. Think about what you’re saying.”
Fern shuffled toward the sidewalk, waving him off as she walked away. “Mind’s made up. Can’t think of a better way to go.” She turned around and grinned as her hands made the shape of a mushrooming cloud. “Kaboom!”
Danny stood on the road, sandwiched by stalled cars, and watched Fern as she left him. “I don’t understand.” He spoke out loud, but not to Midge directly. “I wanted to help her.”
“Not everyone wants to be saved.” Midge leaned forward on her bike. “Come on, we need to go.”
Danny stared at her. “What is wrong with you? You’re standing there looking at me like this was a big, fat waste of time, but that woman’s going to die!”
Midge pressed her lips together and her eyes narrowed before she responded. “Millions of people are going to die. My mom and my sister might be among them. Your father, too. If we keep stopping and trying to help random strangers, so will we.”
“It isn’t right.”
“No, it isn’t. It’s horrible. But in this moment, all we can do is push forward.” Midge’s expression stayed grim. “All we can do is save ourselves.”
Danny palmed his forehead. “We should warn people. We should do something.”
Midge’s voice grew cold. “And how do you propose we do that?” She pointed around at the buildings crowding out the daylight. “Without power, who’s going to broadcast the message? Even if we managed to find a television station or newspaper offices, who would believe us?”
She snorted. “No one is going to listen to two college kids who look like they’ve been on a three-day bender.”
Danny wiped at his eyes. He hated himself for agreeing with her, but Midge was right. No one would listen to them. No one would care. They could shout from the rooftops, but until the unthinkable happened, they would just be two people to be ignored, just like Fern.
He reached for his bike and shoved his helmet back on his head. If they made it out alive, he would spend the rest of his life helping survivors. It wouldn’t make up for turning his back, but it would be a start.
Chapter Twenty-One
MIDGE
Saturday, 11:00 am CST
Streets of Chicago
Racing to beat the apocalypse sucked.
Midge pedaled as fast as her exhausted body allowed, holding the handlebars with her left hand as she cradled her injured right against her chest. Block after block of congested traffic going nowhere blended into the next, and after a mile or two she forgot where they were headed.
Danny rode behind her in silence, and every time Midge glanced his way he focused on the ground. She knew she’d been harsh. Probably harsher than she needed to be, but… It wasn’t like she didn’t want to save people. One of the first things Midge did was call her sister. If anyone could find out the truth about what was happening, it was her.
Lainey wanted to be a television reporter since before Midge could remember, holding a hairbrush under her chin and reporting on the news of the Sinclair family nightly after dinner.
Today, Margaret Sinclair received a B-minus on her spelling test but aced the Intro to Computing course. Lainey Sinclair learned how to do a back handspring after years of practice, and the Sinclair family diner is open for business with pulled pork sandwiches and zucchini casserole.
Midge tucked her chin. How would she ever reach her sister now? How would she know if Lainey made it out of Los Angeles in time?
As she eased past a Suburban stalled across two lanes, Midge looked up. Off in the distance, just behind a building that curved in and out, stood a Ferris wheel. A burst of hope exploded in her chest and she turned to call out to Danny. “We’re almost to the lake.”
Midge waited until he came to a stop beside her. “We should check it out. See if there’s a boat.”
Danny nodded, but didn’t say anything. She knew he was mad at her over leaving first Owen and then Fern, but what could she do? They biked down the street, passing glass-walled office buildings with plots of grass out front and under a highway overpass. As they cleared the concrete, the whole Ferris wheel came into view.
Navy Pier.
The Chicago Children’s Museum took up the entire entrance to the pier and Midge turned her bike. From what she could remember of Raymond’s map, the first harbor hugged the coastline south of the pier. They were close. Midge biked down the road closest to the shoreline, past grassy, tree-lined areas she assumed were filled with children on any other weekend day. Today, the only people they passed were bewildered residents searching for answers.
Midge kept going, increasing her speed as the number of pedestrians roaming the shoreline increased. Were they all trying to find a boat? Midge bumped down off the road as the first slips of the harbor appeared. A pedestrian walkway lined the harbor and she made her way there, darting past larger and larger groups of people.
As she bounced over a cobblestone section of road, a man shouted. “Hey! How much for the bike?”
Ignoring him, Midge kept going, focusing on the docks in front of her. Danny kept close behind, avoiding anyone who spoke to them.
Even from their distance, Midge could see the docks were mostly empty. The only slips with any promise floated all the way at the end of the harbor, tucked in against a building.
She turned back to point Danny toward the boats when another man rushed her. “You don’t need that bike. Give it here!”
“No!” Midge shouted at the man as Danny pulled up alongside.
He lifted his shirt to reveal DuBois’s gun. “She said no.”
The man held up his hands and backed away.
Midge exhaled. “This is a bad idea.” She glanced back at the boats and then at the milling groups of people all around. “We should go.”
Danny shook his head. “A boat would be faster. We should check them out before we leave.”
