“He’s a bundle of joy today, huh?”
Jack chuckles again. Her sarcasm easing his tension.
“Let’s play nice Days.”
“Me? I’m nothing but nice!” she proclaims.
Norman’s eyes widen, “Ha!” he exclaims.
“Don’t start with me Doc.” she says, deviously grinning.
“What’s it like to have worked in a profession that isn’t helpful now?” Norman asks, a coy smirk painted across his face.
Her brow raises, her grin grows more defined.
“You. Are. A. Shit!”
The three laugh, only toning down once Patrick approaches them.
“Hey buddy, everything alright?” Daisy asks through giggles.
His head remains down, hands in his pockets. She extends an arm to him, bouncing her fingers around.
“Wanna sit with me?”
Patrick meekly takes her hand and sits next to her. She intertwines her fingers with his, rubbing her shoulder against him.
“We’re talking about our new friend, Captain Jolly. What do you think about him?”
Patrick’s head doesn’t move, his eyes do not meet any of theirs. His usually timid demeanor holds.
“Yeah, me too.” she says.
Through laughs Norman is able to muster out “Stop!” to Daisy. Karo returns, seemingly from out of thin air, startling them. His shadow looms large over the group.
“Woods for miles ahead. No clearings.”
“Alright, what’s our best option?” Jack asks.
“Get as far as we can. Make camp at dusk.”
“That’s our cue.” Daisy says, rising to her feet and helping Patrick up.
The group travel with little communication over the next four hours. About an hour before the sun begins to descend Karo lead them east. He stops them as soon as the trees start to thin out.
Karo carries a small tent in it’s own pack, not large enough for the five of them. Only three will be able to sleep inside it, provided two of the three are the smaller Daisy and Patrick. One person will have to keep watch, and the other will have to sleep on the dirt.
This first night together passes without incident. All of them, save for Patrick, rotate shifts of keeping watch, roughly every three hours.
At dawn Karo packs up the camp while the others empty their bladders and bowls. They resume their journey to nowhere, stopping only when rest is needed. At midday Karo divides the cooked rabbit he’s had wrapped in foil among them. Small portions for each to ensure there’s enough for later that night.
After a few days in the woods the tree line is gapped by a road. The group follow the road into a desolate and tiny town. Only a few buildings are passed by, offset by more roads leading in different directions. They travel east again following one of the new paths closely.
The first trailer they come upon is at the end of a short dirt driveway. Two old, worn down cars reside on the lawn, neither of them on the driveway itself. Karo inspects the property before venturing inside the trailer. He returns after a short while to report no occupants are inside, living or dead.
Karo intends for them to spend the next few days in the trailer. Karo and Jack work out a plan to search the buildings they passed for supplies. Karo advises to wait until the following day before leaving again. The trailer is small and dirty, but it’s better than his dingy tent or the hard ground.
This is their life now. An endless travel for survival. Breaking off into small towns when possible. Searching for supplies as needed. Waiting for Patrick’s next episode, hoping and praying the time in between them lengthens while the duration of them shortens. It's not a good life, but these days there are no good lives.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Rosaline huffs as she marches to the house, a scowl firmly written upon her. She throws open the front the door. Mikey, startled by the sudden noise, jumps from the couch. Zee, who had been sitting with him, jolts as well. Mikey looks over Rosaline with an inquisitive gleam. Rosaline’s glare darts to Zee and locks on.
“Are yo-”
The child begins to say, but Rosaline cuts him off, her gaze never breaking from Zee.
“Go upstairs.” she says through gritted teeth.
Zee slides off the couch and straightens up, Rosaline’s furious mood bringing her to attention.
“But we ar-”
The boy starts in again, but stops when Rosaline’s eyes cut to him.
“Now.” she says sternly.
Mikey slumps into a defeated posture, starring at her for a moment, droops of sadness in his pupils. He turns to Zee then looks to the floor. As he passes by her she runs her hand along his hair, causing Rosaline’s fists to clench and her stance to widen. Noticing this, Zee halts the act before even sliding all the way across the small child’s head.
Rosaline watches as the boy climbs the stairs and turns the corner out of view. Her gaze then moves back to Zee, her lips scrunched, her face long, concern and guilt held in her eyes. Zee’s hand comes up, attempting to ease the enraged woman before her.
“Listen, I know you’re angry-”
“Damn right I am.”
“I’m sorry. I-I don’t agree with this, but-”
“But not enough to stop it.”
Zee’s hand drops, her face flushes, shame washing over her. Her head shakes as she speaks.
“What can I do about it Rosaline?”
Rosaline doesn’t reply to her. Her chest heaves in and out, anger flowing through her veins.
“I’m sure you don’t think this is fair, but they’re scared. We’ve never, we’ve never had to deal with something like this before. Hawaii just wants to protect us.”
“By fucking throwing us out?! After all this time? Mikey’s used to being here now. It’s going to crush him to leave.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t fucking say that. You don’t get to say that.”
Zee’s cheeks glisten as tears begin to dribble down them.
“But I am. I-”
A catch in her throat pauses her for a moment.
“I don’t want you two to leave. I like Mikey, I like having him here, it’s good for him.”
“I’m not leaving him here without me.”
“I know, I know.”
The door opens behind Rosaline and Hawaii enters. Zee wipes the wetness from
