Hideaway (Book 0): An EMP Thriller Read online

  There was talk of gamma rays, chemtrails, and the fog of a nuclear explosion that was responsible for everything. The realization that this was no normal power outage began to take hold. Talk of a super weapon or mega bombs or dozens of other theories filled the chattering neighborhood street.

  James watched from behind Vernon’s privacy fence before hooking up and testing the dialysis machine. The low grinding motor of the generator was loud enough, but it hadn’t yet garnered the attention of his neighbors. Most everyone looked too preoccupied with their own issues. The generator sat on the concrete slab outside the sliding glass door. Vernon and Marla stared at it as it spewed exhaust from its tailpipe. That it even ran was a miracle. James knelt to the side of the generator, looking at the four-outlet panel.

  “I’ll stand watch out here,” Larry said from the nearby grass. “You’d be surprised how quick one of these can get stolen.”

  “Yeah, sure,” James said.

  He supposed there was nothing wrong with being a little overcautious, especially now. Vernon opened his sliding glass door and hastened his step inside with Marla. James thanked Larry for his help and followed. Once inside, he saw that all the windows were opened, allowing for fresh air to flow through, unlike his own house. How nice it was. The kitchen and adjacent living room they walked through were cluttered with filing boxes and paperwork everywhere.

  All over the tables, counters, and chairs. It looked as though Vernon’s cushy retirement home had been ransacked by auditors. The living room was furnished with vintage furniture upholstered in oranges and yellow, like something out of the 1970s. Paintings of old sailing ships lined the hallway wall.

  “Apologies for the mess,” Vernon said as they continued to the bedrooms. “I’ve been trying to get our finances in order with Rita’s growing medical costs. This whole power outage couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

  “Ain’t that the truth,” James said.

  They reached the two rooms at the end of the hall, across from each other. The structural design of the house mirrored their own in an eerie fashion. James had never quite noticed the similarities until then. They turned to the room on their left with its door closed.

  “I’ll just be a minute,” Vernon told them while reaching for the door knob. “She might be sleeping.” He slipped inside and closed the door behind him.

  James then heard one of the Rottweilers bark. “So that’s where they are.”

  Marla turned to him with a now perpetual worried look.

  “The dogs,” James said. “I was wondering where they were.”

  They could hear Vernon talking to Rita as he greeted his dogs. “James and Marla. They’re here to help,” he said. “We’re going to get your machine running in no time.” James wished that he hadn’t told her that, as there were no guarantees about anything. He glanced at Marla who stood silent, listening. They hadn’t had a moment alone since escaping downtown together.

  “How are you holding up?” James asked, placing a hand on her back.

  “Fine,” she said, looking at him with an apologetic smile. “I never thanked you for coming to get me. That was very thoughtful.”

  “It was a no-brainer, Marla,” he said. “You’re my wife.”

  Marla looked down, though he could tell that she was crying. There was still dirt on her face and a small cut under her eye that had crusted over.

  “You should take some time to get cleaned up,” he said, touching her cheek.

  “I know,” she said. “Mom and Dad. Our friends and family.” She paused and looked at him, hoping for answers. “Do you think they’re all okay?”

  James didn’t know any more than she did. “It’s nothing to worry about right now,” he told her and kissed her cheek. “They’re all fine.”

  Waiting longer than expected, James glanced back down the hall to the sound of the generator rumbling from outside. He didn’t like the attention it brought them, and Larry’s cautiousness or paranoia seemed to be rubbing off on him. Amid the boxes and dog toys on the carpet floor, he hardly recognized the pristine and orderly home he and Marla visited two years prior, when Vernon and Rita invited them over for dinner. It’d been too long, but their busy schedules certainly played a role.

  “There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk about,” James began, figuring he had a moment to bring it up.

  “What is it?” Marla said, turning to him.

  “I think we should consider our options here,” James continued. “Larry made me a rather surprising offer. Something we should consider.”

