The Great Solar Storm | Book 2 | Absolute Collapse, page 13
part #2 of The Great Solar Storm Series
“I don’t want you to keep an eye on me,” Dorian said. “It’s time I keep an eye out for myself.”
Dorian’s dad laughed. “You couldn’t take care of a stuffed animal.”
“It’s time you leave,” Dorian said.
“You don’t want things to be like this, Dorian,” Frank said, curling his fingers around the door.
Erik tightened his grip on the gun. “It’s getting late. You should probably get back to your town.”
“I don’t need advice from a thief,” Frank growled. “You dumb kids have no idea what’s going on around here. You think you’re safely locked up in this little house? It’s time to wake up and join our community.”
“Now you’re inviting us all?” Dorian asked with a snort. “You sound desperate.”
“I desperately don’t want you to end up dead,” Frank said. “You should be at home with me.”
Dorian released a heavy sigh that dropped his shoulders. “No thanks. I’m worried that if I go back with you, I’ll end up dead. I’ll take my chances here with the tourists.”
“That’s how it’s going to be? After all I’ve done for you?” Frank snapped.
“Which part was for me? The smacking me around or the drinking until you passed out?” Dorian asked. “There was a reason mom didn’t stick around, and it wasn’t because of me.”
“You little piece of shit,” Frank said, pushing against the door.
Erik pushed back with all his strength, but the door started to move inward. I darted across the floor and pushed back with Erik.
“Okay, okay,” Frank said, dialing back his aggression. “If this is how it is, then I’ll accept it. Don’t come back to town begging for my help. You are all on your own.”
“Bye, dad,” Dorian said, waving toward the door.
“Just remember, you asked for this,” Frank howled, his voice becoming fainter and fainter with each word. They were leaving.
Erik closed the door and locked it. He stood at the window, watching them leave.
“Damn him!” Dorian shouted, punching the air. He placed his hands on his hips and breathed in deeply several times. “I’m really sorry about that, guys.”
“It’s fine,” I said, taking a careful step toward him. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. Thanks,” he said, burying his face in his hands. “I guess we know who was wandering around the house and why now. So at least there’s that.”
Gina and June both came out to the living room as Sam cautiously descended the stairs. The silence that filled the room was deafening.
“You can all stop staring at me now,” Dorian said, flapping his hand at us. After a moment, he turned to Erik. “Was that a mistake? Should we have all gone with him?”
“No,” Erik said flatly. “At least I don’t think so.”
“What are we going to do when we run out of food?” Dorian asked, looking down at his feet. “We’ll never be able to go to the town.”
“We’ll fish and hunt. We can grow things in the spring,” Erik said.
June nodded along. “We can get berries, greens, mushrooms. And we have unlimited water.”
“You should go with them, June,” Dorian said. “There are probably people you know there.”
“Maybe,” she said, looking down at her hands. “But my sister is here, so if it’s all the same, I’d like to stay.”
I bit my lip. “Are you sure? I mean, you’ll be much safer in town. Elijah isn’t going to start trouble with a large group of people.”
“He doesn’t even know I’m here,” June said.
“I’m sure he’s seen you by now,” I said with a frown. “You too, Gina. You’d be safer with the townspeople.”
Gina slapped her thigh and laughed. “Yeah, I’ll feel really safe with the geezers from town. They probably want us to join them so they can have Erik’s stuff.”
Erik and Dorian exchanged a look.
“Are we in danger?” Sam asked. “Will they come back?”
“I don’t think he’d do that,” Dorian said. “I mean, yeah, he’d totally do that, but he wouldn’t kill us over it. He’d just take it by force. So, like in that sense, we’re safe.”
“Just another reason we need to get out of here,” Sam said, glancing over at me.
Erik shook his head and groaned. “It’s not going to be any safer out there.”
“This is our life now,” Dorian said. “Living in constant fear of running out of supplies and the other people out there. Elijah isn’t our only problem.”
“He might not even be our biggest,” Erik said.
“I disagree,” I said, crossing my arms.
Dorian paced aggressively. “Dammit. What are we going to do, Erik?”
Erik sighed as he met Dorian’s eyes. “I don’t know.”
26
Mark Bennett couldn’t be trusted. He’d wanted to keep communication lines open between us, yet he had no problem telling Frank Bell where he could find his son. It was clear where his loyalties were.
The locals came first. The rest of us were just in the way.
It didn’t matter that I grew up in the area or that Erik owned a home there. If we joined them, we would come last.
We couldn’t trust anyone outside of the house. Maybe Sam was right. Maybe it would be better if we left.
It was three days later when I knocked on Sam’s door in the middle of the night. Erik was standing at the window staring into the darkness and the rest of the house was quiet.
“Go away,” she said. “I haven’t slept in like two days. It’s not my turn.”
“It’s me, Sam. I want to talk to you,” I said.
“You may enter,” she said.
Sam was lying on her back on top of the blankets. She didn’t even bother to open her eyes when I stepped inside.
