Keep Going (Book 1): The Beginning (2 page)

Petey was about to question it but was interrupted by the struggles of Charlie trying to get out from under the bed. His large frame caused it to shake as he stood up and brushed himself off.

“What’s going on?” Petey asked.

They all turned their heads to Alex, even the blond woman whom she still could not recall her name. She had no idea what was going on, why on earth would they think she did? Fighting against all instinct Alex bit back any sarcastic remark when she saw the look of pure fear on their faces. They didn’t think she knew what was going on they just wanted to comforted. They wanted to be told ‘it was nothing to worry about’. They wanted a pat on the head and warm smile.

“I’m not sure.” She spoke honestly. “But for now we’re safe down here.”

“For now?” Charlie asked mockingly.

“Yes, for now.” She muttered.

She took a step forward ready to tell Charlie his attitude was not helping when a soft whimper came from behind the man. She looked over at the blonde woman who was fiddling with the sleeves of her dress. She looked so small; well she was small but even more so.

“Where are we?” She asked.

Alex tried again to rack her brain for any name but still came up blank. She would have asked but it seemed a little weird to be asking for any right now. She sighed heavily and moved to place an arm around the blonde’s shoulder trying to give some sense of comfort. It was very uncomfortable for her but at least she tried.

“My neighbor, Mr. Donoghue’s bunker.” Alex chuckled. “Back up generator, an air filter system and food to last for about two months. Also has medical supplies and anything that we might need for emergencies.”

“Wow, this guy was prepared.” Charlie skimmed the room from where we stood.

Alex nodded. Mr. Donoghue was also prepared, he was a smart man and he was alive just like her sister, Chris.

“He built after his wife passed. She never liked the idea, thought it was crazy.” Her chuckle darkened. “I think it did it to distract in himself from his loss. Good thing to build though.”

Sensing her distress Petey moved to her side. He wanted to reach out to her, Alex didn’t often show emotion and Petey knew she didn’t like to be called on it. So he didn’t try to comfort her like she did with the blonde instead he allowed her to slip from their side and turn her back. Let her turn away to grieve in the tiniest of bit of privacy.

Petey turned away himself and looked across the room. By the ladder sat a wooden desk with what looked like a bunch of junk. Eyeing it closer he realized it was an old ham radio sitting there with transmitters and speakers. He scoffed in amazement at the sight. He pondered the list of people who would have such a device and where one could even find one.

“I think I can get the radio working.” Petey’s voice cracked with hope.

The other three turned quickly around looking for said radio that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Alex eyed it suspiciously.

“You really think you can that crap to work?” She pointed lazily.

Petey shrugged as he glided towards it. Pulling out the metal chair he plopped down and looked the radio over. It appeared intact; nothing looked damaged or rusted, though he would have to open it up and make sure the wired were still good. He believed Mr. Donoghue had and did take great care of it. Feeling hopeful he turned to his friend and nodded.

“I can do it.” He said determined.

Alex gave a nod back and clap of approval on his shoulder. She could hear the slight hitch in his voice of hesitation but she had complete faith in. Besides they need something that gave them hope, a distraction if not just for a little bit. She turned towards the others in the bunker and took them in.

Charlie was a well-built man however his black hair and brown eyes made him more ordinary then anything. She tried to be strong, he wanted to be brave but Alex could see the fear shinning in his eyes. The way his body was tense and rigid like a corned dog.

Then there was the blonde, who Alex could still not figure out her name. Her small frame was shaking; her hair a mess from what she assumed what was once a tight bun. Her short green dress was dirty and slightly torn and she kept chewing on the long sleeves. Alex felt nauseated at the thought of all the dirt she must be sucking on. Unlike her companion, this had no problem showing her fear.

Alex took a deep breath in, collecting her thoughts. She knew everything that was in this bunker but they didn’t. They needed a distraction and Alex needed them to be distracted long enough for her to collect her barring’s.

“Maggie and I are going to search for some different clothes to change into. Charlie I want you to search around the bunker. Find out where the food, water and medical supplies.” She said.

The pair nodded happily accepting the busy work. As they searched for things they called out they found; food, water, tools, pillows, blankest, etc. When Charlie yelled out clothes, Alex abandoned her mental inventory of canned foods to change into something more comfortable.

She grabbed a red plaid shirt and pair of jeans, both too large for her but she didn’t care. She didn’t care that they smelled musky and mildly moldy. God knows how long they might be here and she wasn’t going to be stuck in an outfit she hated. It was a shallow though, she knew that, but then again she didn’t care as she rolled up her sleeves.

Charlie continued to walk around amazed that the bunker had after seemed small but in fact was quite large. It had basically a walk-in pantry for the food. He found a sense of respect for Alex’s neighbor and silently thanked him in his head. He came upon a beige cabinet hiding the darkness of the bunker. It was off to the side and a way from everything else. It was not very tall or wide, however, it was locked. He rattled the small padlock but it held the double doors firmly close.

“Anybody find any keys?” He asked over his shoulder.

A collective ‘no’ was given. Charlie really wanted to know what was in there. He grabbed the small lock and braced one hand on the cabinet to keep it from falling over. The he shook the lock in hopes of weakening it and breaking it. It was not a very big lock and it didn’t look too expensive. With enough force he should be able to break it.

The sound startled them all as it echoed around. Alex sprung up, hiking up the baggy pants and locking the belt into place. She looked towards the small stack of tools by the desk. Spotting a crowbar she snatched it up and moved over to Charlie. Figuring he wouldn’t stop until he knew what was inside she pushed him aside gently. Without much resistance he allowed Alex to take his place.

