We Who Remain

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Please, just let me die.”

  “Four.”

  Loud and shrill she screamed his name. “Mitch.”

  “Five, too late.” He grabbed hold of her mouth, forcing her jaw open. It wasn’t easy, she fought to keep her mouth shut as Mitch placed his fingers in her mouth. He clenched his own jaw in pain when she bit down on his fingers, but he remained diligent, trying to reach further in. His fingers pressed on her tongue. “I have been touching melted flesh all day. My hands probably …”

  Mitch never got to finish.

  Liv’s jaw released, she spun away from him, leaned over the tub and when she did, she vomited.

  As she turned and slid to the floor sobbing, Mitch looked into the tub.

  “Shit,” he said and pulled out his phone.

  “You had no right. No right!” Liv said.

  “You’re right I didn’t, but neither did you.”

  “It’s my life.”

  “And you’re one of a handful of life. I promised Mark I would take care of you! Watch you. You think this is what he’d want. Huh? All this bullshit!” Mitch tossed out his hand. “Fucking façade of strength. When you knew you were gonna do this all along?” Mitch growled. “I am so mad. So mad right now.”

  “You? You took this away from me. It was my call, my decision, not yours.”

  “I know you lost a lot,” Mitch said crouching down to the floor. “I know you did. We all did. You lost a child. I can’t even imagine that pain. This was not the answer.”

  “What is there to live for? You tell me. Everyone is dead. What is there for any of us to live for?”

  “Because we are all that remain. That’s it! For the sake of the few that are left of this goddamn human race, we have to fight to remain. A loss of one is one step closer to extinction and none of us have the right or choice to push us one step closer.” He dialed the phone. “Hey, Bob, I need Donna fast. Thanks. No, it’s not alright.” While waiting on Donna to get to the phone, Mitch helped Liv to her feet and walked her back into the bedroom.

  Liv climbed into bed. She felt slightly lightheaded and she attributed that to the crying. She wasn’t able to stop. Her body felt drained, she didn’t even have the strength to fight him.

  Did she make the right decision? She didn’t know. She couldn’t feel anything but an abundance of defeat and sadness.

  Mitch grabbed the remaining pills from the night stand and put them in his pocket as he spoke on the phone. “Yeah, I will, thanks.” He hung up. “Okay,” he said to Liv.

  “I don’t care.”

  “Too bad, you’re gonna listen. You took six. Which may or may not have killed you. I told Donna I counted six pills that you threw up, but they were broken down some. You’ll feel the effects and they will knock you out.”

  Liv lowered her head.

  “I know this is what you wanted to do.” Mitch sat down on the bed next to her. “I know you are feeling a world of pain none of us know. I get that. But I’m begging you. Please. Try to stick it out. Hate me all you want. Call what I did selfish. I don’t care. One day, I believe you’ll thank me.” He stood, walked across the room for the desk chair.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Sitting here. I’m not leaving your side.”

  “I don’t want you here.”

  “Tough. It’s me or Ollie down there and I don’t think, since you hit him with the car, he’s making it up the steps.”

  Liv wanted to argue, scream at him, but she didn’t have any fight in her at that moment. Whatever the reason, emotions or the pills that made it into her system, Liv couldn’t keep her eyes open. The second she closed them she was out.

  16 – TOO CLOSE

  Cleveland, OH

  The putrid smell of rotting flesh was strong, but Bob knew it was only the beginning. Not only did the smell emanate from the thirty-six remaining patients, it came from Donna as well.

  While she was ‘nose blind’ to her own odor emittance, she wasn’t visually blind. She could see it.

  Her hand, which had pretty much disintegrated to look like a flesh colored leather glove, was now greenish. She had taken to wrapping it in gauze to cover it up.

  “That needs to be taken care of,” Bob told her.

  “I know. We’ll do it once Mitch gets back. I need to get everything ready for it. And I will. I’ll also try to instruct you guys before you amputate.”

