The Queen's Pain

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

Though Dakota seemed to love the safety and security brought by their home—the endless supply of books and conversations, along with free time and limited television to keep him occupied—Ken often found it suffocating. She missed the road. She longed for missions and junk food and excitement. Yeah, the world was dangerous, but at least it would never be boring. While on one hand it was good that her dad and her family and her friends were all protected, she didn’t consider it a requirement for her own life. Especially when winter thawed or on the rare occasions that the sun broke through their overcast skies.

She wanted out.

Even the occasional patrol through the mountainous forests that bordered New Somerset on both sides proved only a temporary reprieve from what felt like a painfully small area to roam.

Only one thing could ease her persistent wanderlust: the monthly drive into the next stable town to pick up supplies too rare or too small to be delivered. Dakota refused to let Ken go alone, even despite her prowess in fighting and her age. He didn’t always insist on being the one to accompany her, but there had to be someone. Preferably the handful of people who knew both magic and gun work. Twice, she’d chosen Darrin, who despite the age difference proved to be good for conversation. Katya went at least half a dozen times. Jaden wanted to go last month but backed out at the last minute, citing anxiety and inexperience.

Ann accompanied her only once—long enough to see that even stable towns other than their own experienced damage and distress during the talisman-made apocalypse. The empty streets, handful of burned-out buildings, and community boards full of pictures of missing persons sent terror through the woman’s veins. This, she relayed to the other TFIs, causing more than a little apprehension.

Today’s trip would be a good one, she thought. It felt like old times to have her dad in the passenger seat, even though he used to do all the driving. The weather was about as good as they could expect: a light drizzle in the early morning giving way to reasonably thin cloud cover. They might take their time in Carbondale. Grab a bite to eat. Chat with the locals. The drive would be scenic, and when they returned? Everyone who requested something would be in higher spirits.

If it wasn’t so dangerous, Ken would make these trips at least once a week.

Dakota climbed into her truck and sat down stiffly. He looked to be having some pain this spring morning despite the relatively mild weather. “Your back again?” she asked with nothing but concern in her voice.

He nodded softly. “It’s not too bad. Just needs some stretching.”

“Maybe we should walk around when we get into town if you’re up for it.” She knew the culprit—an angry knot of muscles and scar tissue that bothered him ever since he tangled with a mutant creature, which his former torturers hoped would eat him. A small price to pay for his continued ability to breathe, he would say. Just a few more scars to add to the rest.

“Yeah. How much you wanna bet that ice cream place is still open? The one with the homemade flavors and milkshakes.”

He always got the same flavor. Maraschino cherries mixed into vanilla, usually in a bowl made from waffle cookie if they had them in stock. Sometimes he went the extra mile and had them add chocolate syrup or sprinkles. God, he loved sugar more than she did.

Ken had a hunch the place might be closed. Most of Carbondale’s non-essential shops in the main boulevard had shuttered their doors. People didn’t spend too much money on wants and small pleasures anymore. Well, except liquor, drugs, and cigarettes. It never mattered how poor or desperate people became. There was always a market for addiction.

She didn’t have the heart to say it, though. Instead, “I hope so. I’ve had a craving for their blueberry cheesecake flavor for weeks!”

“Crumbled pretzels or pretzel cone?”

The essential salty element, which made the treat all the more delectable. “Cone. Definitely cone.”

He laughed.