Chapter 7: Jocelyn
As I sit with the twins in the backseat, I remark how quickly they’ve warmed up to me. It isn't long before the one has her head resting on the side of my arm. They both look exhausted. They are still awake, but their eyelids are fluttering. I put one arm around each of them. The one to my right, maybe Caitlyn, looks up at me with a gentle smile. It soon fades from her face and she falls asleep. The other one follows right behind her.
The car pulls up to a red light and I look out both windows. The streets are still empty. We had passed a car or two and seen the occasional movement behind houses, but things are generally quiet out of the city. I reach up to the wound on my neck, careful not to wake the twin on my right. The cut reminds me how careful we have to be. Jon turns around to me speaking quietly.
“Well this has changed things.”
“Yea, I mean, how much harder is this going to be now? But we can't leave them.”
“I never even considered that,” he whispers. He changes the subject. We both knew they were staying. “So we still want to head to the ole' campground?”
“Yea that sounds like the best choice. Maybe we should think about stopping and getting some more food– especially with these girls with us now.”
“Yea. There's a supermarket on the way there. We should be there in fifteen.” Jon puts his foot down and our car continues on the path.
While we were still in the apartment Jon and I talked about what we would do as we packed. With every adult dying, it would not take long for the power and water to go out. Waste wouldn't be collected and people would scavenge for food in the worst of ways. Jon came up with the idea to go to an old campground from our weekend family vacations. It had a water pump, cabins, and electricity (as long as it lasts). Our plan gave us comfort. It gave us hope. It still does, but all the chaos has really dampened our idea of simply living a few weeks camping until the country pulled itself back together. I am afraid that a few weeks could be much, much longer.
I look at each girl and then continue to stare out the window. The buildings of the city are replaced with trees on both sides. I think I like the trees more. The car comes to an intersection and Jon turns. Then, up ahead, I can see the supermarket at the corner-and a car coming straight down our side of the road.
My heart sinks as a red blur bolts toward our car. Jon swears and begins to pull off the road. The red car seems to see us and gets in the correct lane and races past us. They almost killed us. Why weren't they paying attention?
Then I see it. I tell Jon we need to turn around, too.
Now.