All Is Silence - Deserted Lands #1

Chapter 3 - Part III

LIZZIE RAN ALL THE WAY HOME—the milk and 2-liter bouncing painfully against her back.

Inside, Lizzie locked the deadbolt behind her and slid to the floor. How long had it been since she'd run that far that fast? Years. But her little feet had carried her quick and sure. Her little feet. Mama’s joke about boobs and Dolly Parton’s feet came back to her. ‘Things don’t grow well in the shade.’ Nothing but shade in Bellingham.

When her heart stopped racing, she noticed it had gotten dark. She flipped the light switch on and opened the closet, reaching back to where Jerkwad’s shotgun lived. She pulled it out and spun the numbers on the trigger lock. Her hiking pack leaned against the back wall. She pulled it out, too. The first aid kit, freeze-dried food and warm clothes might come in handy.

Lizzie checked that the shotgun was loaded and set it on the kitchen table. She slipped off the backpack and put away her haul, adding it to the minimal contents of the fridge: Jerkwad's cheap beer, a bit of lunch meat, salsa and salad dressings. She grabbed one of the beers, popped it open and took a swig. It tasted like carbonated piss. She set it back on the shelf and shut the door.

She cracked open the pack of frozen burritos, threw a couple in the microwave on a paper towel, then nudged the mouse at the computer. Maybe Jess had left a message.

Sure enough. Lizzie! Call me.

Lizzie pulled her phone out and hit the redial button. It rang and rang.

Jess picked up, breathing hard. “Thank God, Lizzie. You had me all worked up. I called your number, but you didn’t pick up. I thought maybe you...”

“Jess! I'm here. I promised.” She glanced at her phone. “Stupid ringer button was off. I went out today, like you said. You know how I used to say Bellingham was a dead city, now it really is.” She laughed.

“Lizzie? You fucking scared me.”

“Jeez, Jess. You dropped an F-bomb. You don’t talk like that. I went out like I said I would.”

“Yeah. I thought you killed yourself.”

“I’m sorry,” Lizzie said. “I met someone…”

“Alive?”

“Yeah. Mostly. Kinda weird. He couldn’t talk. Seemed kinda dumb. Reminded me of the dogs I was saving today.” Lizzie recounted her adventures of the day, but stopped when she realized that Jess was too quiet. “You okay, Jess?”

“No.” Jess sniffled. “I tried to dig a grave. But I didn't have the strength. I gave up. I thought about burning the house down.”

“Oh, Jess.” Lizzie wished she could hug her through the phone.

“We have an old root cellar, sunken, near the house. I wrapped them in blankets,” Jess said, weeping. “Carried them in a wheelbarrow.” A sob punctuated her pain. “I lay them on the shelves. I don't think I can stay in the house, Lizzie.”

“No. You can't. Go into town. Is there anyone else you're in touch with?”

“An aunt. In Maine. And it's been a few days.” Jess’s voice turned angry again. “Why'd God do this? Why are we still alive?”

“I don't know that God did this.” Lizzie sighed. “I wish I was there or you were here.”

“I’d rather be there. With you.” Jess sniffed. “Tomorrow I'll go into town. Not sure where from there.”

“Me neither. It’s weird. The worst part is the silence. Outside, the quiet gets to me.” The microwave chimed reminding Lizzie her food was heated. “Hey, I'm gonna put you down while I get my burritos, 'kay?”

“I'm wasted tired. I just need to sleep. How 'bout I call you tomorrow night.”

“'kay. Night, Jess. Love you.”

“Love you, too. Night, Lizzie.”

Lizzie snuggled into her Mama's bed, eating her burritos and salsa. She settled in to watch a movie marathon from her dad's collection: Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, and Some Kind of Wonderful. End with the best: Watts, the feisty drummer, was her favorite character ever. 

The endless repeating menu music of Some Kind of Wonderful woke Lizzie about three a.m. She turned it off and got up to brush her teeth.

Back in bed the quiet would not let her rest. Her mind raced. So much had happened today, she didn’t know what to make of it all. She knew one thing for certain. She was alone.

                                                        End of Chapter Three

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