Jacqueline Druga - Omnicide

“How?” Eb asked. “They’re closer than we were. How are they not back?”

“They aren’t.”

“You aren’t worried?”

“No,” Mark answered. “And neither should you be. They were going after a plane of people. They said if the health of those folks wasn’t up to par, they were staying put until they stabilized them. That’s what the doctors said.”

“It’s bad out there. I don’t know…”

“Eb. You made it back, right?” Mark reached out and grabbed his arm as assurance. “They will too.”

Eb pacified him with a nod and headed back to his truck. He drove as far as the bingo hall, a block up the road. Getting there at the same time as Ada and George as they stepped inside.

The bingo board was on the stage, though it wasn’t lit up. And across the small hall cots were set up in neat rows of five.

Eb saw Lena smoothing out the blanket on one of the cots and he walked up to her. “You helping out here? That’s a good thing.”

“I couldn’t just sit there.”

“I understand.”

Lena looked beyond Eb. “Ada is with someone.”

“We found him in Vegas.”

“Is that stuff there?” Lena asked.

“It is and growing fast.”

“Which means it’s taking over everywhere.”

“It is so bad… I know you’re just recovering, but I also know you want that final goodbye.”

“I do.”

“I’m thinking your trip to LA really can’t wait.”

Ada walked up to the pair. “Doc Craig is looking at George. Although I don’t think a thing is wrong with him.” She put her hands on her hips. “I thought the plane people would be here.”

“They’re not back yet,” Eb said with concern. “We left after them, went farther and they aren’t back.”

Lena interjected. “Doctor Craig said some of those people could be dehydrated, heat stroke, they may not be able to travel right away. That’s what he said.”

“If they stay there too long,” Eb said, “they may not be able to get back. What if something is wrong? What if they need help?”

“Eb,” Ada said his name calmly. “If you’re thinking about going out there, don’t. There’s no need. If they aren’t back by tomorrow then take a ride out.”

“What if they need help now? Cass is all I’ve got.”

“And she’ll be here tomorrow. You were fine with her leaving. Now you’re not? What changed?” Ada asked.

“I saw what was out there.”

“She’ll be fine,” Ada reassured him then turned and walked away.

“Eb,” Lena said his name softly. “If you feel you need to go, you do what you have to do. A missed chance is not one you get back. Trust me.”

“Oh, I know that. I do. And we’re gonna get you back to LA before it’s too late, too.”

“Thank you. I know I’ll get there. If it’s the last thing I do. I need to see my family.”

“Hey, Eb.” Mark’s voice carried across the bingo hall.

Eb turned around.

“Bill wants to head back to Seaver. You still interested?”

“Um… yeah. Yeah.” He looked at Lena. “Thanks again. I’ll see you in a little bit.” Eb waved to Ada and walked to Mark. He would take that ride to Seaver, trying not to worry about Cass and the others. Hopefully, they’d be back by the time he returned. If they weren’t, he wasn’t sure what he would do.

Cameron, AZ

It wasn’t getting any cooler, at least it didn’t feel it to Cass. It was more humid than she’d ever felt, and she sat outside The Trading Post hoping the night air would cool her.

Inside the air conditioning ran, but she just didn’t want to be in there.

She had a lot on her mind.

One of the passengers had died, another was critical. She was irritated because she knew they stood a better chance in town.

But there was no getting through to Art and Niles.

The heat and the death weren’t what lay heavily on Cass’ mind though. It was the fact that the fungus was growing exponentially fast; the possibility of total human annihilation loomed on the horizon and Cass… she just didn’t care.

Live or die, she felt it didn’t matter. Maybe when the time drew nearer she’d care.

Her thoughts went from Kit’s experiment to the sky. It was clear, star filled and bright.

She didn’t turn around when she heard the door to The Trading Post open, or the sound of footsteps on the porch. She did, however, look up when the beer was extended to her.

The second her hand touched it, she smiled. “It’s cold. Thanks.”

Kit sat down next to her. “You alright?”

“Yes. Thank you.” Cass sipped her beer. “Oh, that’s good.”

“You didn’t eat.”

“I did. Just not much. It’s not… Hamburger Helper tacos.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Did the two brainiacs agree to leave first thing in the morning?”

“They did. I want to also keep stashing what we can in the squad car.”

Cass nodded. “I’ll help. I’m gonna finish this first.”

“So, what are you doing? Just sitting here.”

“Thinking.”

“About?” Kit asked.

“The Space Station.”

“What?” Kit asked.

“See that?” Cass pointed. “That really bright twinkling star. That is the Space Station and a week before all this started we sent up a new crew. So right now, there are ten people up there, looking down at Earth. Knowing the fates of their families and watching as this world physically changes, all while… all while, they’ll never get home and they know it.”

“Wow, that is deep.”

“I can be deep.” Cass brought her beer to her lips.

“Maybe they’re up there thinking about a way to get home.”

Cass laughed.

“That’s funny?”

“Yes.”

“That’s some of the smartest people in the world up there.”

“And we have some of the smartest people in the world right over there.” Cass pointed to the church. “Sometimes really smart people have a hard time thinking outside the box.”

“I think those two are the exception not the rule.”

“Maybe.”

“But I agree with you, Art and Niles are not gonna be the ones to get us out of this mess.”

“If we can,” Cass said. “This may be it. This may be the way we go out. Like one of those movies where everyone knows the last day is at hand. Some go nuts, some just kick back.”

“I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to go out.”

“How are you going to do it?” Cass asked. “I mean, if this is really the end. How are you gonna spend you last day?”

“With my son.”

Closed mouth Cass nodded sadly, then drank her beer.

“Cass, I am sorry for what happened to you and Eb. I don’t think there is a single person who doesn’t wish with all their hearts that they could change it.”

“I know.”

“I wish you and I were having days where we argued about my boy not treating your girl right, or Jordie telling you Kat won’t dress right for the prom. All that instead of did the chief or didn’t the chief act inappropriately in cell number three.”

“You really think of this?” Cass asked.

“I always think about what could have been.”

“Me too. At least now I do. For a long time I didn’t. For what it’s worth, I wish we were arguing about that stuff too. But… if the end does come you aren’t alone.”

“Neither are you.”

“Nah, I’m alone. I don’t have anyone special. I suppose I could grab Eb and hang with him. Sort of my default apocalypse buddy.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Life’s not fair, Kit. I blame myself. I mean, yeah, Eb left me, but I shut down. I didn’t open my heart to anyone.”

“I hear you on that. I did the same thing,” Kit said. “It’s been so long…” He peered up to the sky. “I’m not sure I am even capable of feeling anything. It’s like I’m numb.”