Last Woman by Jacqueline Druga

Author:Jacqueline Druga
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Horror
Published: 2014-03-29T05:00:00+00:00

24. Dirty

Dodge gathered up a bunch of drink boxes, as many as he could find. It was something I didn’t have at the house and knowing children, getting the boy to drink water would be tough.

I think Dodge felt bad that the child didn’t respond to him. Almost as if Dodge wanted and needed the boy to grab on to him. That’s what I thought because that’s how I felt.

I needed assistance to stand because the child wouldn’t let go. In fact, he didn’t let go all the way back to the house. He sat in the front seat with me, his chest to my chest, head down against me.

After the initial shock of finding him and the emotional breakdown on the floor of Walmart, we were able to assess what all that small child had done. We don’t know how he ended up at Walmart, although in the parking lot of the Big Bear Grocery store, right across the road was a huge military aid station. Maybe he was there and everyone died?

We didn’t know. He went to where he felt safe. Action hero figures. He had crackers and drink boxes, loads of drink boxes. A mask that lit up and a bunch of dead cell phones. I only guessed he used them until they died, maybe a light source or something.

How long he was there, we didn’t know either.

We didn’t know anything because the boy didn’t speak.

“I don’t think he ever will,” Dodge said in the car.

“He’ll speak again.” I then aimed my voice to his ear. “You’ll speak when you’re ready. If you spoke before this, you’ll speak after.”

“The shock may have done something. We don’t know what he saw.”

“I can only imagine. But he still went to a safe place, found food, and drinks. He was surviving on instincts. He’s going to be fine. Won’t you sweetie, you’ll be just fine.”

His arms tensed up around my neck.

“This is unbelievable. This is the best find of the day.” Dodge reached over and laid his hand on the boys head.

The child didn’t respond to the touch.

Dodge retracted his hand, rolling his fingers and making a fist while puckering his lips sadly.

“He’ll come around,” I said. “You’ll see.”

The house wasn’t far, and I hadn’t even thought about the next step with the child. As usual, Dodge did. Once we pulled into the house, I had barely stepped from the car when Dodge started stating what we’d do.

“Fire up your grill and start heating up water. Use the stuff I took from the water heater. There are six jugs in the kitchen.”

I nodded and saw him walking in a different direction. “Where are you going?”

“Your neighbors had a turkey fryer, I’m gonna use that for water. We can get five good gallons there too. He needs to be cleaned up, he’ll feel better.”

I agreed, the child did need to be bathed. He still hadn’t spoken or responded and I carried him into the house and straight to the kitchen.

“I have to set you down.

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