Unending Dark

The sky was dark, again, as all the days were after September 7th.

“I’m frightened”, said Valerie.

Jack just looked at her and as she shivered, he reached out to hold her.

The house had been dark for almost a week now. Electricity gone. No cell phones. No computers, no lights, nothing. Cheshire had just gone dark.

Valerie made her way into the house and stumbled over the chair in the living room even though she had lived here for three years and knew exactly where it was.

“Ow,” she yelped. “I think I broke my toe.”

The candle Jack had just lit was glowing and he looked at her sympathetically knowing there was nothing he could do for her right now or her broken toe. He also knew they were almost out of candles and the flashlight batteries were dying and the light had begun to dim.

Their bed, which had been a haven before, now just seemed an escape from the dark, cold place they were living in. A large soft comforter enveloped them as they snuggled together trying to block out the world. Valerie drifted off to sleep.

September 7th had started like any other day but at noon, when the sun went out and disappeared, the world changed. Stunned people just stared at the sky hoping the sun would reappear but that would not happen. There was panic and people running everywhere, grabbing groceries, batteries, and flashlights as if it was winter in New England and there was a blizzard on the way.

The looting began that evening. Men with guns and large pipes were breaking into stores and taking whatever they wanted. The drugstores were invaded and wiped out of every drug which could be used to get high or be sold for a price. There was no one to stop them as the police were occupied elsewhere.

Panic had taken over and by some human nature, people were doing all the wrong things.

The grocery stories were closing and the refrigerated food was going bad quickly so the grocers were giving it away before it spoiled. People were lined up to get milk and yogurt for their kids. There was very little consideration for others on this day. Children were being trampled as adults stormed the cooler doors to grab what they wanted.

The police, along with the ambulance service, were running around town on the last of their gas trying to help people that had fallen in the dark or seniors who were having heart attacks from the stress of what was happening. There were numerous car accidents as people were trying to escape Cheshire. Many hoped that this was only happening in their part of the world. Maybe farther on into Middleburg, things were normal and better. Once they ran out of gas, they were stuck wherever they were unless they started walking, hoping to make it to somewhere where there might be light and electricity.

Jack was curious if this was only happening here or was this a state or worldwide event. The folks that had left for Middleburg had not returned so he thought maybe they should try to make the trip also. Things had to be better in the city.

Valerie packed only what they needed to make the trip: water, some food, fresh clothes and her .22 as protection from looters. Jack reasoned it would be a three day walk. He knew they could make it but worried about what they might find.

Tuesday dawned warm and breezy, still dark. Jack and Val left about 8:00 am hoping to make it to the edge of Mt. Stillman by 6:00 pm and then they could rest for the night.

They stayed mostly on the main road so as not to get lost in the dark. Trekking across the fields and into the woods might be a shortcut but probably not safe.

They could finally see Mt. Stillman in the distance. Jack looked at his watch. 3:00pm.

“We’re making good time,” he told Valerie. “That’s Mt. Stillman ahead. It’s maybe another two or three hours. How ya doing?”

“I can make it ,” Valerie offered. “I’m doing okay.”

Jack hugged her and they continued.

Up ahead, Valerie could see some other people walking toward them. Jack hesditated and waited to see who they were and where they were going. Valerie was frightened.

“What if they’re looters?” she asked. “Or worse?”

“They might be good people and we could all travel together. Safety in numbers, you know?”

“All right,” Valerie said reluctantly.

They slowed down a little and as they approached, the man pointed gun at them.

“What do you want?” he yelled.

“We are just headed toward Middleburg and thought you might want to travel together,” Jack said.

Very slowly, the man lowered the gun and put it in his pocket after he decided that Valerie and Jack didn’t look dangerous.

Jack reached out his hand. “I’m Jack and this is my wife, Valerie.”

“I’m Peter, this is Patti and the little one is Cindy,” the man said as he reached for Jack’s hand.

“Were heading toward Middleburg,” Jack offered.

“Oh, you don’t want to go there,” Peter said. “We had friends that went there and managed to get away and come back to Cheshire. They said the cops are taking prisoners without asking questions and people are being hung in the city park.”

“What?” Valerie gasped. Patti took her hand and said, “We’re gonna try to make it to Newtown.”

Jack said, “Well that has to be a two-week trip.”

“We figured two and a half,” Peter answered, “but what other options do we have?”

Well, we’ll travel with you, if that’s ok, Jack said.

“It will be nice to have company”, Peter agreed. Patti nodded her head.

They walked for 15 days before they could finally see the city of Newtown on the horizon.

“We could be there by breakfast,” Jack said happily.

They all settled in for the evening and tried to sleep, but the excitement of being near Newtown was too overwhelming.

As they approached the city, they saw several people in the distance being attacked by creatures that looked human but appeared to be dead and dangerous. They were tearing people limb from limb, sucking out the blood and eating their flesh.

Valerie shrieked. “Run, they’re coming towards us.”

She stirred and awakened, extremely panicked and looked over at Jack. She was in her own bed, warm and safe in Cheshire. She reached for the light switch, clicked it and nothing happened. Dark.