Voyage (Powerless Nation #2) (16 page)

Sena thought she could remember seeing the bridge now too.

“Didn’t you guys say you go to school in Arlington?” Danny asked. “If I’m right about where we are, it’s only about twenty miles from here. We should be able to get you home in a day or two.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

HOME.

T
HE
THOUGHT
WAS
enough to keep Sena tossing and turning through the long night. 

After finding out they were so close to Arlington, Claire and Ted immediately started talking to Lydia about her travel plans. They wanted her to come with them to Lookout Falls where Claire's father and daughter were living, but Lydia wanted to head south to her apartment in Seattle to see if her neighbor was still taking care of her dogs. She said she would have nightmares for the rest of her life if she abandoned them. They were like her babies.

Sena contemplated her own plans. She hadn’t told anyone about her foster family’s trip to California. For all anyone knew, they were at home waiting for her.

For a minute she fantasized about staying with Claire and Ted. She’d grown closer to Claire during their ordeal, and she liked Ted too. The couple suited each other and she liked how dedicated they were to their family. They were determined to get back to their daughter, despite the fact that they had no money, transportation, or supplies. Not once did they give way to doubt.

She thought about her own mom. Had she ever felt the same about Sena as Claire felt about her daughter?

Sena got out the most recent letter her mom had sent her. Although it had gotten wet, Sena had it memorized. In it, she told Sena she was approved for parole. She said she’d done everything she could to get out early for good behavior so they could spend Sena’s senior year together. She’d already arranged a place for them to live, and she promised things would be different.

Sena believed her. She knew it was naive of her to take her word for it, but if her mom was really off drugs, she’d be different. She’d want a daughter to go shopping with and watch old movies together. She didn’t have to be perfect, she just had to want Sena.

Was that too much to hope for?

Sena was afraid her restlessness would awaken Claire, however, the woman didn’t stir. Her soft snores next to Sena in the darkness were familiar and comforting, but sleep was still a long time coming.

Much too early the next morning, Sena awakened to the sound of shouting. Squinting, she felt around until she found her glasses. She didn’t need them to know Kade and Ted were at it again.

“You just have to be the big boss, don’t you?” accused Kade.

“If that’s what it takes to get some sense into your thick skull, then yes, I’ll be the big boss.”

Sena whispered to Lydia, “What’s going on?”

“Kade wants to go ahead without us. He says he can make it home from here by himself and we’re slowing him down.”

“Ted should let him go,” said Sena. “He’s been a jerk ever since Charity died.”

Lydia nodded her agreement. “I don’t think he’s going to have any choice.” Sena could see she was right. Kade tied a few bottles of water to his bike frame, and then he was ready to go.

“Kade, let us ride you home,” Claire pleaded. “We still don’t have any idea what we’re going to find when we get back to civilization.”

“Speak for yourself. I’m going to find home-cooked meals and hot showers.” He got on his bike and looked around at the group. “Good luck, guys. It’s been real.” He pushed off and pedaled toward the bridge, alone.

After he left, Danny told the group, “I’m going as far as Sena’s house, and then I’ve been thinking I’ll help Lydia get to Seattle. I don’t have any family here, and I don’t think she should go alone.”

Ted looked up at the sky, and shook his head, an expression of disbelief on his face.

“It’s safer if we stick together,” said Claire. “I’m sure Lydia’s dogs are fine. You should all come with us.”

“I don’t want to keep you from your daughter any longer than necessary,” said Danny. “I’ll be fine.”

When she saw Claire looked prepared to fight, Lydia interrupted. “Let’s work it out later. There are still miles to go, and I’d like to get started.”

The way was slow and hard. No one had the endurance to ride far, so they walked their bikes up hills, and took frequent breaks in the shade. 

Gradually, the area began to show signs of civilization. Abandoned cars littered the shoulders of the road, and as woods changed to farmland they occasionally saw people working in the fields.

Although Sena wasn’t a farmer or gardener, she could see the crops weren’t doing well. Shriveled, brown plants bent to the ground in unhealthy obeisance while farm machinery stood idle in the fields.