Midge stared at Danny for a moment. Ordinarily, he’d think it over and offer a suggestion, but now he only parroted back what she’d said a few minutes before. Midge wished she knew what he was thinking, but the more time passed, the larger the distance between them. She tried to smile. “We can be quick.”
They biked down the pedestrian walkway in tandem and across the concrete pier until a black metal gate barred their entry to the floating wooden docks. Danny slipped off his bike and leaned it against the trash can a few feet from the gate.
Midge tried the handle. “Locked.” She squinted through the bars to the boats beyond and her pulse quickened. “I see someone! A man and a woman.” She rushed up to the gate and pressed her nose against the painted metal. “I think they’re gearing up to leave.”
Danny joined her. “Boat looks big enough for four. We could try and snag a ride.”
“It’s worth a shot.” At least Danny didn’t balk at leaving together. Midge leaned back, peering at the top of the gate. “Do you think you can climb it?”
He gave the metal a shake. “Maybe. But it would be easier to give you a lift.”
“What about the bikes?”
Danny shrugged. “I can stay here. You go and see if they’ll let us tag along. If they will, then they can either unlock the gate or I’ll figure out a way over.”
Midge exhaled. She didn’t like the idea of splitting up, but they were running out of options and time. If they turned away now, they might miss their best chance out of town. She pulled off her helmet. Sweat stuck her hair to her forehead and she pushed the tangled mess back. “Okay. On three.”
“Wait.” Danny eased DuBois’s gun out of his waistband. “You should take this.”
“No way.” Midge shook her head in alarm.
“What if those people on the boat are thieves? What if they’re trying to steal it and think you’re getting in the way?”
“I’m not leaving you out here without a weapon.”
“And I’m not sending you over there without it.”
Midge cursed under her breath. “Fine. But the first sign of trouble, whistle for me. I’ll come running.”
Danny agreed and handed the gun over.
Midge tucked it into her messenger bag. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“On three.” Danny kneeled and laced his fingers together. Midge placed her boot in his hands and gripped the gate as high as she could reach. “One. Two. Three.”
Danny launched her up into the air and Midge scrambled up the gate, hooking one arm over the top while her feet kicked and scrabbled the rest of the way. She slid over and dangled toward the ground before dropping to the wooden dock.
“Be careful.” Danny reached out and palmed the gate.
Midge smiled and returned the gesture, their hands touching briefly. “You too.” As Danny dropped his hand, Midge took off, running down the rest of the pier to the occupied boat.
A man stood near the rear of the boat, head bent toward what appeared to be an engine compartment. His gray hair glinted in the sun.
“Excuse me?” Midge stood on the dock, good hand clasping her injured one.
The woman on the boat stood up and made her way closer to Midge. “Yes?”
“Are you by any chance headed north toward Michigan?”
The man stood up and wiped grease-stained fingers on a shop rag. “We would if I could ever get this blasted thing started. Looks like all the electronics are fried.” He dropped the rag on the side and stuck out his hand. “Billy Akerman. Pleased to meet you.”
Midge smiled and gave his hand a shake. “Margaret Sinclair.”
“Are you of the Evanston Sinclairs?” the woman asked. Judging by her prim raincoat and perfect white hat, she didn’t spend much time in Midge’s circle.
“No. Afraid not. I’m from Dallas.”
“Oh.” With that, the woman smiled and motioned toward the interior of the boat. “I’m going to get lunch started.”
Billy smiled and leaned in for a quick kiss. As the woman disappeared through a door, he turned back to Midge. “Forgive my wife, she’s not much of a sailor.”
“Are any of the boats working?”
“None of the ones left, I’m afraid. Are you in a hurry?”
Midge nodded. “I need to reach my mom in Suttons Bay.”
Billy whistled. “That’s a hike on a good day. You have any transportation?”
“A bike.”
“Well, that’s better than I have at the moment!” He chuckled. “You want to come on board and have some lunch? You look like you could use it.”
Midge shook her head. “No, thank you. I need to be going.”
As Billy turned back to his work, Midge thought about Danny’s futile attempt to help the homeless woman. Billy had more sense than Fern. He might actually listen. She spoke one more time. “If you can’t get the boat running, then you need to find some other way to leave Chicago. Fast.”
He paused. “Why?”
“The power outage wasn’t an accident.” Midge licked her lips. “Things are going to get worse. A lot worse. You shouldn’t be here when they do.”
Billy picked up what looked like a boat battery and weighed it in his hand. “Any other details you care to share?”
“You won’t believe me if I do.” Midge stepped back. “If you can’t get your boat working, then head out of the city. Find a basement and stay there.”
Billy’s eyes widened. “You’re sounding like those bomb drills I had at school as a kid.”
A sad smile tipped Midge’s lips. “Yes I am.”
Before he could ask another question, Midge took off, running back toward the gate and Danny. She wasted so much time talking to the man, but at least she told him to leave. He could make his own choice to stay in Chicago, but she could tell Danny she tried. As she came up to the gate, Midge slowed.
Her bike wasn’t perched on the pier like she’d left it. Danny’s wasn’t propped against the trash can. She reached for her messenger bag and pulled DuBois’s gun from the pocket. It weighed a ton in her hand, but Midge gripped it tight.
