The rig sat idling, emitting warm exhaust while waiting to depart. Eva’s legs dangled over the ledge of the trailer, the cargo door open and facing the house. The smell of fuel was comforting, calling to mind her family’s SUV refueling at the gas station on their way to the shore for vacation. She imagined it now, watching from the backseat as her father got out of the car to meet the attendant at the pump before heading into the convenience store, her mother calling out and reminding him what to purchase.
The scene is bright and cheery, glints of sunshine bouncing off the nearby cars, most of them hauling surfboards or bikes fastened to racks. Other curious children peek from the rear windows, people-watching just like Eva. She is young, maybe eight years old.
In the front passenger seat, her mother reaches toward the console and switches the air onto “High,” and turns the temperature selector onto the coldest setting. Eva listens as the vents release a whoosh of current.
Her mother turns to her. “Eva honey, would you run into the store and tell Daddy to get me some ibuprofen? I think this heat is giving me a headache.”
Eva nods, unfastens her seatbelt and opens the rear door, the heat rushing to envelope her. Her mother rises out of her seat and directs the little girl across the parking lot. “Wait for this car to pass…okay, go ahead, the coast is clear,” she calls.
Scooting along the hot pavement, the girl’s attention is captured by storefront displays of sparklers and pinwheels; red, white and blue letters boldly advertising firecrackers. Inside, she mingles with the other shoppers, who all seem in a hurry. Her father isn’t in the first aisle, where the candy and potato chips are shelved. In the second row are jars of peanut butter and jelly, soups and condiments, but not her father. He isn’t in the third or fourth rows either, so she turns and looks over to the refrigerated drinks but sees only strangers.
When Eva decides to search the checkout counter, she notes more people that are unfamiliar. An old grandpa-like gentleman with his arms full of sandwiches and soda bottles, a woman with two children, who look at Eva with unkind expressions, and a policeman who is paying for a coffee. Then she glances at the glass front door and spots her father exiting and walking back to their vehicle. She calls after him, but he doesn’t hear her and continues moving away.
Here, the scene lags, every minute detail unfolding in slow motion. Other customers seem to cluster toward the door, hindering Eva’s attempt to run after her father. She dodges them as best she can, only to be barred from the door by other customers.
At last they part, a clear path to the exit stretches before her, only bold blue skies spanning the glass storefront. Then, entering from the left is a person running along the span of windows outside. People in the parking lot notice and react with alarm to the commotion. The stranger reaches out, flings the door open and steps into the store.
Eva freezes, startled by the person’s appearance. It seems to be a woman but dressed not in ordinary summer wear. Instead, she is garbed in dusty, tattered clothing and a metal helmet with domed eyes. She seems like a character out of a science fiction movie.
The stranger stares at Eva, paying no attention to anyone else. Eva retreats a step as the figure approaches. The police officer at the checkout counter drops his coffee and turns toward the stranger, withdrawing his weapon. The stranger moves past the counter and closes in on the girl with outstretched arms. It seems an eternity unfolds, allowing Eva to study the eyes of the helmet. Behind the clouded domes, green eyes stare into her own. The stranger kneels and wraps Eva in her arms. Outside the store, a bright flash consumes the world behind the glass windows.
*********
“Hey.”
Eva jolted as she abruptly returned to the present. Wes stood on the ground before her, his rifle in firing position. He looked at her with concern.
“You okay?”
She nodded. “Just thinking. Zoned out for a few minutes.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Yeah, looked like you were out of it. Do you believe this shit? Christ, it looks like he’s lost it. I’ve never seen him like this.”
Looking up, Eva saw that Grant still had his weapon trained on Laird, who seemed to still be trying to reason with him. They were about two hundred feet from the rig. Laird turned and approached, leaving Grant by the driveway.
“No luck,” said Laird to Wes. He continued past them and Eva heard him enter the cab, closing the door behind him.
“He’s staying,” said Eva.
“Yeah,” said Wes. “Guess his mind’s gone.”
“You would be too if you had seen it.”
Wes turned to her. “It?”
“Her.”
Frowning, Wes pressed. “Her? Who? You two saw another person out here? A nomad?”
“Not exactly.”
“I don’t get it.”
“It’s sort of a…spiritual thing. If Grant didn’t tell you, then it isn’t my place to mention it.”
“Spiritual thing?” Wes shrugged. “Okay, whatever. Apparently, he wouldn’t tell Laird, either.”
He lowered the rifle and turned the corner, heading up to the cab while taking cautious glances at Grant. Eva hopped off the tailgate and followed. “Wes? Has he ever done this before?”
“Done what, exactly? Gone crazy?”
“Stayed behind.”
Wes shook his head. “No.”
Eva walked toward Grant.
“Eva!” yelled Wes.
Grant was staring off toward the garage, where they had seen his daughter’s ghost, or whatever it had been. She had not been a believer before today, but she now understood that there were things beyond this realm of existence, things that defied explanation.
Grant had lowered his weapon. When Eva neared, he said, “I can’t leave her.”
She nodded. “I know. If it were me, I’d probably stay too.”
He gestured toward the rig. “They can’t possibly understand. And trying to explain what you and I witnessed would only cause them to question the soundness of our minds. And in Community, that would mean a long stay in quarantine.” He stepped foward and took her hand. “So be sure that when you return, you don’t mention a word of this to anyone.”
“They’re going to ask me about you. What do I tell them?”
Grant smiled. “Tell them I’m home.”
*********
When they had gone, Grant returned to the garage. He stood there for what seemed like an hour, but the structure remained inactive. Twilight was upon him and he had no knowledge of what dangers might dwell in the vicinity. He had not stayed this late at the house in some time. It was possible that some living thing may have made its home here and could very well be returning from a day of scavenging to retire for the night.
He decided it was time to move indoors. He would sleep in a corner of the basement, then continue his search for the spirit in the morning.
Once inside the house, Grant found an ounce of amusement in the fact that the locks were still able to engage. He’d figured by now they’d have lost functionality either by exposure to the elements or by some other influence, be it natural or otherwise. The simple act of locking the doors of his home provided a nostalgic comfort.
At the bottom of the basement stairs, he clumsily knocked over a column of stacked boxes that once held things he had deemed valuable. But in this world, old books or piles of important documents had been rendered insignificant. Leaving the toppled mess, he retired to an old sofa.
He heard movement overhead and the floorboards creaked. Something was in the house and he’d probably drawn its attention from his carelessness. Moving from the sofa, Grant positioned himself with a clear view of the stairs and raised his weapon.
A dim light spilled down the top step. The meager beam washed left to right. He heard the stairs creak as something descended. Then, to Grant’s growing amazement, a translucent figure emerged. It appeared to be holding a light of some kind and to be searching the darkness, however, it did not see him crouching a mere fifteen feet away. After a moment, it switched off the beam and ascended the stairs.
The hairs on Grant’s neck stood on end as he realized the magnitude of this encounter. It had heard the boxes crash to the floor.