Evolution (5 page)
Authors: Cody Toye
“Oh good your awake. Good morning Boomer” Alex boasted
I watched the man shoot daggers through his eyes as he glared at his sister, trying to soothe his no doubt pounding head with his hand. I handed a bottle of water and a bag of chips back, hoping to make peace.
“Here you go big guy, the breakfast of champions!”
Not even a fake smile. Nothing. This was going to be a long day I thought to myself. The only sounds filling the car were that of the occasional crunching of undesirable junk food. A very long ten minutes passed before Alex broke the silence.
“I spotted some pod creatures in the trees this morning; we probably have maybe an hour before we are noticed. How much gas do we have?” She spoke like an expert; all I could do is stare at her.
“Hello? Earth to Trevor” She waved her hand in front of my blank stare. I hate when she does that!
“I-I-don’t know” I muttered, still waking up
“Well don’t you think you ought to look?” she said sarcastically
I take a deep breath and released it slowly before looking at the gauge. It really is going to be one of those days. I thought to myself
“About a half a tank of gas. Do we have any more in the trunk?”
“Bone dry”
“I hate to say it Alex, but we haven’t really seen many vehicles since the state line .We may be on foot soon.” I looked down hoping my sneakers would save me. Wishing they would. I always hated giving bad news, especially in situations where you are somehow deemed the leader of a group you never planned on joining.
Alex just sighed and slowly fastened her seatbelt.
“Maybe we will get lucky.” She stated sarcastically
“Let’s just make the most of it and try to get out of Pennsylvania before dark.”
*~*~*
He looked at his frail reflection and stuck out his tongue. Jedd examined the yellowing of his teeth and poked at his thinning cheeks. Three weeks confined to the sleeping quarters eating the scraps found in soldiers bags took its toll.
He looked down at the slender package he held in his hand, another bit of beef jerky. The last of any food source he could find. He flung trash from his cot, satisfying the anger that was swelling deep within his very soul. Only in Missouri can you find more guns and ammo than food! He thought to himself.
He tapped the digital watch strapped to his wrist and let the time register in his mind. Three thirty seven. He looked down again. Three thirty eight! He thought. Not that time really mattered much when a man is waiting to die; it was more or less a nasty habit he had acquired over the past few days.
Standing, he slowly stretched and picked up his rifle. His shoes clicked against the floor as he walked to the large metal door. Pressing his ear against it he listened intently. Silence. He could feel his heart flip flop for a brief moment, hoping the time has finally come.
He pulled away and allowed the feeling of hope to overtake anger, if only for this one moment. “With all the soldiers dead, surely they would move on. The baboons would have no reason to stay right?” he muttered to himself, another bad habit a condemned man acquired.
He gently placed his ear to the door and swings his rifle around. Listening intently he brought the butt towards the metal and held it, letting it linger. Three hard hollow knocks on the mental and he froze.
Nothing happened. Jedd could feel the joy and happiness start to creep up, salvation just within his grasp. He held his breath and slowly brought the butt towards the metal once more. He didn’t even make it to the second knock when a loud screech from just beyond the barrier caused him to jump.
“FUCK!”
He clutched his chest and panted. The stale oxygen did little to sedate him. Jedd grabbed his rifle and paced back and forth in his prison. Fate had dropped a pebble of defeat in his pond of hope and the ripples were already affecting his thoughts.
Jedd felt his stomach growl, reminding him that it was way past breakfast and a quarter past lunch. He clutched the beef jerky and stared at it for a moment.
“Fuck it I’m going to die anyways, might as well do it on a full stomach” He said to no one.
He ripped open the jerky and instantly started to salivate as the smell permeated the air. He sank his teeth into the meat and chewed greedily.
“I could go out in a blaze of glory, Take on those filthy things till I die”
“You can’t do that Jedd you are only one person they would kill you!”
“Oh yes I can! Would rather go out shooting than starve to death.”