All the frustration, all the annoyance and fear that Alex was feeling she let it bleed into the crowbar. As she raised it high it took all the repressed emotions with it. Releasing it only when the sharp edge hit the lock. It weakened with every blow. With every anger filled hit the lock grew weaker and weaker until finally hit opened. She tossed the crowbar to the side hoping the others didn’t realize what had happened.

Charlie didn’t say anything as he slid behind her to get a better look at what was inside. Turning the handle it popped open to reveal a small armory. A couple of double barrel shot guns sat snuggly in the center, five semi-automatics lined one of the doors and the other held six revolvers. Two shelves above one stocked with bullets to the top the other with what looked like cleaning supplies and various items.

Alex ran through every memory that she had of helping Mr. Donoghue build this bunker. She remembered bringing down cans of food, the desk and telling the older man to get a professional to install the air filter system after it caught on fire. But this, she did not recall helping with this. However her sister was a bigger fan of guns. He had probably enlisted her to help instead. The simple thought of her sister brought a small pang to her stomach but she didn’t have a chance to focus on it as a hand came into her line of view. Alex slapped it away not knowing whose it was. She turned to see Charlie rubbing his hand and glaring her.

“What do you think you’re doing?” She asked.

“I was going to grab one.” He spoke if she was a child.

Alex sneered lightly, standing tall as she could at 5’5 and crossed her arms. In a silent stance that meant she would not be moved from her place.

“Have you ever fired a gun? Let alone held one before?” Her voice was firm. He couldn’t help but take a step back at the tone. He felt as though he had been taught sneaking a cookie from the jar and now was being scolded for it.

“No, I haven’t.” He admitted embarrassed.

Alex shook her head; she shut the cabinet doors and leaned against them. Crossing her arms again she looked at him with a stern look. She readied herself for a fight if he was going to try and move her.

“Then like hell you’ll be touching anything in there.” He opened his mouth in protest but it did when Alex raised her hand in silence. “We don’t need them right now. So nobody touches them for the safety of everyone, okay?”

Charlie sneered at her but he gave a nod in understanding. He wouldn’t admit it but he completely agreed with her. He turned away to continue to look around even though there wasn’t much to see anymore. Alex caught Petey’s gaze. She hadn’t notice him getting up. His stance was ready to defend if Charlie had turned on her. His look was panicked and worried but she calmed it with her version of a smile; one side of her lips edged upward. He took what was given and sat back down returning his attention to the radio. Alex took a moment to breathe, to let her mind clear but it wasn’t. The panic in her rose and all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. God, she needed her sister.

The night’s events had finally taken their tool on the group and the decided to sleep or at least try to. The blonde woman slept soundly on the top bunk curled up in her self. She had fallen asleep in a matter of seconds after resting her head on the pillow. Charlie laid on the bottom bunk his back to the room as Alex and Petey stretched out on the floor. A few blankets were thrown down to protect them from the cold of the ground and pillows for cushioning. They had chosen to sleep on the floor to provide just a little bit of distance between the pairs. Petey’s head was on her stomach as she rested her head against the pillows staring at the ceiling. Alex mindlessly ran her fingers through his hair. Taking a couple glances down to marvel at how bright his read hair was even in the low lighting.

Focused intensely on her she didn’t hear the shift of the bed as Charlie rolled over to look at them. He stared at the two trying to figure out the nature of their relationship. In truth they didn’t look like they would be friends in his mind, let alone dating. Petey was not tall but aver height; his skin was pale and freckly. Charlie figured he ad to be Irish or Scottish, there was no way he wasn’t. Then there was Alex; she was short, dark hair and dark skin. She was aggressive, at least towards him; granted he would admit he might have made her. He remembered arguing with her in classes. She was so stubborn and opinionated never sparing anyone if the try to belittled her words. Yet here she was being so gentle and in lack of a better term ‘nice’ towards this one person.

“Are you two together?” He blurted out.

The silence driving him a little crazy. The sudden question startled Alex but she didn’t let it show. She stopped her action and turned her head only to look at Charlie on the bed.

“No, we’re just really good friends. What about you two?” She inquired.

“Couple of times but it never worked out. Couldn’t leave her though, just couldn’t do it. She’s smart but she’s not really that good on her own, you know?” He mumbled.

Alex could see that. Blonde barely uttered a word since, whatever happened, happened. All she did was shake in fear and stare of into space. Alex turned back to Petey’s hair and continued with her mindless actions.

“Name’s Maggie by the way. Don’t believe you knew that.” He said smugly.

She laughed softy as not wake anybody. The laugh brought a sense of warmth to Charlie. Maybe it was his actions previously that brought her aggression; maybe he could bring out the nice person too.

“I didn’t know that but thank you. I, at least, know your name, Charlie.” She said.

“Actually it’s Charles but Charlie is fine. Don’t call me Chuck though, hate that. Never understood why anybody would want to be called Chuck or Chaz for that mater.”

Alex hummed gently at Charlie’s ramblings. It brought a sense of normality, as if what to call himself was the most important thing at the moment. Even when he was done it allowed them to sit comfortably in silence.

“How long do you think we’ll be down here?” He whispered.

Alex stopped her hand again and focused on Charlie, really focused this time. He looked so tiny with his legs curled up near his chest, his arm folded neatly under his head almost in the fetal position as he picked at the mattress below him. She wasn’t sure what to say.

“No more then a day.” She lied.

Charlie held her gaze. She could tell he didn’t believe her but she accepted the lie anyway. He hummed in agreement before turning his back to the room. Alex wait for the sound of his breathing to even out before she finally allowed her eyes to drift shut.

4

“It’s been two days.” Charlie growled.

He paced back and forth looking like a dog trapped in a cage. Petey ignored the growling man as he continued to work on the radio with the casing opened and his fingers tangled in wires; his entire attention was on fixing that radio. Half believing it was their only hope, half out of distraction for the situation they were in.