The Barbarous Road_A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survivor Thriller by Ryan Schow

Author:Ryan Schow [Schow, Ryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: River City Publising
Published: 2018-07-02T22:00:00+00:00

Marcus is on the couch, not quite asleep, but not fully awake as he listens to Bailey and Nick go at it. On nights like these, he wished his senses were not so attuned to every little sound. He wished he could turn on a TV. Plug in some headphones. Go for a walk. Then, just as he was lying there with his thoughts turning to his father, Corrine walked out into the living room wearing only a long T-shirt she must’ve found somewhere in the house.

“Marcus,” she whispered.

“I’m awake.”

“Are you going to sleep out here all night?”

“Yes.”

“I’m scared,” she said, quietly.

“You don’t want to be alone?” he asked.

“No.”

“You can take the couch if you want,” he offered. “I can do the floor.”

“I don’t want you to have to do that.”

“You can’t imagine the places I’ve slept before. Trust me when I tell you the floor is just fine. You’ll need to bring your bedding though because I want mine.”

She returned a few minutes later with a quilt and her pillow. She made herself a bed on the couch, then laid there for a long time. Marcus was waiting for her to say something, but somewhere along the way she fell asleep. An hour later, he heard a light moan followed by a whimper. She starting saying the word “no,” over and over again, frantic, and then she began to beg, saying “no” and “no, please, please don’t.”

He knew what this was. Rather he assumed it had something to do with what she survived. What he couldn’t tell was whether someone was trying to kill her father or whether they were moving in on her.

Finally she started to cry and he almost woke her, but he didn’t. He’d never dealt with something like this before. Finally she yelped out, jolting herself awake. For a long time, she just laid there, crying. Finally she got off the couch, found her way to the bathroom (and a toilet which still didn’t flush), then returned a few minutes later. Instead of going back to the couch, she pulled her blanket and pillow down to the floor and made a bed next to Marcus.

She didn’t seem to know he was still awake, that he had nightmares like hers and had since conditioned himself to sleep very little while operating at full capacity on limited reserves.

For a second, he was very uncomfortable.

He didn’t like the close proximity with people, not unless it was a life threatening situation. He liked it even less that she was young, without a family and fresh out of…what she survived. He felt her hand reach for his. He froze, letting her take it.

“I’m awake,” he said. She didn’t let go of his hand. In fact, when he started to take his out of hers, she tightened her grip just enough to let him know he should stay.

“I know.”

“What are you doing, Corrine?” he asked, his heart hammering in his chest, so much uncertainty in their physical connection.

“I miss my father.”

“I know.

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