The End Boxset: Postapocalyptic Visions of an Unstoppable Collapse (31 page)

A noise outside startled her. It could have been anything, but it was enough to remind her that she needed to get back to the car. She cradled the goods from the store and slipped back outside the door. No one was out there waiting for her, like she had feared. She continued her stroll back to the car, hoping that Brian and Kiya were safe. She truly hated leaving them, but found it necessary in circumstances like this. She looked down both sides of the road, and didn’t see anyone. It was strange, but oddly comforting at the same time. Back at the car, Brian was standing outside, leaning against the hood. “Brian, what are you doing?” she asked, clutching the food and drinks in her arms. Brian looked at her with truly perplexed. “You didn’t really expect me to sit in that hot car the whole time did you?” he asked.

“Where’s your sister?” Alice asked.

“She’s in the woods,” he said.

“What?” Alice gasped.

Suddenly, Kiya emerged from the tree line and walked towards the car. “Sheesh, mom. I had to pee, do you really have to make it public?” she asked.

“Just get in the car, both of you now, please,” Alice said.

Everyone got back in the car; Alice said her usual prayer and started the ignition. This time Brian got in the front seat. There was a slight argument between him and Kiya, but Alice put it to an end. They were soon on the road again. Alice felt better having an actual destination to go to. However, truth be told, she didn’t know how her parents would react to her arrival, or if they would even be at the house. The thought of walking into their farm house, finding it destroyed and them dead on the ground was a terrifying thought. But it crossed her mind, nonetheless. It was a possibility, but she had to remain hopeful; if not for herself, her children.

“What did you get us?” Brian asked.

“Okay, who wants the grape juice?” Alice asked, holding it up.

“I do!” Kiya called out.

“Ewww, gross,” Brian said. “What else did you get?”

“Well you can have the orange drink or you can have water,” Alice replied.

Brian scoffed. “They didn’t have any apple juice?” Kiya asked.

“Nope. That’s all they had,” Alice said.

“Fine, I’ll take the water,” Brian said.

Alice handed him the water, and Brian gulped it down. Kiya sucked down the grape drink as well. Alice handed Brian the pretzels.

“Here share these with Kiya,” she said.

Brian took the pretzels, opened them and feasted.

“Hey, she said to share them!” Kiya shouted.

Alice squinted. Miles ahead there was a large object blocking the road. It was troubling, to say the least. As Brian and Kiya argued over the pretzels, all Alice could think about was the object ahead of them.

“Brian,” she said, pulling on his sleeve, “do you see that? What is it?”

Brian leaned forward and looked. “Um, it looks like a log or something,” he said.

“Is it a tree?” Alice asked. She couldn’t tell for sure.

“I don’t know, it sort of looks like a tree,” Brian said.

It was a large, dead tree that had fallen into their path. It completely blocked the road as it covered both lanes, stretching into the woods on the other side from which it fell. Alice slowed the car as they got closer.

“Looks like it feel over,” Brian said.

“I don’t like this,” Alice said.

“Well, you’re going to have to stop, mom. We can’t drive through it,” Brian said.

Alice stopped the car five feet from the tree. As the car idled, she looked to both sides to try to figure out a way around the road obstruction. The top of the tree looked rotted enough to push out of the way. The top had slightly broken off, and it was skinny and hollow. But she didn’t want to risk damaging the car or its tires by driving over the branch. She figured they could push the rotted part of the tree out of their way drive around it. She put the car in park and left it running.

“This is what we’re going to do,” she said turning to Brian. “You and I are going to push that top part of the tree out of the way. That will clear a path for us to drive through.”

“Okay,” Brian said, without any objection.

“Kiya, you just wait here,” Alice said.

“Got it,” Kiya said.

Alice and Brian exited the car and walked over end of the tree. It stuck out and rested about three feet off the ground. Alice could see cracks all over the tree that indicated wood rot. Whatever they had to do, she felt, they had to do it fast. “Let’s give this a shot,” she said to Brian.

“Hold it right there,” a voice shouted from the woods.

Alice and Brian both froze in their tracks. They couldn’t fully tell where the voice had come from. But whoever it was, they were carefully concealed. “Put your hands in the air,” the voice commanded.

