We Who Remain Page 10

  It caused her to pause, both in talking and crying. Not that the words were magical, but they were part of what she needed at that moment to snap herself out of it.

  Yes, her husband was lost somewhere, but there was still so much she needed to focus on. She was needed.

  Bob wasn’t a friend, in fact, the only interaction she had with him was when he was on that plane.

  Yet, there he was calling her from Mitch’s phone because Mitch had taken off with Liv to look for her daughter, leaving Bob behind at a hospital.

  And Bob didn’t know what to do.

  “There’s one woman completely well and fine,” Bob said. “She was underground, basement level. The other woman came up right away but is slightly affected.”

  “How so?” Mallory asked.

  “Her hand began to disintegrate much like the bodies. But it stopped because she went back in. I’m not a doctor, but it’s obvious like George said, the tail had destructive powers as well. Those fully exposed were killed, those partially exposed and remined exposed it looks like they had a slow rate of infection.”

  “That makes perfect sense,” Mallory said. “The levels were not as high, so they moved slower.”

  “Mallory, the woman Donna with the bum hand, she’s a nurse, she wants to help these people.”

  “And …”

  “Some of those are alive, but … should they be helped?”

  “If they’re alive, of course they should.”

  “How?” Bob asked. “How do you help these people?”

  Mallory didn’t understand. She knew the state the people on the airplane were in and that was what she expected of those fully exposed to Pyrrhus. She didn’t know what Bob meant by partially. She asked him to send pictures.

  Mallory envisioned a missing hand, maybe a foot, she didn’t even entertain the idea that many of those who survived were missing most of their bodies. How they even were living was beyond her.

  Once viewing the pictures, she understood what Bob was asking.

  How do you save them and should you?

  “Are they in pain?” she asked.

  “Hard to say. They could be crying out in pain or over the fact that half of their bodies is gone. Donna has slight pain in the wrist, not the hand at all.”

  “Which means the nerves are gone in her hand. What needs to be determined is if there is any blood flow at all to the affected limb. If so, that’s workable. If not, the limb will have to be amputated. A dead limb will only cause infection to spread. It won’t be long before it starts to decay.”

  “Ever see an amputee and the pant leg or sleeve just dangles?” Bob asked.

  “Of course.”

  “That’s the skin on most of these people. The skin just hangs there. It doesn’t feel like skin either. It feels like a marshmallow. It’s tacky.”

  “I would really need to biopsy a sample from a survivor to know what exactly is going on, to see what survival could be like.”

  Bob chuckled. “Mallory, then what? We cut off the legs, the arms, then what? This is some major rehab shit here for these people. Who is going to care for them? There are some that will be okay, I guess, but some … no.”

  “What alternative is there?” Mallory asked.

  “I’m thinking some sort of widespread euthanasia. We’re talking at least a hundred people here.”

  “Oh, Bob, we want to save lives.”

  “We don’t even know what’s happening with the world, Mallory. If I get like that someone has permission to put me down like a pet.”

  She listened to his words and heard them. It was hard for her to even think about it until she saw what was happening first hand. All she could tell him was to hang on. George and the general would be there shortly for her and she would begin testing right away.

  Mallory also thanked him. He gave her a focus and that was what she needed. She needed something else to think about, and even though it was a horrible situation, it wasn’t as emotionally devastating as it was when she thought about her husband.

  <><><><>

  Cleveland, OH

  “Would you think any less of me,” Liv said as she and Mitch drove to the observatory. “If I didn’t want to go back there?”

  “Where? The hospital?”

  Liv nodded. Her gaze stayed on the window, peering out, watching as they drove around every wrecked car, every remnant of a human being on the street. She looked at each building wondering if maybe someone was in there alive.

  “We have to go get Bob,” Mitch said.

  “I know that. I just don’t want to go back there.”

  “It’s a hard thing to see.”

