Anarchy, Burning(ONC2022 Entry)

Part 16- Elijah

Elijah checks the supplies one more time. He'd divided up the perishables as evenly as possible, between four backpacks. The first aid kits and medical supplies were in the duffle bag, and what was left of their survival gear was in his camping pack. He looks in the back seat where Emily cradles Amy's head in her lap. It has to be enough to get them to safety. It has to be.

Fryga and Maria put the last car battery in the back and climb in. The two women are slightly less catty with one another than they were last night, but Elijah keeps this observation to himself.

"Are we ready for this?" Maria asks as she fastens her seatbelt.

Elijah looks back and Emily gives him a nod. "We're all set."

"Let's go."

Fryga starts the ignition. "Here." She hands Maria a snub nosed revolver.

"Where'd you get this?" Maria handles the weapon with care, checking the cylinder before placing it in the pocket of her jacket.

"I found it in the glove compartment of the Nissan while you went shopping in the boutique."

"I needed clothes."

"Hypocrite," Fryga rolls her eyes and puts the van in drive.

"We can't all look like a homeless goth Raggedy Anne."

"My looks don't seem to be a problem."

Maria blushes and Elijah finally notices the way the two look at one another.

They drive up the street, empty cars and vandalized storefronts passing on either side. The going is slow as they weave through abandoned cars and burning dumpsters. Elijah tries not to take it in, not to think about the carnage and the mayhem.

A few blocks later, they are forced to backtrack thanks to an abandoned school bus.

"If that thing still worked, we'd have space and a bit of muscle behind the engine." Fryga holds the brake and stares at the big yellow vehicle. "I really want a look under that hood."

"We've got to keep moving," Elijah says, scanning the streets for danger.

"I know, Dad. I've just always wanted my own school bus."

"Really?" Maria chuckles.

"Don't judge me," Fryga grumbles as she eases off the break and turns up a less cluttered street.

Emily's hand falls on Elijah's shoulder and he squeezes it. Looking back, he remembers better days. The two of them taking Amy to the park, to the museum, to Coney Island. His family sitting on the couch in their cozy living room, laughing at some nonsensical movie or ridiculous television show. Them being happy and safe. His heart aches for that simplicity. In less than twenty-four hours, their world has been turned upside down and Elijah struggles to see light ahead of them when all of the joy sits behind.

"I'm going to do my best to get you two somewhere safe."

"I know Elijah. I know."

"Daddy," Amelia moans.

Elijah and Emily share a look of excitement, before looking down at their little angel. Amy's eyes flutter open and, blurry-eyed, she smiles at the two of them.

"Amy." His voice cracks and that one word becomes a sob.

"Why are you two crying?"

"We're just happy," Emily says for the both of them. "We were so worried ab-"

The van skids to a halt.

"We have trouble!" Maria shouts as the van tilts forward.

"Hold on!" Elijah grabs onto the back of his seat.

Amelia rolls out of Emily's lap and onto the back seat as the van goes nearly vertical.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." Fryga floors the pedal, the wheels whining as they struggle to comply.

"Come on." Maria smacks the dashboard.

Elijah's attention is drawn past them to the widening sinkhole attempting to swallow their vehicle. Asphalt and concrete slowly swirl in a grinding vortex that reduces the large chunks to grains of sand. The wheels cry out as the van shifts in the direction of the flowing chunks. A roar issues from beneath the sands and an insectoid monstrosity emerges. The creature looks like a metal rock version of an SUV-sized antlion. It turns its head towards the van and the shifting sands stop.

The wheels gain traction and for a moment they begin to reverse. The creature cocks its head to the side, and the sands rotate the opposite direction. The wheels again whine and the van slides deeper into the sinkhole.

"Elijah!"

He looks back to find Emily struggling against the restraints of her seat belt to hold on to Amelia. He grabs for his daughter as Emily loses her grip and Amelia falls past him towards the windshield. He catches her hand at the last minute. She screams as he strains to hold her. Through the glass he sees the hungry maw of the monster.

"Hold on, Amy!"

"Come on, you piece of shit!" Fryga shifts gears and urges the van forward.

"What are you doing?" Maria shouts a second before Elijah screams the same.

"Let me fucking drive!"

The van barrels forward, kicking up sand and stones. Amelia falls as the van shifts, and Elijah yanks her back. The creature's head retreats into its shell for a moment only to reemerge with a pair of wickedly serrated pincers. He buckles Amy in as fast as he can. A pickup truck groans as it comes over the crest of the growing sinkhole and plows right into the creature. The swirling vortex of debris stops and the van shoots past the monster and out the other side of the hole. Tires screeching, they rocket through the street and into the side of a group of cars abandoned in the middle of the road.

Metal grinds, windows shatter, and Elijah hits his head on the doorframe beside him.