Grace Lost by M. Lauryl Lewis

his
hands, but neither of them spoke.  It was Emilie who answered my
question.  “The gas light’s on.”
    “We were just talking about
siphoning the next vehicle we come across,” said Boggs.  “Or using it.”
    “We haven’t seen many,” I said,
stating the obvious.  “What if we run out of gas?  Then
what?”    I could tell my own voice carried a trace of
panic.  No one answered.  “Boggs?   Then what?”
    Boggs refused to look at me.
    “Gus?”  I said, hoping he’d
give me answers.  “What if we run out of gas?”
    “Try not to panic, Zoe,” said the
man driving.
    “Screw that!” I barked. 
“What if we run out of gas?  What if those creatures come after us? 
We only have two guns!”
    “It’s all we’d need,
darlin’.”  Gus said after a long pause of silence.
    Emilie sat quietly in front of us,
her head hanging.  I could tell she was fighting tears.  I ran Gus’
words through my head, slowly understanding that he meant that our guns were
enough to end our own lives if needed.  I glanced at Boggs, who still
refused to look at me.  Instead, he wrapped his arm around me, kissed the
top of my head, and held me close.
    “There!” shouted Emilie. 
“That’s the turn off!”  She was pointing off to the left, and at first I
didn’t see it.
    “That tiny road?” asked Gus.  “You sure, Em?”   He sounded doubtful.
    “Yes!  See the mailbox that
looks like a frog?  We always used to make fun of it!”  She looked
back at me and Boggs.  Her face was lit with exhilaration, but I could
tell by her eyes that she had been crying. 
    I sat up and Boggs loosened his
arm.  Gus turned off of the highway and onto the small graveled
road. 
    “Emilie, how far up do you think
the cabin is?” asked Gus.
    “Not far.  A
mile at the most?”
    “Ok kids, we need to be prepared to
walk it.  Or run it,” said Gus.  “We’re driving on fumes.  If we
don’t make it, we get out and lock the car, and leave everything behind but the
guns.  Understand?”
    We all responded with silence, and
Gus continued.  “If we make it to the cabin, we need to be prepared for a
fight.  Either with the living or the dead.  
Boggs, you bring up the rear, girls you stay between me and him.”
    “You got it, Boss,” said
Boggs.  His voice held an edge of fear.
    “If we come across other survivors
in the cabin, let me do the talking. If I sense a problem, I’ll talk about ‘big
blue’ and if I do, you girls drop to the floor.  Boggs, keep your pistol
ready.  I have experience in combat, and assume you don’t.  I’ll need
you to keep your head about you, and not hesitate.  Can I count on you?”
    The way Gus was talking scared me,
but I was also glad to be with someone willing to take charge.  I felt
almost safe with him guiding us and Boggs at my side.
    When Boggs didn’t answer, Gus
repeated himself.   “Boggs.   Can I
count on you?”
    “Without a
doubt.”   It was at that moment
that the SUV sputtered and came to a gradual stop.
    “Ok, this is it.  As close as we can get.   Emily, darlin,’ I sure hope
you were right about the turn-off.”
    “I’m right,” she said
matter-of-factly. 
    “Ok.  Before we get out,
listen and listen well.  No noise.  Close the doors quietly, but make
sure they close.  We can’t risk the battery draining from left-on interior
lights.  Hold the handles open and use your hip, then release the handle. 
I’ll lock the doors.  Once we’re all out and the doors are shut, get into
the formation we talked about and move forward.  I’ll set the pace. 
If I run, you run.  Understood?”
    I nodded while Emilie and Boggs
both said “yes” in hushed voices.  I looked at Boggs, and squeezed his hand.
    “Ok, on the count of three, get
out.  One – two – three.”
    On Gus’ count, we all opened our
doors and stepped out.  We did as instructed, holding the door handles
open while using our bodies to soften their closure.  I