  “I’m sorry you have to go through that.”

  “I’m alive, right? I’ll hold on to that, plus I am a lot better off than these poor people.”

  Bob wanted to tell Donna, ‘let’s just end it for them, let’s give them a lethal dose like we did with those who chose to die’.

  He didn’t say that.

  Bob didn’t understand why they held on diligently to life when so much of their bodies were dead. The flesh that did remain was toxic and decaying.

  But he supposed they wanted to live as long as they could. Hold on to every breath. It was easy for Bob to say he wouldn’t make the same choice, but then again, Bob wasn’t in that position.

  He expected Mitch to return shortly, but he didn’t expect Donna to drop everything, extend her arm and say, ‘Chop it off’.

  Bob was ready for her reluctancy. Her excuses. And he’d oblige, as someone that wasn’t even a doctor, even he knew she couldn’t wait that long before it would spread through her body and kill her.

  <><><><>

  Mount Weather Complex, VA

  Buford had a list. A list of every military and civilian installation that was functioning, manned—even partially—and underground. They reached out to a lot of them, yet there was one factor that played into everything.

  No one was in charge.

  No one wanted to give information to Buford, because they weren’t authorized. The commander at each base seemed to be waiting for orders from someone that just wasn’t there.

  It was like pulling teeth.

  The one thing he had going for him was Mallory Gimble. The lone surviving CDC official would one day, as they all hoped, provide answers they so desperately sought.

  Because her lines of communication were open.

  But Mallory served less as a CDC doctor and more of a live medical advisor. Once again, she was on the phone with Bob Stevens, advising him of what to do.

  “I’ll be more than happy to video call you,” Mallory said. “Walk you through the procedure. But it has to be done today and not just for the patient. General Cane and other experts believe the phones and power will be done tomorrow. No one manning the stations, they’ll shut down. They’re still be radio communication, but you won’t have power.”

  He eavesdropped on the conversation, sitting in the exterior office outside the complex, trying to figure out how he could tie all the installations together.

  The occupants of the camps were the known survivors of the event. He wanted to figure out a way, after the Comet Olympias, to join forces and keep things going. Help civilization rise again.

  In the middle of viewing his list, thinking and listening to Mallory, the door to the office opened and George walked in.

  That shocked Buford, he wasn’t expecting to see George.

  “We need to talk,” George said.

  Mallory must have heard that, because she immediately ended her call. “Do you want me to leave?” she asked.

  “No,” George replied. “No need.”

  “What’s going on George?” Buford asked.

  “We have problems. Big problems. I just got done with a conference call to Cheyenne and Raven Rock. We are all in agreement, that whatever is causing the biological disruption from the comet, is coming from, for lack of a better word, the halo around the comet and tail. It fills the atmosphere and does its damage. The halo on Olympias is huge. Seeing that the comet itself is ten times larger than Pyrrhus, so is the halo and tail.”

  “We know this,” said Buford.

  “Yeah, but at this moment, the people out there, the ones that su
rvived, they don’t,” George said. “Several of our bases … don’t.”

  “Don’t you think at this point common sense kicked in?” Buford asked. “They put two and two together.”

  “Not to this extent,” George said. “You know I have been studying and following these three since we learned about them.”

  Buford nodded. “I do.”

  “No one, not even me was prepared for my figures and they aren’t even the final ones.”

  “Can they change?” Buford asked.

  George nodded. “And not for the better.”

  Mallory slightly lifted her hand. “Wait a second, you said they couldn’t put two and two together to this extent. So basically, ten times larger means, ten times bigger.”

  George nodded. “Ten times stronger, which means we have to go ten times deeper.”

  “Five hundred feet?” Buford asked. “Are you saying if people want to survive, they have to be five hundred feet below the surface?”

  George nodded. “Or in the water.”

  “My God.” Mallory stumbled back. “People out there that survived, how in the world are they going to get five hundred feet below.”

