ZPD 8.15

We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.

– William E. Gladstone

———————–

There was an immediate change in Evelyn’s behavior once we pulled out our food.  Her paranoia seemed to vanish as she was overcome by gratitude.  I didn’t think we’d hear the end of it.

"Oh, it’s perfect you came when you did.  I hadn’t had a chance to go shopping for weeks, and I couldn’t even think what we would do when the food ran out.  It’s been just us girls stuck in this house, shoo-ing away devils as they come.  And they come!  The last two nights in a row they came.  My Pearl’s a handy shot with that rifle.  We sent them running, and… my… we must have killed a dozen of them.  Tonights supper would have been frozen vegetables and the last of our bread without you showing up.  It’ll be nice to have men in the house again."

She stopped to wipe the sweat from her forehead.  Even though it was evening time, it was still warm in the house.  Guy seemed to be keeping an eye on Evelyn as she helped herself to our supplies.  Pete was sitting cross legged on the floor, trying to make friends with little Penny.  She had her back to the wall, hugging her knees, seeming still unsure of everything.  Pearl came to her rescue, and walked her to a chair at the dining table.

Evelyn saw me watching the two girls, and continued on.

"Their father has been gone for a few days now.  Penny doesn’t like to talk much.  I think all this has really done a number.  Pearl seems to be okay, but I hardly know how I’m coping.  I can’t imagine what she’s going through at so young an age."  She started to laugh then.

"At her age… haha!  I had her when I was just about her age.  I think I put on the same face, but would have been happier with the opportunity to shoot someone.  Young people have such strength in them!  What about your parents?  You’re all so young."

"My fathers dead." I told her. "I’m pretty sure my mom is too.  Pete’s step dad is dead.  We don’t know about his mom.  Guy’s parents are both dead."

"Well that’s awful!  You poor things.  You must be going through such pain.  Here I am talking about my good for nothing husband up and disappearing.  Come here."

And before I had a chance to even move, she had thrown her arms around me in a hug.  She was a petite woman, and her head fit right under my chin.  It was nice to have someone with enough emotion left to offer their condolences.  I hugged back, but I began to suspect that the hug wasn’t entirely for my benefit.  Even as I tried to let go, she held on to me, and I was obliged to hold on again.  She buried her face in my chest and seemed to be hiding tears.  

"Mom" Pearl said.  Evelyn released her hold on me, and turned away wiping her eyes.

"You must be hungry.  All of you.  Let’s eat.  No use in having all this food if we’re not going to eat it." She said when she could speak.

"I’m not hungry." I told her.  "I’m more tired than anything.  We’ve been going non stop for a few days.  A few naps here and there, but I’m beat.  Pete might be hungry though."

He proved my point, nodding his head and grabbing handfuls of food.  He’d had a decent rest in the jeep, but hadn’t eaten anything for almost the entire day.

"Well you and your girl can sleep upstairs. We girls all slept through the day.  Too hot to do anything else."

"I’m gonna stay down here" Guy said.

"Oh.  Well that’s fine.  We can use your eyes at the door.  Pearl, can you show him where my room is?  I wanna eat while I can."

Pearl took me upstairs and did as she was asked.  Evelyn owned a nice queen sized bed, and I was never so happy to see pillows in all my life.  It was rude, but I didn’t even take my shoes off before I fell onto the sheets.  Pearl didn’t leave right away though.  She walked to the foot of the bed and waited for me to turn over and look at her.  

"You should leave." She said.

"Why?"

"My mom’s crazy, but she wasn’t kidding.  We’ve had to keep watch every night.  This house is cursed."

"I don’t think so.  This house has women in it.  The only crazy people we’ve run into have all been men.  I think that’s why they’re coming here.  Now that you have more people around… maybe they’ll get the point and give up."

"They won’t give up." she said.  Less to me, and more to herself.  She let her face drop and her dark hair fell forward, covering her eyes.

"Heh, you’re probably right.  I guess we’ll just have to last longer than them." I said, trying to be cheerful.

"We’re gonna die."

It hit me in the heart.  I leaned up and grabbed her hand as quickly as I could.

