Into The Darkness by Doug Kelly

at the old machine with his cane. “Well…I don’t like to use that
piece of crap…and haven’t for a while…oh, well…okay, let’s get you outta here.”
    A
sense of relief erased the tension in Dylan’s body. His pulse slowed and his
body relaxed. He glanced out the store’s window, past the silhouette of Richard
smoking, and saw the water awaiting them. He was anxious to get home and
desperate to see his children. He tapped on the window to get Richard’s
attention and motioned for him to get back inside. After each man exchanged his
credit card for supplies, they thanked the man for his assistance, then carried
their bounty outside, around to the side of the building.
    Kevin
crouched down on the narrow sidewalk, patted his pile of gear, and said, “We
should get started.”
    Richard
mentioned that he had seen an air compressor behind the store. The three men
used it to put air into the rafts and placed the remaining equipment into each
raft after it was inflated. Then the three men carried the rafts to the boat
dock. They removed their suits and changed into clothes more suitable for the
journey ahead. They put the rafts in the water and climbed aboard. Dylan began to
paddle first. Kevin was right behind Dylan, and Richard followed in close
succession. Dylan did not paddle fast, wanting to accustom his body to this new
activity. As he slowly paddled, trying to find an efficient rhythm, he studied
his surroundings.
    The
water was calm, reflecting like a mirror the upward outcroppings of a rocky
bluff. No boats were in sight as the ripples from the three rafts erased the
mirror-like reflection in the water. Dylan heard the screech of a large bird
echo off a nearby cliff. He looked up and saw an eagle. It looked magnificent,
and so graceful coasting in the air above the clear lake. The eagle swept its
wings back and began to descend toward the water. Its speed increased rapidly
as the eagle plunged downward. In a brief moment, the eagle was directing its
power upward away from the lake. Its wings pumped furiously. He could see that
the eagle had a large fish clasped firmly in its talons. The fish was trying to
convulse itself free, to no avail. Dylan watched the large bird disappear with
its meal as he felt the talons of his own hunger grasp his stomach.
    He
knew that hunger was going to be a new companion. Life before today was so
easy. If he was hungry, he could just go to the refrigerator or pantry. If he
needed more food, he could go to a grocery store that was open twenty-four
hours a day. Dylan wondered if he could remember ever being hungrier than he
was now. Food had always been easy to come by. He could remember eating for the
fun of it, or simply out of boredom. On rare occasions, he would eat junk food,
but made up for those transgressions with intense physical exercise. He knew
that he was in excellent physical condition before this event, but maintaining
health and stamina while scavenging for food would be a challenge. Kevin was
also very healthy and in good shape, while also being several years younger.
Richard was another story. Dylan knew that Richard was in serious trouble. He
was a chain smoker, practically lived on junk food, and never exercised.
    Dylan
was desperate to get back to his family and fought the urge to break away and
go off on his own, at a pace neither of the other men could maintain. Conversely,
Dylan surmised that there might be a survival advantage in maintaining the
group. As he paddled toward the shore on the opposite side of the lake, he
theorized that it might be safer to stay close to land on the wider bodies of
water. If something happened, they could get to shore quicker that way. After
they had glided across the smooth water for several miles, they noticed a
camping area toward the right, near the opposite shoreline. As they floated
closer to the shore, tents and a few vehicles were visible at the small
campsite.
    “Hey,
let’s get closer and quietly drift by,” said