“They will eat you alive, it will hurt, and you hate pain”
“Fuck pain! I’m a Jedd-I”
He started laughing, almost choking on the beef jerky catching in his throat. Even now it amazes him how he can tell a joke that he has never heard. His raucous laughter slowed to a giggle and crawled to silence. He swallowed the last bite and flung the wrapper into the pile of other garbage. No reason to save the world now. Thank you hippies for truly wasting our time. Recycle, pfft maybe the baboons will learn to recycle one day. It’s not my job to worry about it anymore.
“YOU HEAR ME YOU FILTHY ANIMALS, GO TO HELL AND TAKE THE HIPPIES WITH YOU!”
Jedd ran across the room more colliding with the pile of garbage than kicking it. He stomped on wrappers and spit on paper. He kicked empty aluminum pop cans across the floor and slowly sank down. He stared blankly for a brief moment before feeling his chest burn.
Tears, fat stingy bastard tears slowly streamed down his face. He felt it trailing down his hot cheeks and fought to control it.
“Your last day on earth and you’re going to cry. God you're such a momma’s boy!”
His sobbing voice echoed back into his ears and Jedd looked down. Four twenty two. Through blurry vision Jedd walked over to the grey bag and unzipped it. Pulling out a large charcoal pencil that was hidden deep within the pouches he presses the tip again the wall and scribbles.
“Jedd Howard died at four twenty two pm”
He sits on the cot and grips his rifle, feeling the cold barrel against his chin he sniffles. His fingers shake as he wraps them around the trigger, ready to be rid of this nightmare for good. A thought occurs to him. What if momma was right? What if there is a heaven? I can’t let her see me with tears in my eyes! Jedd slowly removes his fingers from the gun and lays it on the cot next to him.
“If she’s watching I can’t let her see me die like this neither” he sobs to himself
Standing, he lifts the black bag. Filled half full of assorted bullets, the sheer weight almost drops him to his knees. Jed picks up the rifle and walks to the door, gripping the handle he turns it carelessly. He is aware of the danger that lurks outside of his prison. He is also aware he may not survive. But mostly, he knows it’s time to make him momma proud.
*~*~*
I banged my fist against the steering wheel. It was still two hours until dark and the freeway was crawling with life. I tried once more to turn over the engine but got a nasty sputter in response.
“It’s out Trevor” Alex spoke flatly
“One more Try!”
I slowly turned the key in the ignition, mentally exhausted from stress. Nothing happened. I slunk in my seat and closed my eyes for a brief moment. Little gusts of air escaped my lungs as I slowly opened the door and stepped out into the day.
I could see Pod rats scurrying about in a hectic manner, not quite aware of our presence at this point. I felt the much needed pop of my neck and strain on my muscles as I stretched. Several hours in a car and to what end? Stranded.
I look around the madness and hear the sounds of nature’s fury. Just beyond the robust hill I could catch a glimpse of a large street sign. I chuckled to myself and poked my head through the window.
“Alex! Boomer! You got to see this!”
I listened to them grumble and watched the car shake as the large man stepped out. Boomer stood beside me resting his arm on my shoulder.
“What are we looking at?”
I looked back at the girl, watching her twist and stretch. I smiled. I knew she would love this
“See that large green sign way over there” I pointed off into the distance and waited
“Holy crap! We did it.” She laughed and started walking towards the car speaking non-chalantly over her shoulder as she opened the door.
“I told you we would make it out of Pennsylvania before dark. But you just didn’t believe me did you? Well I hope you are keeping score because that’s Alex one, Trevor big fat zero!”
I just shook my head.
“Come on Boomer let’s get our things.”
I gathered all the supplies that were slung about the car and slammed them in my backpack, not worried about organization at this point, just timing. I watched Boomer wipe his utensils off on his shirt and reattach them to his bag. He threw it over his shoulder and bounced in place, anxious to be free of his tiny confines.
