After the Fall: The Districts, #2

1

It was a beautiful Colorado morning. The sun bounced off the snow covered peaks of the Rocky Mountains and the world was still, save for the few birds around the cabin. Nick rolled onto his back and looked at the ceiling. He wanted to go back to sleep… to get lost in his dreams and forget about everything that had happened. Instead, he threw off his sheet and pushed himself up.

Nick couldn’t stop thinking about the gunfire they heard… and blamed his night of restless sleep on it. He was still having a hard time coming to grips with what Mike had said about the backpack in the woods. He hoped they would never need it or speak of it again.

The door to the cabin opened and Mike walked in. He had a twenty pound bag of potatoes slung over his right shoulder. He set them down against the supply shelf and sat down on his bed.

Hey, Nick said.

Morning.

Where did you get those?

Mike looked up and made eye contact with Nick. There was something in his gaze… something that told Nick it was a question he didn’t want to know the answer. Nick hoped the potatoes hadn’t belonged to someone earlier in the day, but he knew the chance was pretty good.

Nick stood up, stretched and walked through the still open door of the cabin. Even though his back seemed to becoming more used to the loveseat he still longed for a comfy bed… something he knew realistically he might never again experience.

There were birds darting between the tree branches as Nick stood on the small porch. A smile crossed his face for a brief moment as he longed for the same kind of carefree attitude the birds clearly embodied. It was a thing of beauty.

Nick was feeling down. He walked to the stream, which had already proved to be a source of calming energy for him since their arrival. Nick sat down on a rock next to the water and just stared into it.

The morning drifted by as Nick watched the water and the sun climb high enough in the sky to begin warming his face. Nick turned his head at the sound of footsteps and saw Mike approaching. Mike sat down on a rock a few feet away and the two men sat in silence for the next ten minutes.

You seem worried, Mike said, finally breaking the silence.

I am.

Mike sighed and looked into the water. Nick could tell it didn’t sit well with Mike, and he knew why. They talked about the need to survive on an almost daily basis, and it was something Mike felt strongly about, but Nick was still having a hard time coming to grips with the reality of their situation.

For Nick it wasn’t just about what the world had become… although that was a main factor, he was still thinking about his parents which made him sad. He felt as though with each passing day they were slipping from his consciousness. He was afraid one morning he would wake up and he wouldn’t remember their faces.

I get it, Nick, I really do.

Nick looked over at Mike, but his eyes were locked on the stream.

It’s just… I… I miss my parents. I feel like I should have gone to find them. I feel like a bad son.

Don’t. There’s nothing you could have done for them.

Nick nodded. He wanted to believe that… he really did, but he felt like it would be taking the easy way out. Mike stood up, walked five steps in the direction of the cabin.

Look, Mike said, you could go and try to find them… but you’ll never make it.

Nick swallowed and looked into the water. He closed his eyes as the sound of Mike walking away faded from his ears.

It was midday, or close to it, when Nick finally stood up and started back to the cabin. It was a wasted day for him, to that point, having not really come to any conclusions about what he should do. Nick had never thought about leaving the cabin and venturing out to find his parents… until Mike brought it up. It was a crazy idea and Nick knew Mike was right—he would never last long out on his own. Florida was almost as far away as they could possibly be from him, which made the whole prospect of leaving everything behind to find them even more daunting.

Mike wasn’t in the cabin when Nick got back. He sat down on the loveseat and sighed. Nick had a sick feeling in the back of his mind that Mike had begun to regret taking him along. Mike was hard, and ready to do anything to survive… and Nick still had hope in what was left of humanity.

The door of the cabin opened and Mike walked in. Nick opened his mouth to say something, but before he could Mike handed him his Glock. Nick took the pistol and Mike grabbed his AR-15.

Let’s go, Mike said.

Nick frowned and hesitated. He wanted to ask where they were going, but he knew it wasn’t his place to question Mike… especially considering how deliberate Mike had been in his speech and movement.

Mike was headed toward the road when Nick got outside and he jogged to catch up. They turned away from town upon reaching the road and headed up the canyon. Neither of them spoke for the next twenty minutes as they walked. Nick noticed himself constantly listening for the sound of a vehicle, but there was nothing apart from the occasional bird call and a light breeze that rustled the grass along the road.

The sound of a branch breaking caused Nick to freeze as he looked around in an attempt to identify its origin.

It’s a deer, Mike said, his voice calm and level.

Nick looked into the trees, but didn’t see anything right away. Mike lifted his hand and pointed to the other side of the road and Nick finally spotted the deer. He shook his head at his apparent inability to tell from which direction the sound had come. It was clear to Nick that Mike had probably spotted it before it even made a sound.

The road turned sharply to the right and began to climb up ahead. Instead of following the road, Mike turned to the left and walked down the steep embankment at an angle. Nick shook his head as he watched Mike make it down with ease… he followed and felt unsteady on the loose dirt. Mike waited at the tree line for Nick to catch up.

Where are we going? Nick said.

You’ll see.

Mike began to walk again. Nick shook his head. He was worried about where they were going and Mike didn’t seem willing to give him any sort of indication. He didn’t want to get too far behind Mike so he started after him.

The two men walked in silence as they continued through the thick pine forest. Nick caught a glimpse of what looked to be a cabin up in the middle of a clearing. Mike stopped behind one of the last trees before the clearing and nodded at Nick. He kneeled down and tried to catch his breath as Mike peered around the tree.