  “It’s useless. I feel helpless, there’s nothing we can do. Just … oh my God, all those people. What has to be going through their minds? How scared? I can’t do anything for them.”

  “So, you think it’s better to just move on?” Mitch asked.

  “It’s the only answer.”

  “Yeah, but it’s more than just the victims. It’s that lady Donna and the other woman, Beth. They feel obligated to stay and help.”

  “I doubt Beth does.”

  “Why do you say that?” Mitch asked. “Do you know her?”

  “Nope. Just really don’t think she does. She worked in the cafeteria. Probably hated her job, was stuck on night shift. Donna is in some sort of mode that she feels she has to help. If someone gave them a clean conscious pill and said, ‘take this, you won’t feel guilty if you just let these people die,’ they would. I would.”

  “But you're already making the decision to walk away without that magic pill,” Mitch said.

  “I’ll still feel guilty. But what can we do?”

  “I don’t know.” Mitch shrugged. “I know that I will do what I can to help. You don’t have to go back, Liv. If you want, you can go home to wait for us or even stay close.”

  “I’ll let you know. But you didn’t say.”

  “About what?” Mitch asked.

  “Will you think any less of me?”

  “What does it matter?”

  “I guess it doesn’t.” Liv sat up straighter when she saw the sign to the observatory.

  Mark slowed down. “Is this it?”

  “Yeah,” she took in a shivering breath. “This is where they went.”

  Mitch turned up the driveway. It was a small observatory, one of two in Cleveland. Liv didn’t know why they picked the smaller one, maybe because of the event the larger one would be too crowded.

  Although she regretted signing the permission slip, she knew Mark would have.

  Liv kept telling herself as they rode up the driveway she had done all she could to get Danni to change her mind. Short of kidnapping her, there was no stopping the headstrong teenager.

  In her mind she prayed, somewhere in the back of Danni’s mind, Liv’s neuroticism seeped in. Maybe her daughter at the last minute decided she was too scared to be outside or had the thought ‘what if her mother was right'.

  Then she saw the buses parked on the side of the driveway.

  Four of them. All with different school districts on the side.

  The second to last was Danni’s.

  “Oh, God,” Liv said. “The bus is still here.”

  “But I don’t see anyone. Maybe they’re inside.” Mitch pulled directly in front of the observatory doors. He peered over the steering wheel, then opened the door to look out. “There are no bodies here.”

  “I’m so scared, Mitch.”

  “I know. Let’s go look for her. The buses, the cars, they have to be somewhere.”

  Liv nodded, but before she opened the truck door, she paused to say a silent prayer.

  Please let my daughter be alright. Please.

  Liv stepped out. “Danni!” she shouted, then stepped forward. “Danni!”

  There wasn’t a sound. Not a bird, no whispers.

  Only silence.

  “Maybe she’s inside,” Liv said.

  “You said her phone wasn’t going
straight to voicemail, right? Why don’t you call it?”

  “Good idea.” Liv pulled out her phone. Danni’s was the last number she had called, she found it with ease and hit ‘dial.’ “It’s ringing.”

  Mitch opened the door for her.

  Just before Liv stepped inside, she heard it.

  Her daughter’s familiar ring tone of Star Wars.

  “It’s coming from out here,” Mitch said and let go of the door.

  Liv backed up, lowering the phone from her ear and listening to the distant sound of the ring tone. “Behind the building?”

  “I think so.”

  The ringing stopped.

  Liv hurriedly brought the phone to her ear again. “Danni, this is …”

  “Hi, this is Danni, leave a message.”

  Liv scrunched up her face. “Voicemail.”

  “Call it again.”

  Liv did. After a delay, the Star Wars theme ring tone played again, as they made their way around the building it was louder.

  Then again, it stopped.

  Still hopeful, Liv listened to see if Danni answered. She didn’t. Voicemail again.

  Liv redialed.

  Just behind the buildings were several tents erected, there wasn’t even a breeze to move them.

