Empty Earth by Jacqueline Druga

Author:Jacqueline Druga [Druga, Jacqueline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vulpine Press
Published: 2022-04-13T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SIX

NEW FACES

I still didn’t trust them, not one bit. The movie buff in me kept thinking they were lying to me that it was a trick to give our whereabouts. Like some spy movie.

They seemed nice enough, too nice. And it was awfully convenient that they just so happened to be nearby when Nash was shot.

Why weren’t they shot at?

Poor Nash. He was so unsuspecting, and he didn’t deserve what happened to him. The only positive of it was if there was a heaven or place where all good recently departed went, then Nash was with his family.

He grieved horribly for them. Put on a front for us, but I saw the pain he carried.

The three before me, like Stan didn’t show much mourning in their actions.

Stan’s was denial, maybe theirs was too.

I didn’t bother getting their names or even giving mine. I had no plans to stick with them.

I knew them simply as Soldier man, Blue Jean Man and Kate. The only reason I knew her name was because they addressed her as Kate. She didn’t say their names, maybe she didn’t know them.

Both men were about the same age. Mid-twenties to early thirties. Soldier man looked military. Maybe it was just the uniform. He wasn’t exceptionally tall, but he was big in presence. Blue Jean Man was an everyday looking guy. Kate was younger. Not much older than the drinking age.

No wonder she was so fast and spry. She wore a US Army uniform, but whether it was hers, I didn’t know. Neither she nor the Soldier man wore the cover jacket that had the last name above a pocket.

There was something familiar about Blue Jean Man, I couldn’t put my finger on it.

That still didn’t matter, I needed to get away from them.

In the meantime, we sat inside the AutoZone, the vehicles parked a block away.

Kate cleaned the wound on my head and handed me a cold pack for my cheek.

My face wasn’t the only thing that hurt.

My legs, my knees, my pride.

“Just wait for the planes,” Kate said. “Once they make a pass, we’re good for another two hours.”

“Yeah,” Blue Jean Man added. “They fly by every two hours and will make a second pass if they see someone. Probably reporting it.”

“Damn,” Soldier Man said with an exhale, then reached in his back pocket, pulling out a flask. “We are so far behind schedule.” He took a drink and made an enjoyment gasp.

“Don’t let me hold you up,” I said. “I just need to get back to my group.”

“How many are there of you?” Soldier Man asked.

I debated. Did I tell them there was four of us or did I lie and say we had a huge group? Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Soldier Man lifted his hand.

“Listen. Here they come.”

The three of them all looked up to the ceiling as if it were glass and they could see the jets.

The closer they drew, the louder it was, and the more the floor vibrated.

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