On Earth's Edge

Chapter 3

McCarthy was already inspecting the space above us. His head ducked with his chin tucked near his chest. I imagine, just a few weeks ago there would have been some fat over spillage just below his jaw. Now it was just a mess of dark stubble and loose skin covering the bone.

“Must be using some sort of drone strikes. I don't know what they would be aiming for. The population is sparse, with nothing important.” I gasped as a sudden squeeze gripped my right hand, I looked up and saw Izzy. Her face was straight and emotionless. Her throat plunged up and down as she swallowed. Our eyes met again and this time, she was beautiful. Lady Liberty proud and cold. She was stone, unbent, standing loudly with broken chains around the ankles. Her torch to the sky, united and one. My eyes filled with a sting. Hope clutched my heart and rose in my throat. I squeezed her hand back with pride. I swallowed the hope that tried to escape.

We gathered various bags with rice and several thermoses of water. Auden held onto a portable water filter. My feet heavy, I did not want to leave the safety of this. It’s an illusion but the comfort was like a fire on a cold day. Chicken noodle soup when sick. I remembered his smile. The joy in his eager eyes.

“Momma, my tummy hurts.” His small body curled up with his favorite superhero blanket. I looked over the kitchen sink with the coffee pot full.

“Uh-oh let’s take a look.” I leaned over him as he perched on the couch. With the back of my hand, I felt his forehead. The warmth radiating into the pores of my skin.

“Yeah, you are pretty warm,” I called in. Atlas said he would substitute for me.

“Take all the time, you need. Do you want me to call Jared?” My mind raced.

“No, please don't. I can handle this. He's got enough on his plate.” I swallowed my fear and added, “Thank you Atlas. You have been a great help through the divorce. I appreciate it. I'll be back Monday.” He shifted on the other end of the line awkwardly.

“Yeah, sure. Whatever you need Sherry. Keep me updated on Eugene.” I glanced at his form on the couch and smiled.

“Will do. Bye-bye.” I touched the red option and hung up the call. I inhaled the scent of the soup. Rosemary, thyme, and a hint of lemon. I tapped my fingers on the counter eagerly waiting for the noodles to soften. I served two bowls. Eugene fell asleep. His tiny mouth left ajar, his stuffy nose giving him a whistle with each breath. My heart swelled twice its normal size. I stared at him for a while. His golden hair curled just slightly near his ears. His lashes long and fluffy. The toddler look had just faded from his face. He was six now. Asleep like this he always reminded me of the baby I held so close to me for a year straight.

We spent the day watching his favorite cartoons, giggling and playing together. My lips planted endless kisses on his forehead. By the end of the day, I was just about to flip off his bedroom light.

“Hey, momma?”

“Yes, Genie?” I stared into the dim room. I located his dark eyes peering back.

“I’m scared.” I walked towards his bed ignoring the plastic plane that sent pain in my heel.

“There's nothing to be afraid of. I will protect you always.” I caressed his cheek and kissed him, his forehead was no longer warm. “Goodnight Genie. I love you.” I closed my eyes to hide tears that dared to fall.

I closed the door after looking back at him one more time. I poured a glass of wine and slumped down the kitchen chair. I didn't cry, but I smiled into the darkness. Happy to be there for my son, realizing he kept my loneliness and self-doubt at bay.

Eugene. My light in the darkness. I will protect you always.

We set out of the bunker carefully examining our new surroundings. Our mouths agape in horror. The trees from the day before nothing but charred masses stretching out to the sky in torture. The land blackened and crisped. Izzy was next to me and seemed unfazed. McCarthy let out an impressed whistle.

“Those drones sure got to try out the big boys. I don't think they've found us. Probably testing for the next city.” Auden's face ran red and angry.

“What do you mean the next city? They've already taken everything! What's left to kill? Do you know something Carthy?” His thin limbs flung to his side in the fit of rage. McCarthy's eyebrows shot up in surprise. His hands up and open in defense.

“Whoa, there. I'm just saying they probably are testing new weapons and I'm pretty glad your friends left this place so we could stay.” I was humbled by his diplomacy. Auden wasn’t.

“Yeah, and you know what? His name was Jeffery and he had a wife named Sarah and three kids Amberlee, Joseph, and Isaiah. Want to know something else? They are all dead and you helped!”

