All Is Silence - Deserted Lands #1

Chapter 6 - Part III

“Zach. Wait.” She stepped toward him, tears in her eyes. “I'm sorry. I'm a shitty friend.”

“No. No, Lizzie. You're not.” He sighed and let her come to him. He wrapped his arms around her and felt her warmth as she shook with tears. “Jess is probably out of cell range or the power is out or something.”

“Yeah. Maybe,” she mumbled. “Thanks.” Eventually her arms gave him a squeeze and released. “You got a cigarette?”

Zach let her go. “No. I thought you quit.”

“I did. Mostly.” Her thumb went back in her mouth. She looked down at her feet.

“I did. Completely. Even with Dad smoking.”

“Well, goody for you. I gotta go to the store. Come with me, please.” Lizzie grabbed his hands and pulled him down the stairs.

Zach let her take the lead. She needed the distraction.

Outside, the sun shone off the droplets of water on the mat of leaves covering the still and quiet streets and sidewalks.

Stay chill. She’ll come out of it. Zach kicked a beer can.

Lizzie jogged away from him. “Come on,” she said.

He increased his stride to keep up with her.

At the Chevron station, Zach tugged on the doors, but they were locked. “No good. Don't really feel like setting the alarm off. Might attract attention.”

“Maybe we want attention. I want a cigarette,” Lizzie said.

“Okay. There are other doors, 'kay?” Zach trotted around the side and tried the door into the garage half. It opened. “Over here.” He stepped inside and walked softly. It was spooky quiet, like everywhere else. Like any minute the owner would jump out of a closet.

Lizzie shoved the door aside, banging it against the cabinet.

Zach spun around. “Was that necessary?”

“I want a cigarette.”

“You already said that.” Zach stepped inside the store. “What kind?”

“Virginia Slims.”

“You're kidding, right?” He reached down a pack of V’s from behind the counter and tossed them to her. The pack of Marlboros caught his eye. He had always figured if he was gonna kill himself slowly it might as well be for the Marlboro Man. But the more his dad smoked the less he wanted to, not that it was easy to quit.

“I used to steal my mom's. Nothing else tastes quite as bad!” She opened the pack automatically. “Saw a dead guy two, three days ago, looter, I guess, shot on the sidewalk.” Her eyes were searching.

I don’t want to die on the sidewalk. “Light?” Zach grabbed a football-shaped lighter from a bin. “Not many people left to shoot us.” He flicked it and she inhaled.

“Coffee. Hey, they've got one of those instant espresso makers.” She was bouncing, barely in control. “You want one?”

“Sure. They got caramel?” Zach wandered the store stuffing candy bars and jerky in his pockets; he tore a beef stick and cheese combo open. “Spose this stuff’ll kill me, but not like cigarettes.” He bit off some of both. “Damn that salt and fat tastes good.”

“Here's your coffee.” Lizzie balanced the coffee and a lid in one hand, the cigarette in the other.

Her phone crooned Shelby Lynne’s “Things are Tough All Over.” The coffee flew toward him. Zach tried to snag it but only ended up keeping what stayed in the cup from falling. The hot coffee burned through his jeans. “Dammit, Lizzie!”

“Jess? You're alive?” Lizzie answered the phone, focused. “She's alive, Zach.” She spun him around.

“Lizzie! Watch the fricken' cig. You're gonna burn me again!”

“Sorry,” Lizzie said over her shoulder as she barreled into the door. It didn't move. She turned, looking stunned. Her hand went to her head and she grimaced, then broke up laughing. “Door’s locked.”

“Jesus, Lizzie.” Zach tried to stay angry, then shook his head and joined in her laughter. “Jess,” he hollered at the phone. “Glad you're okay. Lizzie was pretty freaked.” Then in a quieter voice to Lizzie. “I’m going outside to scout around.”