When we reached the campsite, almost everyone was back, except Jada and the boy she was with. The sun was setting quickly as we formed a circle in the center of the trees.
"What's this, Survivor?" Jada asked as she entered the campsite and the boy with her followed sheepishly behind. He was tall with dark hair and intense, Hispanic eyes. From what I saw of Jada, I knew I wouldn't want to go with her, and from the look of this boy, he probably wouldn't want to go with her again, either. "You look like you're ready for the fire circle," Jada added.
"Yeah, go ahead and laugh, funny girl," Trevor replied, leaning against a tree.
Jada gave him a dirty look and was prepared to say something smart when Derek interrupted. "Don't start," he said. Then Jada backed away, giving Trevor a dirty look instead. "Now, what did everyone find?" Derek asked, becoming the unofficial leader of the group. I guessed he was a born leader. No one else seemed to object.
"We found some wild cherries," the senior with the two sniveling girls—who had managed to pull themselves together—said. "But we didn't find anything else."
"What about you?" Derek asked Jada and the boy she went with.
Jada just shook her head, frowning. "Nothing."
"Okay, and you, Trevor?" Derek asked.
"We found some wild mushrooms, but I didn't know if they're safe to eat, so we didn't pick them," Trevor answered.
"But we found some wild blackberries," Brolin added cheerfully. "There's more back there, but we couldn't carry any more." He looked over his shoulder where they just came from, but it was already getting too dark to see clearly. Too dangerous to go back.
"We also found some wild blackberries and some, what is that again?" Derek asked, turning toward me.
"Poke greens," I supplied, holding up a leaf.
"What?" Trevor and the senior laughed.
"It's poke, alright?" I retaliated, but no one else seemed to know what I was talking about. I rolled my eyes and held up a poke leaf. "You know, like spinach, or kale, or mustard greens … poke."
At that point everyone nodded, looking like they got it. I wasn't fooled.
"I used to pick it with my grandmother in the woods when I was little," I replied, sitting back down. "Usually you cook it before you eat it, but we don't have a choice. I figured that we can try to eat it, but if we can't, we can just save it until we can cook it safely. At least it's something to eat."
"What about water?" the senior added. "I'm getting thirsty."
"Did anyone see a stream while they were looking for food?" Derek asked, searching their eyes.
Everyone shook their head then looked down.
"Did any of you find a cave or shelter?" Derek asked. "I know there's a lot of cave systems in this area. Did anyone find anything?"
"No, but we can look again tomorrow," the senior supplied.
Everyone agreed.
"Then, let's eat!" Trevor said, reaching for the berries. "I'll take the berries. You can eat the green stuff."
"Not so fast!" Derek said, stopping him. "Let's divide it up fairly. We have to keep our heads while we're out here, or we're all dead."
Everyone agreed. Before we ate, we all said the blessing, thanking God for our survival and asking for protection for our families. We also remembered those who died. And at that moment, I couldn't help but think of Brandon again.
When Jada and I divided up the food, there were a few cherries for each of us, but more blackberries. There were also a few leaves of poke for each of us. I tried to eat it, but it was very pithy and hard to swallow. From the look of it, everyone else thought the same thing. We would have to find a way to cook it in the future.
While we ate, there was the constant, though occasional, sound of gunshots and bombs going off in the city. We all flinched, and I wondered if the whole nation was under attack. That was when I thought of my dad.
"Derek," I whispered in a low voice that only he could hear. "I don't know why I didn't think of it before." I paused, wondering if I should tell him. "I have a cell phone."
"A cell phone? Absolutely not," Derek objected, whispering. He put down the poke leaf he was trying to nibble. He wasn't having any luck either. "They'll be able to track us. They'll find us for sure!"
"But who are they, anyway?" I countered. "We don't even know what we're up against."
"We got a good look at it back there." Derek threw the poke green down, and then motioned toward the school.
"My dad's out of town on the road. I can call him to see if he knows anything. I'll make it short." I looked at him hopefully.
"It's not a good idea," Derek said, shaking his head. "What happens if they track you? Then we're all dead."
"If we just sit here, we're all dead anyway." I felt my uniform skirt pocket to make sure it was still there. "I'll be right back."
"Don't get caught." He meant not only by our little band of merry men and women, but the insurgents, as well. They might be able to track it somehow.
I nodded, then got up and started toward the woods when Trevor spotted me. "Where are you going?"
"To the little girl's room," I replied smartly. "You got a problem with that?"
Everyone laughed and Trevor glowered at me, but lowered his head.
"Don't be gone too long," Derek added, looking over his shoulder. Translation: don't make the call too long.
As I walked into the dark woods, I realized there were many questions and not any answers, but I was going to try to find out as many as I could. When I looked around and couldn't see the others, I knew it was safe to talk. I quickly dialed my father's number and waited, praying the insurgents would have better things to do than to track me.
He answered on the first ring. I was afraid to speak first, but more afraid not to.
"Dad?"
"Casey, honey!" My father sounded relieved. "Are you okay? What about your mother and Timmy?"
"Dad, I can't talk long. They might be tracking me," I said as silent tears coursed down my cheeks. "Dad, they attacked the school. I made it out along with a few other kids, but Brandon is dead. I don't know about Mom and Timmy."
"Honey, I'm so sorry." Dad paused. I knew the way he was acting that what he was about to say was going to be difficult for him. "Casey, I don't want to know where you are in case they capture me. Just stay safe and I'll try and come for you when I can."
"Dad, is this just happening here, or is it all over the whole United States?" I asked in a rush, not wanting to stay on the line for long.
"Casey, it's all over the whole United States. They blew up the Pentagon and the White House. They're both gone."
"Dad, who's doing this? Do you know?"
"Terrorists." There was a short pause before he continued. "From what I can tell, they infiltrated the United States and they attacked us from within. Come to find out, they've been infiltrating us for years … right under our noses … and the North Koreans are backing them up." There was a short pause, and then Dad began again, "Casey, I have to let you go, but stay safe, and destroy your cell phone as soon as you hang up. Okay? I don't want them to find you."
Fresh tears fell slowly down my cheeks as I nodded silently, unable to speak.
"Casey!" Dad sounded panicked now. "Stay strong, do you hear me, honey? Stay strong! And don't let them find you. Be smart!"
"I will, Dad," was all I could manage to get out as I wiped the tears from my eyes.
"I have to go now, baby," Dad said, "and remember what I told you. Be strong."
"Okay, Daddy," I answered, sounding like a little girl, then I added, "I love you, Dad."
I could hear him let out a breath on his end. "I love you, too, baby. Go now. And destroy the phone! Do it now!"
"But how will we be able to find each other again?" Fresh silent tears coursed down my cheeks again at the thought.
"We will, baby. We will. I'll find you. I promise." Dad's voice toughened again, growing anxious. "I have to go now, and remember what I said." After a moment's pause, Dad asked, "Casey? Remember what I said."
"Yes, Dad, I will." And a moment later the line was dead.
Through my blinding tears, I quickly placed the cell phone on the ground and stomped on it with the heel of my shoe until there was nothing left; so much so that it was hard to determine what it was.
Aksara