AARON The Mobile Hauler moved quickly toward the underpass. Above it ran a major rail line, heavy and silent now. Before we reached the tracks, I looked out the side window. We passed the only side street before the crossing. This barricade had fewer cars and fewer armed people standing guard. But it was still there, a clear message. Slowly, we crept under the rail bridge. The clearance was low, the top of our vehicle scraping faintly against the grimy concrete. We barely made it through. On the other side, we turned onto Oakland Street. Cars lined the road, but not as many as before. We drove several blocks. The world outside felt still and watchful. Then the road began to narrow. Cars were parked in the middle of it now, abandoned haphazardly. Out the right windows, a large rail yard stretched out, separating us from the Westhaven Unity Dome. Elliot pressed a hand against the glass. “I don’t see any fences between us and those tracks. Looks like a path to the road on the other side.” Marcus stood up. He took a deep breath, his shoulders squaring. “Alright. We’ll run over. Make sure it’s clear. Then come back for the rest of you.” Nathan shook his head. He spoke before I could, his voice low. “Don’t go, Marcus.” I was sitting, but barely. I was close to slipping off the edge of my seat. Marcus frowned. “We’ve been over this, Nathan.” Seraphina stood. So did Elliot. They moved toward the door without another word. Nathan let out a rough, rasping sound. From anyone else, it would have been a sigh. “You’re my brother. I have to try to keep you safe.” Marcus stuck his hand out. “Then come with. No better way to watch my back than to be behind me while we check the place out.” Nathan looked out the windows toward the stadium. Beads of sweat formed on his brow. His breathing grew faster, shallower. I found myself hoping he wouldn’t go. I didn’t want my family alone in the Hauler with no way to drive it, sitting ducks. Nathan dropped his head, staring at the floor. “Make sure you take one of the rifles.” Marcus nodded, his expression softening. “It’s okay, little bro. You went through some bad things. Don’t feel bad about staying here.” Marcus turned to me. His eyes were steady. “One last chance to join us.” I shook my head slowly. Elena tightened her grip on my hand, her fingers cold. “I’ve seen enough death. Go find it for yourself.” Seraphina and Elliot exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between them. Marcus responded, his voice flat. “Really hoping you’re wrong.” I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. “So am I.”***** Fifteen minutes had passed. The three of them left the safety of the Hauler, the door shutting with a solid thud. They went out across the railroad tracks toward the entertainment complex, their figures growing smaller until they vanished between the silent train cars. In that time, a few other vehicles had pulled up. They parked on the side of the road, just like we did. Their people got out and ran across the tracks without hesitation, following the same hope. Nathan, Elena, and Lucas sat at the dinette. They played a game of cards, the soft slap of each one the only sound. I knew I should be over there. I should help distract my son and reassure Elena, offer some normalcy. But I couldn’t pull myself away from the windows. I needed to be here. I needed to be the first to see Elliot, Seraphina, and Marcus return. To be proven wrong. To have finally found a safe place for my family after all this driving, all this fear. I was honestly surprised Nathan wasn’t at the windows too. Maybe he didn’t want to be the first to see he was right. If one of the three didn’t come back, or if they never returned, he’d know. The people he cared for most were gone. And he hadn’t done everything possible to save them. The couch next to me dipped. I looked over. Lucas sat beside me, crawling up from the floor. His little cheeks still held their baby fat, a stark contrast to the tense faces of the adults. I brought my hand up and cupped the back of his head. His short sandy hair felt smooth against my palm. “What’s up, my little man?” “Come play Go Fish with us, Daddy.” I smiled, a fragile thing. I picked him up and placed him on my lap, his small weight a comfort. Then I pointed out the window toward the empty tracks. “Daddy needs to watch for when our friends come back.” Lucas frowned, his small brow furrowing. “Daddy, when can we go back home? I want to get my toys.” Movement caught my eye. I glanced over. Elena was fighting back tears, turning her face away. Nathan, cards in hand, hung his head low, his whole body still. I cleared the sudden lump in my throat. At the same time, I thanked God my son didn’t fully understand our danger yet, that he could still ask for toys. “It’s going to be a while, buddy. But we are going to stay at Gammy’s house in Highland State for a bit. That’ll be fun, right?” Lucas’s eyes lit up, the worry disappearing. “Can I play on the boat?” I chuckled a little, the sound tight in my chest. “Yes. We can take the boat out.” “Lucas,” Elena called. She motioned him over, her voice carefully even. His tablet was in her hand. “Why don’t you come here and draw a picture? Draw what we’ll do when we’re on the boat.” He slid off my lap and went to her. I turned back to the window. The tracks were still empty. The light was beginning to change. I kept watching.