History in the Making - Part 34

Post date: Aug 12, 2016 9:04:23 AM

As I got to the base floor, I stumble and fall. Got a knee and an elbow scratched, but ended up faking a small injury. Intensely, I grab my foot as in pain and the extra figures start to gradually show themselves from behind a giant tractor tire. A couple about the same age as me, scratched a little everywhere and with tired expressions, came closer and closer to me.

At about five steps apart they stop, fixating someplace else. Some distance behind me, I found Donna with what looks like a gun pointed at them as they froze in scare. I breath deep as started...

- Hello there! Who are you? She won't shoot without reason to, so... don't give her one!

Both of them look momentarily at me and then focused back on Donna. Understandable... The guy looks like it's literally shaking and although the girl looks deceivingly weak, she's the one to break their silence.

- We... have no home now. We survived but our family died so we could be saved. Please don't kill us! We just want to find people and survive. We promised we would to our mother.

Either of them were clearly frighten but desperate to show themselves. From my bag, I took out the bread I've found earlier.

- I believe you can put the gun away, right? ...and you two... here. You look hungry! - They accepted the bread with hesitation and eyes wide open. - We should get going before it darkens completely. - I look at Donna looking for some kind of answer as if questioning her if we should invite them to join us.

- Yes... I'm sorry to scare you. - She put away her gun. - We're are you headed? ...and... who are you? - Donna questioned.

After a few crossed looks between them, they started to explain, taking turns to speak.

- We were locked in the building of the coffee shop of the family. We were closing up and cleaning when we got caught. With the first signs, we took shelter on the dispenser but ended getting locked away. After some long hours all appeared to had faded away and we starting to dig out as we could. Eventually, we were able to free ourselves. That was yesterday. After that we haven't seen anyone... - She stopped, took a deep breath and continued. - ...at least, no one alive that is. You both are the first ones we've seen since, but... it's such a mess everywhere that... I believe... we're afraid.

A paused silence created something like a friendly connection...

- Do you know about what's been happening? - I started as they looked at each other in silence. So I continued. - A very long and dangerous shower of meteors bathe us all. We don't know the extent of the damage it caused but what ever the case may be, it is most likely, in a dimension never ever seen before in recorded history. But it looks like there are some plans for rescue in existence. On the radio we accidentally listened to a looping recording, indicating every survivor to head to the nearest ports and wait for briefing and transportation some time around the next Friday. We are heading there! I suggest you do the same. Do you wanna come?

- How do you know it's not a prank? - The girl started. - I mean... well... it could be bad.

As I was about to speak, Donna stopped me.

- Look!... we are not asking you to believe us or what we are saying, nor even the radio recording. Heck, we are not even asking you to join us. We are just inviting you to come along for the ride, to see for ourselves and decide if it's true or not! It's not like tomorrow you'll have to go to work, right? We are just believing that no matter how bad a situation is, there's still hope if we just try! We lost people... our homes... our everyday lifes... Why not believe we can rebuild it all again and fight for a better future? - We all looked at each other. - I won't defend our position any further. You want to come with us, and you are welcome. We, are definitely going... now! Just... don't turn life in a big budget disaster movie!

And with that, she picked her stuff and started moving away.. A moment after, I followed. They didn't move and they faded into the distance as we walked our path...

As I picked up Donna's pace I could clearly see the running tears falling from her checks, under a now reddish sundown glow.

- It's their decision! You did very well to try to persuade them. Donna, let's find a place to sleep! Ok?

- No! I mean... Can't we just keep going with the moonlight? - She recalls my attention to the moon by point towards it. - We need around three days to get there, right? We could be a little bit ahead of time. Maybe get a better feel about what will happen or... something, or...

- Ok. - I tried to smile a little but stopped immediately as I saw a heavy tear drop right before she looked away. - Of course we can...

I reach a pocket in my bag and retrieve an unopened pack of Kleenex, opened it, softly grab her left shoulder to call her attention and show support as I handed then with my other hand. She was trembling with tears running her face in a nonstop single motion, just like in accordance with her feet that take a step after the other in an uncertain way. I feel so helpless towards people sadness...

- Why don't we stop for a little while? I... have to... make inventory. Yeah, I... just throw stuff in here earlier and brought it so... it's all a mess inside. - I noticed my own voice shake and ready to fail. - Look, there's a clea... cof... clearing! ...please?

She shook her head in agreement and we parked over some rocks of what looked like it used to be a fountain. For a while, I kept myself busy by taking out all of my backpacks content and put it all in again. Meanwhile, she would silently cry on the other end. I quickly finished repacking and dropped the bag right on front of us while I slowly sit beside her. Slowly, I rub my hand over her shoulders increasing the area until I was across, on the other shoulder and she dropped herself over me, crying even more fiercely and effusively.

Silent tears came dripping down her cheeks... Her eyes were either dancing like in search of something or strongly shut tight as if wanting to flee from reality. I've seen her cries before but it was nothing compared to now. Before it was merely a few tears streaming down as if caused by dust, but now it's not just tears but also a great sadness within being released in one go. Maybe too much was bottled up and now it's just near impossible to stop before being completely relieved. No matter the case may be, and although I'm only mentally making suppositions about what can cause such sadness, such despair and so much drainage of one's self, the truth is that I'm completely powerless, again...

