Chapter Twenty-Nine: Disturbance:

Three days later, there was a disruption in the life that we were getting used to. It all started with that damned radio. I had woken up earlier that morning. I had no idea why. It just happened. Anyway, I walked down the stairs. The buzzing of the radio caught my attention. Hm? Was she trying to make contact again? I walked down the hall with a curious look on my face.

Nancy sat at the kitchen table with headphones on in front of the radio.

“Hello? Hello? Can you hear me? Hello? Hello?” There was a pause. I didn’t think much about it at first. My foot was just about to step off the last step when I heard a happy gasp.

“Oh! You can hear me!”

Huh? I walked to the dining room and stopped at the doorway. Nancy was talking to somebody, telling them where she and her daughter were.

“Yes, we’re fine. There is another survivor with us. Hm? He is in good health. I’m not lying. He’s been surviving out here on his own with his dog.”

I tilted my head. Was she talking about me? Who was she talking to? I tried to listen in as best as I could.

“Nancy?” I asked. She waved me off without turning around. What’s going on here?

“Uh-huh. How soon can you get here? What?” There was another pause and then Nancy squealed aloud. I about jumped back.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” she said. “I will see you then!” Nancy hung up and turned around.

“Oh,” she said as her face changed. “I’m sorry. Did you want something?” I pointed at the radio behind her.

“Did you get through? Who was that?” I asked.

“Oh! Yeah, I got through,” she said. “We’re getting rescued!” I stood there as my brain tried to piece together what was happening.

“What?” I asked. Nancy jumped and threw her arms around me, laughing.

“We’re finally getting help! I managed to get through.” I had never seen her so happy. I just stood there.

“You want to leave?” I asked. She gave me a little smile as she looked him in the eye.

“You’re coming with us too,” Nancy said.

“Huh?” I just blinked. Everything was going too fast for me to keep up. Did I want to go with them? Could I actually leave this place? Where would we go?

I stepped back.

“Paul?” she asked.

“I… I need a moment!” I turned and bolted out of the kitchen.

“Paul?” she asked after me. I ran all the way to the backyard and fell on the ground. I was just getting used to how things were developing. What the hell? What the hell is all of this?

It was only going to get messier.