Mike turned to Nick and motioned for him to move closer. Nick crouch-walked to the tree next to Mike and looked around it. On the far side of the cabin he could see a black truck, and it took him a moment… but he eventually realized it was the same truck that had sped by them with the armed men in the back.

Nick turned to Mike, who had a wicked smile on his face. Nick really hoped they weren’t about to do what he thought they were.

Mike, he said, doing his best to whisper, we can’t kill them.

Mike frowned and shook his head.

That’s not why we’re here.

A feeling of relief washed over Nick. He knew Mike was right about staying strong and being ready to fight to survive, but this was something entirely different… even if they weren’t there to kill the men.

What are we doing?

Just wait, Mike said.

Nick sighed and looked back toward the cabin. Everything seemed quiet, but he figured if their truck was there it probably meant the men were inside. Nick usually felt safe with Mike, but he knew there were at least four heavily armed men within a hundred feet of them and he was scared.

Mike lowered himself to the ground, readied his rifle and aimed toward the house. Nick pulled out the Glock and followed Mike’s lead. He trusted that Mike was true to his word, that they weren’t there to kill the men, but he was starting to have his doubts. Nick didn’t dare say anything because he knew Mike was serious enough to turn his back on Nick for not going along with whatever his plan was.

The two men remained still for the next thirty minutes, Nick not daring to move. Nick froze as he heard something coming from the direction of the cabin. They watched as the door swung open and four men walked out and toward the truck. Three of them were carrying rifles, including an AK-47 which Nick now recognized. The men got in their truck and a puff of black smoke came out of the exhaust pipe as the massive diesel engine sprung to life.

Nick looked over at Mike as the truck roared away and its menacing sound slowly faded, but Mike remained still… his eyes locked on the cabin. Mike stood up after ten minutes and began to slowly walk toward the cabin with his rifle still held up to his shoulder. Nick was a few steps behind Mike and to his left, with his Glock aimed at the front door of the cabin as they approached.

Mike crouched as they approached the cabin and peeked into the window. He dropped to the ground in an instant and Nick did the same. The glass of the window exploded as the sound of a gun rocked Nick’s ears. Mike rolled to his left, popped back into a standing position and pressed his back against the wall.

Nick looked at Mike for guidance. He had no idea what to do. His mind screamed at him to run, which wasn’t an option. Mike stared right at Nick and then pointed to the door. Nick nodded, crouched and started to make his way to the door. He heard movement inside as he reached the door, but it was quickly drowned out by the pounding of his heart.

I can’t do this… I can’t kill a man.

Nick glanced over at Mike for some kind of signal. Mike made a fist and a knocking motion. Nick nodded, closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he moved his hand to the door. He knocked twice, took a step back and readied himself to shoot if the door opened. Mike stepped toward the window and raised his rifle. Two shots rang out and Mike lowered the rifle.

A strange numb feeling washed over Nick. He knew the man inside was dead. It was clear by association he was a bad person, but Nick didn’t think it meant the man should die. Mike walked over to the door and pulled it open. Mike walked inside and Nick followed.

The man was on the ground, not moving, and there was an expanding pool of blood around him. One of the shots had hit him in the chest and the other in the stomach. Nick cringed as the blood inched its way toward him and he took a step back.

Mike seemed unfazed by the fact he had just killed a man. Nick watched as Mike calmly walked out of the main room of the cabin and into what looked to be a bedroom. Nick felt sick… he couldn’t be in the same room as the body anymore and walked outside. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift away. The cool air felt good on his face and within a few minutes he felt a little better.

Nick?

Nick turned around and saw Mike standing next to the dead man. There were two backpacks on the ground next to Mike. Nick walked inside, set the Glock down on the table and picked up one of the backpacks. He put his arms through the straps, grabbed the Glock and headed back outside. Mike joined him a moment later and walked by him without saying anything.

Nick hurried after Mike and glanced over his shoulder before they hit the woods. He felt guilty… like he was responsible for the death of a man, even though he wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger. He had a feeling it was going to be a long, quiet walk back to the cabin.

2

Sandra took a sip of her tea and held onto the mug as she let it warm her hands. The boys were still asleep and she was glad to have a few minutes to herself. It wasn’t that she minded having them around, she was actually quite glad they were, but it was the first time anyone had lived in the house other than her since her parents died. It was going to take her some time to get used to having people around, but she was glad it was Nathan.

The sun crept over the top of the barn and the first few rays hit her face. Sandra just closed her eyes and sighed as it warmed her.

Sandra was a little worried about the people that had kept walking… she hoped they would be alright. She knew it wasn’t her place to tell them what to do, but she felt like she didn’t insist hard enough that they stay on her farm.

You alright?

Sandra jumped a little and turned her head to the left. Nathan was standing a few feet away from her. He smiled, raised a cup to his lips and took a sip of coffee.

Yeah… why?

He smiled at her and shrugged.

You had a worried look on your face. Were you thinking about those people?

She nodded and took a sip of her tea.

You can’t.

What do you mean? she said.

They’re gone, you need to forget about them.

She frowned and took another drink of tea. Sandra wasn’t sure what Nathan was trying to get at, but it seemed a harsh thing to say about people who could have used her help.

Sorry, he said. I know it’s probably not what you wanted to hear… but I’m trying to be real with you. You did all you could… you tried to get them to stay and they chose to go on.

But… it’s my fault.

"It’s not. The shotgun may have scared them a little, but if they couldn’t see