I gripped the golf club and handed them both a bottle of water. Looking at my own bottle I saw the contents slowly diminishing. Though I won’t voice it for fear of stress, I knew we were running low on supplies and can only hold up another day or so without raiding some sort of grocer. I could see the concern in Alex’s face. She knew. She is a lot of things, but dumb isn’t one of them. She just gave me the best fake smile she could and gripped her axe tightly.
“Let’s move on out soldiers!” She turned her voice gruff
“Ten hut!”
I laughed and stiffened up like a war hero, putting my two fingers to my forehead, I awaited orders from our mousey commanding officer. Boomer just squatted like a frog for a moment and lunged forward on all fours.
“His eyes darted back and forth and his tongue flickered in and out” He stared up at his sister and put two fingers to his forehead as well. All I could do is laugh and go with the flow. After a few moments, Boomer stood, adjusted his backpack and we were off. The walk was nerve racking and the sun was against us. If we could manage just a few more miles we could hopefully find some shelter. A store, maybe even a house to loiter. Anything that would keep us safe and cozy and them where they belong...away from us.
The walk uphill was brutal, my legs burned and my chest felt as if it had bricks placed upon them. I could hear baboons off in the distance and feel a shiver up my spine. God I hate those things. We picked up pace, trying to make it somewhere safe before dark. After twenty grueling minutes we reached the top of the hill, sweat pouring from every possible orifice. I sat down. I sat down directly under the “Welcome to Ohio” sign. I took a large swig of water and struggled for oxygen.
Fuck you Pennsylvania! I thought to myself. Boomer must have had the same thoughts, because I watched him chunk a large rock down the steep hill at nothing in particular. It bounced off the asphalt and nailed a tree.
“Great shot buddy!”
Boomer just smiled and stood, eager to get where we were going. I watched him extend his hand to Alex, and then to me, helping us escape from the inviting comforts of the grass.
“Alright, alright, I get it. Let’s go sheesh.” Alex protested
We walked in silence for about a mile and a half, watching for any sign of life, any movement, any sound. We were ready. The suns large orange glow started to fade, it disappeared little by little. A morbid game of hide and seek where you have to search for the others in the dark. That is what it reminded me of.
It wasn’t long before we could barely see our fingers in front of our face. The darkness overtook the light completely and nightfall was upon us. We failed.
“Now what?” I spoke concerned for all our well beings.
“Nothing. We keep walking. If we are caught asleep in the open we are dead.”
Those words cut deep. Like a large sharp knife tearing into a block of cheese, the thought of being dead cut me deeply.
I grabbed her hand and laced my fingers in between hers. I felt her body jerk in surprise and a gasp escape her lips. I half expected her to pull away, but for now, the simple act of holding my hand must have comforted her. I could hear the large echoing slaps of Boomers shoes against the highway and see the occasional firefly light our way, but nothing more.
*~*~*
The first blast was almost holy. Jedd felt a warm sense of justice wash through him as he watched bits of green matter spray upon the cave. He reloaded his rifle and waited, not quite brave enough to venture too far out of his former prison. The loud boom from his gun followed by the nasty wet explosion of his foe was sure to draw attention. Jedd walked slowly, not daring to lower the tip for an instance.
The putrid smell of death enveloped his naval cavities causing his gag reflex to react. Many people he once considered mostly friendly lay half eaten upon the cavern floor. Before the creature could finish his screech of terror, Jedd squeezed the trigger and watched the body fling against the wall and twitch. A smile spread across his sadistic face.
He made it past the first hallway and dared entering the mess hall. Dozens of corpses lay motionless, a true testament to the horrific events that took place. He pulled his shirt up over his nose trying to alleviate the smell. Off in the corner he could see three baboons finishing off their own dinner. Nasty chewing sounds and sprays of blood came from the trio. He could see his reflection in the crimson pool that lay all around him. Jedd felt sick.