She held out her hands. “I don’t mind. I’ll strap him to me.”
“You sure?” I lifted the carrier from me and handed him to her.
By the time we were ready to pull out, Leah arrived at the car.
I debated at that moment to drive off. I really did, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I got out, opened the door and Leah crawled in. I strapped her down just in case.
“You have her trained,” Hannah said. “I always knew the calm ones had some left over smarts.”
“What do you know about the calms ones?” I asked as I drove off.
“I first heard about them on the news. They called them something. Some technical term. The ones that got sick from being bit. The ones that turned in the wave are the ones that are the worst.”
“Yeah, I know. Have you seen many calm ones?”
Hannah nodded. “Can I have one of these?” She pointed to the air freshener.
“Yes, why?”
“I don’t know if you noticed it really stinks in here.” She brought the air freshener to her nose. “What did you ask me?”
“What you knew about the calm ones.”
“Oh, yeah. Most of the time, you get bit you don’t survive enough to turn. Or you do and you’re so tore up you can’t get back up, then you become a twitcher. Just kinda lay there in this puddle of mush, all twitchin’, like Mr. Davis my third grade teacher.”
Again, she made my head spin.
“My mom got tore up pretty good. My dad put down my brother.”
“I’m sorry, Hannah, I am. How long ago was it?”
“A while. Maybe a month. We were in Carver Town.”
“Is that where you’re from?”
“No. I’m from Morgantown.”
“Is that how you know the area?” I asked. “You said you know the area really well.”
“I do. Been to Carver Town a lot. When my home got hit, we heard from my cousin that Carver Town was good and so we went there because we had family there. They shut the town down. It was normal. Everyone was normal. The one guy said ’cause it was secluded and hidden that no wave could hit there. After a few weeks, my dad and uncle went all up and down the highway posting signs saying there weren’t no Vee.”
“What happened? Did a wave actually hit?”
“No,” Hannah said. “A bunch just came over the hills and into town. There were hundreds. We got in the car, my mom, dad, brother and baby sister, but we got surrounded. My dad got bit, they broke through the windows. My mom was yelling, ‘get out the sunroof Hannah, help your brother.’ So I did. I grabbed for my brother, but the Vee were in the car. My baby sister was in the car seat, there was nothing left.”
“What about your brother?”
“They pulled him and ate him. By the time I got him to the roof he was only half left.”
“Oh my God. Hannah, that’s terrible. I am so sorry you went through that.”
“Some guys came and shot them so I could get free, but it was too late. My mom, brother, and sister were dead. My dad didn’t die. He put down my brother before he could turn into one. My dad and I hid in a hardware store. Until he died.”
“Did he turn into a Vee?” I asked.
“Yep and… that’s how I really knew about the calm ones and why I know you’re letting her follow you. My dad followed me.”
“Really?”
“I wasn’t like you,” she said. “I didn’t have a car and I had to walk. He followed me, I just couldn’t kill him.”
“Did he ever try to hurt you?”
“Oh, sure, lots of times. I could always outrun him and he always found something else to attack. Then he’d follow me again.”
“What happened to him? Did you…”
“No.” She shook her head. “Pastor Jim put him down. I was walking up to his gate and he put an arrow in him. I cried. He thought it was because I was happy to be safe. I cried because it was my dad.”
I felt horrible for her. She had been through so much.
“You’re really brave,” I told her.
“What are you going to do with her?”
“I don’t know. A part of me knows it isn’t her anymore. Yet, when I look at her all I see is my wife. Even in the physical state she’s in.”
“Do you want to be the one to do it?” Hannah asked.
“You mean put her down?”
Hannah nodded.
“I’d like to be the one. I just don’t know if I have it in me. If I did, I don’t know how I would do it.”
“You don’t have a gun?”
“I did. For like a minute. I traded it for gas.”
“You traded your only weapon for gas?”
“Yeah, I mean I haven’t had problems with the Vee since back home.” I watched as Hannah took another long whiff of the air freshener. “Maybe once I get close to sanctuary I’ll find a way to lose her.”
“What about Edward?” she asked. “What if it’s like Mr. Mills’ and they don’t let you in with him?”
“Oh, they have to. He’s a baby, right? It’s a different set up than Mr. Mills’ place. I’m sure of it. Out here, while we’re traveling, I’m going to have to be more careful.”
She nodded and looked down to Edward then sniffed the air freshener again. We talked the whole way in the car. We moved off the depressing conversation and talked about her school, my job, and other things. Leah and Edward were both calm, which made for an easy drive. We were excited, counting mile markers as we went, each one we passed was another mile closer to sanctuary.
I should have known.
Good things don’t last very long. When I calculated we’d be there by dinner, that’s when it happened.
The car sputtered and jerked as it used the last bit of gas. I let it coast as if that final fifty feet would make a difference. My car had served me well and it was time to leave it behind.
We were seventy-four miles away.
We had three weeks before they closed their gates. I was certain we would make it.
With the red Radio Flyer wagon loaded with supplies, Hannah, Edward, and I began the remainder of the journey on foot.
15
WITHOUT SIGHT
When I mentally planned my family’s exodus to sanctuary, I truly believed I’d thought of everything. From clothing to food, the red wagon for walking and carrying our things. What I didn’t think about was the actual walking.
I debated on whether to stay on the highway. Even though it was a clear shot, there was nowhere to hide if needed.
Hannah’s knowledge of the area only extended about thirty miles beyond Sissonville, WV, after that she was done.
We ran out of gas just outside of Huntington, and looking at the map, we were beyond all the marked safe zones. Our best bet was to follow the Ohio River for a few miles, then cut back up to be near the road.
It was easier said than done.
I didn’t take into account that the wagon wouldn’t move all that great if we weren’t on a smooth surface, or the weather. I never planned on the weather. Autumn had set in early, the air was chilled and an overcast sky didn’t help. I also didn’t think about my injuries. I had been beaten so badly it hurt with every move I made.
The walking did seem to keep Edward calm. Leah followed us from the car down to the river, but with each step we took, she lagged further behind. That was until we paused then she’d catch up again.
“Should we find a sidewalk or something?” Hannah asked, as she stopped and picked up a bottle of water that fell from the wagon.
“We will, just a little further.”
“Do you know this town?”
“No. I’m looking at the map.”
“Too bad there’s no internet. Could do that earth thing and see what it looks like.”
“It would be nice.” It wasn’t that far to the river or to the town of Huntington, I kept trudging along. Edward to my chest and Hannah picking up the items that flew about whenever I hit a bump.