Vault

Jackson

Summer + 6 weeks

"I am going to shit myself if this actually works," Bruce said kneeling in front of the vault door, gently touching the different combination wheels.

"I'm going to shit myself if you ever get started," I said softly from my spot behind Joel up stairs. He just tapped my arm, while I let out a sigh to let him know I got the message. I'll play nice.

"Even if these are the right numbers," Bruce said turning the first wheel. "We might have to make a couple attempts, it could be … shit this stuff is hard. Tabby, my all purpose tool, if you don't mind."

"WD-40 coming up," she slapped some kind of blue and gold can in his hand.

"WD-40 and duck tape … what more does a man need," Bruce said spraying the wheel.

While Tabby and him were in the pit, the rest of us crowded around the edge watching them.

"What's the hold up anyways," Shawn, surprise surprise, whine from the spot across from me.

"Most likely it has been twenty years since that door has been open," Charlie answer while watching Bruce. "Even after Joel and L scrubbed down everything there is still old dust, grease and who knows what gonking up the works."

"That's what you get for sending a little girl to do the job."

"Don't start on L," Brett said nodding in my direction. "She did a great job or we would all be falling over dead by now. That vault is just old."

"My dad … you know back before, he use to repair air conditioning units for a living." Todd said, I know I am not the only one who caught his hesitation in his voice. A lot of people had that small pause in their voice when they remember those who aren't with us anymore. "I … he would often tell me that no matter how well something was made, it was going to break sooner or later. That most of his work comes from people who just neglects simple maintenance."

"After twenty years with no upkeep." Joel said while Tommy nodded with him. "I'd be more shocked if it open right up the first time."

"What happens if the locks are too rusted to open?" Jimmy asked.

"Let's not invent any more worries Jimmy," Tommy said with a sigh, "lets see if it works first or not."

"Tell you what," I said trying to lighting the mood while flapping the front of my shirt to create a small breeze … long sleeve flannel shirts … not the best thing on a hot summer day. "I know I could have used a air conditioner repair man last night. Shit, I could have used an air conditioner."

"Tell me about it," Todd said with a smirk. "If we had one, if my dad was here, if he had his tools; it probably still not help us since it took a special gas to make it cooler. That coolant was regulated pretty heavily from what my mom had told me and expensive as hell to buy."

"I know that tune," Tommy said with a grin.

"I thought it was supposed to be chilly here in the mountains."

"Na, we only have eleven months of winter … this is the one month of hot as hell," Charlie letting out a small chuckle. "I was told by my grandfather that down south is like swapped. Can you imagine living somewhere that never see snow … ever!"

"That has to be bullshit," While Brett and Todd argued with Charlie about the weather; Shawn said something to Jimmy, he was snickering while Jimmy just look uncomfortable about it.

"No, its true," Holy horse shit! Joel is fucking actually making small talk. "Back in Austin, Tommy and I never saw snow till we made our way up North."

"Reckon I never really learn to like it much either," Tommy grinned. "Especially, when it is piled higher then my house."

"Of course, during the summer months it would get muggier and hotter then it ever got here or in Boston."

"Pftt, hard to believe that Joel, I remember some really hot days in Boston."

"Big cities have a way of trapping heat," Tommy pointed to the window. "All that glass and black asphalt makes seem hotter sometimes then what it was … what we are talking about temps in the high 90's low hundreds sometimes, even in the shade, with enough moisture in the air that you swear you could wring it out of the sky."

"Man, what a place to live," Charlie said getting that far away look in his eye. "I would love to live somewhere that is always warm. I love wearing shorts all the time." He then turned to Tommy and Joel to ask, "that Austin is in Louisiana, right? The Louisiana State University is located there."

Uh ...

"No, you dummy, it is in Oklahoma … the Big Horns right?"

Oh no …

"Wait, is that the feet ball team, right?"

Please tell me they just didn't ...

"Yea, they kicked that white and black checker ball around."

Oh dear God …

"No, that's soccer … we played in in Denver. Best damn game ever."

Did you hear that … that is the sound of a shit storm approaching.

"I thought that was fuze ball?"

I couldn't see Joel's expression … didn't want to see his expression. I'll just keep my face buried in my palm.

"Isn't fuze ball played by hitting the ball with a wooden stick," Jimmy asked innocently.

Great, the one subject that I have learn that would keep Joel happily talking for hours, the sports from his day, and they managed to mangle up most of them. Plus, getting the college sports teams confused. One thing that Joel loves the most, the University of Texas Longhorns. This is so not going to be pretty.

"Wait, I though that they used the small white ball and threw them at baskets," Shawn sounded as perplexed as the rest of them.

I raised my head to see the most … annoyed-amused, is that a word even … look on my friend's face. I meekly give him a small chuckle and grin, but he doesn't really notice.

"Tommy, what in Sam's hill are y'all teaching these young-in in that there school of yours." He snared out … an amused snarl, I know and I am pretty sure Tommy knows it but those others … no way.

"I know, I know," Tommy let out a sigh avoiding his older brother's gaze.

"And here I thought y'all were going to teach them important things … things that need to be remembered."

"We just started you know ..."

