Vestige (9 page)

“Mmm,” Clarke growled but didn’t argue.

She led Micah back to the kitchen and turned on the TV. “I hope they have some new information. Wouldn’t it be great if they found everyone? Maybe all the missing people will be home by tonight.”

“I wouldn’t get my hopes up.” Micah shook his head when he noticed the TV. “Hey, Clarke, 1990 called, and they want their TV back. Holy crap, does that thing have a built in VCR? Maybe you should have stolen the Faheys’ TV.” Micah took a seat at the kitchen table.

“Ha ha…very funny.” At first, the screen displayed only snow, but Clarke adjusted the rabbit ears until the same Emergency Broadcast message came into focus.

“That’s an Emergency Broadcast,” said Clarke.

“I know...I’m not an idiot.”

Clarke turned off the TV and joined Micah at the table.

“What do you think happened to the cop and the priest? Do you think they‘re…dead?” asked Clark.

“Probably.”

“I hope not. We should have done something.”

“Clarke, that cop had pepper spray and a Taser; and the crowd still took him down. What could we have done?”

“Maybe we should have called someone. You know…for backup.”

“I bet that cop was the only one left. Think about it. Normally, they send a ton of cops when there’s a crowd like that.”

“If he was the last one, who’s gonna look for the missing people?”

Micah shrugged his shoulders. “Clarke, what if they can’t find them?”

“Don’t say that. All those people didn’t just vanish. They have to be somewhere.” Her voice cracked.

Micah grew up listening to all sorts of bedtime stories about the end of the world, and a few of them did involve people vanishing. But he always thought that those stories were fairy tales, not prophecies. So, was that what he thought? That these were the End Times. He should have paid more attention to his mom.

“If your parents don’t come back, how are you going to live?” asked Clarke.

“I have a little money, and I was serious when I told you about the stash. My mom’s a survivalist,” said Micah.

“What’s that?”

“A person who plans for a disaster…you know, like an apocalyptic scenario.”

“Do you mean like a prepper?”

“Exactly.”

“Oh…” Clarke looked down at her hands. “I don’t have any money, and I don’t have a stash. If my dad doesn’t come back, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“You can hang with me,” said Micah.

“Really?” Clarke looked up at Micah. Her dark eyes looked wet. “But do you have enough for me too? What happens when your supplies run out?”

“I have a two-year supply of everything for a family of four. There're only two of us, so it’s like we have a four-year supply.”

“Thank God for your mom,” Clarke said.

“Yeah, thank God...” Micah never thought he would agree with a comment like that.

“Next, you’re going to tell me that you have an underground bunker too?” Clarke said.

“Um…I do.”

“What? Micah, I was kidding.” Clarke laughed.

“Yeah…me too.” He didn’t want to risk scaring her off. Apparently, a stash was reasonable, but a bunker was over the top. “Do you have anything to eat? I’m starving.”

“Sure. Let me get you something.”

As Clarke rummaged through the fridge, Micah’s phone vibrated. Clarke poked her head out from behind the door and watched Micah read the incoming text. Micah smiled at first, but when he looked at Clarke, his face tightened.

“Who is it?” Clarke asked as she shut the fridge.

“Jess. She’s at the park and wants me to meet her there.”

The two stood, looking at each other for several seconds.

“Do you want to come with?” Micah finally asked.

“Why would I want to hang out with you and your girlfriend? Besides, I don’t want the Waters to steal my stuff.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that. They seem to like high end things, not—” Micah cleared his throat. “I’ll only be gone for a little while.”

“You don’t owe me anything. Why would you come back when you can be with your girlfriend?”

“I don’t know...I guess I kinda feel like we’re friends now too. We went through some shit today. Don’t you think?” Micah said.

“Do whatever you want.” Clarke crossed her arms and turned away from Micah.

“Come on, Clarke, don’t be like that,” Micah pleaded. “I want to come back here. I swear I do.”

Clarke dropped her arms and slowly turned back around. She smiled softly and reached into her pocket. “Here’s a key...you know, in case you come back late. I’m going to have to make sure all the doors stay locked.” She slid her key across the counter but left her fingers on top of it.

