Flares - Book 1

1.1 - Ivy

Tom held his foot on the gas pedal, he didn't ease even when he felt the ground shake behind him, he couldn't help the fears running through his mind, but he wasn't focusing on them as Ivy's apartment complex drew closer. He trusted Alex, he knew if Klara was safe with anyone it was him, and if anyone would survive it would be them, Klara and Alex were too stubborn and they would definitely fight death as much as they could. He'd joked about it at a young age, but the Beckett siblings would outlive him because when death comes knocking they'll be too stubborn to answer. Those thought's gave him peace of mind as he pulled up to the complex, Ivy sat, her hair a mess in her face, her bag by her side and a look of concern as she noticed the boy staring at her. She ran to him, climbing into the passenger seat with a frown etched on her face.
"She'd gone, isn't she?" SHe whispered, looking at her hands.
"Ivy-"
"You can tell me, it's okay. I can handle it." Tom frowned at her, he wasn't planning to lie to her, but he also never thought of how he was going to tell her.
"Yes." He whispered, "I'm sorry."
"It's fine... I guess I'm just an orphan now." A loose tear fell from her eye as Tom started driving off, making a U turn so he could get to his family.
"You know," He cleared his throat, he didn't know how to comfort her, that was always Klara and Evan's specialty, but he'd try for her. "Sandra and Bruce, they love kids, and Klara has always wanted a sister, I mean, she always tried to play dress up with me and Alex. And, the camp, ther'll be plenty enough room for you, and Brody and Evan will love you, so will their parents- god I'm rambling- I just mean, you aren't alone, okay?"
"Tom-"
"No I mean it, and I really hope your mom is looking down and she'll find some peace knowing that you have a lot of people looking out for you." He glanced at her, she still kept her head down but nodded at his words. She used her hair to shield her face, she didn't want him to see her cry, she didn't want him to pity her, he was lucky, he had his whole family waiting for him, she was just a burden who would have done better with her mom buried under a building.
Tom sighed, "And, you know, if there's anyone who'll understand what it's like to be an orphan, it's me."
She jerked her head in his direction, a look of. Confusion etched on her face as he spoke. "What do you mean? Your family is waiting for you at home?"
"Well, you know-" He was cut off by the ground crumbling in front of them, he jerked the steering wheel, causing the truck to flip on it's side, rolling them into a snowbank. Ivy let out a loud scream as she reached forward, Tom's. arm instinctively flying to grab her. The ground stopped shaking as he turned to her, broken glass cut up both of their faces and his arm, but other than that they looked okay. They were tilted to the side, Ivy's door behind their only way out and luckily enough for them, her window was rolled down. He. Let out a shaky breath as he put his hand onto his window, noticing it was cracked as his hand went through it.
"FUCK!" He yelled out as he pulled his hand up, broken pieces littered his palm and wrist. He winced, squeezing his eyes shut as he pulled the pieces out, he didn't know how deep they were, but he didn't have time to deal with it. He placed his hand back down, unbuckling his seatbelt and supporting himself on his strained hand. He shifted his body, maneuvering it so he was standing on his feet.
"Are you okay?" Ivy, winced, looking down to his hand as blood dripped onto the ground below him. To want to scream, hide away and wait for someone to come, his anxieties shaking him as he realized not only did he have to survive, but he needed to keep her alive too, he laughed slightly as he realized everything Alex had been saying over the years. Because Tom wanted to hide away, either someone would save him or he'd die, his own thoughts telling him he'd never be able to get out of the town in one piece, but he knew Klara was waiting and he knew Ivy was counting on him.
"Yeah, I just finally understand why Alex is the way that he is," He laughed before looking at her, his eyes serious. "I'm going to get us out of this, do you trust me?"
She nodded, she didn't understand why, but Tom gave her a feeling, a feeling that she knew was okay. A feeling that she knew, as long as she was with him, she would be okay. "Yeah, I trust you."
"Great, because I want you to reach up at your window, and I want you to hold on, when I unbuckle you I need you to climb out."
