Keep Going (Book 1): The Beginning (3 page)

Maggie stayed locked away in her mind as she fiddled with a deck of cards. She mindlessly played solitaire or shuffled the deck. Everyone thought it was best to just leave her to her own accord and none of them really felt like dealing with her either. Alex sat be side her peacefully reading a random book they had discovered. She’s not even sure what she was reading, she thinks it had something to do with a history but her mind was filled with other concerns, like the ever-growing frustration of Charlie.

“We should go up.” He said.

Now that got their attention. Fire suddenly lit behind her eyes, Maggie jumped up quickly causing Charlie to stop all movements and take a step back. Her small hands were clenched in a fist trying to appear strong but they’re intense trembling told the truth. Her blues eyes narrowed at him.

“We can’t go up there. You heard all that noise, it’s not safe.” Her voice trembled. “We’re safe here and should stay here until someone comes. Like the army or something.”

“Smart but only one problem with that. We are almost a mile underground. Exactly how are they going to know we’re done here?” He sneered again.

Petey and Alex shared a look both wondering if he continued doing that would his face get stuck like that. Maggie scrambled for words but all she could do was hap like a fish. Taking pity on the girl Alex put down her book forgetting to mark the page. Not that it mattered really. She moved in between the two and forced them to take a large step back from each other. She looked over to Maggie first locking her dark eyes with petrified blue ones.

“Charlie is right. We need to go up.” Alex said.

Maggie began to protest but stopped as Alex held her hand up.

“We need to see if there is anybody that can help us or if someone around needs our help. We’ll go up get some supplies to make a sign and get attention.”

Maggie nodded at Alex’s reasoning. She liked the idea of others out there. After all there was safety in numbers, right? Her posture began to relax and her fist unclenched. The sight of his ex calming down at the words of Alex pissed Charlie off. She didn’t know her. Why did she trust her more than him? He had made the suggestion to go up yet he was the bad guy. He was ready to give Alex a piece of his mind, tell her that she was not in charge.

He stepped forward to voice his thoughts but stopped when Alex turned her gaze on him. Her logical stare silenced him.

“You and I will go up. It’ll be easier to move around if it’s just two of us.” She reasoned again.

That did make sense and in truth he didn’t trust the other two to handle things as easy as she seemed to be. He didn’t want to agree but he nodded. Petey however did not agree to this, not one bit. His chair scraped against the floor loudly as he stood up abruptly. He couldn’t let her do this. He couldn’t let her go with some idiot into a mostly likely then not dangerous situation. He wouldn’t allow it.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He protested. “I think it’s best if Charlie and I go instead.”

“Why is that?” She crossed her arms.

“Because…” He was not sure what to say. If he said that it was because she was a woman, he knew he would get a smack. If he said that it was because she’s his friend and that he just wants to protect her, the same argument could be made against him. Alex uncrossed her arms and rolled her eyes as if she could hear all the thoughts in his head. She put her hands on her hips and gave him that look that clearly stated’ you’re an idiot’.

“You’re staying. I need you working on the radio, you might be the only one that can fix it.” She stated. “Plus this is my neighborhood I know my way around. If for some reason we need to hide or run I know where to go. Do you?”

He lowered his head and shook it in answer to her question. Knowing he would not win against her he turned back around and sat back down, officially ending the conversation. Alex knew she had upset him by not taking him up there or letting him go in her place. But there was no time to be sensitive or sugar coat things. He was not good in situations that needed action and that was okay. His brains would save them.

Alex motioned for Charlie to follow her to the cabinet that she forced them to ignore. She flung it open and looked at the guns for a second before reaching in. She grabbed a simple pistol and case of bullets.

“Want you to pay close attention to me and everything I’m about to say.” She held out the gun to show it to him, he stared intensely.

“This is a simple six shooter, means you only get six bullets. This is the chamber, this is the barrel and this is the rigger.” She pointed to every part of the silver gun before popping the chamber open. “Always keep the gun pointed downward unless you’re about to shoot.” She slipped the bullets in and in a swift motion closed it.

“Here is the safety, you push it to take it off or put it on. Right now it’s on, don’t take it off; last thing we need is your hurting yourself. One more thing and again I need you to pay attention.” He took his eyes off the weapon and focused solely on her. She took a deep breath as she stretched out her hand, the handle directed towards him.

“Don’t put your finger on the trigger. Place it to the side over the trigger guard. Keep the gun pointed down. This is meant as a warning and only a warning. If you do raise it only raise it to shoot. You only shoot…” She looked away. “When some is attacking you then don’t hesitate. Your life is important remember that.”

Charlie nodded as he took the gun firmly keeping it pointed down. He slid it carefully into the front of his pants. Alex didn’t think that was the best place to keep it but she was kind of happy that he wasn’t holding onto it.

“Really think we’ll need it?” Charlie asked suddenly not feeling as confident as he was a moment ago.

Alex loaded her own gun and shoved into her pocket not trusting it to stay in the waistband of her pants. She grabbed extra bullets and clip into her other pocket, looking ready for war.

“I don’t know what happened up there. I don’t know what we’re going to find and if it’s good or not. Rather sit on the side of caution.” She said.

Not meeting Petey’s eyes, who had watched the exchange with an odd fascination, she moved towards the ladder without another word. Grabbing the first railing she felt a hand on her shoulder stopping her. She thought it was Petey ready to protest again. Instead she found Charlie holding out a solid blue bandana towards her. She took it from him then he began to wrap a purple one over his mouth and nose.

“What’s this for?” She asked.

She wondered where he had gotten the two bandanas from but didn’t brother to ask. She just copied his actions and covered her own face.