“Don’t you need it?” Micah reached for the key. He placed his fingers on top of hers.

“I’m sure I can find an extra one lying around here somewhere.” She looked into his eyes as she slipped her fingers out from underneath his.

As Micah picked up the key, he gave her a reassuring smile. “I promise I’ll come back. I just want to see how Jess is doing. I haven’t seen her since yesterday. I want to make sure she’s okay.”

“Yeah, sure. I get it.” Clarke walked Micah to the door.

Before Micah walked out, he turned back to Clarke and placed a hand on her shoulder. He held up the key and said, “I promise.”

As Micah walked away from Clarke, he felt a pull as if an invisible string tethered him to her. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to see Jess anymore. The farther he walked from Clarke the more he wanted to turn back. Even though he had just met her, Micah felt as if he had known her his whole life. Was he imagining it? Did he just feel this way because of what they’d been through earlier? But he had never felt this way about anyone before. Clarke had to feel this connection too. When he picked up the key from the counter, he thought he saw it in her eyes.

It was now obvious to him that his relationship with Jess was over, and he had to take care of it tonight—the sooner the better. He ignored his urge to go back to Clarke. He would check on Jess, say his good-byes, and then, with a clear conscience, return to the person he truly wanted to be with.

*****

When Micah saw Jess and Amber sitting on the swings, he jogged over to them. He figured that Amber had already told her best friend about Clarke, so he braced himself for the fallout.

“Micah, thank God you’re okay. I’ve been worried about you.” Jess hopped off the swing and hugged Micah.

Micah cautiously put one hand on her back in a sort of half hug.

“Where’s Kent?” asked Amber.

“Here it comes,” Micah muttered under his breath.

“Who’s Kent?” Jess forced a smile.

They should have at least rehearsed this little duet a couple of times before he arrived. “Her name is Clarke. Come on, Amber.” This would have been easier if he and Jess were alone. “Where have you been, Jess? Amber said that your parents wouldn’t let you out.”

“They’re freakin’. They don’t want me to disappear like my sisters and brother. I had to go with them to a meeting at the village hall today. Since my mom’s on the school board and my dad’s on some village committee, they had to go. I sat there for over three hours. I thought I was going to die of boredom, so I finally snuck out.”

“I was there this morning too. I mean outside. How did you get out?” asked Micah.

“A fight broke out, and everyone ran to the window to watch. That’s when I went out through the parking garage,” Jess said. “Then I met up with Amber.”

“You didn’t see what happened?” asked Micah.

“No. What happened?”

“You were lucky that you got out of there alive. A priest was beat-up when he tried to leave the building. A cop tried to help him, and the crowd got him too.”

“I bet my parents are still there.” Jess laughed.

“Jess, it’s not funny. You didn’t see it. Those two guys are probably dead,” Micah said.

“Lighten up, Micah,” said Jess.

“Amber knows how crazy everyone is,” Micah continued. “We saw all these insane people in church this morning. Tell her, Amber.”

“You guys went to church?” asked Jess.

“That’s where we saw Kent,” added Amber.

“Jess, what did they say at the meeting?” Micah did his best to ignore Amber.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t paying attention,” Jess answered.

“You have to remember something,” said Micah.

“Well...they still don’t know where everyone went, and some government official is arriving tomorrow. That’s all I know,” said Jess.

“What’s the official coming here for?” asked Micah.

“I don’t know, but everyone seems happy about it. Oh yeah, my mom said something about the president giving a speech on TV. Why do you care about this stuff, Micah?”

“Because my whole family is missing. Why don’t you care about this stuff, Jess? Half of your family is gone too. Aren’t you worried about your little sisters and brother?” he asked.

“Jesus, Micah, stop tweakin. Yeah, I’m worried, but it’s not like I can do anything about it!” Jess looked as if she was getting angry.

What was the deal with her? All of a sudden, she seemed so immature. Had she changed or had he? “Jess, we need to break up.”

“Are you kidding me?!” Jess stomped her foot and stuck out her bottom lip. “Is it that girl?”

For a moment, Micah thought that she looked like one of her little sisters. “Does it matter, Jess?”