  “If I may?” George looked at Buford. “You were trying to think of a way to connect the sites. This is it. You need to get word out to civilians, whether it’s radio broadcasts, something, and they need to find a way to let not only survivors know but look for as many as they can. And prepare, because they aren’t going to be able to rise to the surface after five hours.”

  “Well, I would assume ten times longer,” Buford said.

  George shook his head. “Remember I talked about the dinosaurs. This is it, our extinction event. There are still traces of the alien toxin out there now. Thirty-one hours later. If my math is right, with the levels and the decline rate, we’re talking at least two months. More than likely three.”

  “We have to move faster,” Buford said. “We need to move to Raven Rock ASAP. Get things ready there.”

  “Raven Rock holds three thousand people,” George said. “Supplies are already there.”

  “Are there three thousand people remaining?” Mallory asked.

  George nodded. “We have that between the bases and subs. Yes. I imagine there are a lot of survivors out there. I would broadcast the location if you can. We need to get people to safety. Because the toxins aren’t the worst of it.”

  “What are you talking about?” Buford asked.

  “Olympias is large. It’s going to pass closer than our moon. There is no way she will pass without major disruption.”

  “Earthquakes,” Mallory said. “Volcanos, tidal waves.”

  George nodded. “Yeah. And they won’t be gradual. They’ll be felt all at once.”

  Buford ran his hand down his face as he stood. “We’ll get on this. Just have to figure out how to get the word out without sending those who are left into some sort of chaotic panic. How to tell them they need to get at least five hundred feet below, hold tight while the world rattle and shakes, and get enough supplies, because it will be months before they can emerge.”

  “Yes. If, God willing,” George said. “There’s anything left to emerge to.”

  <><><><>

  Before she even opened her eyes, Liv likened how she felt to the world’s worst hangover. Hangover plus heartache equaled, ‘kill me now’.

  She was in the same position from the night before. Sitting up in bed, legs extended. Her head hadn’t even rested back, it was still drooped forward with her chin near her shoulder.

  She was cold, too, there was no blanket over her.

  She opened her eyes and lifted her head. Her neck was sore and stiff, and her head pounded. Immediately she grabbed for the water on the nightstand, opened it and brought it to her lips.

  Her jaw felt as if she had been slugged, instantly she grew angry at Mitch. She guzzled the water which formed a knot in her stomach, one that made her want to vomit.

  She swung her legs over the bed and stood. She was slightly dizzy and attributed that to dehydration.

  As she was stumbling to the bathroom, Mitch walked in. He placed a mug on her dresser. “Coffee. You may want to have that. Get a shower and get dressed.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “Except to the bathroom.”

  “You’re leaving the house with us today,” Mitch said. “We’re going to the hospital.”

  “I don’t want to go.”

  “I don’t care. Ollie needs his leg set. You hit him with the car.”

  “He said he wasn’t looking where he was going.”

  “And you were texting.”

  “You. I was texting you.”

  “Oh, so you want to put this on me?” Mitch asked.

  “Oh my God, you’re fighting with me? I should have known. You were always screaming next door.” Liv went into the bathroom.

  “I was screaming because I was always fighting.”

  “You fight …” Liv opened the bathroom door. “Because you’re a control freak.”

  “You don’t know me well enough to even make that call.”

  “And you don’t know me well enough to stick your fingers in my mouth and tell me I don’t have the right to die!”

  “You’re right,” Mitch said. “It wasn’t my call or wasn’t my right. You don’t want to live. Fine. I’m not gonna argue with you on it. If you don’t have the strength to make it through yesterday, you won’t have the strength to face what’s ahead.” He took the box of pills, put them by the mug of coffee, then turned and walked out.

  17 CONNECTING

  “You good?” Mitch asked Ollie when he slid into the driver’s seat. Ollie sat on the passenger side, legs extended.

  “Yeah, yeah. I’m good.”