"I don't think I'm strong enough-"
"Nonsense, you got this, I know you do. Beside, I'm right behind you and I'll help push you up." He laughed. Ivy reached her hands up, grabbing the window with a tight grip as Tom's fingers grazed her buckle, he looked at her, his brown eyes locking onto her blue ones and, inan unspoken way, she said she was ready, and he pressed the button.
With his hands on her waist he pushed her up, his blood getting on her faded winter coat as she climbed out, she didn't jump down though, she only sat beside the door and waited as Tom reached up, climbing off the console. He stopped once he was at the window, picking up her tattered gym back with his lean hand and throwing it over his shoulder, they were okay for now, and there was no reason he couldn't take the second to make sure she had something of hers. He pulled himself up, smiling at Ivy as he was out completely. The jump down wasn't scary, he'd jumped off the rock wall at the gym at greater heights than this and once his feet hit the ground he outstretched his hands, a comfort for her as she jumped down, coming in contact with his hands to soften the fall.
"So, what do we do now?" She asked, looking to where there was a hold in the ground. "Because, I don't think we can go that way."
Tom let out a light chuckle, "You're right, first thing is we need a new vehicle."
He grabbed her hand, making sure she was close to him at all times as they walked around the corner of the street, and to his life long list of unlucky moments, this one hit the top. As far as either of them could see, not a single car was in the area, parked or abandoned. Ivy whimpered as she tried to look further down the road and Tom only sent his already bloodied hand into the wall of the old diner.
"Tom-"
"GODDAMNIT!" He seethed, his hand stung as he glared at the wall. This isn't how things were supposed to go, today wasn't supposed to be like this, his town wasn't supposed to be in shambles, and he definitely wasn't supposed to be separated by his family, left to protect a girl with no way of doing so. They were most likely going to die, because he couldn't drive the truck and get her to safety, she was better off being taken care of by someone else, by Alex, Klara, even Brody. But instead she was stuck with Tom-
"Tommy." She whimpered, the nickname falling off her tongue reminding him of Klara, his head snapped to her as he watched her body shake. She was scared, not of him, or his frustrations, she was scared because Tom was scared.
Ivy wasn't cursed for being left with Tom, she wasn't burdened with him as her protector, she was lucky, because as far as she knew, Tom was going to save her."I'm sorry," He whispered after a second. "I know this is scary, but we'll have to walk for a little bit, the first car we find, we'll use to get out of here, okay?"
"Okay." She breathed as they started walking towards his house. Their walk was silent, every once in a while they could hear buildings collapse in the distance, the ground shake behind them, and Ivy whimpered in fear. "So, um, you said you know about being an orphan."
"What?" He looked at her, their earlier conversation slipping his mind.
"Well, I'm just confused, you know, you said you know about being an orphan but your family is waiting for you."
"Oh, yeah-" Tom frowned.
"Sorry! I'm just scared and I think I'll feel better if you talk to me." She apologized, but as Tom placed a hand on her shoulder, she eased slightly.
"Right, well like you, I'm not fully an orphan, that I know of. My dad left when my mom was pregnant with me and when I was 5 she started doing drugs, but she probably started sooner, and that's only when she let it consume her. She was beautiful, my mom, and she loved me a lot, I know that. I. Also know she was in a lot of pain, I guess she was so in love with my dad that when he left he just took pieces of her with him. She died when I was 9. I hated her for it, choosing drugs over her own son, but now I get it, she was lonely, and she felt numb after my dad so she looked for anything to make her feel the way she did when she was with him. I made her happy, but not enough to feel complete."
"I'm sorry, I had no idea..."
"That's alright, because when she died, I had Klara and Alex. They helped me through it and if it wasn't for them, I don't think I would have survived it. It wasn't omg after that when the Beckatt's applied to be my foster parents, they never adopted me legally, but they took me in and raised me as their own, and for that I'm grateful."
"Well, I'm grateful too!" Ivy smiled, beaming up at him.
"Oh yeah, why's that?" Tom couldn't help but smile back at her, her face being contagious in this moment.
"Because, if you didn't have them, we might not have ever met." She shrugged. Tom stared at her as she looked forward, he didn't know what else to say as her smile remained on her lips. "I'm glad we met, even if this sucks, I'm glad it's you who I'm with."