Without thinking, I act... with one of my hands already over her shoulder, I simply stop and grab hold of her, trying to stop her feeling of losing strength. With my other arm, I reached inside my pocket to retrieve the bag of Kleenex which I slowly delivered to her as she grab them with both of her hands joined together and shaking a little. Within me, a great sadness was already very close to overflowing but I kept repeating to myself to be strong no matter what, because she needed to see that she can hold on, for no matter how sad one can become, everybody have the power to overcome it, although I was continuingly being put to the test...

There was absolutely no sign of getting better and so I pulled her completely towards me and let her rest with her head on my chest , very close to my shoulder, and with the other hand I started to clean her tears. One by one, I scrape tear after tear with only the side of a finger, but that seamed to made her cry more intensively. Instinct took over as I raised her chin with my free hand and began to kiss every droplet of tear she cried until, after a while, she stopped crying and we just stood there looking at each other. I slowly pushed myself a tad away from her to be able to get a good look and sealed it with a small long kiss on her forehead. After that, she straightened herself, looked around the floor like something somewhere had fallen, pulled me away while asking me to release her. Trying to be of further help, I inclined forward, towards her but she just stand. I sigh with my eyes closed shut and sit properly.

- I need to go to the bathroom. - She said... and walked away.

I gulped dry at the hole situation. I felt it was tuff on us both, but clearly tuffer for her. For all intents and purposes, I just actually met her for just a few days now. I guess it's only normal to be difficult to trust someone new enough to be opened about it and share our despairs with each other. Somehow, I trust her and feel that she trusts me back but still, something feels amiss like there's something that doesn't belong... Trusting, is a very special gift that is given...

I remained there, quiet and lonesome until Felicia came for me. Very slowly, she exited the shadows were she was lurking and got closer. Close enough to start liking my entwined hands like liking a wound. I knew she understood the sadness that we were expressing, and without notice, I collapsed on my knees and hugged her. On the next moment I felt the weight of her snout drop over my shoulder and with it a small dog cry.

Don't know for how long I remained like that, but I became alert and fearful when she forcefully e and abruptly pulled her head and started growling at the darkness. It is now, completely night and on the floor, just a small hand-crank flashlight almost losing juice, lighted the surroundings. I picked it up, turned it off and hoped for my eyes to adjust fast to the darkness. At the same time, a big cold feeling when through my spine and it was no shiver. I squatted and quickly exchange the hand-crank flashlight for a battery powered one, took out a small empty bag and dropped on it all of my rechargeable dead batteries and an opened energy bar pack and closed it, leaving it by my side. Following the growls, I tried to figure in the shadows out were she was looking at, and with that, I put two or three steps between us in the opposite direction and throw my backpack into a burnt car.

Lastly, I went for Donna's backpack, removed the screwdriver placing it on my belt and also throw it into the same car.

Felicia wasn't calming down no matter how much I'd pet her. Finally, I simply whisper:

- Were's Donna? Find her, girl! But be careful!

I grabbed firmly to her fur and she pulled me through that darkness quite a distance... Some stars danced in the sky while bathing a small clearing with very low light but enough to see a body laid on the floor. At the distance, a shadow appears to be fleeing the scene running away. I looked back at the layed down body and almost stopped my breathing as step by step, I shorten the distance.

Finally, I got close enough to depict more details and silently rejoiced for not being Donna. The laid down body was clearly of a woman's, dropped on her belly. I placed her arms by her side and began to turn her around. Right after, I hear sprinting footsteps towards me and by instinct I flee to the side and quickly stand ready for what I could. Standing still, gave me an advantage as I was the first recognize who was shortening distance with me at a fast pace.

- Donna! Donna stop! It's me!

She began to slow down but almost immediately restarted her sprint. I took a small step back right before she arrived, but she didn't stop and she shocked with me at the same time that she hugs me deeply while burying her face in me. At first I was petrified for the unexpected gesture but then began to hug her back. I felt her arms around my chest, squeezing a tad and then more every moment it passes, just enough that it didn't hurt. Resting my chin on her shoulder did not lasted long for her forcefully pushed me away and punched me in the gut.

- You're welcome... - I said in a hurtful way.

- Where were you? - ...and left to observe the woman on the floor. With no answer, I followed.

We tried to put the unconscious woman more comfortable by wrapping a jacket lying on the floor. Her's, I suppose. Grabbed the flashlights and turned then on. Donna and I looked immediately at each other, but no word was needed, we understood our worries.

The woman on the floor looked very young, maybe early twenties at most. Her cheeks showed remarkable old bruises, but it was her head that was slowly bleeding although nothing critical. She is wearing light brown hiking boots with long and thick white and gray socks. Some short tight jeans pants with a very thin black belt. And a very light white top covered by a light gray shirt and a light white wool sharp. She have short light brown wavey hair spread all over the place and some is already stained with blood.

I don't know what to do and I don't think it's a good idea to slap her awake 'cause she's already bruised and it could be bad for her, so I grabbed her nearest hand and began to slap it while calling out to her. Donna was more direct. She slapped her only once but so hard that out made me cringe on the spot but it sure did the trick. The downed woman began to slowly open her eyes...