  Marla rolled her eyes.

  “Hear me out,” James said, defensive now. It wasn’t as easy as just telling her Larry’s offer. She had to be sold on it. Their resources would inevitably dwindle as the power grid was being repaired. How long would that take? They needed a long-term solution. “Larry offered to take us to his cabin. He says it’s going to be a lot safer there than anywhere else. Populated areas could get dangerous very quickly.”

  “I’m not leaving,” Marla said with finality.

  “Think about what I’m saying here,” James said, increasingly agitated. “We’re not safe—”

  “Why would he want us to come with him?” she interjected.

  “He said he could use our help. We’d work together until this is all fixed.”

  Marla tilted her head at him, amused. “Fixed? James, we don’t even know what’s really going on. Neither does Larry. Besides, I’m not sure if he cares for me anymore.”

  The bedroom door opened, and Vernon stood there holding onto the collar of either Rosko or Benny, James could never tell the difference. “You remember James and Marla, right boy?” Vernon said with an easy tone and smile. He then looked up. “They’re protective of Rita, but you’ll be okay.”

  “How is she?” Marla asked.

  Vernon opened the door fully and stood aside for them to enter. “More of the same. She just woke up. She’s hanging in there.” Thin curtains blew in the breeze of an open window. Rita lay in a twin bed in the corner, her head propped on multiple pillows. She was above the covers and wearing a long nightgown. He pulled one of the Rottweilers into the other room as its slobbery tongue hung from its panting mouth.

  Marla reached out to pet the other dog’s head as Vernon came in and got it. “Come on, Benny. You and Rosko are going to hang out in our bedroom for the time being.”

  James and Marla examined the room. Near Rita’s bed stood a towering dialysis machine with knobs, tubes, and buttons. Its large monitor screen on top was completely blank. On a nearby table sat bags of opened and unopened dialysis powder, along with a litany of prescription medicine bottles and treatments.

  Rita turned to them as her thin, tired face brightened with Marla’s approach. She wore a headband that held her light blonde hair back. Her large blue eyes seemed to recognize them both, though she obviously had little understanding of what was going on. Marla took her wrinkled hand and smiled down at her. “How are you feeling, Rita?”

  “Marla?” Rita said, astonished. “Goodness, it’s been so long.”

  “I know,” Marla said, wiping at her eye. “There’s no excuse.”

  “Well, I’ve been in bed for the past twelve hours. I think I’d like to go for a walk.”

  Marla squeezed her hand, nodding. “That sounds nice. We came here to have a look at your machine.”

  James fidgeted with its buttons, searching for the power. He saw that it was plugged in and couldn’t help giving it a try. He found a power button near the monitor screen and pressed it, not surprised when nothing happened. With the first step out of the way, he pulled the power cord from the wall and held it up as Vernon entered the room. “Do you have any extension cords to run this out back?”

  “Yeah, they’re in the garage,” he said, leaving the room with a hurried limp and his cane before James could even offer to help.

  James went to Rita’s bed to check on her. She looked thin, frail, and tired. Her hands were at her sides
as she stared at the ceiling. “Feels like a dream,” she told them. “I haven’t seen you two in so long.”

  “We should have dinner again,” James said, attempting to lighten the mood. “Maybe next week. How about it?”

  “That’d be lovely,” she said, smiling and closing her eyes.

  “We’re going to try to get your machine running,” James said in a louder voice. “You just take it easy, and we’ll do our best.”

  Rita opened her eyes and nodded, thanking them.

  “How often do you use it?” Marla asked

  “Three times a week,” she answered.

  James glanced at Marla, hopeful, and then back at Rita. “When was the last time?”

  “Friday,” she said with an exhausted sigh. “It’s time. I need it today.”

  James and Marla said nothing at first at the risk of upsetting her. It was a long shot, regardless. Vernon returned with two reels of green extension cord. James quickly got to work. He took one cord and connected it with the machine.