  When the ringing would stop, Liv didn’t hesitate to call again. Each time, the ring tone was louder and closer.

  Mitch listened at each tent. “Nothing. It’s not in here.”

  End of ringing.

  Liv tried again.

  They stepped beyond the tent and the ringing was louder and close. Yet, not a soul was seen.

  They walked for another fifteen feet. Behind the tents was a small grade, a hill and that was where the tone came from.

  The ringing stopped and so did Liv.

  “Liv?” Mitch called her name.

  For the longest time she stood there because she knew. There were no voices, no teenage cackling. She fought hard to find the strength to go up the hill, even telling herself, just because the phone was there didn’t mean something happened to her daughter.

  Finally, she mustered the strength, she started up the hill and with trembling hands dialed again.

  The slight delay brought the loud sound of the Star Wars theme song, and when she reached the top of the hill it was there. Somewhere close. Too close to ignore.

  She heard a groan come from Mitch, but she didn’t look at him.

  Keeping her eyes on her phone, Liv dialed one last time.

  This time, not only did she hear the tone, she heard the buzz of the vibration.

  Slowly, Liv turned to her right, taking only small steps, then she saw.

  She felt strong at that second, too strong. But it wasn’t instantly gone, and every part of Liv crumbled both emotionally and physically to the ground, when she saw not only the purple sweatshirt Danni had been wearing that night, but her phone as it buzzed and danced in the grass a few inches from what was without a doubt, remains.

  Liv had found her daughter.

  13 – HOME

  North Ridgeville – Suburb of Cleveland, OH

  The tears fell and Liv lost it for about five minutes. Mitch just stood there watching. He didn’t know whether to reach for her or say something. Take her in his arms or just let her be. He, too, felt really bad, Mark and Danni were good people.

  At first Mitch wondered how there would be any way to console her. Her hands smoothed over the purple sweatshirt, running through the remains. She had grabbed Danni’s phone as well. Her cries of agony were even painful for Mitch to hear.

  Then it just stopped.

  Liv stopped crying and sobbing, and she drew a stone look on her face.

  She ran her hand under her nose and tried to stand. Mitch reached down and helped her to her feet.

  “Can you take me home?” she asked.

  “Yeah, absolutely.” Mitch refrained from asking if she was okay, because obviously he knew the answer. He did convey how sorry he was. Words just weren’t enough.

  When Liv lifted from the ground, she seemed to leave her emotional state there. She got into the truck without saying a word, and then Mitch got in.

  “Can I use your phone?” Mitch asked. “I left mine with Bob.”

  “Yeah.” she handed it to him. “His number isn’t in there.”

  “I know it. I have a knack for that.” Mitch depressed the digits and it rang a couple of times. “Hey, Bob, it’s me.” Mitch shifted his eyes to Liv. “Yes, we did. I’m taking Liv home right now. She needs to go home. I’ll be back at the hospital in a few hours. I don’t want to leave her …”

  “No,” Liv cut him off. “I’ll be fine. Go. Help there. I just want to be left alone.”

  “That’s not a good idea,” Mitch said.

  “Yeah it is. It’s a great idea. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

  “I’ll get back to you, Bob.” Mitch ended the call and handed the phone over to Liv. “I really think I should stay back with you.”

  “For what reason?” she asked.

  “I don’t know, to be there if you need someone.”

  “I’ll be fine until you get back,” she replied.

  Would she be fine or was it a ruse? He supposed losing Mark and Danni wasn’t a huge shock. She had a warm up to the heartache when they walked out of the bunker and realized what happened. Still, no matter how much she expected it, it was still heart breaking.

  Her brother, husband and daughter in the same week.

  Mitch was still reeling from the grief of losing his parents. Still pushing it to register another day or time.

  Maybe that was what Liv was doing, pushing it back and down.

  To Mitch she seemed suddenly far too calm.

