Godead

XVIII

After several miles, Blair slowed down, looking ahead as she spotted an old house off in the distance. She pulled off the road, driving down a small dirt path before coming to a stop.

"Mmm... are we there yet...?" Abby asked groggily, rubbing her eyes as Misty and Travis awoke.

"Looks like they've still got electricity," Claude said, noticing lights through the windows of the two story house.

The group left the car, approaching the residence as they warily looked around. As they entered the front porch, a dark haired woman opened the door, staring at them through the screen.

"Um... good evening, ma'am. I'm Officer Nightingale of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, and this is Claude and a group of children I've been traveling with. We just fled the city, and are looking for a place to stay for the night. I'm sorry to ask, but... would you mind if we remained here for the evening?" Blair asked.

The dark haired woman said nothing, stoically eyeing the group as two girls suddenly joined her at the door.

"Who are they, mommy?" the little girl asked, the older girl silent as she looked on at the group. The mother stood motionless, tightening her robe before looking to Blair.

"...For the night? Or for good?" she asked with suspicion.

"Oh, no ma'am. We have no intention of staying longer than the evening. It's just... we barely escaped the city with our lives, and are all a bit tired," Blair replied. The woman sighed.

"...Well, alright then. I wouldn't normally do this, but seeing how you have children with you, I guess it's alright," she said, opening the screen door as her daughters stepped back, soon letting the group into the house.

"Thank you, ma'am. I promise we won't cause any problems," Blair said, going inside as the dark haired woman shut the door.

"I'm Michelle, and these are my daughters Charlene and Stacy," the woman said, soon heading into the living room.

"Hey!" the little Stacy said.

"Hi. Nice to meet you," the teenage Charlene said.

"Likewise. I'm Blair, and this is Claude, Misty, Abby, and Travis," Blair replied.

"...Well, welcome. We only have three bedrooms, so you'll have to stay out in the living room," Michelle explained.

"We understand. Thank you for your hospitality," Blair said.

As the group settled into the house, Abby hopped over to Claude, grabbing his arm as she gave a naughty grin.

"I'm feeling sleepy, Claude. How's about we curl up on the couch and go to bed, hmm...?" she asked mischievously.

"You go ahead, Abby. I'm actually not that tired," Claude said, still fairly refreshed from the nap he'd taken earlier.

"Hmph! Oh, alright... but whenever you're ready, just sidle up next to me. I'll be waitin' for ya," she said, winking before falling onto the couch.

As Abby fell asleep, Misty, Travis, and Stacy dozed off on nearby sofas. Claude looked around, noticing Charlene staring out the window. He hesitated, hands in his pockets as he slowly approached her. As he arrived, Charlene paused, looking to him as the two stood in awkward silence.

"...Hi," Claude said nervously.

"...H—Hi," Charlene replied.

"...Sorry about all this. Us barging in on you and all."

"Oh, no. It's no problem. I'm glad we could help."

"...You really have. We thought we'd never see another group of normal people after leaving the city. We're grateful."

"Thanks. Feel free to make yourselves at home."

"Thank you. It's good to see you still have electricity. Most of Lauderdale's power was down across the city."

"Yes. We were lucky, I guess."

"Do you guys have a TV?"

"Yeah. Can't get anything on it, though. I guess the stations are down."

"What about the radio?"

"Same story. All we get is dead air."

"I see. And the Internet?"

"That's dead, too. Computers. Phones. All of it," Charlene replied, sounding somewhat worried. As Charlene mentioned a phone, Claude reached in his pocket, taking out the phone he'd found earlier.

"...Hmm. Looks like this one's dead, too. It was working for a little while, anyway," Claude said, putting it back moments later.

Back in the kitchen, Michelle poured some coffee as Blair sat on a bar stool at the counter, slowly looking down at her watch.

"...Half past two. I can hardly believe it's this late, already," she said, resting her chin on her hand.

"You should try and sleep," Michelle said.

"...I suppose. It's just I'm afraid if I sleep, the zombies will come and the kids'll be in danger."

"Heh. Zombies, huh? Stacy calls them that, too."

"Oh, I don't know... it was just Claude's word. He said what's happening now reminds him of a zombie film."

"...He's right. Stacy loved those movies, so Charlene and I were forced to watch them with her. They seemed silly, but now, it's like they were prophecies or something."

"Yes... it is rather strange. I never really watched those movies, though. I've just heard about how violent and gory they are. You... really let your kids watch that kind of stuff?"

"Of course. I don't shield them from anything. I let them see what they want and make up their own minds about stuff."

"...Well that's one way of doing things, I suppose," Blair said. Michelle looked out to the living room.

"...Any of those kids yours?"

"Oh, heavens no. I never had children. I'm only twenty-three."

"That's nothing. I was sixteen when I had Charlene."

"...I see. And... is there a father?"

"...Doesn't there have to be...?"

"Heh. I mean... is he still around?"

"No. He knocked me up and vanished off into the sunset, same as Stacy's dad did."

"I see. Sorry to hear that."

"Don't be. They're men. What more do you expect?" Michelle asked, elegantly sipping her coffee as Blair quietly smiled. Michelle then looked her over.

"...You're pretty. Did you have a boyfriend before all this began?"

"...No. I was always too busy with my career to ever make time for men," Blair replied.

The two continued chatting as Claude and Charlene spoke in the living room, the four soon calling it a night before heading to sleep.