“I swear I get more tired each day,” Sam said.
“Oh,” I said, chewing the inside of my cheek.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” she asked. “I don’t mean to rush you, but I only have a few hours before I have to get up and do something again. You know what it’s like.”
“I do,” I said with a short exhale. The truth was, I didn’t mind because I had so much trouble sleeping anyway.
I walked over to her window and peered out into the night. An owl hooted nearby, as if to let me know he saw me.
“Well?” Sam asked, turning onto her side.
I rubbed my hands together as if I were warming them by a fire. It was a strange thing to do when my body already felt like it was on fire.
“I think you’re right,” I said.
“I’m always right,” Sam said with a smirk. “But which of the many things are we talking about right now?”
“About leaving,” I said, glancing toward the window. “I think it’s time.”
Sam opened her eyes and sat up. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, we’re not safe here,” I said, holding up my hand to stop her from speaking. “We’re also not going to be safe out there, but at least then we can keep running. I feel like a sitting duck.”
“I thought we were going to get rid of Elijah first?” Sam asked.
“That might be ideal, but that could take weeks… maybe even months, and if we don’t get started now, I’m not sure we’ll make it back home before winter,” I said, folding my hands together. “And honestly, Sam, I’m scared. I’m worried about everything and everyone.”
Sam hugged her knees to her chest. “What about your sister? June? I know we won’t be able to shake Erik, and we probably don’t want to, but each person is going to slow us down. And I don’t know how we could convince everyone to go find my daughter.”
“We don’t have to convince anyone. If they want to stay, they can stay,” I said.
“Are you sure?” Sam asked.
My head bobbed even though there was a sinking in my stomach and a sourness climbing up the back of my throat. I wasn’t sure. And I never would be sure.
“Okay, who tells Erik?” Sam asked.
“I can do it,” I said.
“Are you sure about that?” Sam asked. “He’s going to try to talk you out of it, and if I know you, and I do, you’ll let him.”
I wanted to argue, but I couldn’t. Sam was right, which had me questioning my decision.
“She’s going to be so happy to see us,” Sam said, as if she could see the doubt creeping onto my face.
“Dott will be happy to see you. She won’t care if I’m there or not,” I said. “But I’ll be happy you’re both together.”
“When do we leave?” Sam asked.
I shrugged. “Start gathering what we need in the morning, and in a couple days, we can get out of here.”
“You’re completely serious?” Sam asked. Her eyes glowed in the darkness, filling with the hope of seeing her daughter again.
“Yeah, I’m serious,” I said, gesturing toward her. “How is your eye?”
Sam tried to hold on to her smile, but it faded. “I don’t know… same. I’m fine, though. I barely even notice anymore.”
“He should pay for what he’s done,” I muttered.
Sam swung her legs over the side of the bed, her toes barely touched the ground. “He will. One way or another, he will. We might know it or see it, but Elijah will get what’s coming to him.”
“You don’t know that,” I said, shaking my head. “When this is all over, he’ll probably be the last man standing.”
“Alone at the end of the world would be punishment enough,” Sam said.
“I don’t want to talk about Elijah anymore,” I said.
Sam chewed her lip for a long moment. “You know, Mel, I’m scared. I just want you to know that.”
“I already knew that,” I said, giving her the warmest smile I could manage.
“We’re tough, though. If anyone could make it, it would be us,” Sam said.
“You got that right,” I said, walking toward the door. “Which is why I need to talk to Erik now.”
Sam nodded. “Let me know the plan when it’s solidified, okay.”
“Of course. Good night,” I said, silently closing the door behind me.
I walked downstairs, expecting to see Erik at the window, but found Gina instead. She was hugging herself as she paced in front of the window.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“Oh, yeah. Just hunky-dory,” Gina said.
“I thought Erik was—”
“He was,” Gina replied. “I told him I couldn’t sleep and gave him a break. He was very reluctant.”
I pressed my lips together. “That sounds like Erik. Is he in his room?”
“Downstairs,” she said, scratching her elbow.
“That looks like it hurts,” I said, gesturing toward the red, raw skin.
“It’s nothing,” she said.
“Can I get you something?”
Gina shook her head. “I’m good, thanks.”
“Okay, well, if you need anything—”
“Just some quiet would be nice.”
My eyes widened, and I took a step back. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,” Gina said, waving her hands. “I just meant I wanted to focus on my job here. The last thing I want to do is disappoint everyone.”
“Right,” I said.
I carefully walked down the stairs. Erik was looking my way before I even reached the bottom step.
“Trouble sleeping?” he asked before taking a long swig from his bottle of beer.
I swallowed hard. “We need to leave.”
27
Erik took another drink. His brow wrinkled as he kept his eyes on me.
“Want something to drink?” he asked.
“No,” I said, crossing my arms. His eyes narrowed and I sighed. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
“What can I get for you?” Erik asked with a half-smile.
I bit my lip and he held up his finger.
“Ah! You look like you could use a gin and tonic,” he said.
“I could, but I worry about not being completely there if something should go wrong,” I said.
He nodded with each word. “I’ll make it super weak.”
“Perfect,” I said, sitting down at the bar opposite him.
“What brings you down here when you should be getting some shuteye?” he asked, as he poured the last bit of soda into a glass. “Looks like you’re getting the last gin and tonic.”
“That reminds me, Dorian couldn’t find some of our water bottles, any chance you came across some empty bottles?” I asked.
Erik met my eyes briefly. “Hmm. Can’t say that I have.”
“Well, that’s strange,” I said.
“I couldn’t find two of the small boxes of chips either,” Erik said, his eyes glinting as he set down a napkin and gave me my drink. “I figured Dorian got hungry. Or maybe your sister since she’d traveled such a long way.”
“That’s a lot of chips for one person to eat,” I said.
Erik’s head bobbed slowly. “Especially when supplies are starting to dwindle.”
“Is it bad?” I asked.
“Nah, just enough to worry me about not having enough when winter comes,” Erik said.
My brow wrinkled.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Erik said. “We can still ice fish and whatever. It just isn’t going to be like how it is now.”
“How would we ice fish with Elijah out there?”
“We won’t need to worry about him,” Erik said confidently.
I swallowed hard. “It’s not just him, though. We have to worry about Dorian’s dad and Mark Bennett. Even the people to the north are a concern.”
Erik studied me as he walked around the bar and sat down next to me. His eyes stayed on mine as he took another drink.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” he asked.
“I think maybe Sam was right all along,” I said, looking down at my hands.
“You’re worrying me,” Erik said.
It was my turn to take a drink, and I didn’t want to stop. I needed the liquid courage.
“Out with it,” Erik said.
“I think it’s time Sam and I departed,” I said, taking another drink. “Sorry. Time we leave. I don’t say departed. I’m so nervous.”
Erik cocked his head. “Nervous?”
“I know you don’t want us to leave, but I don’t want you to talk me out of it,” I said.
“Can I?” Erik asked with a smirk.
“I think so, but please don’t,” I said. “We’re not safe here. Our supplies and this house make us a target.”
“A house with a broken window?” Erik asked.
I swallowed, trying to get rid of the dryness at the back of my throat. “When everyone is desperate for supplies, they’ll come here first. We’re just tourists.”
“I say this every time, but it’s not going to be any easier out there,” Erik said.
“We know that, but here it just feels like we’re fish in a barrel. Instead of waiting around for things to go wrong, we’ll be in control of our destiny,” I said, scrunching my nose.
Erik smiled. “Destiny, huh?”
“Sure,” I replied.
“So, what’s your plan then?” Erik asked, crossing his arms and he leaned back.
“We’re going to pack up and head out in a few days,” I said.
He scratched the back of his head. “Okay. If that’s what we’re doing. Are you going to break the news to Dorian, June, and your sister?”
“I guess so,” I said with a half-shrug. “It probably won’t come as much of a surprise to Dorian.”
“No, it won’t, but I know he isn’t looking forward to leaving,” Erik said.
“No one is,” I said. “Although I am looking forward to putting distance between Elijah and me.”
Erik sucked in a breath. “You know he could follow us.”
“We’ll leave at night.”
“Sure about that?”
I shook my head. “Whatever you think is best.”
“Maybe set out early morning while it’s still dark. That way, we can get around the town without setting off Dorian’s dad’s alarm.” Erik scowled. “I don’t like that man.”
“Me either,” I said. “But I don’t like Mark Bennett either. He looks at us like we’re idiots.”
“Well, he’s got that guy there with him that’s a prepper. To them, we probably are idiots,” Erik said before sucking down the rest of his beer.
I folded my hands together. “I’m worried about what’s out there. It’s like impossible for me to picture how everything is going to be without electricity and food.”
“A lot of people won’t survive,” Erik said.
“Is that your way of saying we won’t survive?” I asked, looking into his eyes, searching for the answer to my question.
He looked away before I found it. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to any of us.”
June abruptly snored, and I looked over my shoulder. She shifted around on the couch and fell back asleep.
I looked around before finishing the rest of my drink. It wasn’t as weak as I would have liked it, but at least it was making me tired.
“I’m going to miss this place,” I said, covering my yawn.
“Me too,” Erik said with a chuckle. “It’s funny to think how much money I put into this place. All for nothing.”
“It wasn’t all for nothing,” I said. “Sam and I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for you or your house. I don’t know how I will ever be able to thank you enough for everything you’ve done for us.”
Erik looked down at his hands. “I didn’t do anything special. Anyone would have done the same.”
“That’s not true,” I said, touching his knee. “Not only that, but you were helping my mom out before she passed. You’re like a really good person.”
“I’m not a good person,” Erik said, his mouth set in a hard line. “The things I did to get money… so I could have this life. Trust me, I’m not a good person.”
I waved away his words. “None of that even matters anymore. We all get a reset, and as far as I’m concerned, you’re an amazing man.”