  Then again, it could have been the reality slamming her or the fact that Mitch didn’t know her as well as he hoped.

  It didn’t take long to arrive at their neighborhood. It was apparent when they drove through, the neighbors had been out watching the comet. He tried not to look. Mitch wished it would be as easy as hoping for a good rain, but that wasn’t going to be the case.

  Buford arrived one day after Alexander passed by Rose City and other towns, and the flies had already settled in. He forewarned Mitch that a strong sulfur and ammonia smell would fill the air, but by the next day it smelled rotten. Even a storm rolling in over Rose City didn’t help, it just spread it out and added a wet smell to it.

  Mitch pulled into Liv’s driveway behind her car. He reached for the gear.

  “No, I’m fine,” Liv told him. “Go.”

  “I don’t feel right,” Mitch said. “I really shouldn’t leave you.”

  “I’m okay,” Liv paused. “Alright, I’m not, but I’ll be fine alone. I need to be alone, to think, to absorb, to have serval drinks and pass out and deal with this pain when I’m more rested.”

  “Will you answer your phone when I call?” Mitch asked

  “If I’m not sleeping.”

  “Text me when you lay down?” Mitch asked.

  “If I remember.”

  “Please.”

  Liv nodded.

  “Call me if you need me.” Mitch reached out and grabbed her hand.

  She slowly slid it from him, mumbled a ‘thank you’. He stayed in the driveway, watching until she went into the house. Feeling guilty that he was leaving. He wanted to stay, but she insisted he not.

  She didn’t leave him much choice. Reluctantly he pulled from the driveway and headed back to the hospital to get Bob.

  Liv really didn’t know what to expect to feel the moment she walked into her home.

  She shut the door behind her, leaning against it for the longest time before stepping into the living room. A part of her wanted to call out for Mark or Danni. Finding an excuse in her mind why they might be there. She could still smell the lingering scent of soy sauce and ginger, ingredients from her late night, noodle dish creation.

  Nothing seemed different, the house didn’t suddenly feel empty like she th
ought it would. Maybe because she felt so empty.

  Liv thought about going upstairs but decided against it. Why punish herself into more depression or pain.

  She opened the cabinet in the corner of the living room and pulled out the first bottle she grabbed. At that point, what she drank was secondary as to just getting a drink.

  It was brandy, which made her sadly chuckle. Mark bought a bottle of brandy every winter, swearing by it for chills and a cold.

  She grabbed one of his tiny brandy glasses, blew inside to clear any dust and poured some into the two ounce glass.

  She brought the bottle and glass with her to the chair, taking out Danni’s phone from her pocket before sitting down.

  The brandy tasted good as it crossed her lips and warm as it rolled down her chest. She wanted to get to the point where her face was numb, because at that moment it just felt so heavy and drawn. As if smiling would forever be a task to perform.

  The entire trip back to the house, her mind had filled with thoughts and fantasies over an alternate outcome for her family. She day dreamed that Danni had sent a text to Mark telling him she was in the basement listening to me and that she let another student borrow her sweatshirt and phone.

  Liv even had a flutter in her stomach when she opened up Danni’s messages and saw the last exchange was between her and her father at 1:51 am.

  But it wasn’t Danni saying she was hiding. It was her typical checking in with her father, exchanging I love yous. How Liv envied their relationship. Danni had a hero worship for her dad that Liv could never touch.

  As she sat back in the chair, the pictures on the shelf screamed at her. Family pictures, Liv, Mark, Danni, Brandon. Liv’s parents, an aunt and Uncle.

  All of them … gone.

  Her parents had passed away seven years earlier six months apart. Her Aunt Bea died shortly after, with Uncle Herk trailing the field by three years. Then her brother, Mark and Danni all going so close.

  The shelf was hugely devastating and a sad reiteration to Liv.

  It was as if the earth was suddenly void of people, like Liv was suddenly void of everyone she ever loved or knew on earth.