From the Indie Side Read Online Free PDF Page B

of what the
poison was doing. Blotchy red patches had formed, some of them
rising in watery blisters. She instinctively reached for her face,
but found nothing. At once, the urge to leave became overpowering.
It wouldn’t be long before Death’s poison breath took their home.
They needed the security of a solid building; something more than
just flimsy walls. What was done, was done. She loved Ms. Quigly,
but dead is dead—you can’t fix that.
    “Dad, we’re running out of time,” she told
him. “Tell us what to do!” He lifted his head, and his eyes grew
wide when he saw her arms.
    “Emily, girl, let me see,” he answered,
lifting her hand. “You’re so much more fairer than we are. You have
to cover up more. Long sleeves—cover everything.” He looked at his
own arms, which were clear of any welts. He ran his hand along the
side of her tall red hair, then leaned in, kissing her atop the
head.
    “I think I can even taste what’s out there.
Can you?” Emily asked. He let out a phlegmy cough, and nodded.
    “It’s the salt.” His tone was settled, but
his face wandered, searching for her mother.
    “Salt?”
    He started to speak, but then stopped. She
could sense his uncertainty. “The salt in the ocean. We’re using
it. But it was supposed to save us.” He turned away, glancing to
the front window. A curtain of rolling mist pushed against the
glass, sliding over the surface like heavy smoke. “But this isn’t
right. The weight is pulling the clouds down, and changing
them.”
    “How long?” Emily asked. “How long do we
have?” Her father closed his eyes. His lips danced without a sound.
He was thinking. Calculating. It’s how he worked. She liked to
tease him about it sometimes, but didn’t feel the urge to do so
now. He shook his head, and the cramped expression from earlier
returned.
    “I’ve got to stop it!” he blurted, and then
pulled her into his arms. “I’ve got to get to the machine and stop
this!”
    “What’s going on?” a small voice chirped from
behind them. “Daddy, I’m itchy in my eyeballs and inside my
mouth—yuk.” They turned to see Emily’s little brother, bleary-eyed,
his security blanket hanging from one hand, dragging behind him.
Emily knelt, running her fingers up the long sleeve of his pajamas
to check his arms. No welts. Her brother had the same dark
complexion as their father and mother. For now, she was the only
one showing any signs of burning. But if they didn’t move, that’d
change soon.
    “Justin, listen to me.” Her father’s knee
popped as he knelt down, spurring a giggle from the little boy. “I
have to go to work today, and while I’m gone, you need to listen to
your mother and sister. Understand?” Justin swiped at the salty
sting on his skin, but gave his father a firm nod.
    “But I… I always listen,” he answered,
jumping into his father’s arms. “Daddy, I heard something. I don’t
know, but I think I heard something bad.”
    “Don’t you worry about what you heard. Don’t
you listen to anything except for what your mom and sister tell
you. Can you run upstairs and get dressed for me?”
    Justin’s feet were moving before they hit the
floor. The scratchy sound of footed pajamas skidded away from them,
thumped up the stairs.
    “Is Justin getting ready?” her mother asked.
Her face had been wiped clean of tearstains, but her eyes stayed
puffy and red. “I’ve packed all the food and water that we can
carry. The batteries, radio and the flashlight are in the car too.
How safe is the car?”
    “The cars will last longer than the house,”
he answered. “You went into the garage? How is it?”
    “Stronger. I can smell it,” her mother said,
shaking her head. “I can feel a bit of burn, too. But I think it’s
safe.”
    “Good… good, I can probably open the garage a
minute and then close it.” Emily considered what her father
said.
    “But why would we do that?” she asked. “We
won’t be coming back. Will we?”