They made it to the degraded asphalt of a road paved years before the Super Summer flu. The carts rattled in protest as they jogged toward an old Exxon gas station.
The roar of an engine made her feet go faster. Dean shot ahead. He certainly was spry. When they reached the gas station, he motioned her to stop.
He drew his Glock and yelled, “Anyone there?” Dean disappeared inside.
Scarlett drew her 9mm and waited with the carts.
“Empty.” Relief flooded through his voice.
Once inside, Dean paced what had been the mini-mart section with empty shelves tossed on their sides. “Got a view of the tunnel from this window. Expect to see Ella and Mindy any minute.”
“Mommy, my legs hurt,” Twila whined.
Twila had been so good. She helped her out of the cart. “You can stretch your legs for a little bit.”
“Hell’s bells! The patrol just circled back. Looks like we’ll be waiting a while.”
Scarlett took a seat on a stool while Twila walked around. It made her dread their journey. Wherever they were going. How could an eight-year-old be expected to hide in a shopping cart for days on end?
“The patrol jetted off northbound in a hurry,” Dean advised with a pair of binoculars to his face. “They just opened the tunnel’s trapdoor. I see two people in the mouth of the tunnel.”
“Thank you,” Scarlett said to the universe.
“Well, what’d you know,” Dean said. “It’s Luther and Mindy.”
“Not Ella?” Scarlett dashed to the window.
“All be dern.” Dean chuckled nervously. “Didn’t know Mindy could run so fast.”
“She can do anything to save baby Starla,” Twila crooned in obvious admiration.
“Now that’s what I call a superpower,” Dean touted.
Scarlett opened the door and waved them on. Luther kept looking over his shoulder. If the military vehicles returned, they were in trouble. Why didn’t Ella go next? That really bothered her.
Out of breath, Mindy and Luther strode in.
“Luther, you look like you just saw a ghost,” Dean jabbed.
“Did I ever mention my aversion to tunnels?” Luther grumbled about shaking off his negative energy. He had confided once that he was borderline claustrophobic ever since he had hidden in a small room in the San Francisco Bay Area during the pandemic’s early days.
Twila hurried to Mindy’s cart and peeked under the tarp.
Mindy nodded with her finger to her lips. “Sleeping.”
Scarlett turned to Mindy. “Why didn’t Ella go with you?”
“She wanted to go with Justin,” was all Mindy said.
“We ought to see them in another ten minutes or so, providing the patrol doesn’t return,” Dean assured.
Dean spread his trusty map over the top of his cart. “I’d say, we’re right ’bout here. This road’s a good start. Once we put a few miles between us and Last State, all we have to worry ’bout are marauders and the occasional horde.”
Twila screamed. “Jeez Louise, Justin is sooo mad. Oh no! Something’s wrong with Ella!” Twila pressed her palms against her forehead. “Bad guys,” she said in panting bursts, “locked them in a cage.”
“Good God Almighty!” Luther roared.
Mateo must have blown their cover. Scarlett shuddered at the thought of what they might do to Ella and the baby.
“Damn it all to Hell,” Dean slurred with vehemence.
Twila automatically covered her ears.
“Why didn’t you send Ella next?” Scarlett bit her lip. Accusations were useless at this point.
Luther slammed his first onto a countertop, shattering it. “Man, I tried to get her to go with Mindy.” The pain in his eyes revealed the truth. “She wouldn’t go without Justin. Things looked like they were about to go sideways—”
“Don’t go blamin’ yourself.” Dean patted Luther’s shoulder. “Ella does have a habit of freezing up.”
Luther grabbed his Glock. “Well, I’m going after them.”
Dean hesitated before saying, “I’ll join you.”
Luther held up his hands in protest. “You’re needed here.”
“Then I’ll go!” Scarlett said, determined.
“Nope. I’m going solo.” Luther handed her a worn-leather pouch from his duffle. “I want you to be the Andara’s guardian. Just in case I don’t—”
“Uncle Luther!” Twila cried out, “don’t even think it.”
“Don’t worry about ol’ Luther. Nothing’s gotten the best of me yet.”
Luther was definitely the toughest of the bunch. And his apparent immunity to the Z-virus gave him an advantage. Besides, he was unstoppable, so it seemed. Evidently, he had mastered the ability of manifestation, especially when enraged with determination. After all, he had rescued Mindy and Starla.
Scarlett peeked inside the monatomic crystal’s leather bag. The crystal-like glass caught the sunlight from the window, and its swirling surface glimmered from the inside out. Its energy surged through her. Quickly, she put the Andara into the inner pocket of the tactical vest, which she wore under the poncho, before she blissed-out.
“You sure ’bout this?” Dean quizzed with furrowed brows.
“As sure as I’ve ever been.” Luther set his huge duffle on his cart before stuffing a smaller pack with spare mags. “These bad boys”—he held up several grenades—“are my backup.”
“Make it quick,” Dean said. “Remember, Last State’s sending in the calvary.”
“Then I’d better bust butt.”
“One more thing,” Dean hesitated. “We should probably move on. If Enforcers are indeed repatriating defectors, I lay odds that’s why they’re patrolling this side of Zoat.” Dean looked at the map. “We’ll wait for you here—”
“Don’t say it,” Mindy scolded. “They’re watching. Thousands of beady red eyes. Watching!”
That sent the hairs on the back of Scarlett’s neck quivering. Mindy was more sensitive than she realized.
“Alrighty.” Dean gulped hard. “There’s movement at the mouth of the tunnel. And it’s not Ella and Justin. They’ll be heading here.” Dean slung his pack over his shoulders.
Scarlett shoved Luther’s cart into a corner. “Don’t forget to grab your cart and duffle on the way back.” She covered it with