  “We’ll get that set for you and I’m sure the pain will ease up.”

  “I’m thinking the brush burn on my arm is hurting more.” He held up his arm. “Road rash.”

  “Yikes. I can’t believe you took a hit by a car.”

  “I was, you know, in shock, over what was happening, I barely noticed until my adrenaline eased.”

  “That makes sense.” Mitch placed the key in the ignition. “Okay, so this is what I was talking about this morning.” He turned on the truck.

  Immediately the radio started playing.

  ‘If you are in the vicinity of one of these sites, please make your way to one of the locations. It is imperative you arrive by June 17th, two days prior to Olympias. While locations are supplied, you are encouraged to bring your own as well. You have ten days.” The message paused, then began again. “If you are in range of this radio transmission, you and those around you are urged to seek underground shelter of no less than five hundred feet by June 19, the arrival of Olympias brings a threat greater than that of Pyrrhus. The following locations will be accepting refugees. The USS Billings will be docked at Norfolk, accepting three hundred passengers. In the east, latitude …”

  Mitch shut off the radio. “It’s same thing. Longitude and latitude, location names, just repeats. I listened for an hour.”

  “Oh my God, it’s gonna be bad.”

  “That’s what I think,” Mitch said. “I’m trying to get hold of the general I know. But no answers. He’s probably behind this. But if they’re trying to save everyone that’s left, I don’t want to think about what is coming.” He placed his hand on the gear shift. “Let’s get to the hospital and get that leg done.”

  “And that woman’s arm. I have no problem doing it,” Ollie said. “Plenty of video game experience.”

  Just as Mitch was about to switch the gear into drive, Ollie called out, “Wait.” And pointed.

  Mitch looked out his window to see Liv walking toward the truck.

  He kept the truck in park, stepped out and opened the door for her. “Glad you’re joining us.”

  Liv nodded and climbed inside.

  “How are you doing, Liv?” Ollie asked.

  “I’m okay.”

 
; Mitch got back in and shut the door. He shifted the truck in gear and began to drive.

  “I have to tell you,” Ollie said. “I was a little shocked when I heard about last night. I wish you would have talked to me.”

  “I did,” Liv said. “I talked about handling grief. You said do whatever. Nothing is wrong.”

  “I didn’t mean take a handful of pills, Liv. Just saying,” Ollie replied. “But I know where you’re coming from. I was at that point, too. I was in my car, just done with life. I had a bunch of ibuprofen I was ready to down and end it all.”

  “Ollie, ibuprofen?” Liv asked. “I don’t think that would have done it.”

  “I’m pretty sure it would have.”

  “I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t.”

  “They were prescription,” Ollie said. “Eight hundred milligrams.”

  “Still.” Liv shook her head. “But, the thought was there. I’m gonna try to push through those thoughts. Then again it may not matter.’ She looked to the rearview mirror.

  Eventually Mitch made eye contact with her.

  “What do you mean?” Ollie asked.

  “I may not be strong enough to handle whatever is coming next. I’m guessing it’s gonna be bad.”

  Ollie whistled. “Oh, yeah it is. We just don’t know exactly what it is. Here. Take a listen.” He reached out and placed on the radio again.

  <><><><>

  They didn’t hesitate to leave Mount Weather, advising those who stayed behind that there was a chance it wasn’t deep enough.

  A convoy of seventy people transported there and it didn’t take very long.

  Buford blamed the highway drive for not finding any people. But as soon as they arrived at Site R, Buford didn’t hesitate. He conferenced called the commanders of the nine sites and asked permission to take the lead in search and rescue efforts.

  No one had a problem with that. If every site sent out evacuation crews, every day, street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood, they could conceivably save a lot of people. And if those who heard his radio blasts, heeded his advice and took three days to canvas for others, more could be found. That was Buford believing there were survivors. Those who weren’t out looking at the sky, working somewhere sheltered.