"What kind of men who … damn it Tommy … soccer?"

"I only have myself to blame ..."

"What's so bad about soccer Joel?"

…

"I mean Joel, sir? Um Mr. Joel … I'm … I'm going to just be quiet now." Brett said as the other two just savagely nodded in agreement.

"Let me correct y'all on a few things. One; Austin is located in the greatest state in these United States ..."

"State of Washington D.C.?"

"No, that is a city, not a state … and I will tell you if you would be so kind to let me finish. Austin is in the great state of Texas, and is the home of the greatest football team to grace the gridiron, the Texan Longhorns!" Joel is being really silly while playing this game, haven't seen him enjoy himself like this in a while. At least, I get to watch instead of being one on the receiving end. "And it is football, not feet ball. And most definitely better then soccer any day of the week and twice on Sunday."

"So the gridiron is where you have to kick the ball thru the nets …" Shawn asked. Pretty brave to be talking while Joel is like this … brave or … stupid. I'll go with stupid.

"That's soccer, football has goal post," I responded absently, while looking out the window at the guards posted around the building.

"Fuck, you're just a girl what do you know, two by four."

"I know enough never to mention that 'S' word while talking about football." What the hell did he mean by 2x4 anyways?

"Ellie has learned a lot about sports," Joel said, his tone switched from jolly to serious. "Besides, lots of girls use to play sports back in the day." Then he added with a smirk, "especially that soccer."

"We still need to find a football, so you can teach me how to throw it," I smirk back at him. Sarah played soccer, so I know he didn't totally hate the game as much as he acted but still … he never spent two weeks explaining soccer to me either.

"So girls played football too," Jimmy asked in a less annoying way then Shawn would have, I am sure.

And that is when I began to tune out as the boys bonded … for the next hour. Geez, I swear the reason Joel doesn't talk much is because he is only allowed so many words a year and is saving them all up just to talk about football. And all this talking also means that we will be still talking about it when we get home. That ain't so bad, really, I love to see him so happy. Plus, you know, it would have been totally cool if I could have gone to a stadium with him and Sarah to watch the Longhorns or sit around the television on a Sunday afternoon to watch the professions play. Sarah was so lucky.

"You may want to watch what you say there son," Joel said in a low tone that caught my attention.

"Yea, whatever," Shawn, gee what a surprise, said while sulking and everyone else looking on uncomfortably.

Wish I had been paying more attention.

"Enough," Tommy snapped but not raising his voice either. "She is a valuable member of this team, of this community, Shawn, and deserves the same respect from you as anyone else."

Wait … 'she'? Did Tommy mean ..."

"If she is even a girl," he snarl while looking directly at … me?

"Hey; fuck you, asshole!" I started forward as Joel reached with his left arm to block me. I have no idea what had been said but I know it wasn't good.

"She talks like a boy, dresses like a boy … she is as flat chest as a boy"

"I'll show you how much a woman I am while I'm kicking your fucking ass!"

"Do you even own a dress, 2x4?"

"I would if your mom would quit buying them all for you," Okay, fine. So I don't like dresses, they are useless and fucking impractical to hunt in; doesn't mean I not a girl. "And what the hell do you mean by 2x4?"

"Ellie!" Joel snapped; this time he was telling me to drop it, it wasn't worth the fight but fuck that … this asshole need a good thumping.

"It means you are as flat as a board, no boobies."

"Oh, I got boobies! And you will know I got them when I use them to pound your ass into next ..."

"Enough," Tommy snapped out, loud enough to get both of our attentions. "Shawn with me, now!"

Tommy didn't even wait to see if Shawn would followed him into the office. With one last spiteful look between us, he wisely followed Tommy to safety. I was still fuming as the door slammed shut.

Joel stared at me, looking annoyed at my antics as I paces around him. I hate it when he just stares, it means he is thinking I have majorly fucked up.

"What?" I asked, not that I expect him to answer, not when I already knew the answer. "I have great boobies, Joel."

"Ellie."

"Sure, they aren't, you know, fucking grossly huge like some girls, but damn it, they are there. Really, they are there even if it may not look like I have any!"

"Ellie, please ..."

"You want to see them," I started to unbutton my shirt when he reached out to stop me, his face … man it was red! The last time he got this red … oh shit! I forgot this is in the 'No, don't go there with Joel' territory. Shit, he is going to kill me when we get home, ain't he. "Sorry … but just because I can't piss standing up ..."

"Ellie!"

Right, this is me shutting up.

"I bet you have great boobies, L;" Brett said. I guess he was trying to lighten the mood or make me feel better but then he turned white … like snow white – white. I glance over my shoulder to see what scared him … Oh. You know, I though Joel only look at bandits like that. "I mean … um … I am going to shut up now, sorry Joel … Joel sir … Mr. Joel. Um, hey, you get that vault open yet?"

"Almost got it, Brett," Bruce said spraying more stuff into the third dial. "But I doubt that this vault is strong enough to keep Joel reaching you if that is what you were wondering."