It took some convincing from Claire before Ted finally agreed they could stop at a farmhouse and try to get some information. “You guys stay back by the road,” he instructed. “If there’s any trouble, you get out of here fast, don’t wait for me.”

The farm they approached was bordered by a split post fence with rusty nails holding rustier barbed wire in uneven rows. A large barn sagged nearby, and on its weathered gray wood a hand lettered sign read, “Well rotted horse manure for sale.” The word “manure” was crossed out.

Ted hollered to the house, “Is anyone home?”

A window next to the door opened slightly and they saw a woman with a rifle. “What do you want?”

“Just information. Can you tell us what the date is or where we are? Are you experiencing a power outage?”

The woman’s laugh was a harsh bark. “Yes, we’re experiencing a power
outage
.” She spoke the word with a sneer. “We’re also experiencing a food
outage
, a water
outage
, a government
outage
, and a humanity
outage
. And, if you don’t get moving, you’re going to experience a life
outage
.”

From her position at the gate, Sena noticed movement in one of the upper windows. A figure stood almost lost in the shadows, nothing to give them away except for a slight flutter of the curtains as they were parted by the barrel of a gun.

Ted raised his hands, palms out, and took several steps back. “I understand, we don’t want any trouble. Can you tell me what month it is, or what day?”

“Look around, Mister. It’s the Day of Reckoning.”

Back on their bikes again, the group rode until Claire broke the silence. “We should probably start looking for a place to sleep tonight.” 

Sena noticed something coming toward them. “Hey guys, look. Is that a bike? Maybe it’s Kade.”

A closer look told her it wasn’t Kade. From far away, the cyclist looked like a huge man, but as he approached, Sena realized he was an average-sized man carrying a huge load. From the front she could see the enormous backpack he wore. It was stuffed full, and he had camping gear lashed to the frame of the bike.

He rode past, not even glancing in their direction. From within the biker’s windbreaker, wide blue eyes stared out at them, and Sena realized he had a small child strapped to his chest.

“Did you get a load of that guy?” asked Sena, turning to watch as he quickly lengthened the distance between them.

“Did you get a load of his bike?” asked Danny, also turning to look.

Sena hadn’t yet glanced at the bike. Now she did, and realization hit her like a punch to the stomach. She glanced hurriedly back at Danny, her mouth hanging open in surprise.

Danny answered her unspoken question. “Yep, I’m pretty sure that was Kade’s bike.”

“Should we go after him?” she asked.

“And do what?” said Ted, tiredly mopping the sweat from his forehead. “If we could catch up with him, which is unlikely in our current condition, he’s bigger and he’s got a lot to lose. He’s probably armed too. I couldn’t win that fight.”

“We don’t have any way to get the bike back to Kade anyway,” said Claire. “Let’s stick to our original plan. We’ll make camp here, and look for Kade first thing tomorrow.”

Sena hoped he was safe somewhere, but she didn’t think he would have given up his bike without a fight.

Their supplies were running low, so they ate shriveled corn straight off the cob and then bedded down in the rows between dry, whispery cornstalks. 

Sena’s thoughts turned again to her mother. In a few days they would be reunited. Would she be happy to see Sena? Would they be able to build any kind of a life together in a world that was falling down around them?

A speck of light traced across the sky, grabbing her attention. Sena had never seen so many stars. There were so many, it seemed like a bright blanket had been thrown over her. In the total absence of electric light, the Milky Way spilled across the sky in a broad, twinkling expanse. The enormity of the universe made her problems seem small and insignificant. 

When she closed her eyes to sleep, a million pinpricks of light continued to dance above her. They shone down on a once prosperous nation, now starved and desperate to survive. They shone down on darkened cities where they hadn’t been seen for generations. And they shone down on a small farm in northern Washington where another teenage girl thought about her own mother and wondered where she was and if she’d ever see her again.

The next day they made slow but steady progress. By late afternoon as they approached the outskirts of Arlington, they finally saw Kade. He limped slowly along beside the road, and when they pulled up to him Sena’s heart wrenched at the sight of his injuries.

