Becca (5 page)

“No, Amber. No towns. It’s too dangerous. We need a farm in the middle of nowhere.”

“There could be people there.” she said. “They could have guns, too.” she said. “A lot of farmers do.”

“They might.” They probably do. I sighed and checked the safety on the gun for the fiftieth time. “As soon as we stop for the night I’ll need to show you how to use this, Tasha. We’re going to have to keep guard, and I don’t think I can stay up all night, so we’ll have to take shifts.”

“Becca.” Bridget said softly. “Do you think that’s a good idea? Shouldn’t Natasha sleep so she can drive?”

“Well I can’t do everything alone!”

“It’s okay.” Tasha said. “I can do it. It’s fine.”

“No, she’s right. I guess I’ll just stay up all night.”

“I’ll help, if I can.” Bridget said. “If you can show me.”

“Bridge...”

“I know how to use a gun.” David interrupted. “Dad took me hunting a couple of times. I’ve used a rifle, but I think I can use the nine millimeter you have there without any problems.”

“You’ll blow your foot off, David.” Amber told him.

“Come on, it’s mostly going to be a lot of sitting there doing nothing anyway. I can do this.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

“Good.”

Eventually they are all going to have to learn. When Mom and Dad get there he can show them. Or... or if they don’t come within a week or so I may have to. Not that I’m an expert.

“Turn here. We’ll see if there’s a building of some kind we can spread out in for the night.”

“What if someone comes?” Bridget asked. “And we need gas.”

“If someone comes we’ll take care of it, Bridge.” I told her. “If we find a farm somewhere there will probably be a car or truck or something with some gas in it.”

“Yeah, genius, but how do we get it from their car to ours?”

“I don’t know. We’ll figure it out.”

“You siphon it.” David said. “I’ve seen it done.”

“Do you know how?” Tasha asked him.

“I don’t know. Sure, I guess.”

“Up there.” I told Tasha. I was pointing, but I’m not sure how well she could see in the dark.

We pulled into the drive, up in front of the house. It was dark inside. So there has to be, what, five or six shots left in the gun? So as long as we don’t get overrun by a whole bunch of people wanting to steal the car or kidnap the kids we should be okay. I’ll have to reload later. And there’s a couple more guns in the trunk. I guess I should get one out for David, since he says he knows how to use it. I don’t know, he’s like twelve or thirteen or something.

“David, I want you to get out of the car.” I said.

“What? I’m not going out there.”

“You can’t make him!” Amber shouted.

“Will you relax. I want him to stand guard for you guys. He’s the only one who has ever used a gun. He can stand watch while I go check the house.”

“You really want to go in there?” Tasha asked.

“I don’t want to, but someone has to.”

“We should all go together.” Bridget said. She looks so scared.

“No. It’ll be okay, Bridge. I promise.”

What will happen if I don’t make it back to the car? Will Tasha be able to take care of her until Mom and Dad make it to the cabin?  She’ll have to. God, please, if something happens to me then let Tasha have the strength to keep them safe.

“Tasha.” She was staring off at the sky. “Natasha!”

“What!”

“Pay attention, okay?”

“Yeah, alright.” She sniffled and wiped her face.

“Anything happens, if anything looks bad or someone shows up, just leave. Promise me you’ll go.”

“I’m not leaving you here.” she said. She sniffled again.

“Yes, you will. Because if something happens to me you have to take care of these three.”

“No, I...”

“You said it would be okay.” Bridget whined.

“It will. I just have to plan for in case it isn’t, okay.”

“You’re just going to walk up there?” Amber asked me.

“That’s the plan. So, um, if anything goes wrong, I love you Bridget. I love you Tasha.” I really do. I wish I could tell her how much. “I don’t know you two well enough to love you, but I wish you the best.” I told Amber and David.

“I love you.” Bridget said.

“Be careful.” Tasha said. “I love you, Becca. Just come back, okay?”

It was hard to walk up toward the house in the dark. There could be dogs or snakes or wolves, and there’s no way I could see them. But worst of all is that there could be people sick from those bombs, spreading their disease and attacking innocent bystanders like myself.

Innocent. That’s funny. Okay, I’ve shot someone, made my best friend speed, ran stop signs, ignored people that needed help. Oh, and I sort of kidnapped two kids. So yeah, I’m innocent.

I looked back and David was aiming the gun off in the distance, one eye closed. And this is who I’m trusting my life to? Great.

I knocked on the door. I almost turned and ran just from the echo of my hand against the wood. My heart was beating so loud I could barely hear, barely think. But I
could
hear, and I thought there was someone moving inside.
 

“Is someone there?” I asked. I knocked again. “Hello. We just need a place to sleep tonight. Just for tonight.”

“Go away.” was the reply. It sounded like an old man.

“We just want to sleep on the floor. We’ll be gone in the morning. I swear.”

