Page 73 of Into the Mist

Georgie studied Gemma. “You’re too young to be a doctor.”

“Yeah, up until three days ago I woulda said the same thing.” Gemma shrugged. “But now I get that age isn’t that important.”

Georgie nodded slowly. “Like before Sunday I didn’t think I’d have to take care of my brothers all by myself.”

“Exactly,” said Gemma. “But you did, even though people might say you’re too young.”

“Exactly,” Georgie echoed.

“Okay, I’m gonna top off the gas tank, and then let’s get back on the road,” Stella said.

“While you do that, we’ll get Georgie and her brothers settled in the back with sandwiches,” Mercury said.

“I’ll help,” said Gemma. “I totally know all about the sammiches.” She grinned at Georgie and her brothers.

“Thanks, Gemma,” Mercury said. “They brought their favorite things in their backpacks, so be sure to find a special place for them.”

“Oh, for sure,” Gemma said as she led the kids through the snow to the rear of the truck.

“I’ll be there in just a sec,” Imani called.

“No problem. Take your time,” said Gemma.

Imani and Karen closed in on Stella and Mercury. Stella held up her hand before either woman could say anything “I’ll make this fast because, unlike what Gemma just said, we shouldn’t take our time. Georgie is ten. The twins, Jayden and Cayden, are six. Mercury, tell them the rest while I dump this gas into our tank so we can get the hell outta here.”

Mercury explained, “Their parents are dead inside their wrecked SUV right in front of their house. The kids watched them burn, and the boys haven’t spoken since. Georgie said they spoke just fine before that, though.”

Imani nodded. “It’s called selective mutism. I remember from one of my child development classes. It happens after a major shock, especially to children. They’ll probably speak again—when they’re ready and they feel safe. We shouldn’t force them, though.”

“Is there some reason why we’renotreturning to their home to fix them a hot meal and take our time to figure out what to do with them?” Karen asked.

“Yes. Stella says it isn’t safe. Plus, we already know what to do with them. According to Georgie, their family was in Portland and on the Oregon Coast. Neither is an option. So now they’re our responsibility,” said Mercury.

“Poor babies,” Imani said. “They’ve been all alone for three days?”

“Yeah, with their dead parents in a burned-up SUV right outside their front door. No electricity. No communication with the outside world, and running out of food. It’s a damn good thing we heard them. Oh, and the reason we did is because all three of them were on the front porch, crying.”

“It’s so awful,” said Imani.

“Yes, of course it is,” Karen said. “But how are we supposed to take care of three small children and—”

In the distance from the direction of the highway came the whine of motors—not like the sound of a car or a truck—but something more high pitched and moving fast. The engine sounds carried easily through the silence of the ravaged, snow-covered forest.

“Now!” Stella jogged around the truck with the empty gas container in one hand and Mack’s rifle in the other. “We gotta leavenow!”

“I’ll get in the back with the kids and Gemma,” Imani said.

“Karen, get in the cab,” Stella snapped orders. She handed Mercury the rifle. “I’m assuming you can shoot this?”

“Yep,” Mercury said.

“And you’re a decent shot with it?” Stella asked.

“More than decent.”

“Good. Do you know how many shells it has in it?”

Mercury examined the rifle, silently thanking her dad for teaching her to respect firearms, which included learning to clean and care for a Winchester almost identical to the one in her arms. “It’s fully loaded. One in the chamber and five in the cartridge.”