Chapter 11

After the wreck

 

Sharon and Rose struggle pulling Jeremy up the stairs. It seemed to take forever. They had to take several breaks and in some places had to remove debris in order to go further.

Jeremy was long and lanky and heavy.

 

The last part of the stairs was almost completely covered in concrete and dirt only one person could go through it. Eager to put Jeremy down, both ladies dug into the dirt before trying to move the concrete. You could see the strength heighten in them each time they moved the earth. It made it easier to move the crumbled pieces of concrete.

 

Rose made sure that she rubbed Jeremy’s hands and arms in the dirt each time they had to move it. Each time unnoticed by the ladies, his face produced more color and his muscles started to twitch and jerk.

 

They grabbed Jeremy and only had a short way to go to reach the top of the stairway. Finally at the top there was a short hallway with a door at the end. They rested again in the hallway. The door was slightly ajar and looked as though someone had pried it open but was probably from the explosion. Everything was new and weird. Sharon looked in the door and it was just another hallway that lead to a small office. At the other side of the office there was a door with a small window and she could see sunlight.

 

Now they needed to find a way to move Jeremy more easily. They got him into the office put him in the office chair. It has wheels on it so they decided to use that for now. He was sitting there all slumped but able to stay in the chair alone.

 

Sharon and Rose rummaged through the office to see if there was anything they could use. In one of the desk drawers there was a locked box. It obviously was a cash box. They took the box and searched around for a key that might open the box. There was a set of keys on the wall. It had several keys but none of them fit the box. There was a set of small tools in the corner by where the keys were hanging. Sharon grabbed that pulled out a screw driver and pried open the box. There wasn’t much money in the box just a few twenties and tens and a handful of ones. There was a paycheck in the box as well. They grabbed the bills and the little bit of change rolling around in the box. Rose grabbed the first aid kit that was there. There were 4 helmets by the door a big heavy coat with amor built in. Obviously for a person who was motorcycling.

 

Sharon decided to look outside. She very cautiously walked to the door facing outside. The door was sturdy and a small window was there just enough to look through.

 

She didn’t want to get caught stealing or just get caught period. Who knows what they had planned for them. Maybe they were all going to get killed or something of that nature. She wanted to find her kids and soon. In hopes that they are safe still she goes out of the door.

 

It appears no one is around. There is a gravel road that is swallowed by the dense forest. Off to the left is a rather large garage. Having put the keys in her pocket she jingled them hoping it opened the garage and that there was a truck or something conventional that would carry them off of this mountain. The air had a nippy coolness to it and the scent of pine made her draw a deep breath.

 

As she was looking around and think how clean the air felt good going through her lungs. She noticed that the garage was open and that there were 4 quads in the garage.

 

She said out loud, “this will do just fine.”

 

She ran back to the office yelling excitedly “Rose there is quads in the garage!”

 

Rose eyed the keys on the wall there were a few sets of them left. She grabbed a set of keys hoping that it would fit one of the quads. She followed Sharon through the door and noted the cool air. When she got to the garage Rose said,

 

“Oh that is what a quad is, I wasn’t sure dear. It would have been better if it was a truck but we need to leave here. How are we going to do this with Jeremy?”

 

Sharon smiled she figured Rose knew what a quad was. She was right about Jeremy. It wasn’t going to work.

 

They both hopped on a quad and fumbled with the keys till they found one that fit. Both quads started up just fine. There was a gas tank off to the side of the garage. So they filled up the tanks as much as they could. It appears that it had already been taken care of.

They clumsily drove the quads to the door to see how they were going to get Jeremy on and keep him there.

 

Rose decided that they needed to search the garage for rope or something like that so that they could transport him. It was a rather large garage but after looking closer there was a trailer that attached to the quad it was small but large enough to put Jeremy in.

 

After figuring out how the attachment went on the quad and feeling it safe enough. They put Jeremy in the trailer. Rose first put the armored coat on him and one of the helmets.

 

She said to Jeremy, “You look like easy rider.”

 

She thought she saw a slight smile on his face but couldn’t be sure.

 

Then she said. “Jeremy dear you will need to go on a diet if we have to keep pulling you everywhere. Now Jeremy, we found tarp and rope and you can feel safe because we are going to rope you in this trailer and make it secure so you do not fall out. Are you listening to me? ”

 

Hoping he stayed warm they moved swiftly to secure him. They needed to move quickly as they daylight was soon to be night.

