Rise & Walk (Book 2): Pathogen by Gregory Solis Page B

cling to.  He saw the roofline of the neighborhood homes silhouetted against the sky and a smattering of Elder trees but little else.  He crept forward keeping both knees slightly bent to distribute his weight.  He did his best to keep his motorcycle boots, not ideal for stealth, from thundering his approach.  The best he could manage was a soft grinding of asphalt underneath their reinforced soles.  He stopped and knelt down on one knee.  One deep breath; senses stretched to their limits, Mason tried to center himself.  Swimming in a storm of his inner fears had been the constant worry about his mother.  The radio said that San Francisco was a war zone.  He understood the blonde’s need to see to her parents; Jack wished he could do the same.  His mother was almost five hundred miles away in a city with a population of eight-hundred thousand.  At the moment, he could only pray that she was alright.  He closed his eyes gently for a moment. God, please take care of Mom and Angelo, and my father, wherever he is... Amen.   With that short prayer, Mason could focus for the time being.  He exhaled and opened his eyes.  He still sensed something out in the evening, something still approaching.  He turned his head to let his ear become his eyes and listened.
     
    *****
     
    With each empty room, Nikki grew more and more frantic.  At the top of the old wooden stairs, in her parent’s empty bedroom, her composure finally failed her.  Mentally exhausted, she sat down on her parent’s squeaky old bed, and submitted to hopelessness. Midway up the stairs, Tony heard her sigh and sniffle.
    “Anything?” he asked wanting to avoid surprising her.  A frustrated and broken voice said “No.”  Deciding to leave her alone for a moment, he thought he should let the others know.  There was little more that he would rather do than to try and comfort Nikki.  Something told him that now was not a good time.  Shuffling to the bottom of the stairs, he knew there was nothing he could possibly say to help her right now.  No bit of verse or philosophy he could devise or quote from an obscure poem would ease her longing.  Tony frowned and opened the front door.  A folded piece of paper fluttered free from the doorjamb to land on the porch steps.  As Tony stooped to retrieve the paper, his movement caught Veronica’s attention.
    “Hey,” she whispered through the half lowered window.
    “Hey,” he answered, “Where’s Jack?”
    “Reconnoitering,” she sighed.
    “Something up?” He asked alert.
    “Nope, just reconnoitering.” She mocked.
    “Yeah, he likes that.” Tony said standing with the paper.  He opened the passenger’s door and in the light of the cab saw the words, “Love, Mom” written at the bottom.
    “Are they here?” Veronica asked.
    “No, but its okay,” he answered with a smile.
    Veronica looked out the window at the empty lawn and dark vacant street.  The evening seemed a little safer then before.  Tired of being left behind, she spoke,
    “Wait a sec. Help me down.” Veronica said opening the door.
     
    When Nikki heard Tony bounding up the creaky wood staircase, she scrambled to compose herself and turned her head away from the door.
    “Your Mom left a note,” Tony smiled and sat down next to her.  She accepted the piece of paper, no longer concerned with hiding her tears and directed the flashlight over the note.
    Nicole,
    The community emergency plan was activated this morning. It’s probably just a reaction to the odd stories on the news.  I can’t imagine anyone around here wanting to riot for any reason.  Your father and I have opened the school.  If we aren’t back by the time you get home, meet us there.  We’ll have food.  You know how these drills bring out the freeloaders.
       Love,
       Mom
    Nikki read the note twice, her lips mouthing the words in silence.  She smiled.
    “Where’s the school?” Tony smiled back.
     
     

 
     
    Five
     
    Twenty-five