There was some light chuckling between the others in and out of the pit, nervous giggling but that was more to relieve the tension. I, on the other hand, walked in front of Joel, my back to the others and looked him straight in the eye as I said sorry. I could see in his eyes he forgave me, I was still going to catch hell when we got home but he didn't hate me … all is good as far as I was concern. I turned away when I heard the office door open, and two sets of footsteps coming my way.

Shawn had that look on his face, I realized as he got closer, that was same look I use to wear back in Boston, before I left with Joel. This is why he was still in school and I was on the Line even though he was seventeen and I was only fifteen.

He was still just a kid trying to pretend to be an adult where as I was adult acting like a little kid. They expected him to be childish; while Tommy and Joel, they expected more from me and yea well, I not doing so great on that part today, am I?

"Sorry for the way I acted," he mumbled out, parroting what Tommy had told him to say. "I shouldn't have treat you like that so, you know, whatever."

"I'll accept your apology if you accept mine," I said quickly as both Tommy and Joel stirred. I knew Joel would have expect a better line from Shawn, but what he said wasn't as important to me as what I need to say. After all I am the adult here, not him. "We are outside the Line, on a mission, and for the safety of everyone here, we all have to act with certain restraint as to our personal feelings. Our lives are in danger as long as we are outside the Line, I further risk our lives by picking a fight with you, that was unprofessional and immature. So to you Shawn, and everyone else, I'm sorry and it will not happen again."

"It happens," Todd said as a way to let me know it was okay. "At least, you never fell asleep during a hunt."

"I keep telling you, I closed my eyes for a moment," Charlie snapped back.

"Yeah, that 12 point buck walked by you in just a couple seconds.

As those three bickered and argue over who killed who, Joel touch the small of my back. He was still mad but … I think he has forgiven me.

"Shit on a goose!" Bruce said suddenly. "L, you were right; those numbers, 5+47+19 was the combo!"

"Its open," Tommy asked sound as shocked as Bruce.

"Yeah, I just have to pull it open ..."

"Don't! Tabby and you get up here now. Brett, Charlie, Todd, Jimmy get ready to pull that last piece of plastic over the hole when I tell you. Joel, let me see that gas mask."

"What do you want me to do," Shawn whined and then yelp as Tommy put the mask over his head.

"You and Ellie are going to check out that vault, make sure it is safe for us to go in." Tommy said as he tested the integrity of the mask. "She is in charge so listen to what she says and don't take your mask off no matter what until I say so, understand?"

"Yea, yea I get it."

He didn't, I knew that tone, I have used that tone, Joel knew it as well. We both exchanged glances, he wasn't happy but trusted me. Plus, he knew as well as Tommy and I did that any spores in there were long dead. This was as low threat as you could get outside the Line, good way to get his feet wet.

"We can use our lights down there," I said calmly. "Runners and Stalkers are attracted to lights and movement but as long as that vault has been closed if there is anything in there it would be either a Clicker or Bloater, they hunt by sound."

"Right," he answer as he fumbled with his light.

"And relax, most likely we won't find anything at all." With that I headed down the ladder. He quickly followed, probably didn't want to be showed up by a girl, while they pulled the sheet over the hole. Yes, the door was unlocked and it was design to open outward easily no matter how much it weight … still it took both of us to open it. Then a smell came from the room, a smell I knew all too well. "Fuck," I whispered out.

"What?"

"Nothing, just … just stay close," the vault was huge, easily half as big as the basement. It was also filled with shelves full of stuff and boxes. He kept looking the boxes as we went though the room. Asking me to stop but … I need to find him or her … the source of the smell. And there I found him and her … laying on a cot … near a pile of garbage bags neatly stack in the corner.

"Oh man, … is that … is that what I think it is?"

"Come on Shawn, I need to check them."

"What? Check them for what? Too make sure their ration card isn't expired?"

"Make sure they aren't infected."

"What you're going to touch them? Are you serious?"

"I'm sure they won't mind." I'm sure they are no danger, they are mostly skin and bone … mummified as Joel explained it but … have to be sure.

"I'm going to puke." His voice going weak.

"Shawn, easy;" I said spinning around quickly and looking up at the older boy. "Keep it together; if you puke in that mask you could drown, understand." He nodded quickly looking like he wanted to bolt. "Take slow deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth." Wow, he was actually listening to my advice, "that is it. Just keep your light on me … don't look at them if you don't want to … I won't tell anyone."

"How … how can you be so calm?"

"I wasn't … the first three times," I lied, dead bodies something I have always found laying around Boston, never really been freaked out when I found them. I knelt down next to them, quickly examined them, while he hummed to himself. No obvious signs of death, but they were lock in an embrace as if they died together. The older one, a girl by the looks of her and her clothes, had a note in one of her hands. It came out easily enough …

Forgive me …

I didn't want to commit 2 mortal sins; daddy left over two months ago to get mom from Aunt Beth's place in Fort Collins, normally a half day trip. Two entire months lock in here. He said we would be safe, whatever was happening out there won't get us and he would be back and we would all be together. I tried to be brave, Bo is only seven and he needs me to be strong, but two months? Daddy is not coming back. It … I slip poison is his meal, mine as well. He will never know, he will just go to sleep and wake up with mom and daddy in heaven.

Forgive me God

Debbie Smith

Shit.