“We don’t want your trouble, just go.”

“Melvin, she’s just a girl.” a woman’s voice said.

“There’s me and my little sister, and my friend and two other kids. We’re just kids. Please. My parents made me promise to take care of my sister, I need a safe place for her to sleep. We’ll be leaving to go meet our parents in the morning. We won’t be any trouble.” I’m sobbing, begging now. “Please.”

“You’re not sick?” he asked.

“No. None of us.”

“Have you been around anyone who was sick?”

“No. Huh-uh. Please, my Mom and Dad went to get Grandma, and then we’re supposed to meet them in Colorado, and... I’m just so tired. Please, let us in.”

There was a couple of minutes of them shuffling around on the other side of the door. I stood there with my forehead against it, crying and waiting. And then the door opened. I stepped back and looked up and found myself staring at the end of a massive shotgun.

“You’re not sick?” he asked. An old man in overalls, probably seventy or eighty.

“No. Not at all.”

“There are five of you?” the woman asked. Similarly old, but she was in a long flowery dress that looked five sizes too big.

“Alrighty, get ‘em inside then.” he said, waving the shotgun around enough to make me nervous.

I hurried out to the car and took the gun away from David. These people are scared, they’d probably shoot him If he waved that thing around them. Or he’d shoot that old man.

We grabbed a couple of bags from the trunk, locked the car, and hurried inside. The old man bolted three dead bolt locks, then slid a heavy dresser in front of the door. I wonder why he thinks that would stop them. I mean there’s a glass window two feet to the left.

“Sorry to bother you.” I said.

“You’re all welcome here.” the old woman said.

“You can sleep in here.” he said, waving toward the living room. “I want you out first thing in the morning.”

“Ed, don’t be so rude.”

“We can’t take care of a bunch of kids! We’re lucky to have enough for ourselves. The whole world is going to hell.”  

“We’ll be out as soon as we get some sleep. I promise. We’re supposed to meet my parents in a few days, anyway.”

“Do you children want something to eat?” she asked us.

“We’ve got food, ma’am.” I said.

“Don’t any of the others talk?” the man, Ed, asked.

I turned and looked at them. They’re all huddled together, and clearly terrified of this old couple. Or maybe just terrified of everything in general. Me too. But there’s no point in being rude to these people.

“Bridget, come here.” I said. I held my hand out toward her. She shook her head no. I glared at her for a few seconds and she reluctantly slid from the others, to my side. “This is my sister, Bridget.” I said. I nudged her with my elbow.

“Hi.” she squeaked.

“Nice to meet you, dear.” the woman said.

“This is my best friend, Natasha.” I said. I grabbed her hand and pulled her closer.

“Thank you for letting us stay.” she managed. She’s so scared.

“And those two are some friends of my sister, I never met them until today. Amber and David.”

They both gave a tiny wave, but didn’t say anything. The old couple nodded. The guy looks like he’d be happy to shoot us and shove our bodies out the door. I don’t trust him.

“And what’s your name, dear?” the lady asked.

“I’m... just totally exhausted.” I said. “My name is Rebecca Lang.”

“Well you’re safe now, Rebecca.” she told me. “I can get you kids some blankets to lay on, and we might have a couple of pillows. I’ll need some help carrying them.”

“Amber, David, go with her.”

“Why don’t you...” David began. His sister whacked his arm. “I mean... yeah, sure.”

Ed made us move the furniture around so we would have room to sit. But he couldn’t move it, he said, his back was bad. And then when we slid the sofa he complained that we’d scratch the floor. Like his sliding a dresser in front of the door didn’t do that already?

They brought back a stack of blankets, but only two pillows. We started spreading blankets out on the floor. The old couple said goodnight and went upstairs and locked themselves in their bedroom.

“Maybe some of us could use folded up blankets for pillows.” Amber suggested.

“Good thinking, Amber.”

“I’ll spread your blanket out for you.” she said.

“Thanks.”  

“Wow Amber, why don’t you take a minute to wipe the drool from your chin first.” David said.

“I’m just trying to be helpful!” she snapped at him.

“My sister likes you.” he told me. “She’s a gay. Mom and Dad hate it, too.”

“I was just spreading the blanket out because you’re holding the gun.” she said defensively. 

“Oh, I... uh...” I sputtered, and I could feel myself blushing.

She's gay too? Wow, what are the odds of that? And she likes me. Um... weird. I don't think any other girl has ever liked me. At least that way. I'm not sure how to feel about that.

“I appreciate it.” I told her. “You guys all go to sleep. I’ll keep watch for a while. David, I’ll wake you up in two or three hours.”

I walked around, looking out the windows, as the others stretched out. I hope they can sleep. Especially Tasha. She’s under a lot of strain, not knowing about her Mom and Dad. I guess we all are. But she has to be rested to drive.