“Mom?” Brian said.

“Just do what he says,” Alice said, raising her arms in the air. Brian soon followed.

“Good. Now don’t move,” the voice said. They heard rustling from the nearby woods and out came a man holding a rifle, aiming it at them. It was Jeremy Rafelson. He had been waiting all day for a car to come through and was relieved to see that his plan had finally worked. Having walked endlessly along the state-road, Jeremy decided on the spot once he noticed the dead tree tilted over. With a few heavy pushes, he was able to tip it completely over and into the street. It was set-up, and what Alice feared most in her travels—an ambush.

“Listen to the man and everything will be okay, son,” Alice said.

“What do you want?” Brian asked. His brazenness outraged Jeremy.

“I want you to shut the hell up, for starters,” Jeremy said running towards them with his rifle aimed squarely at their faces.

“Please don’t hurt him, he’s only a child,” Alice cried.

Jeremy stopped and backed off, but for a moment. He laughed to himself and walked in a circle around them. “That’s like the third time I’ve heard that today. Well, not the
son
part, but the
please don’t hurt him
. Or
please don’t hurt me
. Everyone is so polite nowadays. You wouldn’t even think that society was going to hell in a handbasket.”

“Just take what you want and leave us alone,” Alice said.

Jeremy held up his rifle and scratched his chin. “Yeah, I think I’ll do that. I’ll start by taking that nice automobile you have running there, and I’ll take whatever supplies you have as well.”

Alice didn’t know how to respond. Naturally when someone points a rifle at you, you’re inclined to give them whatever they want as to keep yourself alive. But, to her, leaving them stranded on a deserted road without any supplies was as good as death.

“Please, we need that car. I beg you—”

“Save it, lady. It’s every man for himself out there. Or, woman, I’m sorry. The point being that I don’t give a shit what you need. I just know what I need and I need that car.”

“I have two children. Don’t leave us out here like this,” Alice said, growing hysterical.

Jeremy circled them again. Their arms were still in the air. Brian’s arms were growing tired, and they started to drop. “This is what I’m going to do. I’m going to walk over to that car, and drive off. If you make one move, I’ll shoot you. Is that clear enough?” he asked.

“My daughter is in the car. At least let me get her before you leave,” Alice pleaded.

They heard the sound of a car door shut. It was Kiya. She walked towards them with a curious look on her face. Alice held her arms out as to command Kiya to stay back.

“Don’t come any closer, Kiya, we’re fine over here!” she shouted.

“What are you guys doing?” Kiya asked.

“Just stay there. We’re okay,” Alice said as her voice cracked in panic.

“Well, looks like we solved
that
problem,” Jeremy said. He looked to Kiya and Brian and did a quick bow. “Pleasure doing business with you,” he said.  He then walked away, keeping his rifle aimed in their direction.

“Mom,” Brian said. Alice didn’t respond.

“Mom, we’re as good as dead without that car,” he continued.

“I know, Brian!” she said, visibly upset.

“What are we going to do?” he asked.

“I’m thinking,” Alice said.

Jeremy walked to the car satisfied. He walked by Kiya along the way.

She looked up and spoke. “Who are you?” she asked.

“Nobody, kid. Go to your mom,” Jeremy said walking past her. She didn’t take her eyes off him, as if trying to recognize him. “Hey, I know you,” she said.

Jeremy stopped turned around. “What did you say?” he asked.

“You work at my school. You’re the janitor,” she said excited.

Jeremy stumbled and stuttered. He didn’t want anything to do with the conversation.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

“Yeah, it’s you. I remember you. How can you not remember me? I said hello to you on the first day of school,” she said.

Jeremy went silent. Before him stood a smiling girl—all but eleven or twelve years old—who actually recognized him.

“You’re right,” he said. “I am a janitor. But those days are long gone. I wish you and your family the best.”

“Where are you going? You could ride with us!” Kiya said, as her excitement grew.

“I really—I really don’t think that would work,” he said looking at the ground.

Kiya ran to him and grabbed his arm. “Of course it would work,” she said. Jeremy lowered his rifle and found himself being pulled back towards Alice and Brian by Kiya. He felt helpless to do anything.

