Really Cute People by Markus Harwood-Jones

Author:Markus Harwood-Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2024-01-10T17:25:03+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“Looks like the whole block’s out.” Hayden stands as a silhouette at the window, one hand holding back the curtains and the other clutching a flashlight. “Even the streetlamps.”

“I’ve still got service.” Buffy’s face is lit blue by her phone screen. She swipes, scanning for updates. “They’re saying the storm knocked out a transponder.”

“What’s a transponder?” Rainbow shivers up against her mother, wrapped in several blankets. I suspect she’s more frightened than cold. Her initial shriek at the blackout is still ringing in my ears.

“I don’t actually know,” says Buffy, holding down the power button on her phone until it turns dark.

“It means we’re going to be without electricity for a little bit.” Hayden shines his flashlight across the room. I wince as he catches it in my eyes. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” I rub away the spots from my vision. “I thought things were supposed to ease off tonight, though?”

“Guess the storm had other plans.” Hayden shrugs. “At least the gas range should still work. I can finish cooking dinner.”

Buffy wraps her arms around Rainbow, coaching her through a series of deep breaths. “We should have some matches in the first-aid kit, to help you get it started. Hayden, babe, do you know where that got off to?”

“I already checked in the spot it’s supposed to live. All I found was this.” The flashlight flickers and dies out. Hayden smacks the side of it, then pops out the battery pack and gives it a shake. When he slides it back in, the beam holds steady once again. “I think I know where to find some more candles, though. And I’ll grab us extra blankets.”

Hayden darts to the back porch and returns with all he promised, and more. Together we get the stove running again and for a while we huddle around it for the warmth alone. A hot meal in our guts only does so much to keep us warm. The house is growing colder with every passing hour. We layer on sweaters and long johns. I’m starting to think I should have filled the tub with water after all.

Without speaking, we collectively drift back into the living room. Rainbow is superglued to Buffy’s hip, following her around the living room. I busy myself by checking on the family’s various pets. Mango’s cage is safely blanketed but I can hear him twittering inside. Meanwhile, Miss Kiki has hidden herself at the top of the cat tree and refuses to come down, even for her favourite treats. Wellesley paces the living room rug, scratching for a place to rest but never actually lying down. I guess we’re all feeling a tad anxious.

Hayden sits crouched on the floor, cranking the lever of a hand-pump generator; each turn comes with an awful grating crunch, one I’m pretty sure it’s not supposed to make. “I knew we should have charged this thing. I just knew it.” He huffs and turns the handle even faster. Not so much as a glimmer appears on the generator’s battery light.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.