Strain 7

Chapter six

Nick’s POV

            Two hours after departure and we were finally out of Florida. Janie reached into the glove box and switched the Florida map with the Alabama map and also placed the Mississippi map on the floor beside her seat. She unfolded the Alabama map and turned it around before placing in it my view. I glanced at it for a moment before focusing back on the road and taking a right turn. Janie still hadn’t spoken and I was beginning to worry. What was wrong? What had happened?

            “So, long night, huh? I don’t know about you, but I could not sleep.” I said nonchalantly. She just turned her head to look out her window. “Janie, please…talk to me.” She stayed silent. “You’re really scaring me.” I whispered.

            Janie looked down at her hand in her lap before shifting her body around to look at everyone. They were all asleep. She turned back around and looked straight ahead. I opened my mouth to say something else but was interrupted. “They’re dead.”

            I looked to my right, but Janie’s expression hadn’t changed. It was still blank. “Who? Janie, who??” I questioned.

            “Our parents. I…I went in last night to tell them everything…and they were just laying there…staring.” She cracked and tears started falling down her face. “Haven…poor Haven couldn’t handle it! I told her this morning and she just stared at me like she hadn’t heard me. I don’t think it has sunken in yet. But I know…I just…God…” I pulled off the road softly and threw the car in park. I took off my seatbelt and shifted my body to face her.

            “Look at me Janie. Look at me!” I said firmly. She just turned to face me and I looked into her eyes. Suddenly, she looked five years older and she seemed to hold all the pain of the world. She was carrying the world on her shoulders.

            “How are we going to do this Nick? How can we protect them? We have no power! I mean…I couldn’t even save my own parents.” She spoke to me and I heard the desperation in her voice. She didn’t know what to do. She was falling apart. “And why am I still alive? I’ve been surrounded by the sick! I should be dead.” She whispered at last. “Dead…with my family.”

            I moved and pulled her into my arms. “Hey…don’t say that. You still have family. You have Haven. And you have my brothers who consider you family. And me and you…we’re joined at the hip.” She gave out a little laugh along with a few more tears. “And why? Well…maybe you were immune to that wave. Remember what we read? Each wave has different properties so being immune to one doesn’t mean you are immune to another. You just…were immune this time.” I continuously ran my hand through her hair as she let it out, crying softly in my arms.

            “I’m just so scared.” She whispered, holding me tightly. My own grip on her tightening as thoughts raced in my mind.

            “Me too Janie. I am too.”

“Rise and Shine!” I glance at Janie, laughing. She was completely turned around in her seat, on her knees with her hands propping her up against the headrest. She was shouting at everyone in the back. I heard a bunch of moans and groans, but that didn’t shut her up. “What you kids complaining about? We let y’all sleep for six hours!”

            It was good to see Janie heading back to her old self. I was scared she would be upset the whole time but her mood lightened up once she realized that everyone was looking up to us. If we were down, they would be down…and probably panic.

            “What’s goin’ on?” Chandler muttered from the back seat. He yawned and stretched, hitting Ronnie on the head.

            “Hey!! Watch it babe!” She shrieked.

            “Oops, sorry”  

            Janie turned back around and plopped down in her seat with a smile on her face. She woke them up because she was tired of the silence. It made her nervous. And there is nothing like hearing the complaints and conversations of the ones you love.

            I focused on the road as we were nearing the end of Alabama. Luckily we only had to cross over a tiny bit of the state. Soon, we would be in Mississippi.

            “Anybody hungry?” I called out, looking in the rearview mirror. I heard a chorus of yeses so I turned left and started looking for a food joint we could crash. Luckily, this town seemed very lively, so I wasn’t too worried about the strain being here. I parked and everyone climbed out of the car, stretching and shaking out their legs. I threw the keys to Janie “You get to drive next.” I winked at her and she returned it with a smile.

            “Wait…we forgot something.” I turned back around to face her as everyone else passed us to get inside.

            “What?” I asked her. She had a funny look on her face that reminded me both of worry and amusement.

            “I don’t have a license.”