New Friends

 Search stood there waving his hand in my face and I blinked slowly staring into nothing. My heart fell a thousand miles as it crashed into the depths of darkness. I knew what this phone call implied. Search was back to his old ways. He never really changed, and if he did it clearly wasn’t for good.

“You okay?” He asked me shaking my shoulders softly. I shook my head from side to side and pushed him off of me.

“C’mon Emmalise, let's get something to eat.” I picked her up and put her on my hip and left Search standing in the room. I tossed his cell phone over my shoulder at him as I walked out the door.

In the kitchen, I silently thanked God that the Parker’s didn’t have time to pack properly before they left. It was still fully stocked inside the fridge. II grabbed some eggs and bacon to make Emmalise her favorite meal.

“Cara,” I said walking over to the living room. Her bulging stomach soon peeked around the corner, followed by Macum.

“Are you hungry?” I asked them holding up the pack of bacon.

“Sure, I’m starved.” She said rubbing her stomach and smiling at me. She pulled up a barstool and sat down next to Emmalise at the kitchen island.

“It’ll be ready in a few,” I said, happy to have something to do to keep my mind off of Search and the moons that fell from the sky.

“Colby, can we talk?” Search said standing in the kitchen doorway holding his cell phone. I should have threw it at his head in the room.

“I’m kinda busy,” I told him keeping my attention on the frying pan in front of me.

“Attention, please remain calm.” The hand radio buzzed an alarm that made Emmalise cry.

“Stay indoors and do not attempt to travel. This is a state of emergency. Do not go outdoors.” The womans’ voice was way too calm for this sort of message.

Search picked up Emmalise and turned down the hand radio.

“It’s okay sweetie, don’t cry.” He told her rubbing her hair and patting her back. She stuck her thumb in her mouth and soothed herself silent.

“Colby?” Search called to me, but I already diverted my attention back to my cooking. Serving up a plate of hot eggs and bacon to Cara and Macum. I made me and Emmalises’ plate and grabbed her from Search before sitting down in the living room to eat.

“I know you picked up my phone.” Search said to me. I ignored him, turning on the t.v. The cable still worked. I found a news channel and listened in as the news anchor spoke in an elevated voice.

“As the emergency broadcast system states, please stay indoors, and do not attempt to leave. There is no word on whether the moons falling from the sky are environmental or and an act of war from another colony or the beyond.”

“I’d say it’s an act of war,” Macum said standing in the living room doorway holding a gun. He pointed it at Search and jerked his hand telling him to go to us on the couch.

“I’d say this is a great place to wait out this act of war.” Macum’s words slurred as he spoke his nice demeanor vanished.

“Yeah sweetie, it’s just not enough room here for us all or food for that matter.” Cara rubbed on her stomach and pulled a half-round piece of foam from under her shirt.

Emmalise clung to me, and Search sat close by squeezing my hand. I didn’t squeeze back.

“Now, why don’t you nice folk take your little girl her, and get going.” Macum hissed. Search stood up quickly and grabbed my hand jerking me towards him.

“Oh, and leave them keys.” Macum grabbed my shoulder when I walked by him. I dug into my pocket and threw the keys at him, they hit him in the chest and fell to the carpet.

“You gonna regret that honey,” He said and let out a shot, aiming at Search’s leg.

Search fell to the floor holding his leg, writhing in agony. I kneeled down quickly and pulled him up and out of the house, with Emmalise clung to my hip. Macum was close by trailing us as we made out way out the front door.

“Don’t come back, there’s more where that came from sweetheart.” He said and spit in my direction. I jumped back, moving Emmalise out of the way.

“Search lets go.” I told him pulling him along. He limped and his leg bled, soaking his jeans in bright red blood.

“Here,” I took my sweater off and pulled his pants down. Searching for the entry wound, I found it and quickly tied the sweater tight above the gunshot wound.

“How? Thank you.” Search said breathlessly. I nodded my head and got up, picking up Emmalise again.

“C’mon, we need to find a safe place, and fast,” I told him thinking of our car on the highway. If it was still there with the spare keys, that was our way home.

We walked and I didn’t slow down for Search. Emamlise on my hip and the grudge on my shoulder pushed me to move faster than when we came this way earlier. The streets were jammed with traffic. Cars driving on the sidewalk made it dangerous to linger and walk

slow. Search hobbled close behind us, and we made a good pace back to the highway. I feel like we wasted our time going to the Parker's in the first place just to get run out at gunpoint. But, if I never went there, I would have never known what I now know. Though, I’m not even sure if it matters anymore.

“Get out the way!” a man shouted from his car as he ran it onto the sidewalk, separating Search from us. I ran fast out of the way and around the car to find Search. He was laying on the ground clutching his leg.

“Get up,” I told him. The man exited the car and walked towards us. He reached for Emmalise.

I kicked him hard in between the legs and he hunched over. My Converse met his face and blood spilled out of his nose, staining my sneakers. He fell to the ground, holding his face. Not giving him the chance to get back up again, I held Emmalise tight and lifted my right leg high the let it down on the back of his head.

“Now Search, let’s go!” I hugged Emmalise tight to my body and pulled Search up with my other hand. I pushed him into the guys car in the back seat. Slamming the back door I sat in the front seat with Emmalise on my lap. I shook my head and closed the door fast behind me as the man headed towards the car. Locking the doors I hit the gas and flew off the side walk.

People scattered the streets, some crying some bleeding and others dead. I wasn’t stopping to help anyone again. My lack of judgement almost cost us our lives and it’s not a mistake that I will make again. Search groaned from the backseat. His phone vibrated again, and my stomach fell, remembering the voice on the other end of the line. I pressed my feet into the gas harder weaving in and out of the people and cars on the street.

Emmalise clung to me, even tighter as the car speed faster. I needed to get my baby home. The highway was a no go, seeing as I was jammed with cars and speeding trucks. I knew taking the street would take a while, but once we got home, it would be worth it.

Sirens blared across the sky. I had never heard those before. My ears split and I slammed my foot on the breaks.

“Mommy! Mommy it’s too loud!” She cried.

Emmalise screamed and I covered her ears. Tears welled in her eyes as she searched my face for an explanation.

Emmalise clung to my body tight and for that I was grateful, because there I didn’t put on a seat belt. I wasn’t letting her out of my sight for a minute again, even if she in my arms.