"Hey, listen to me.  We’re not going to die.  I’m not.  And as long as I’m not, you’re not.  Okay?  We’re gonna be alright.  I promise."

With my hand holding hers, she pulled me closer and leaned in to kiss me.  It was too far to lean though, and I ended up pulling her on top of me.  We kissed, and I enjoyed the feeling of her lips on mine as my eyes closed.  My eyelids were so heavy that I couldn’t even open them again, and as she kissed me again she could tell I was going to fall asleep.

"You weren’t kidding about being tired, I guess." she laughed.

————-

Pete’s guess is that I was able to sleep for 4 hours before I woke up to gunfire.  I rolled out of bed, and ran to the bedroom door.  Opening it slowly, I tried to peek out.  It was pitch black and my eyes were not adjusting so quickly out of sleep.  I could hear the sound of feet moving around downstairs, and maybe someone in the hallway upstairs.  I closed my door again, and backed to the window.  I didn’t have my guns with me, and the window was my best escape route.  It was around 15 feet to the ground, but thankfully I didn’t have to jump.  The door opened, and Guy backed in and shut it again.

"What’s going on?" I asked her.

"There’s men coming at the house.  Not many, but they’re carrying guns, and shooting."

"So they’re not Tweaks?"

"Nope, just the regular kinda killers."

"I need my guns!"

"Here," she said, pulling the pistol from her waistband. "You left it downstairs.  It’s only got 8 rounds, and the ammo is still downstairs."

It was enough to steady my nerves for the moment.

"Where’s Pete?" I asked

"Downstairs in the kitchen I think.  There’s a door down there to the outside."

We heard two shots ring out then, and we jumped in

stinctively.  The shots had come from inside the house.  Guy held her shotgun up at the ready, and I went again back to the window to check our escape.

"Gavin" she whispered.

"What?"

"Kneel down against the door.  If anyone tries to come in, I can shoot over you through the door."

"What if they shoot down at me?"

"They can’t see you.  Let’s hope they’re not that smart."

I didn’t like the plan, but it was better than anything I was thinking of.  I knelt down for what seemed like 20 minutes, but was probably closer to 2, before the door budged against me and Evelyn’s voice whispered urgently.

"It’s me!  Let me in."

I backed away from the door, and opened it for her.  She started to come in, but stopped short.  A hand closed around her face, and I could see a knife protrude from her chest.  My mind froze, and I tried desperately to grab for her arm and pull her to safety, but I was too late.  Evelyn’s form was thrown down in the dark and I stumbled over her as I raced after her assailant.  Guy tried to follow me into the hallway to provide cover, but another figure lunged out at her from the dark.  She screamed, and as I turned around I could see her being wrestled back into the bedroom.  I shrieked without any control, and ran back to her.

Guy was holding her attacker off by holding the shotgun with both arms and backing away.  He was much stronger, and pushed her towards the wall, where he might get more leverage.  He didn’t see me coming, and I used the pistol to strike him over the head several times.  I would have shot him, if I wasn’t so afraid of hitting Guy, but the beating did the trick.  The man slumped to the floor, and I turned to Guy to be sure she was okay.  She was sitting stunned on the floor but looked to be living.

Really, I should have gone to the door.  By the time I turned around, the second man had come in.  He hit me with what felt like a bag full of trucks, and kicked the shotgun out of Guys hands before we knew what was happening.  He ran to the gun, and picked it up, pointing it back at her.  I shot at him from my back as best I could with my blurry vision but missed.  He covered me with the gun, and another man entered the room.

"Murderer" I spat at him.

"The hell?"  he said with a gruff voice.  "That you kid?"

I didn’t say a word.

"Should I shoot her?" the other man asked.  I covered him with the pistol as he spoke.

"Don’t shoot anyone.  Just a sec.  Gabby!  That your name kid?"

"Gavin."

"Gavin!  Cooper right?  Goddamn.  You’re alive."

"Steven Tripp?"

"You got it!  Boy, why do I always gotta save your ass?"

"Why do you always kill people?"

"I’m good at it."   He grinned.