“Mom, this is a janitor from our school,” Kiya said.

Jeremy was waiting for her to introduce him as GI Joke, the name he was known by at the school.

“His name is Jeremy the Janitor,” she said.

Alice nodded along carefully. “That’s great, Kiya, why don’t you come over here, okay honey?”

Brian took a closer look at Jeremy. “Yeah, I remember you,” he said. “You were the janitor at my middle school.”

Jeremy attempted to conceal his face with his boonie hat. He resolve was wavering and he didn’t understand it.

“Where are we headed anyway?” Kiya asked Alice.

“Tennessee,” Alice said with a hesitant tone.

Kiya turned to Jeremy. “And where are you headed?” she asked.

“Uh, Tennessee,” he replied.

Kiya jumped up in excitement. “So why don’t you just come with us?” she asked.

“Kiya,” Alice said.

“No mom, for real. He should ride with us,” Kiya said.

“Yeah, I don’t know about that,” Brian interjected.

“Oh come on. Let’s help him,” Kiya said.

Jeremy surveyed the area, looking back at the car. He rubbed his forehead, face, chest, and everything he could think for no other reason but to stall things. Kiya’s smile was infectious. Jeremy was capable of a lot of things, it seemed, but leaving Alice and her children stranded had nothing to do with survival. It would be cruel. And there was enough cruelty in the world for years to come. Jeremy came to a decision.

“Why don’t your mom and I talk for a moment?” Jeremy said to Kiya.

“Okay, whatever,” Kiya said. “Let’s get back on the road though. I can’t wait to go to Tennessee.”

Jeremy placed his hands on Alice’s shoulders and led her towards the woods.

“I’m going to only say this once,” he said, turning her around, “you drive where you gotta go, I’ll sit in the back. Once you get there, I’m going to take the car, and that will be that.”

Alice nodded.

“You understand?” he said.

“Yes, yes I understand. Thank you,” Alice said.

“Now you and your son had the right idea. We can push part of this tree out of the way here.”

Jeremy led Alice to the tree and they pushed the rotted section off the tree and rolled it into the woods. They all filed in the car—family and captor—and shut the doors. Jeremy sat in the back with Kiya as she told and re-told the story of her daring escape from school. He didn’t know what parts to believe, but it was interesting enough. Alice, as promised, drove them through West Virginia and through Tennessee. Brian didn’t say much throughout the trip, as he didn’t feel quite right about Jeremy’s presence, but he wasn’t going to complain. Jeremy was surprised to find that after he accidentally nodded off, they never tried to abandon him. It was a long ride to Tennessee, a journey that resulted in several other store stops and gas runs. Jeremy helped them learn how to siphon gas from other vehicles along the road. No matter where they passed through, the situation seemed to be the same; abandoned vehicles, angry mobs, looted stores, fires, and all around chaos. Alice spoke to Jeremy only once during their trip, late at night while the kids were sleeping.

“Have you seen any other vehicles on the road?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’ve seen quite a few military vehicles,” he answered.

“You have any family?” she asked.

“I did at one time. Not anymore,” he said.

“I know what you mean,” she said.

At one point Jeremy offered to drive so Alice could get some sleep. She reluctantly accepted, but felt her road exhaustion was putting her children at risk. She wrote the directions down for Jeremy and rested in the backseat with Kiya. She was out in no time. She slept for hours. In her dreams Randall was lying next to her. They were back at the house and nothing had happened. The dreams would always go bad though, as maniacs broke into her house, over and over again, jolting Alice awake. As she awoke for the twentieth time, she looked around the car. Jeremy was at the wheel; Brian was asleep in the front seat, and Kiya sleeping next to her. Alice looked out the window and was ecstatic to recognize the town they were in. It was her parent’s town.

“We’re here already?” she asked Jeremy.

“Yep, looks like it,” he said.

“Jeremy,” she said.

“Yeah,” he mumbled.

“Thanks for not leaving us,” she said.

Jeremy didn’t say anything, but the
thank you
felt reciprocated nonetheless.

“I think it’s this turn up here,” she pointed out.