When the World Ends

Topeka

Topeka was the Capitol of Kansas. Was. Now it's just debris and rubble. The tornadoes had hit it hard.

   She asked if the earthquakes reached here. I told her I'm not sure. Oh, she said, I just figured it had to be more than tornadoes. This is a lot for tornadoes to do by themselves.

   The sky was growing dark. It was barely afternoon now, so I had grown worried about the rain. So had she.

   Then, We need to find shelter.

   I had been expecting her to say that. So I said, I know. But all the buildings around here are destroyed.

   She was quiet. Then, If we don't find somewhere, though, we'll die.

   I turned away. I knew she was thinking about the little girl. And then I thought of the little boy, and what he saw, and the jump rope. And I bent over and I threw up.

   Keane! Are you ok?

   I'm fine. Sorry. Just thinking too much.

   I turned away, ignoring her worried look, seeing the small brass owl she now held out of the corner of my eye. Now it reminded her of two people.

   The one she loved.

   And the little boy.

The little boy's name was Oliver. He was with us for around five weeks, I think. It's hard to keep time now.

   He was attached to Robin at the hip. We'd found a wagon, and she pulled him behind her, him clutching the small brass owl as if it could protect him from what this world had become. The lands around Kansas were relatively flat, so she had no issue with the wagon. If she grew tired, I would take her place.

   We also kept extra water and food in the wagon. It had a net cover over half of it, and with Ollie in the wagon, there was no room for the cans and water bottles to roll around.

   Then we'd come across the farm house.

   We'd begun to see the signs a few miles back. NO ENTRY they said, and then others that said NO SOLICITING and PROSECUTORS WILL BE SHOT.

   I had grown concerned that the people were still at the house, but she was excited to finally come across people. Sane people, she hoped, since everybody else we've come across is half-dead or crazy.

   It wasn't really a farm house, though. There was no barn, no animals, just a lone house on acres of land. And as we approached the house on the long gravel driveway, I slowly drew my gun out of its holster and put it in my pocket, within easy reach.

   I told her to stay back with the little boy, and then I walked up to the front door, and I knocked on a door for the first time in months.

   Anyone there?

   Silence.

   I wait before I repeat myself, Anyone in there?

   Go away! I'll shoot!

   Inside the house, an old mans voice. Then I hear a woman, Wait a minute, Seane. That sounds like a child.

   I braced myself, ready for an attack, but drew back when an older woman opened the door with a huge smile on her face. And when she saw Ollie, her eyes grew wide and she began to cry.

   They have a child, Seane! Three kids, but one of 'em's only little!

   So what, said the old man, finally approaching the front door.

   It's going to rain. We should let them stay here.

   No.

   But Seane, it's a little boy.