"I'm glad we met you too Ivy, if I didn't have you I'm not sure how hard I'd be fighting."
"So we'll fight together, because I want to see Klara and Alex, and I want to meet your mom and dad, and Brody and Evan!" She giggled, "You promise they'll be okay, taking me in?"
"Are you kidding?" Tom scoffed, "They'll never want to let you go! Seriously, i mean it. When Klara and I first met, she put warning labels on everyone, but still made them sound like the only real place to call home, so how about this-" He froze, turning to look at her with his hand extended- "I'm Tom, my family is a little crazy, Alex is over protective, Brody is moody, Evan is pushy, Klara is easily excitable, and I'm insecure, but we take care of each other."
Ivy couldn't help but laugh as she shook his hand, "I'm Ivy."
"Well Ivy, welcome to our family."
As they started walking together a beat up red truck screeched to a halt in front of them. "He there folks, do you need some help?" A thick Australian voice asked. Tom looked through the rolled down window , a boy about his age with buzzed hair, light blue eyes and skin Klara would later compare to creamy caramel smiled at him.
"We're trying to get to my family." Tom responded.
"Well, if you show me the way I'll get you there in a jiff." He smiled at them, Tom didn't seem worried, the oh was welcoming and kind, he looked to Ivy who only nodded her head, another unspoken conversation between the two.
"It's appreciated." Tom smiled, opening the door and helping Ivy in the back, handing her her bag. He sat in the passenger seat, closing the door behind him, "So if you just start going straight you'll need to make a left turn and a right turn down the ways and it'll just be a bit ahead of that."
"Sounds great, snake sure you guys buckle in, the roads are a little rocky today," The boy laughed at his own joke as he shifted his truck in gear, "My name is Mason by the way."
"I'm Tom and this is Ivy."
"Well it's great to meet you guys, I wish it were under less apocalyptic circumstances but beggars can't be choosers." He laughed again as he glanced down at Tom's hand, "Looks like a nasty wound there."
"Huh?" Tom looked down, "Oh, yeah, turned to avoid a crater, the Truck flipped and long story short I ended up putting my hand through the window."
"Sounds like a wild story, maybe after all this is over we can talk about it, until then, in the glove box are some cloths, feel free to wrap yourself." Mason was pure with his offer, the warm vibe he gave allowed Tom to open the compartment without any fears, and just as their new friend said, clothes sat on top of tattered maps and a pair of winter gloves. Tom grabbed the clothes before closing the door, instantly wiping the blood from his hand.
"Thanks man," He smiled, wincing every once in a while as he wrapped his hand. "So, what are you doing out here? I thought most people would be out of town by now."
"That is also a long story," Mason laughed.
"Turn here."
"But, I'll give you guys the gist." Mason shrugged as he followed Tom's instructions. " My mum died, not here, cancer. And when she did my dad and I moved up to Canada -this is his home country- and after I graduated last year we decided we'd go on a cross country road trip. I call it dumb luck that we were planning to leave here early tomorrow, and kee heading to Nova Scotia, but looks like the world had other plans. My dad is off, he found someone's abandoned car and went to help people, he told me to do the same and then we'll meet up at the church on the highway. "
"You're right, we definitely should exchange stories later." Tom smiled at him, "Turn right and it's just up here." Mason turned. "So, do you have any plans of what you're doing after this? I don't suspect you'll keep on your road trip now."
"Not when this world's half caved in." Mason chuckled. "We're just going to meet outside and go from there, I'm guessing."
"Why don't you come with us?" Ivy suggested, leaning on her knees as she moved closer to the boys, their conversation easing her as they drove. "Tom says we're going to a safe place."
"A safe place, huh?" Mason smirked.
"That's the hope, it's a campground, we have cottages out there and it's secluded so not many people will know about it, you and your dad, and anyone we find, you guys are more than welcome to stay there until help comes and we figure out our next move." Tom nodded, Alex's jeep coming into view.
"I may hold you to that offer." Mason smiled.