  “This will only take a minute,” James promised.

  The generator worked, and now all they needed was one last miracle, certain that Rita was in serious trouble without it. He left the room and ran the cord down the hall, through the kitchen, and out back to the generator. Larry was standing guard as promised. James knelt next to the outlet panel with the end of the cord in hand. He looked up at Larry, hesitant to proceed.

  “Go ahead,” he told James. “What are you waiting for?”

  As he had done twenty other times that day, James closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing.” He stuck the cord into the generator and then stood up. “Want to have a look?”

  Larry paused and looked around the backyard. “It’s safe enough out here. Let’s go.”

  They entered the house and went straight for Rita’s bedroom where she, Vernon, and Marla waited in anticipation.

  “This is our friend, Larry,” James said to Rita, noticing her questioning look. Larry nodded with a wave and then went directly to the dialysis machine, examining it from top to bottom.

  “Is it working?” Vernon asked in near panic.

  James moved between them and further examined the machine. “We’ll find out soon enough.” Heart racing, he trailed his fingers across the knobs below the monitor and stopped at the power button on the side. “That’s it, right?” he asked Vernon. “No other power switches?”

  “That’s the one,” Vernon confirmed. “Just press it, and it should turn on.”

  James pushed against the green plastic button and held his finger in place. He waited and then released his finger. The machine stood there, as dead as before. The monitor screen was still blank. It made no sounds. Power source or not, it wasn’t working.

  “It’s plugged in, right?” Larry asked.

  “Maybe there’s a main switch behind it or something,” Marla said.

  “Hold on,” James said, raising his hand in frustration. “Let Vernon try.”

  Vernon circled the machine, examining it from top to bottom. “I’m pretty sure it’s just that one button, but maybe there’s another switch somewhere.” James and Larry joined the search but couldn’t find anything else, as a growing disappointment filled the room.

  Rita watched them with concern. James felt helpless, frustratingly so. There was nothing they could do. He leaned over and picked up the power cord to ensure that it was securely connected. Vernon pressed the button again and again. Marla watched quietly as she held Rita’s hand. Done with trying, Larry backed against the wall, shaking his head.

  James stood away from the machine with his hands on his hips, sighing in defeat. “I’m really sorry, Vernon. Rita.” He wanted to offer them an alternate solution, something that would put their fears to rest. But he didn’t have the answers. No one did.

  Vernon moved to the front of the machine, turning knobs and switches. “It’ll work,” he said in near panic. “It has to.” He pressed the power button again and again before pounding the blank screen with his balled fist. James rushed over and caught him just as he fell back, distraught and inconsolable.

  “Easy there. I got ya’.” He helped Vernon regain his balance as Larry picked up his cane.

  Vernon looked around the room, catching his breath. “Just doesn’t make sense. Why won’t it work? What are we going to do?” His teary, desperate eyes looked directly at James.

  Larry moved toward the door. “I’ll turn the generator off now to conserve the fuel.”

  James nodded.

  He left the room as Vernon gripped both James’s hands, pleading with him. “You can’t turn it off. She needs her dialysis. It has to work.”

  “I’m sorry, Vernon,” James said. “It’s broken, just like everything else.”

  Vernon slowly released him and then limped over to Rita, where he stroked her hair and spoke softly. “We’ll figure something out. I promise.”

  “I know you will.” Rita then pointed to an empty glass next to her bed. “Could I get some more water please?”

  “Of course,” Vernon said, taking her glass. He hurried out of the room as both James and Marla followed. James figured it as good a time as any to discuss their real options, limited as they were. From the kitchen sink, Vernon filled the glass with his back turned to them. What did he want her to tell him? They heard the generator motor wind down and shut off. Larry was soon back in the house, diligently rolling the extension cord around his arm, seemingly eager to leave.

