Hannah had pulled her legs and arms in and formed herself into a ball sitting on the bed. Jake looked at her curled up, retreating into herself.
“With the way things are now people like you and your husband will die. People like your daughters will die. You and your family don’t have what it takes to survive in this type of world. You don’t know how to flip that switch on that transforms you into someone like Frankie.”
Jake joined her on the bed. Hannah jumped back, recoiling when he sat next to her. A few stray strands of hair had escaped her ponytail. He smoothed them out with his hand. Hannah flinched, her eyes closing when he touched her.
“One of my men was killed yesterday. Now, the only people that made it out of here alive when we showed up were your girls. Do you think their survival switch flipped on? Do you think that after seeing their mother raped in front of them and the fear of knowing they would be next finally caused them to see the world for what it really is? What it’s always been?”
“They wouldn’t hurt anyone,” Hannah said.
Her voice was shaking as she said it. Jake could hear the effort put forth in being strong, but she was betrayed by her emotions.
“And that’s why you won’t make it, Hannah. Just like your husband you don’t understand what people are really capable of,” Jake said
“How’s he doing?” Ulysses asked. Thanks to the meds, Ray had been dozing for a while.
Anne tossed the bloody bandages into the trash. She pumped a few sprays of hand sanitizer onto her hands and rubbed them together.
“His fever’s down. The antibiotics seem to be working,” Anne said.
Ulysses rubbed his knee. It was still sore from the previous day. He could walk on his own still, but he couldn’t move very fast and he wasn’t able to put a lot of pressure on the left leg.
“How about the girls?” Ulysses asked.
“The only one that’s said anything has been Mary. The other two haven’t said a word,” Anne answered.
“Did they tell you what happened?”
Anne turned to Ulysses. She had the face of a worried mother. Someone who feared for the safety of the people put in her care.
“Mary did. Ulysses, if those people find out we’re here they’ll-”
“Nobody saw me, Anne. We’re safe. Trust me. The only way you could find this cabin is if you knew where you were going,” Ulysses said.
Nancy sat crouched in the hall eavesdropping on their conversation.
“But what if someone else stumbles across us? What if someone else finds us by accident? By now people have started roaming around looking for shelter, food, safety. That’s what people are looking for and will kill to get it,” Anne said.
“Anne, we’ll be okay.
Nancy could hear footsteps coming from the kitchen and she took off back down the hallway into Freddy’s room where she and her sisters were sleeping. Freddy was staying in Ulysses’ room to make space.
Mary was brushing Erin’s hair when Nancy burst in.
“What are you in a hurry about?” Mary asked.
“They’re going to give us up,” Nancy said.
“Who?”
“These people.”
“Nancy, they’re trying to help us.”
“Mom wouldn’t want us to be with strangers.”
“Mom would want us to be safe, and right now we’re safe with them.”
“But mom-”
Mary slammed the brush on the bed. Erin hopped down and backed away from her. Mary’s voice was exasperated when she spoke, the stress from the last few days finally boiling over.
“Damnit, Nancy, mom’s not here!” Mary said.
Nancy stood there quietly. Erin crouched in the corner of the room. Nancy walked to Erin and put her arm around her. Mary exhaled.
“I’m sorry,” Mary said.
“You’re sorry? You’re sorry for what? For scaring Erin? For yelling at me? For giving up on mom?”
“I didn’t give up on mom, Nancy.”
Mary picked up the brush from the bed. She ran her fingers over individual prongs. She felt the tiny balls of plastic move over her palm.
“If you haven’t given up on her, then why is it that every time I talk about her you change the subject?” Nancy asked.
“Because I’m scared.”
“You’re scared?” Erin asked.
Mary and Nancy stared at Erin. It was the first time she’d spoken since they left the motel. Mary got off the bed and joined her sisters.
“Yes, but it’s okay,” Mary said.
“Is mommy really dead?” Erin asked.
“No, she’s not dead. She’ll never be gone from us. She loved you very much, Erin. She loved the both of you more than you could ever know.”
Mary threw her arms around both of her sisters and the three of them rocked back and forth with each other in silence.
Kalen had her ear pressed against the other side of the door, listening to Mary, Nancy, and Erin. Both Anne and Ulysses heard the commotion from inside their room and lingered at the end of the hallway. Kalen walked down to meet them.
“It’s going to be hard for them,” Kalen said when she joined her mom in the kitchen.
“It’s been hard for everyone, sweetheart,” Anne said.
“Maybe, but me and Freddy only lost dad. We still have you and grandpa. They lost both their parents.”
Kalen realized that they hadn’t spoken about her dad since they arrived. No one had mentioned him. None of them had taken the time to slow down and talk about it.
“We didn’t get to say goodbye,” Kalen said.
“No, we didn’t,” Anne said.
Ulysses moved uncomfortably in his chair. He pushed himself up off the armrests and hobbled to the door. He limped down the front steps and onto the pine needle ground of the forest floor. The pain shooting up his leg became too much and he stopped to lean against the Jeep, propping himself up for support.
Anne and Kalen came running outside after him.
“Ulysses,” Anne said.
Kalen wrapped her arms around her grandfather and buried her face into his chest. Ulysses wrapped her up. His body was shaking. Anne walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him.
Day 11 (Mike’s Journey)
“I don’t have anything else!” Fay screamed.
“That’s bullshit and you know it!” he said.
“Guys, knock it off,” Mike said.
It was the third time they had stopped like this today. Fay and Tom had been building up some animosity toward one another since yesterday.
Fay had her rifle gripped a little too tightly. The barrel was next to Tom’s head. He shoved the barrel down. Mike jumped in before Fay swung at him.
“Enough!” Mike said.
Jung and Jenna held Jung Jr. and Claire in their arms. Sean hid behind Nelson’s legs. Clarence came over with Mike to help diffuse the situation.
“Break it up you two,” Clarence said.
“Look, I’m not the one who decided to remember to bring their stupid watch instead of enough food to last them the trip!” Fay shouted.
“The only reason I didn’t have enough food was because I was helping you get your supplies,” Tom said.
“Take it easy, Tom,” Mike said.
Mike turned, took Fay by the shoulders and pointed her down the road.
“And you keep walking,” he said.
Fay stomped off and headed down the pavement. The To family, Nelson and Sean, and Clarence followed after her. Mike hung back with Tom.
“She knows I’m right,” Tom said.
“You don’t have anything left?” Mike asked.
When Tom exhaled the fight went out of him. He swung his pack around and unzipped the main pouch. He opened it up and Mike glanced inside. It was completely empty.
“I told you that it would be at least a two day trip, Tom,” Mike said.