"Stop the truck." Tom gasped out, Alex's jeep stood in the center of the road, with nothing around it. Mason complied, pulling his Truck to a stop as Tom looked around.
"Tommy?" Ivy asked, her hand touching his shoulder as he shook his head.
"The houses, th-they're gone." He opened the door, running out of the truck.
"WAIT!" Ivy cried following him.
"Bloody hell mate, you can't-" Mason ran after them both, a look of concern for his new friends as he grabbed Ivy's shoulder, pulling her back so she didn't go near the edge. "Tom, mate! You should come back, I'm sorry but-"
"Help! Please- is someone there?" A voice stopped MAson as Tom ran to the edge, leaning over without hesitation. A smile broke on his lips as his eyes fell onto Klara's. Her bright green eyes, replaced with a dull hue, surrounded by red with her cheeks red and puffy, she'd been crying, a lot.
"I'm here, I got you." He whispered as she reached up to him, at the same time, the ground caved below her and Tom pushed himself further, his hips digging on the edge as he grasped her wrist. She let out a slight scream, her hand grabbing his arm, as her fingers dug into his skin. "Mason! I need your help here!"
Mason didn't hesitate, leaving Ivy in the back and running over to Tom, He leaned forward, his hand reaching over to grab Klara's other hand, helping Tom pull her from the edge. Once Klara's hands touched the ground, Mason let go, giving the two space as Tom pulled her to his chest, resting on his knees to support her weight. He felt her shake under him, her tears falling again and wetting his sweater as her arms locked around his waist and he held onto her head.
"Breath, breath Klara." He whispered. "It's okay, you're okay now."
"T-Tommy." She sobbed into his chest, she couldn't say anything else, as her throat tightened. Tom leaned over, looking into the hole that was just holding her captive, his heart sunk when his eyes made contact with Alex. He squeezed his eyes shut, his grip on her tightening as he let tears fall, there was no way Klara didn't see him, and just imagining how she must have felt in that moment made him feel sick.
"We have to go, okay?" He whispered, placing a slow kiss to her head. "Come on, I'll get you out of here."
Tom slowly stood up, adjusting himself so he could pick Klara up bridal style, before turning back to Mason and Ivy. "Klara..." Ivy mumbled, a hand covering her mouth as Tom shook his head. She muffled a sob as Mason wrapped his arm around her.
"So, we're leaving now?" Mason asked quietly.
"Yeah, I don't know if you want to meet your dad at the church or just tell him where you're going-"
"Right, let me call him." Mason reached for his phone in his pocket, quickly dialling his dad. Tom kept a firm hold on Klara, it looked as though she was done sobbing, but the tears still fell as she buried her face in his sweater. Tom looked her over, her hair tangled around his fingers, her face covered by her bruised and bloodied hand, her breathing shallow, her body shaking.
"Hey, dad, I'm not sure, if you'll get this, but I found some folks and they think they found a safe place to hide out for the time being, We'll be going there and if I see you, I'll know you made it, but if not, don't worry, I'll keep our word. I'll stop at the church outside and leave you written instructions to get to the camp, I hope I'll see you there, till then." Mason hung up the phone, a shaky sigh falling from his lips. "I hope it's alright if we stop there?"
"Yeah, of course." Tom nodded. "Ivy, is it okay if you go with Mason? Give Klara some space?"
She nodded."We'll be right behind you." She smiled.
"Mason, I hope I'm not intruding, but what promise did you make to your dad?" Tom questioned.
"We promised each other that if the other one isn't there, we assume they're dead and move on." Mason answered, "Why?"
"We made the same promise, but none of us kept it." Tom sighed, looking down at Klara who's eyes were now shut. "Anyways, I'll take Klara in Alex's jeep, just follow my lead and hopefully we'll be out of here before shit hits the fan again."
Tom walked over to the jeep, Ivy following behind only to open the passenger door for him before running back to Mason's truck. Tom buckled Klara in, her light snores filling his ears as he climbed into the driver's seat beside her. The adrenaline and tears she cried had knocked her out quickly, and Tom only hoped that when she woke up, she'd be safe in her bed at the cottage.