Noah stood in his assigned bedroom upstairs and looked around, wondering what he should bring for their grand getaway. Spare clothes, he thought. He went to his closet and pulled out a couple outfits, wrapping everything up in another shirt and tying it to act like a bag.
Now if I just hoist it over my shoulder on a nice big stick, I can look like every depiction of a homeless kid ever made.
“A bindle, that’s what it’s called,” Noah muttered.
He glanced over at the bed. He wouldn’t even get to sleep in it for a single night. “Ah, such is the cost of freedom,” he laughed quietly to himself. He wondered for a moment if he should bring along one of the blankets from the bed, then remembered he wouldn’t need to worry about getting cold. The best it could be used for was maybe an impromptu draped shelter, and Noah didn’t feel like carrying it around for that.
He tried to think of anything else to bring. Usually when he went on overnight trips he brought a huge bag filled with everything he might possibly need. But even if he wanted or needed all that stuff now, most of it was either still laying around in his dorm or about 600 miles away in his dad’s house.
He straightened, suddenly remembering that his dad was driving that distance right now. He had forgotten all about their phone call. Oh, man. He’s gonna get here right after we’ve disappeared.
Noah rubbed his face, trying to tamp down the sudden spike of stress. He pulled out his phone and stared at it, wondering if it would be a mistake to tell his dad that they wouldn’t be around.
I’ll ask Brian, he decided, picking up his hobo bundle and stepping out of the room. He checked the other bedroom as he passed the door, but it was empty, so he walked downstairs to find Brian in the kitchen peering into the fridge.
“Feeling hungry?” he asked, half joking and half nervous that his friend was indeed looking for something to eat.
Brian quickly shut the fridge. “No, I’m just trying to think if there’s a way around the injury-induced tendency towards violence that seems to be becoming a trend for infected people. There must be something that could work as a substitute for fellow humans.”
“Anything in there look like a potential alternative?”
“No,” Brian answered, snorting. “I can’t believe any of this stuff ever tasted good.”
“I’m sure there’s a solution,” Noah said. “There better be one. I know I don’t want to have to worry about trying to eat people if I happen to pick up a scratch.”
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“I’m surprised it hasn’t become more of an issue already,” Brian said. “I mean, someone with the sickness has got to have gotten injured by now. Is there an announcement about it yet?”
“Not that I’ve seen,” Noah said. “And I’ve gotten all the other public safety warnings without any issue. The communications people might just not know yet.”
“Well, they will. They’ve got that Jack kid in custody. They’ll figure it out real quick. Maybe people will start to take this whole thing seriously then.”
“Don’t count on it,” Noah muttered. “Well, I actually came down to ask you about something.”
“What’s up?”
“I called my dad earlier and told him about what’s going on, or at least what we knew at that time.”
“Did you tell him everything?” Brian asked nervously.
“All of our symptoms, yeah.”
Brian ran a hand through his hair. “Oh, no. What did he say?”
“He said he’s gonna drive down to see me in person, for whatever good he thinks that’ll do. He’ll be arriving in a few hours.”
Brian shot him a startled look. “He’s gonna freak out if you’re missing.”
Noah sighed. “That’s why I’m debating whether to tell him that we’re going to be off campus for a while. Nothing specific, just enough to make sure he doesn’t go ballistic.”
Brian nodded slowly. “I think you should do that. Maybe wait until we’re actually gone, just in case he tries to call Oakridge right after you hang up to warn them about our imminent unplanned departure.”
“Yeah. That sounds reasonable. My only worry is that he’ll get caught up in this mess if he’s in the area. I’d hate for him to get infected by someone. Or eaten, God forbid.”
Brian scratched his head. “Maybe you should call him now after all. Try to convince him to turn around.”
“Well, I know how he thinks, unfortunately. I tell him it’s too dangerous for him to visit, he’ll just become all the more determined to get here. It’s as if he thinks his mere presence will drive away all maladies. The guy’s just gonna get himself killed.” Noah buried his face in his hands. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Hey, man,” Brian said, awkwardly patting his shoulder in a gesture neither of them could physically feel. “Do you want to ask the girls if they have any ideas?”
Noah shrugged. “I dunno. They don’t know my dad. I know I’d be better able to come up with the right combination of words to get him to just turn around, though I don’t have a clue what those would be.”
“You could tell him the truth,” Brian suggested. “That you’re hiding so you don’t get dissected in a lab.”
Noah glanced up. “You think that would work?”
“It’s worth a try. Tell him that the doctor is sending you to Insight tomorrow, and get a sense of his reaction before you decide whether to confess that we’re gonna run away.”
Noah nodded. “Okay.” He smiled at his friend. “Thanks.”
“Of course. Do you want me to leave the room while you make the call?”
“You can stay. Provide me with some moral support.”
Brian took a seat at the table and watched Noah dial.
“He better pick up,” Noah said.