The Black by Druga Jacqueline

Author:Druga, Jacqueline [Druga, Jacqueline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Post-Apocalyptic
Published: 2021-11-29T05:00:00+00:00

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Cleveland, OH

Mark ran.

He held that child in his arms and he ran, cradling it with all that he had, praying with every step he took that the baby that defied the odds and lived would keep living.

But getting out and getting help seemed like a million miles away.

Chip had ran ahead, faster than Mark could run. He didn’t want to bounce the child. It had already been through so much. It was hard to tell if it was a boy or girl, everything the child wore was soiled and discolored.

All that would have to wait until he found help.

It was a sea of death and destruction. His brother was getting farther and farther ahead, calling out, “Hello! We need help!”

Mark knew they weren’t the only ones.

Or were they?

Were they even going in the right direction? Was there anything beyond the traffic?

No one else was calling out. He heard no voices. The only sound was their running, Chip’s yelling for someone to help.

And the baby.

It whimpered like a sick kitten and it broke Mark’s heart.

Every step he took, he begged in his mind, “Please little one, please live. Hold on.”

What a fighter the baby was. To survive in a cooler for twenty-four hours. And the baby was young, it barely weighed ten pounds, if that.

Mark thought he was moving fast, but he wasn’t. He moved cautiously quick, but nowhere near the speed Chip ran.

Chip’s voice faded and soon Mark didn’t see him.

Mark panicked.

Again, what if there was nothing out there. What if the black just consumed everything and by some chance they had lived.

What would they do?

My God, Chip, where did you go?

He clutched the baby and like he had done, cradled in one arm, the other hand held the bottle. He checked every minute to see if the child was still alive or breathing.

Immediately Mark went into survival mode.

If the world was over, if it was gone. How would he save the baby? Mark started looking around for restaurants and places with coolers, because inside, even though the power went out, inside there was milk.

They had water.

Hold the baby, feed the baby … save the baby.

No, no he couldn’t. The child needed more than the two brothers could give. They knew nothing about babies.

Suddenly Mark realized he was alone. Chip was so far ahead, he couldn’t hear or see him. He imagined his brother running into another Galanis and Mark went into a full blown anxiety attack.

His heart raced, ears filled with blood and his face grew hot.

He couldn’t breathe or move. His legs grew rubbery and all the cars, all the destroyed cars swarmed around him, like a maze he couldn’t escape.

Mark had to stop.

He felt like he was going to pass out.

“I’m sorry, baby,” he said to the child. ”I’m sorry.” He staggered a little than slid down to the ground, his back sliding against the rough edges of the paintless car until he sat on the ground.

He parted the blanket and looked at the child.

The baby looked so pale, its eyes had no twinkle.

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