“Protection.” She raised an eyebrow and he shrugged. “Better to err on the side of caution.” He repeated her words back.

They climbed out of the bunker. Being below they had lost track of time and were harshly reminded that it was midday by the blinding sun. Even with the intense sun giving a large quantity of heat a cold shiver ran threw them at the alarming silence that surrounded them. The wind didn’t dare to rustle the trees and no birds flew by. It would have been a lovely day to be outside had it not been today.

Tapping him on the shoulder Alex motioned for him for them to be quiet and then moved toward her house once more. They attempted to move as quietly as their surroundings. The only sound was their breathing and their shoes on the ground. Alex had never realized how gravelly the roads seemed to be until that’s all she could hear.

The whole street appeared empty, not even a squirrel or any other critter passed by. Her stomach sank at thought of all the missing animals.

“Alex, take a look at this.” Charlie whispered.

He led them to a patch of ruined grass. He knelt down and rubbed the dirt as if he was actually looking at the tires that had ruined the grass. She knelt beside him staring more so at him then at the patch of dirt. Without any knowledge they just looked like tire tracks to her but luckily for them he did have some knowledge.

“They’re Humvee tires. More likely military considering that they’re up and down the street.” He said.

“How in the hell do you know that?” Alex raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

Charlie scoffed; attempting at looking offended but it just came off smug. He stood up dusting off invisible dirt from his pants, Alex followed suit.

“I grew up in a garage.” He said.

Nudging Charlie they continued on their walk at a slower pace. Making sure to watch out for anything that might spring out at them. The empty street left too much of an uneasy feeling in their guts. Nothing good was to come and they knew it too.

“Dad a mechanic or something?” She asked.

“My mom actually, you sexist.” Alex groaned at his playful smile. She shook her head in amusement as he kept talking. “My uncle too. As well as my grandparents, my great-grandparents and so on, ever since my family first immigrated to this country. In fact I’ll be the first in four generations not to be fixing cars but instead working in some stupid office.” He lost the pride and ended with shame at the end of his sentence.

“Got a lot of knowledge about cars. Never thought it would come in handy but here we are.” His tone was low. “What about you?”

Alex didn’t know what to say to his sudden change in mood nor the question. She didn’t know shit about cars or mechanic really. People had tried to teach her but she didn’t really car. She knew how to change a tire and that always felt like enough to her. Seeing the confusion Charlie clarified his question.

“The guns. You don’t exactly look like someone that knows about guns yet you seem to have a good understanding. Also I saw that you didn’t grab a simple six-shooter either. Figured you wouldn’t grave something you didn’t know how to use.” He smirked.

As much as Alex hated to admit it, Charlie was impressive. She had not taken the man to be so observant or smart for that matter. She failed to give him enough credit and would not make that mistake again.

“You’re right, I didn’t grave a six-shooter.” She admitted drily.

He rolled his eyes at her lack of response and she chuckled at his impatience.

“My step-dad and sister liked guns. Also liked hearing themselves talk and boy did they talk. Thankfully some things did stick despite my best attempts to ignore everything they said.” Alex laughed darkly. She could hear them telling her to pay attention that some day she might have to use a gun.

Charlie shifted uncomfortably as the air around Alex changed. Their conversation came to a halt as they reached the front door again. He stepped towards the windows and touched the broken glass of the shattered window. Looking around he surveyed the other houses with a quick glance and took notice of a common trait.

“All the windows are blown in.” He said.

Alex made her way inside and he followed not wanting to be left alone. Her breath hitched at the sight of the empty house. The first time she came in her emotions were out of control, not bothering to look around but now she had the chance. Everything looked the same; nothing was moved or broken well except for the shattered glass all around. It was as if someone came in and broke all the mirrors, vases, pictures and anything with glass. It was a strange sight but she tossed in the back of her mind not finding it important at the moment.

Alex knew her sister wasn’t here not anymore but she needed to know if Chris left willingly or was forced out. She moved mindlessly to the bathroom they shared finding broken glass scattered on the sink. Resting in side a small pile of broken glass lay her sister’s necklace. Alex’s own personal chain was missing however; her sister must have taken it. She must have left her’s behind as a sign or something to let Alex know she was still alive.

Alex let out a content sigh at the thought.

“Are you okay?” Alex jumped at the soft tone. Her hand bracing the gun in her pocket.

When she realized it was just Charlie she gave a quiet nod and slipped the chain into her other pocket. Exiting the bathroom without a word. Charlie didn’t know what to do he continued to follow her as she moved towards a bedroom. It was not decorated with much. A queen size bed sat in the middle of the room with a light grey and black covers. Degrees, certificates framed the walls along with a few photos underneath was simple black dresser and an expensive T.V. He took a moment to look over the photos as Alex disappeared into the walk-in closet.

One picture was of Alex and whom he assumed was her sister, the one she must have been looking for. Alex was in a hospital bed, looking completely out of it and her sister was up close with a smile. The next one was of the two of them again sitting against a wall; a drink in each of their hands but her sister had her arm thrown around Alex. They looked a lot like the only main difference was that her sister had really short hair, small face and freckles. She also wore a stupid grin compared to Alex whom seemed to have a smirk in most of the photos. All photos seemed to be either of them two or family.

His musing were cut off by Alex emerging from the closet holding a backpack. He raised his eyebrows noticing that she had changed clothes once again while inside. She smiled and shrugged. She now wore an olive green jacket, better fit jeans and black shirt underneath and bag on her back, looking much more comfortable then she had before.

“I like this jacket.” Her only response.

He laughed as she tossed the bag at him. She kept moving as he peered through the bag finding different supplies in case of emergency from flares to first aid. Energy bars and water filters, things one would not think about having but some how fit into this bag.