Times A Ticking

3

Everyone freezes in their spots as they stare at him waiting for an explanation. He shakes his head before he begins to unlock the door.

"Come on. Adam, Hannah, and Zoey will ride with me. Andre, Gabby, and Ruby you'll ride with Jenn." He says as he takes a deep breath. "Run to the cars as soon as I open the door. Keep a tight grip on your guns and bags. Adam you have the canned food and Andre you have the water correct?"

"Correct." They both say, Dad reaches down grabbing the knob and twisting it gently. He holds his hand up telling us to wait as he takes a peak outside.

"It looks clear. Sweetie you remember my old science lab I used to work at right?" Mom nods her head. "Good. Drive there. Take the back road, I'm going to go by Andre's house and get his parents."

He takes a deep breath before swinging the door open and moving to the side. "Go!" He yells and watches as the rest of us flood out the door and get into our designated cars.

I jump in the front as Andre puts Ruby in the back with him. I buckle my seatbelt as I watch Hannah, Adam, Zoey, and Dad get in Dad's car. Dad blows us a kiss before he starts his car and backs out heading down the street.

Mom puts her car in reverse backing down the driveway and driving the opposite way of Dad. I look back at Ruby who was clutching her stuffed kitten in her hands as she looks out the window.

"Ruby." I whisper as I reach my hand back for her to grab it. "Everything is okay." I say with a soft smile as I gently rub her hand.

"I want sissy." She whispers. I frown slightly, the twins never wanted to be separated. I have no idea why Dad took Zoey but I trust him with whatever the reason behind it was.

"I know. But, sissy is with Daddy right now. We are going to go to a safe place so you and sissy can play." She smile brightly and lets go of my hand. Her curly red hair bouncing in every direction as she moves up and down in her car seat.

I give Andre a soft smile before turning back around in my seat as Mom turns left going down a graveled pathway. The ride was silent mostly, but was Ruby singing a little lullaby in the backseat.

"What do you think Dad meant by the dead has risen? Like the rapture that they talk about in church?" I ask in a hushed tone not wanting to disturb Andre or Ruby in the back.

Andre had terrible anxiety and I knew this was already getting him on the edge. I could practically feel his leg bouncing behind me and if he was close enough to me  I know I could hear his heartbeat.

"No." Mom shakes her head. "This isn't a rapture. This is just a little outbreak of sickness. You've learned about stuff like this in school, it'll go away with some medicine."

"I don't remember any of my history books talking about people coming back to life and eating others during the Black Plaque." I say as I lean up placing my head in my hands.

"William has this under control. Don't stress. He's incredibly smart, this will all be over with tomorrow." Mom says assuringly, which it just sounded like she was trying to make herself believe it instead of me.

Mom pulls down a one lane road that was mostly just dirt. I look out my window and shiver slightly, why would Dad have a lab out this far from the city?

"How old is this lab or whatever?" I ask as I watch the trees fly by us. I look up and notice the clouds turning grey already, the Tennessee weather was as bipolar as Mrs. J.

"Im not sure. After William came home from the military he immediately went to work here. I've only been here a few times." Mom explains as she grips the steering wheel. "I never went inside."

I look over at her and notice her worn down face. She was stress beyond measure and I couldn't think of any way to help her.

"You're right. Dad will get this all figured out." I say with a small smile as we finally pull up onto a white building that was only two stories high. Which was small compared to the ones in the city that stretched out over the trees. "This is the lab? I've seen huge ones in the city. This looks like a rundown dump."

"Hush. Now look around and tell me if you see his car anywhere." Mom says as she drives closer to the building. I scan the area but have no luck. His car wasn't there.

"I don't see it Mama." I say as I notice something moving in the nearby bushes making me freeze my movements. "Mom." I say quietly as I gently slap her arm to grab her attention, she presses on her breaks and comes to a complete stop.

Everyone turns their heads to face the busy, besides Ruby who was fast asleep in the back. I grip Mom's hand as I prepare myself to see one of those dead things Dad was talking about earlier.

I jump back as a small bunny jumps out. I laugh softly as I let go of Mom's hand and shake my head, "I really thought it was something."

Andre chuckles in the back seat as Mom rests her head back against her headrest. "My heart can't take this." She says before she laughs along with us.

I drag my attention from the outside and look at the time in the car.

4:37

"Hey. I'm going to take a quick nap, if I'm still asleep when Dad gets here wake me up." I say as I curl into a fetal position and try to get comfortable. Mom gently pants my legs as I slowly fall asleep.

It felt as if no time had passed when my eyes opened again, I yawn and raise up before looking around and frowning.

"He's still not here?" I ask, worry finally starting to creep up on me. Mom shakes her head as she stares out her window, she plays with her ring on her finger and nervous tactic of hers.

5:03

I sigh as I look at the time and shake my head. "I'm sure he's okay Mama, don't worry." I say as I rub her back softly. Almost as if Dad heard me I hear the gravels begin to spin and his car appear from between the trees.

He parks beside of us and smiles over at Mom before blowing her a small kiss. We all rush to get out of the cars and run to hug each other.

"Mom!" Andre yells as he clashes with his Mom and hugs her tightly. She smiles as she holds him and gives him a kiss on his cheek as she pulls away.

"Oh my gosh. Andre, are you okay? I was so worried." She whispers as she touches his face and scans him up and down for anything. He laughs as he gently grabs her wrists and pulls them away from him.

"I'm alright Ma. Where's Dad?" He asks as he looks behind her looking for any sign of his Dad. I turn and follow Dad to the doors and watch as he presses some numbers into a keypad.

"Last time I talked to him before the phones went out he was heading home from work. I left him a note there telling him where we would be. He'll be here." Andre's Mom reassures him before she begins to follow behind the rest of us.

The door opens and Dad rushes everyone inside. When the last person enters Dad enters the same passcode on the keypad making the doors shut.

"Wait but my Dad.. He won't know the password to get in." Andre says as he steps closer. My Dad holds his hand up and shakes his head.

"Lee used to work here son. Don't worry he knows the code." Dad say before he begins to walk down a long hallway, I look around for a sign of anyone but there was nobody in sight.

"I guess everyone left." I say as I push a door open slightly and feel a gush of cold air pour out. I shiver and quickly shut the door back and catch up the rest of my family.

"Why are we here?" Adam questions as he nudges Dad's shoulder. "Is this like our temporary home until you get everything fixed?" Dad pauses before he nods his head. 

"Yeah... Something like that."