 

They put on their helmets and mounted their quads and just as an after though Rose got back down and saw that there were two gas cans she went to grab them and fill them but they were already full. She lugged them and placed them in the place right behind the seat and secured them to the quad. They then motored off down the gravel road.  Jeremy was bounding around but stayed secure in the little trailer.

 

After a short distance there was a paved road. They turned left in hopes that it would bring them some place civilized. They had to cross the railroad tracks that they had just been on before the train crashed.

 

They drove only a short while and came upon a very small town. Luckily there was a motel. The sign said “acancy” without the “V” lit up. It was shabby looking and not to kept up but they needed a place to stay and get out of the night.

 

They stopped here and Rose went in to ask about the price. They didn’t have that much money. Rose got them 2 nights free. She said that she offered to clean the units for two nights free. The man at the desk just said that he lost his maid for the rooms but that they get only a few people to stay and sometimes no one at all.

 

They pulled Jeremy from the trailer and got him in the room. He was cold to the touch so they covered him in blankets and rubbed his hands and feet to warm him up. Rose also started to move his arms and legs for him so that he was able to get a little circulation going. She was positive this was done quite frequently when Jenny was caring for him.

 

Rose piped up “I am going out to see if I can find something to eat.” She left quickly.

 

Jeremy lay on the bed his muscles in his face were twitching and jerking. Sharon took a little notice but didn’t think anything about that. She went to the old TV they had in the room and turned it on. She had to mess with it a little to get it to show a picture. She wanted to watch the news. Maybe there would be something about the children on there.

 

The TV was an older model it matched the old motel they were in. The news was not on yet so she paced a little in the room.

 

The motel was in a remote area so when she looked out the window across the street was an empty field probably a range for horse or cattle a straggly cat crossed the street towards the motel. It is probably a stray. She didn’t notice that Rose had pulled up on the quad.

 

Rose opened the door and came in with some fruit and stuff for sandwiches she also carried some clothing.

 

“Did you see anything on the news?” asked Rose

“I found a small strip of stores down the way. I picked up some long sleeve shirts so we won’t be noticed. I don’t think they noticed it when I was in the store. The folks here seem pretty friendly. Maybe they’re scared I don’t know for sure. Here make us some sandwiches; I got some baby food for Jeremy.” Rose rambled

 

Sharon made a couple of sandwiches and Rose started to spoon feed Jeremy. In the process, she broke small pieces of the root into the creamed peaches. Rose was intent on having him finish the root.

 

Color was gradually showing on Jeremy’s face. He must be feeling warmer. He didn’t appear as pale anymore. His face was making jerking movements. It was odd to look at.

 

The more she looked at Jeremy she kept thinking she had to tell him his mother had passed away. She turned her head and watched Rose look out the window. She sat in the only chair in the room.

 

She turned back to Jeremy not knowing whether Jeremy understood or not Sharon started.

 

Rose turned and looked at Sharon when Sharon started to talk.

 

“Jeremy, I guess you are wondering where your mother is,” Her voice was gentle “Well, she asked me to take care of you. We pulled you with us because Jenny, Your mom, died in the train wreck. Don’t worry though; I will make sure you are cared for. I promised your mother.”

 

Sharon had been holding his hand and tears were in her eyes as she spoke. She looked at him for a response but she only noticed his eyes were moist and she could have sworn he had squeezed her hand slightly. She couldn’t tell if he even knew what she was saying.

 

Telling him had a cleansing feeling though as though a weight had been lifted from her just by saying the words.

 

As she was looking intently at him he suddenly jerked violently. He body stiffened like a board and it lifted him slightly off of the bed it made him bounce. Then he laid still again his eye closed as if he were sleeping.

 

“Rose!” Sharon exclaimed worriedly, “Jeremy had a seizure, I think. He… jerked and almost lifted from the bed… He Ok?... I was telling him.. He jerked.”

 

Sharon had no experience in caring for people; she knew how to take care of her kids and that was all.

 

Rose calmly went to the bed, rested her hand on his forehead. She ran her hand down his arm and squeezed his hand and cooed comforting words into his ear. She wiped his face. There were tears seeping from his closed eyes.

 

Rose softly said, “he knows.” 

 

I am sure he wishes there was something he could have done.

 

Being trapped in this body was probably the worst think a person could have to endure. Having a mother there must have made it manageable.

 

They settled for the night. There was nothing on the news that they were interested in. Sharon and Rose shared a bed and Jeremy had his own bed for the night. They were exhausted from everything that they had gone through from the tunnel to this motel.

In the morning they had to figure out what they were going to do but for now they remained quiet then nothing but the noise of sleeping people.