Remnants — Episode 13

Sara skipped along the sidewalk, eyes downcast to watch for cracks to step over. In truth, she looked down to avoid seeing all the spooky houses. The brooding porches of the old two-stories stood vacant. No grannies in rocking chairs, no grouches picking up papers to pause and glare at the hard sound of her leather heels.

Her parents were home but she couldn’t go there anymore. Their still bodies on the hallway floor kept her from her things. She didn’t need toys anyway. Except she wished she could have Tillie with her. Just a doll, maybe, but she’d be someone to talk to.

Sara stopped skipping. A brown dog, not huge but big enough, blocked her way. Head down, it growled through long teeth.

She held out a hand that still trembled from the fever, but she kept it stuck out. The dog lifted its head, tilted it to one side, regarded her skeptically.

“Come.” Sara spoke softly. “I need a new friend.”

The dog slowly began to wag a stubby tail. As the motion quickened, it came to her, grinning.

* * *

No phone disturbed the quiet room.

In one neighborhood after another, lights shut off but no human hand had pulled the switch. Gas explosions went unreported as fire romped from home to home. Police cars no longer roamed city streets in…