McCarthy blinked at him. Clyde and June put their hands on Auden's shoulders, trying to calm him. Brad looked around bored. Terri put her face in her hands. My voice trembled out hesitantly.

“Auden, he didn't have anything to do with what happened to your friends. I’m so sorry that happened to you. His life was taken too. You know they are taken against their will. No one here is an enemy. We need to keep going. We have all lost people and we need to find them.” My eyes urged Auden to press on. He let out a sigh.

“Fine. I still don't trust him. Should be up this way, we can get through the shopping district. Maybe one of my friends is still alive. He could help us." He flung his bag onto his back and we all followed.

McCarthy stayed near the back with hands in his pockets. Izzy was still at my side, she slipped her arm through mine as if we were classmates. I smiled at her. June stayed with Auden, she had got him to laugh. Clyde carried a small plant in a coffee can babying it with every step.

We walked in silence, our feet no longer screaming. Finally accustomed to our new way of life. It was difficult to see dusk with the sky beckoning its disarray. It must have been a few hours. We sipped on our water periodically. I could make out a skyscraper in the distance. I used to stay out of the city when I could. I never liked the traffic, Jared had an office in a marketing building.

As we approached the city McCarthy was alert and calculating. His dark eyes scanned every object that came into view. In an instant, an aircraft blared through the sky above us. We darted for cover, scattered. McCarthy ran in my direction with the young girl.

“Get down!” He dove on top of us. My chin scraped the ground and my breath knocked from my lungs. I struggled to look around, McCarthy's arm was over me. There was a loud collision. I felt the sound waves pierce through my body. My ears rang and I struggled to see through my blurred vision.

I was able to move my head just slightly to the left and see the young girl barreled beneath McCarthy as well. Her forehead bleeding, with her eyes closed. I manage to wiggle my arm beneath me to get the dark hair out of her face. I try to shout, but the ringing only gets worse. She coughs into the dust sending more particles blurring my vision.

I feel McCarthy shift above us, his hand fumbling through my hair. Suddenly he is gone, I flip onto my back and see Clyde pulling McCarthy a few feet away and check him over. His previously healing wound exposes dangled flesh and warm blood. I look around, I see Terri next to Clyde. I scan around and see Izzy lying face down

fifty feet away.

I get up and run towards her stumbling the whole way.

“Izzy!” I grab her shoulders and flip her over. Her skin gray and stone. I don't know what to do now. My hands freeze. Carmon. Where is she? My eyes scan rapidly. I locate her, but she is down a few feet unmoving. I look back at Izzy. I put my head to her chest and hear nothing. I clumsily feel for a pulse, there is nothing there, stone.

I stare for a while. The ground is crimson beneath her now. Whatever had struck down the aircraft is long gone. I am startled when an arm reaches behind me. It's McCarthy, torn shirt now tied around his arm. I just stare.

“Sherry? Are you okay?” He looks at me concerned.

“She had a son,” I say blankly. “He was in my class. A sweet boy. She loved him so much.” his arm remains.

“We lost a couple.” he chokes on the words. “The nurse is gone too.” I barely register the words, only that we have more losses.

“Why did they do this?” I ask. He looks towards Izzy and Carmon's remains and closes his eyes.

“I believe they were gunning down the aircraft. I looked at it. It was a private passenger. I want to know why too.” His eyes held me for a moment. I look at his face. I'd only seen compassion on one man's face before.

Auden clutched Carmon’s hand, Clyde slipped a beautiful gold ring with a rose in the middle on her finger.

“It was my wife’s, I showed it to her and she said it was beautiful. Her boyfriend purposed,” his voice chokes and his eyes redden with tears. “but he didn’t have the money to get a ring." He cleared his throat. "Perfect fit.” Clyde kissed her clasped hands and walked away.

We couldn't do much with the bodies, there wasn’t enough time. Terri and Auden arranged them side by side, Izzy was to the right. I noticed a glittery gold chain around her neck and pulled it away to look at it. The pendant was a heart, engraved with Mom. I looked at her stone face and remembered her bravery earlier today. The tears that were formed in my eyes spilled over onto the red-soaked earth, striking down with a quiet thud.

Lady Liberty has fallen.