we’re alone,” I said.
“I’m taking the RV. I don’t want to be surprised when I go in there. I really don’t want anyone to get hurt. Who’s in there?”
Aimee answered, “My kids. I have my kids with me. Don’t hurt them, we wanted to help your boy, remember? Please, I’m pregnant.”
The woman paused, thinking. I saw her outline through the haze of my vision. “Okay. I can take them with me; I’m going to find someplace sa-”
“No.” Aimee broke in. It was final.
“You don’t have to do this,” I said. “We’ll take you with us.”
“You know I can’t trust you,” she said patiently, seeing through me. “I’ll have to sleep sometime, wont I?”
I heard the hammer of the pistol pulled back, accenting the point. “You’re going to call your kids out. There’s shelter in Oak Bridge, and plenty to scrounge up now that nothing’s moving; we probably killed everything there anyways, so you’ll be okay. Go ahead, call them out.”
She was the one with the gun; I didn’t see too many other options. “Madi!” I called. I heard the window slide open.
“Daddy? Are you okay? Mommy?” Her voice was terrified.
We weren’t okay, it seemed clear, but this was another case where lying was preferable. “We’re fine, baby. Listen, you need to get Jake and come out here. Get his diaper bag and the bug-out bag and come out now.”
“Okay, Daddy.” She didn’t argue; I heard the sound of the door opening, followed by the soft concussion of the diaper bag and bug-out bag being pushed to the ground. Madi’s footsteps followed and closed in. “Are you guys okay? Why are you crying? Are you-” She stopped with a sharp inhale; she hadn’t seen a dead body up close before. Even with everything we had been though, I had been able to protect her from that; I supposed I couldn’t have expected to forever, given the circumstances, but I resented that it was forced on us.
I didn’t answer Madi, but instead spoke to the woman. “You have what you want, just leave us alone.”
“I know you’re not going to believe me… but I’m really sorry about this. I hope you guys make it, too.” She paused. “Madi, right?” Madi didn’t answer. “Madi, there’s shelter, food- everything you need straight that that way about a quarter mile. There aren’t any monsters around here, so you’ll all be just fine. You’re mom and dad, they’re going to be able to see just fine here pretty soon. Just keep pouring water on their eyes- it’ll help.”
Madi didn’t answer, but instead hugged at my neck. Without a word, I heard the woman walk to our home and knew her children would be following behind. Through the blood-red haze of my vision I could see their shapes disappear around the side of the RV; a moment later it lurched to life and roared into the distance, fading out entirely after a few moments. I heard water splash on the road as Madi rinsed Aimee’s eyes, then felt a moment of cool relief as I felt the same. There was silence as we each adjusted to our new situation.
“Daddy?” Madi said finally. “I kept my gun.”
I smiled through the pain. There was hope yet.
Chapter IV: Growing up
Madi did her best to care for the family. She fed and changed Jacob, and nursed her mother and me until the pain subsided. My vision was still blurred beyond use, but at least it had stopped hurting. Now that I was no longer distracted by the pain, I was quietly worried that our only sentry was an eight-year-old girl.
We sat in the shade of the nearby overgrowth, with Jacob sleeping soundly in his mother’s arms. Once my vision cleared, I would check and collect the new-found supplies before we moved into Oak Bridge; we tried not to stay in one place for too long, when we could help it.
“Let’s see… How about ‘I Spy’?” Madi suggested with a giggle.
“Nice try,” I shot back, relaxing in the cool breeze.
We sat together for some time. Perhaps it was the adrenaline, or perhaps just the
“I’m taking the RV. I don’t want to be surprised when I go in there. I really don’t want anyone to get hurt. Who’s in there?”
Aimee answered, “My kids. I have my kids with me. Don’t hurt them, we wanted to help your boy, remember? Please, I’m pregnant.”
The woman paused, thinking. I saw her outline through the haze of my vision. “Okay. I can take them with me; I’m going to find someplace sa-”
“No.” Aimee broke in. It was final.
“You don’t have to do this,” I said. “We’ll take you with us.”
“You know I can’t trust you,” she said patiently, seeing through me. “I’ll have to sleep sometime, wont I?”
I heard the hammer of the pistol pulled back, accenting the point. “You’re going to call your kids out. There’s shelter in Oak Bridge, and plenty to scrounge up now that nothing’s moving; we probably killed everything there anyways, so you’ll be okay. Go ahead, call them out.”
She was the one with the gun; I didn’t see too many other options. “Madi!” I called. I heard the window slide open.
“Daddy? Are you okay? Mommy?” Her voice was terrified.
We weren’t okay, it seemed clear, but this was another case where lying was preferable. “We’re fine, baby. Listen, you need to get Jake and come out here. Get his diaper bag and the bug-out bag and come out now.”
“Okay, Daddy.” She didn’t argue; I heard the sound of the door opening, followed by the soft concussion of the diaper bag and bug-out bag being pushed to the ground. Madi’s footsteps followed and closed in. “Are you guys okay? Why are you crying? Are you-” She stopped with a sharp inhale; she hadn’t seen a dead body up close before. Even with everything we had been though, I had been able to protect her from that; I supposed I couldn’t have expected to forever, given the circumstances, but I resented that it was forced on us.
I didn’t answer Madi, but instead spoke to the woman. “You have what you want, just leave us alone.”
“I know you’re not going to believe me… but I’m really sorry about this. I hope you guys make it, too.” She paused. “Madi, right?” Madi didn’t answer. “Madi, there’s shelter, food- everything you need straight that that way about a quarter mile. There aren’t any monsters around here, so you’ll all be just fine. You’re mom and dad, they’re going to be able to see just fine here pretty soon. Just keep pouring water on their eyes- it’ll help.”
Madi didn’t answer, but instead hugged at my neck. Without a word, I heard the woman walk to our home and knew her children would be following behind. Through the blood-red haze of my vision I could see their shapes disappear around the side of the RV; a moment later it lurched to life and roared into the distance, fading out entirely after a few moments. I heard water splash on the road as Madi rinsed Aimee’s eyes, then felt a moment of cool relief as I felt the same. There was silence as we each adjusted to our new situation.
“Daddy?” Madi said finally. “I kept my gun.”
I smiled through the pain. There was hope yet.
Chapter IV: Growing up
Madi did her best to care for the family. She fed and changed Jacob, and nursed her mother and me until the pain subsided. My vision was still blurred beyond use, but at least it had stopped hurting. Now that I was no longer distracted by the pain, I was quietly worried that our only sentry was an eight-year-old girl.
We sat in the shade of the nearby overgrowth, with Jacob sleeping soundly in his mother’s arms. Once my vision cleared, I would check and collect the new-found supplies before we moved into Oak Bridge; we tried not to stay in one place for too long, when we could help it.
“Let’s see… How about ‘I Spy’?” Madi suggested with a giggle.
“Nice try,” I shot back, relaxing in the cool breeze.
We sat together for some time. Perhaps it was the adrenaline, or perhaps just the
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