She closed the remaining distance and reached for the gate handle. Still locked. “Danny?” He wasn’t visible. The concrete pier stretched out in front of her, devoid of movement. Had he left her? How did he manage both bikes?
Midge shook the gate and called out again. “Danny? Where are you?”
A groan sounded from the other side of the trash can and Midge eased as far over to the edge of the dock as she dared. Danny’s foot came into view. Blood splattered the gray canvas of his sneaker.
Oh, no. Midge shoved the gun back in her bag and grabbed a hold of the gate with her good hand. “Don’t worry, Danny, I’m coming.”
She stepped on the handle and used it to hoist herself up. Her fingers grazed the top of the gate, reaching, reaching… Stretching up on her toes, she finally managed to inch her fingers over the edge. With as much strength as she could muster, Midge hauled herself up, feet slipping against the metal. Her wounded hand burned as she used it to help her over, but she made it.
After landing hard on the concrete opposite the wooden dock, Midge scrambled over to Danny. A bruise swelled his right eye shut and a cut split his lip in two. He held an arm around his middle and blood had already begun to dry in a track down his chin. “Are you okay?”
She crouched in his face, looking at his one good eye.
Danny blinked. “I’m sorry. They took the bikes.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
MIDGE
Saturday, 11:30 am CST
Lake Michigan Marina
Midge dug through her bag and fished out a tissue. She dabbed it on the trail of blood oozing down Danny’s chin. He winced and pulled back.
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not.” She leaned back into her heels. “You could have died. Why didn’t you whistle?”
“Got punched before I could.”
“I never should have taken the gun.”
Danny tried to stand, but fell back against the trash can. “Does the boat run?”
“No.” Midge ground out the word between clenched teeth. He could have been killed and for what, a chance to ride a boat? She crushed the tissue in her palm. “This is all my fault. I never should have suggested to come here.”
Danny waved her off. “It was worth a shot.” He leaned forward and brought his hand up to his face, assessing his injuries with his fingers. Abrasions covered his knuckles.
Midge hated to ask, but she had to know. “What happened?”
“Two men, both bigger than me. Real jerks. I tried to reason with them, but they didn’t want to listen.” He flexed his hand. “I got a few hits in, at least.” He patted Owen’s backpack beside him. “And I kept the backpack.”
Midge stood up and stared out at the harbor. No boat. No bikes. No means to get anywhere except their feet. She checked her watch. Almost noon. “We should look for a bomb shelter. Somewhere to ride it out.”
“You’re giving up?”
“What choice do we have?”
“As many as we can come up with, I figure.”
She spun around, eyes wide open. “Are you serious? Look at us! You’re beaten to a pulp, I’ve got one good hand, and we’re alone, on foot, with only this stupid gun to defend ourselves.”
The midday sun glinted off DuBois’s gun as Midge waved it around. Panic built up inside her. Ever since Big G kidnapped her, she’d been operating in some sort of alternate reality. A place where the truth of what was about to happen didn’t penetrate.
Everything she’d done, every choice she’d made had been focused on one thing: escaping the blast. It was the only way to keep the horror at bay.
But after all they had been through, Midge wasn’t sure she could do it. “If we don’t find some means of transportation, we’re toast. Cinders. Bits of radioactive ash and dust. We might as well give up and find some nice sunny spot to die.”
Sh
e turned and held her arms out wide, face tilted up to the sun.
“What are you doing?”
“Waiting for the blast. Seems like as good a place as any.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Danny hauled himself up, grunting against the pain. “You’re not giving up and neither am I.”
“Why not?” Midge couldn’t keep the terror from her voice. “Everything I’ve tried has failed. My sister wouldn’t listen, my mom thought I was crazy.” She pushed her hair back with both hands. “I should have stayed put in Charlotte and gone straight to the media. I should have worked harder to get the word out instead of thinking about myself and my family. Then everyone would have known. Everyone would have a chance.”
Midge’s heart beat faster and faster as her bad decisions paraded across her mind. “Coming here was a mistake.”
“No. It wasn’t.” Danny gripped her by the shoulders and spun her around, waiting to speak until she looked him in the eye. “If you hadn’t been on that plane, I’d probably still be in O’Hare, sitting at the gate or standing in line.”
He tightened his grip, fingers digging into the soft spots between her joints. “You might not have saved the world, but you saved me.”
Midge shook her head. “No, I haven’t. Any minute now we could be turned into dust.”
“Then we need to get moving.” Danny let her go and reached for the gun. He slipped it from her fingers and shoved it back under his waistband. “We aren’t dying here. We’re making it to Suttons Bay and we’re finding your mom.”
“What about you? What about your family?”
Danny smiled at the water, but it wasn’t in happiness. “My father gave up on me a long time ago. He wouldn’t listen if I tried.” He grabbed Owen’s backpack and slung it over his shoulders, grimacing as his stomach flexed. “Let’s find the stables.”
Midge hesitated. “Are you sure you want to come with me?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”