“Of course, it fuckin’ matters, you asshole.” Jess raised her right hand and slapped Micah’s chest. “How could you do this to me?” She started to cry.

“Micah, you’re such a jerk!” Amber put her arms around her friend.

“Jess…I’m sorry…” Micah walked towards Jess.

Amber threw her hand up. “Just go away Micah.”

“Are you going to be okay?” Micah asked Jess.

Jess lifted her head and yelled, “What do you care!”

Micah took a step back. She looked possessed. Her eyes blazed with anger and pain. Her blotchy tear-stained cheeks made her look as if she had some sort of disease.

“Go away!” Amber yelled again.

Micah turned to leave. That was easier than he thought it was going to be. Sure, he felt bad for Jess, but he had to do it. He couldn’t cheat on her. That definitely would have been worse.

As he headed to Clarke’s, he felt better and better about his decision. Nothing pulled him back to the park—no invisible strings tied him to Jess. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the key. He twirled it in his fingers, trying to remember the last thing he had said to Clarke. Her image was starting to fade from his memory just as a dream fades after you’ve been awake for a while. He needed to see her. He needed to know that she was real. In spite of all the horrible things that had happened, Clarke seemed too good to be true. At least he had her key, and that was real. Micah didn’t want to waste another minute, so he slipped the key back into his pocket and ran back to Clarke.

Chapter Ten

Clarke opened her bedroom door. A man sat at her desk with his back to her. A smile spread across her face as relief pulsed through her veins. Her dad was home. She ran towards him, prepared to throw her arms around his neck, but as soon as she could see over his shoulder, she paused. He held her doll, Samantha, in his lap, and combed its long brown hair with a tiny plastic brush. Clarke peaked into the trashcan and swallowed hard. The clump of Samantha’s hair that she had cut off still sat at the bottom.

“Dad...what are you doing?” She had never seen her dad pick up one of her dolls before this. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Where have you been?”

At the sound of Clarke’s voice, the man’s hand froze. The brush hovered over the doll’s head.

“Dad?” repeated Clarke.

“You can call me dad if you like.” The man set the doll and brush down upon the desk.

Clarke gasped. She recognized his voice; this man wasn’t her dad. He was the man from the dream. How could she have confused the two? As the man stood and approached her, Clarke took a step back. Who was he? Why was he here?

“I know that your mother introduced me as Mr. Grimshaw, but I would like you to call me Daniel. We don’t need to be so formal with each other. After all, we are going to be great friends, Clarke.”

Clarke felt small and insignificant next to Daniel. Not only was he tall in stature but his energy overpowered her. She was paralyzed.

Daniel ran his fingers through Clarke’s hair. He held up the strands to his nose and inhaled deeply. He let her hair fall back onto her shoulder and scooped her up into his arms. “I told you that you couldn’t run from me. I will always be able to find you.”

Clarke’s fear trickled away, replaced by a feeling of calm and warmth. Had he put her under some kind of spell? She was powerless against him as he carried her to the bed and set her down upon it. He removed his shoes, his jacket, and his shirt; the whole time holding Clarke’s stare. She couldn’t take her eyes off the stranger. She was trapped in a body that she could not control. Her brain tried to resist, but her body wouldn’t respond.

Daniel took his place on the bed next to Clarke. He leaned on his elbow and smiled at her. He brushed the wisps of hair off her face. Her skin tingled every time one of his fingers touched her. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “You are mine Clarke. Your mother assures me that you understand that.”

At the mention of her mother, the spell was broken. Enraged, Clarke sat up. “Get out! Get out!” Clarke yelled as she tried to push Daniel away from her.

“I don’t need your consent. You are mine.” Grimshaw pushed Clarke back down onto the bed. He rolled his ripped body on top of hers, pinning her arms on either side of her head. Clarke couldn’t move. She could only scream.

As Micah opened the front door, he could hear Clarke’s screams exploding from the second floor. He ran up the stairs, two at a time, and threw her bedroom door open. She flailed about in her bed as she cried.

Micah ran to her side. “Clarke...Clarke.... It’s okay. You’re just dreaming.” He shook her and tried to wake her.