His dingy t-shirt was torn, leaving a bruised shoulder exposed, and one of his eyes was swollen shut. She’d had a few black eyes of her own, but never one so enormously purple. His arms and face showed bruises and scratches, and he clearly favored his left leg.

“Oh, Kade,” said Claire. “You poor thing. We never should have let you go off by yourself.”

“I was outnumbered,” he muttered.

Danny and Sena exchanged a quiet look. Even Ted kept his mouth shut.

“We’re stopping here,” Claire announced. “Let’s get you cleaned up,” she said to Kade.

It was still early enough to make a fire, so they made camp and then roasted their last three apples on sticks over the coals. Sena and Kade sat a little apart from the others and shared one of the apples. After passing it back and forth a few times Sena said, “You can have the rest, I’m full.”

“You only had three bites, there’s no way you’re full.”

“Yes I am. I think my stomach shrunk. I couldn’t eat another bite.”

“What if it was hot apple pie with ice cream?”

Sena’s mouth watered and she swallowed loudly.

Kade laughed. “See? Have some more and pretend it’s apple pie.”

“No, you should finish it. I’m going to be home by this time tomorrow.”

“Well, so am I,” said Kade. “Come on.”

Sena shook her head.

Kade’s eyebrows lowered and he glared at her with his one good eye. “Why do you have to be so nice all the time? You make me feel like a jerk.”

Sena was surprised by his sudden anger. “What are you talking about? You’re not a jerk. You’ve just had a hard time lately.”

“Don’t lie. Everyone here hates me.” Kade glanced at Ted and lowered his voice. “You know it was me. I drank the water.”

“Oh, Kade, you can’t keep blaming yourself for that. We were all out of our minds with thirst. I probably would have done it if you hadn’t.”

“No you wouldn’t. I’ve seen what you’re like. You help people, even when they take advantage of you.”

“You help people too! What about when you went into the fire with me to look for my roommates? And when you brought me the batteries? Why are you being so hard on yourself?” 

“I’m just being honest. You live in a bubble where everyone is nice and helpful. Well, the world has changed. Wake up and smell the apocalypse, Sena. It’s time you see that it’s everyone for themselves now.”

“I offer you a few extra bites of apple and now you’re freaking out on me? It’s just an apple,
Kade
.” She emphasized his name, anger beginning to glow in her chest.

“It’s not
just
an apple. It’s the last of your food. Where are you going to get more? Do you think you’re going to find another container ship to save you? Can’t you see what things are like now? You should spend more time looking out for yourself.”

“Like you did? How did that work out for you?”

“Am I supposed to let a bunch of strangers slow me down?”

“Strangers? Is that what you really think? After everything we’ve been through?”

“Stop trying to act like we’re friends. I didn’t know anyone else on that raft except Charity.” Kade’s voice cracked when he said Charity’s name. He turned away and rubbed at his good eye.

His tears touched something in Sena and suddenly she didn’t want to fight any more. “I wish she was here. She’d make you see sense. You
are
a good guy, Kade. You could have gone on the lifeboat but you came back to help her.” 

“Charity was…” he trailed off and Sena didn’t think he would say anything else, but then his words came out in a rush. “I loved her, Sena, and I didn’t tell her. I didn’t know it for sure until after she was gone. I’ve hated myself every day since then. All the times I flirted with someone else to make her jealous, or I pretended I wasn’t interested so she wouldn’t guess how much I liked her. It was all stupid. I’m stupid. A stupid jerk. And it should have been me that got shot instead of her.”

Sena searched for something to say, but Kade’s words had stunned her.

Finally, she said, “Are you saying that back on the ship, in the ice cream freezer… that was for Charity’s benefit?”

Kade sighed. “I told you I was a jerk. I’m sorry, Sena. After tomorrow you can forget you ever knew me. You deserve real friends.”

He retreated to the opposite side of the fire and curled up on his side in a pile of dried pine needles beneath a tree. When Sena looked back to where he’d been sitting, she saw he’d left the apple for her.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN