Becca (4 page)

“I remember.”

“It’s not safe here. The people that get infected go crazy, and they seem almost... blood thirsty. I’m sorry if this scares you, Becca, but this is just something you have to deal with. They become almost like cannibals. I saw it on the way here.”

“Here in town?”

“Yes. I’m going to show you how to use that gun. And after that, if someone so much as looks threatening you have to shoot them.”

“Uh!”

“I know it’s bad, but you have to, Rebecca. Because if they get close, you might catch whatever it is too. It’s going to be hard, but you have to do it. No matter what. No matter if it’s someone you know, if it’s someone who looks okay, if it’s a child. You have to. Do you think you can?”

“I don’t... know.”

“I’m relying on you. You have to take care of your sister and Natasha.”

“What? But Dad...”

“Your Mom and I are going to be heading to get your grandparents and Bill and Shawna. You three are heading straight there.”

“What? No, Dad, we...”

“You need to go. We’ll be right there in a few days.”  

“But...”

“You’re the only one I can trust with this.”

“But can’t we just come with you?”

“It’s too dangerous.”

“Then you shouldn’t go!”

“I have to. This isn’t up for discussion. I trust you to take care of them until we can get there.”

He showed me how to use the gun. We fired it several times without any bullets in it, then he took me out to the back yard and had me fire it for real.

“I know it’s loud, you just have to deal with that.”

“Hopefully we won’t need it.” I said.

“Hopefully. Look, if anyone threatens you in any way just shoot them.”  

“I don’t know if I can.”

“It’s you or them.”

“But I can’t kill anyone. It’s... illegal.”

“Laws don’t count anymore.” he said. “Rebecca.” he grabbed me by the shoulders. “If you have to break in some place and steal to survive, do it. If you have to shoot someone, do it. Whatever it takes for you and your sister to survive.”

“But... but...”

“Reality is harsh.” he said. “Most of the people you know are going to die.”

“Dad,”

“You’re going to take Natasha and Bridget and go to the mountains. That cabin is far enough from everyone, you might be okay there. We’ll try to be there as soon as we can.”

“Okay.” Everyone I know is going to die?

“Take back roads. The main roads aren’t safe.”

“I understand.”

“Rebecca,” He hugged me. “If your mother and I aren’t there within a week from when you get there, you have to assume we won’t be coming at all.”

“What? Dad, no.”

“If that happens, you’re in charge. You’re responsible for making sure everyone has food and is kept out of the weather and doesn’t ever go near any place that may be dangerous.”

“Daddy,”

“I know you’re scared. You’re the only one who can do this.”

I was crying when I went upstairs to pack my stuff.  Dad called Tasha and Bridget down. I guess he’s explaining this to them, maybe. The gun had the safety on, but it still was scary carrying it. But it might be necessary.

Everyone was staring at me when I came down the stairs. Mom was hysterical, barely able to even stand up with Dad’s help. She lunged at me, wrapping her arms around me.

“You be careful, honey.” she said. “I love you so much.” She lowered her mouth next to my ear. “Tell her how you feel. Before it's too late.” 

“You girls need to get going.” Dad told me. “The sooner the better.”

“What about us?” David asked.

“We can drop you by on the way out of town.” I said. He nodded. “Dad, are you sure about this?”

“Yes. I’ve explained everything to Natasha and Bridget. You’re all set now.”

“I love you.” I told him. I slid from Mom and hugged him. And it just hit me, I may never see him again. “There’s something I want to tell you, in case I never see you again.”

“Don’t talk like that.” He patted my back. 

“Just in case. It’s not important, not with all this going on, just something I really would feel better if you knew.”

“Okay.”

“It’s nothing, I just... I’m gay. I’ve wanted to tell you, but I was scared what you’d say.”

“It doesn’t matter, Rebecca.” he said. “I love you. Now you girls get moving. Your Mom and I are heading out here in just a few minutes. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

“Okay. Bye Mom, I love you.”

“You two listen to Becca.” Mom told Bridget and Tasha.

There were people wandering around the neighborhood when we went out. I moved my bag with my clothes in it to my left hand so I could hold the gun in my right. It was scary. Dad came out with us, and he had the shotgun.

We put the cooler and our bags in the trunk of Tasha’s car and Tasha and I got in the front, everyone else piled in the back. Mom and Dad stood on the porch watching us as we pulled away. We were all crying, but Bridget was the worst with her racking sobs.

When we got to Amber and David’s house there was nobody there. I was standing at the front door, watching the street, the gun in my hand. The others went through the house, checking for any sign of where Amber and David’s mother might be.

“We have to get going.” I shouted. Everyone came into the living room. “We have to go, guys.”

“Their mother hasn’t been back.” Tasha said.

“Well we can’t wait around for her.”

“We can’t leave them alone.” Bridget whined. “What if she never comes back?” she whispered.

“I don’t know.”

They look so scared. Worried about their mother. Worried about their father, too, I imagine. What can I do? I can’t camp out at their house for days, hoping their mother comes home. And I can’t go searching for her.

“They’re coming with us.” I said.

“We can’t go.” David complained.

“No, you have to go. Listen, kid, you’re not staying here alone.”

“I’m here.” Amber argued.

“I’m not leaving you two here.”

“We’re not going.”

“Listen, you can leave a note telling her where we’re going. Does she have a cell phone?” Probably, everyone except me seems to. “We can keep calling her every chance we get. Maybe you’ll get through some time. Or send her a text message or leave something on her voice mail. We can’t stay here.”

“But... Mom is never late getting home.”

“Well I’m not leaving you here to die. We’re going. Write a new note and let’s go.”

They didn’t argue any more. I had Tasha write the note while Amber and David went to get some clothes. We were out of the house and down the street in less than five minutes.

“What is this?” Tasha said. She slowed. There are five or six people standing in the road. “What do I do?”

“Keep going.” I said.

“I’m not running over them.”

“So you stop and we die?”

“You’re being ridiculous.” she said.

“Fine. Just stop.”

She slowed and came to a stop, five feet from them. I opened the door and got out. Everyone was looking at me. The five guys in the street were starting around the front of the car, toward us.

“Stop right there.” I said, and I raised the gun. “Just get out of our way.”

“Come on little girl, you’re not going to shoot.” the guy closest to me said.

“I will.”

“No you won’t.” he said.

The guy on the driver’s side was getting pretty close to Tasha’s door. The guy on my side took another step closer. I aimed several feet above his head and pulled the trigger, wincing away as I did. He leaped back. The guy on the other side stopped.

“Next time I aim for you.” I said. I could hear the fear in my voice, but I hoped they couldn’t. “Please, just move. We just want to get out of here. We have no room for you, we have nothing you want. Just get out of the way.”

“Maybe we want your car.” he said. He looks nervous now too.

“There’s thousands of cars around. Find a different one. Go to a car lot and break in and take the keys for all the cars. Pick whichever one you want. Just leave us alone.”

“Maybe we want this one.” he said. He’s smiling now.

“Behind you!” Bridget shouted.

I spun around and aimed the gun at the guy approaching from the rear.  The guy at the front stepped forward, though, and I had to turn the gun on him again.

“Stop!” I shouted. “If you keep coming, one of you is dying.”

“But which one.” the guy from behind asked.

“I don’t much care.” I replied.

He stepped forward. I swung around and fired. I hit his leg. I can’t believe that worked! I was aiming for his leg. I didn’t want to kill him. But then I spun to the front.

“Just go!” I shouted at them.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” the guy shouted. “We just wanted a ride! You’re going to leave us out here to die?”

“We have to go.” I said, crying. “Let us go.”

“Okay, okay.” He stepped away from the car. “I was just teasing about the car. I just wanted a ride to my house across town.”

“I’m sorry. Get off the streets. It’s dangerous.”

“With crazy bitches like you it is.”

I got back in the car and Tasha floored it. I started sobbing. I dropped the gun in the floor. I can’t believe I just did that. After all that talk Dad gave me, I figured I’d never actually have to use it.

“You killed him.” Amber said.

“I just hit his leg!”

“Well with all this going on you probably killed him. He can’t go to the hospital. And those people who are sick are going to find him. He can’t outrun them with a bad leg.”

“So I should let him drag you out of the car? Maybe leave
you
to be killed? Or who the hell knows what those guys had in mind, Amber. Maybe they like little girls. Maybe he had more in mind, maybe with no cops around to protect your little ass he would have decided he liked you and wanted you all for himself. You ever think of that?”
 

“Becca, back off.” Tasha told me.

“No! Dad was right, laws don’t apply anymore.” I picked the gun back up. “Whoever has this makes the rules now.”

It was pretty quiet for the next couple of hours. The only real talking was me when Tasha would ask where to turn or me reading the map out loud and telling her where we were going. And then it started getting dark.

“We can’t drive all the way there tonight.” Tasha said.

“And we’ll need gas.” Bridget added.

“I know. I guess we need to start thinking about a place to stay tonight.” I told them.

“There’s a town back...”