  Vernon turned slowly from the sink, defeated, as his eyes shifted to the kitchen floor. “Rita and I have been married for thirty-five years. Doesn’t seem that long at all.” He paused and looked at them. “Treasure your time together every day.” He stopped again, choking up as his lip stiffened. “It’s not her time, damn it. Not yet. Do you understand me?”

  “I do,” James said.

  “Then help me!” Vernon shouted. He then hung his head low, ashamed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell.”

  “It’s fine,” Marla said, approaching him.

  Larry entered the kitchen and set the extension on the table. “I think I’m going to lie down for a bit.” He left the kitchen without another word, and the reason was clear enough. Having no other recourse, they’d soon look to Larry once again and ask for a ride.

  “I’ll go talk with him,” James said after he had left.

  “There’s that walk-in clinic only a few miles away,” Marla said. “It’s our best bet.”

  Vernon eagerly leaned forward on his cane. “I’ve got five hundred dollars cash. It’s his. All we want is a chance here.”

  James was deep in thought. “Larry’s waiting until nightfall to travel. But… I’ll talk to him.” He left the kitchen, hurrying past Rita’s door where she lay in bed with her fate undetermined.

  He opened the sliding glass door and stepped out to see Larry at the foot of the generator. “Almost forgot about this thing. I’ll help you take it back,” he offered. And while it was a nice gesture, James was certain there was something more to his sticking around. They picked up the generator at both ends and carried it out of Vernon’s backyard and into James’s as Larry continued.

  “I’ve been doing some thinking, and I think I have a plan.”

  From James’s experience, that meant Larry might be having a change of heart.

  “I’ll give the old couple a chance. They can ride with me, but you know the drill.”

  “It has to be on the way,” James answered.

  “That’s right,” Larry said, nodding.

  He was glad to hear Larry make the offer. Rita might just have a chance after all.

  “I’m sure they’d be extremely grateful to hear that,” James told him. They continued through the open fence and carried the generator to the back deck, setting it down. Suddenly, they heard rumblings above. James looked up just in time to see three jets race across the sky, leaving a trail of smoke behind them.

  “Fighter jets,” Larry said, s
taring upward. “This is getting bad.”

  Dusk was on the horizon, with the increase of activity throughout the neighborhood. There were people arriving on foot, immensely relieved to be home. James watched them through the blinds of his living room window. Their doors were locked, all their windows were closed, and there wasn’t a single vehicle in any driveway. From the outset, James’s home looked unoccupied, mainly at Larry’s behest.

  If he was to help Vernon and Rita, he had some rules in mind. They weren’t to speak with any other neighbors. They couldn’t answer their door. They couldn’t go outside. He didn’t even want them to open a window. Those were his stipulations. Only then would he help drive Rita to the nearest medical facility on his way out. They also had to wait until evening, and though Vernon expressed his concerns of waiting so long, they had little choice but to comply. Larry seemed to be their only hope.

  James sat near his window in the quiet, darkened living room as Larry lay on the couch, apparently resting. The bill of his hat was tipped down over his face, while his hands were folded at his chest. Marla was busy in the kitchen, getting some food together. None of them had eaten since morning. A box of crackers rested on the windowsill near James. He’d been munching on them for the past hour. He continued to watch the neighborhood drama unfold.

  It seemed that everyone was outside their homes with their cell phone in hand, despite them not working. Perhaps the best option was to relocate to the woods with Larry. There were far worse scenarios. Beyond the restless neighborhood, there was a radiant pink sky with an orange sun that was steadily dipping below the horizon. James wasn’t surprised to see the street lights remain off. By now, they would normally be on. Strangely enough, several of them were solar-powered. Was that affected too?

  James felt more irritable with each passing hour, though he kept it bottled up. He would have given anything for one minute of Internet or cell phone access. Judging by the slamming of cabinets in the kitchen, Marla was beginning to lose patience as well. Larry, however, seemed perfectly calm and at ease. Enough to take a nap. Whatever the outcome, it was going to be a rough couple of days.