Cold Dawn

Chapter 13

As daylight began to fade, the sunset radiated a blood red blush across the sky. The colour Cate had become to hate. She turned away from the sunset instead concentrating on the road ahead. Her and Ben had been travelling awhile now, not stopping for anything.

She had so many questions for him, but she wasn’t sure herself if she truly wanted the answers.

The atmosphere became tensed, as Ben slowed the truck down.

“What is it?” her voice shook.

“Looks like a roadblock up ahead. I’m going to have to turn around.”

Cate peered through window shield and could just make out the tops of half a dozen cars all piled together across the road. As Ben attempted to turn the vehicle around, they heard a yell. Cate froze in her seat.

The silhouette of a figure up ahead appeared, a bright spark ignited and a flare lit up the road, casting dancing shadows over the roadblock.

The tension inside the truck was almost palpable, as Ben and Cate tried to decide what action they should take.

“Come out with your hands up!” a voice shouted. The figure with the flare began to walk closer.

Cate looked at Ben, waiting for him to tell her what she should do. He looked at her and gave her a slight nod. She wrapped the hospital issued dressing gown tighter around herself. Unlocked the door and stepped out into the night air. She trembled with the cold and fright, quickly walking to Ben’s side all the while keeping her hands out in front of her.

“Who are you?” asked the voice.

“I’m Ben and this here is my friend. Who are you and what do you want?”

The figure lowered the flare, and Cate saw it was a young woman, although dressed in men’s pants and a brown jacket. The clothes had seen better days, but then Cate surmised she could not cast aspersions on others when she was dressed in a nightgown. As the woman inched closer, Cate saw that she had an inch wide scar that wrapped around her neck, the scar appeared puckered and angry; the woman’s dark brown hair had been tied into a messy knot on top of her head. Her brown eyes appearing black in the light of the flare, took in the sorry looking state of the pair of them.

“Weapons?” She barked.

Ben shook his head. The woman looked at Cate, who also shook her head. The woman appeared angry; her shoulders were rigid as she stood quietly for a moment.

“Food? Water?”

Again, Ben shook his head and the woman sighed disappointed. Muttered something underneath her breath that sounded very much like swearing. She turned around and whistled another five or six people appeared from the side of the road, with various weapons and the occasional gun in hand.

“You better come with me.” The woman led the way, as Ben gently nudging Cate, followed her. They walked surrounded by the woman’s ragtag group. Cate sneaked glances at those that walked beside her. Not one was in much better shape than the woman was; their clothes almost seemed to hang off their frames. They were dirty and dishevelled and by the sound of various stomach rumblings, very hungry.

The group clambered over the blockade and turned left onto the embankment. A chain link fence rose before them with a guard standing duty. As they approached, the guard cocked his weapon before standing down as he heard the woman’s whistle.

A few more whistles sounded as a signal, as the woman stood by waiting for the rest of the group to pass. Ben and Cate followed, almost stumbling over the uneven ground in the dark. The woman caught Cate by the hand and pulled her along leaving Ben to follow the path himself.

Lights approached them as the screech of metal closed behind the group. Men, woman and children all holding candles greeted the members of the group but eyed Ben and Cate with suspicion.

The woman still holding Cate’s hand shooed them away. “Lights out everyone. I’ll be talking with the newcomers.” No one argued, instead the people seemed to fade into the enfolding darkness.

“Follow me you two.”

Cate grasped Ben in the darkness as the woman led the way. In what little light the moon afforded behind the clouds. Cate made out a small shed, as the woman unlocked the door.

Lighting candles Ben and Cate saw that it was nothing more than what would have been a metal storage unit, now turned into living quarters. A makeshift bed was at the far end, whilst a metal stove had been crudely made at the other side only allowing enough space for three basic metal chairs, the kind that Cate would have seen in school.

The woman ushered them inside, locking the door and then turned around to light a fire. After the third attempt, the paper caught fire and began to cast its glow around the tin shed. The woman indicated for them to sit, as she slumped into the next vacant chair.

The woman stayed silent, as Ben and Cate waited for her to say something or at least explain. Finally after what seemed like ages she spoke.

“My names Eileen – this here is what at best could be called a refuge. Did you come from the city? Is it infected? What happened?” She almost choked on the last sentence, as her voice was heavy with grief.

“It’s infected Eileen. As for what happened, I’m no longer sure. I thought it was from a meteorite, but what do I know.” Ben replied gently.

Cate shook her head. “No. There’s more to this, I know it. When I was at the hospital, the staff did not believe a word I’d said. In fact they kept telling me it was all in my head – if only that were the truth.” She began to tremble with the cold and the realisation that sanity had a lot to answer for.

“Cate is it?”

Cate nodded.

“Go and lie down, you look exhausted not to mention cold. Those blankets will keep you warm. Cate gratefully did as she was told and wrapped herself in the blankets on the bed.

“I don’t remember hearing anything about a meteorite. And my memory is hazy at the best of the times.”

Cate stiffened. “What did you say?”

“I said I don’t remember hearing about –“

“No, no. The part about your memory!”

“Well, it’s not what it used to be I admit.”

“What was the last thing you remember?” asked Ben, understanding Cate’s question.

Eileen sat quietly, as she thought about the question. The minutes ticked by and Eileen’s face had turned pale. “I woke up here.” She whispered.