The Hill: A Short Story (Voices of the Apocalypse Book 3) (3 page)

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“This whole thing. It doesn’t seem real. You coming back for me. Running away together, like Romeo and Juliet.”

“They didn’t run away together. They died.”

“Hmm.” Not quite the ending I had written about in my diary.

“You and I––we’re gonna live. But we gotta leave. Like now.”
 

Andi had crept back into my room and nudged my arm. “Tell him I’m coming too.” She pointed to her pink suitcase.

I held back my laughter, wondering what she had packed. I pictured a stack of fashion magazines, her hairdryer, and her favorite shorts that had been getting a lot of airtime.

“Are you kidding with that? You’re taking a pink suitcase to live in the mountains?”

Before I could stop her, she leaned out the window and called softly to Matt, “I’m coming too.”
 

He gave the thumbs up.
 

What was I supposed to do? I wanted to live, but I didn’t want to leave my parents or our friends behind. But if I didn’t do something, I’d miss out on everything. “Is this really happening?”

“Come on, sis. We’re kinda out of options.” Andi went to my closet, pulled out my backpack, and tossed it to me. “Pack.”

“What about Mom and Dad?” I asked.
 

“You know they’d never leave this house. They’ve been here for over twenty years. They’re going down with this thing. We’re young and still have a lot of living to do.”

Staring at my little sister, I was shocked and awed by her bravery. She was willing to walk away from everything she loved to go live in the mountains. Her courage inspired me. I shoved some clothes, running shoes, a blanket, and my diary into the backpack.
 

I looked at her pink suitcase. “You don’t have your hairdryer in there, do you?”

“No. But I did bring a towel.”

The two of us slipped out of my bedroom and made it downstairs without getting caught. She grabbed a box of crackers from the cabinet, and I got a few bottles of water. I scribbled a short a note to our parents, keeping my emotions intact. There was no time for sentiment.
 

In the yard, Matt was waiting with a huge smile. He kissed my cheek and took Andi’s pink suitcase. We stuck to the shadows, making our way down the street toward the minivan.

“I think we should get the girls,” I said.

“We can try,” Matt said. “But if they don’t wanna come, we don’t have time to convince them.”
 

“Agreed,” I said.

He put the minivan in neutral and let it roll down the street. Once we were far enough away from my house, he turned on the ignition and drove through the back roads to Lynn’s house.

“What about your mom?” I kept watching the back window to make sure we weren’t being followed.
 

“She’s not coming,” he said.

“Why not?”

“She’s gone.”

“Gone where?”

“Sleeping pills.” He pressed his lips together and stayed focused.

“I’m so sorry. Are you okay? I mean, of course you’re not okay. I’m sorry.” There was nothing else I could say to make it better.
 

“I’m just glad you’re here.” He grabbed my hand and held it tightly.
 

“You guys aren’t going to be all lovey-dovey are you?” Andi yawned from the backseat.

“Go to sleep,” I said.

We pulled over and parked in a cul-de-sac near Lynn’s house. I looked up at the moon. It was almost full. I wanted to kiss Matt again, but I knew once we got to the mountains that we’d have more time. We’d have a lot more time.

THE CITY CENTER
THE NEW AGENDA
THE MAINFRAME
THE TORRENT
VOICES OF THE APOCALYPSE: SHORT STORIES

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