Chapter Six: Stranded:

Nancy has been trying to contact the outside. She’s really good with the tech stuff. It started when she asked for spare parts.

“What for?” I asked.

“I need a radio to make contact with my husband,” she said. Oh yeah, him.

“Do you know that he made it back?” I asked. I don’t know why I asked. Maybe I was making small talk.

“I have to try,” she said. I threw up my hands at her.

“Fine,” I said. “Check the shed. You might find something there.” Nancy walked out to the backyard. She worked for close to two weeks. I have to admit that she managed to gather up quite the haul. Wires, gears, speakers, screws, bolts, and nuts.

“Whoa! Where did you get all of this?” I asked.

“Just around the neighbourhood,” she said. She noticed the look on my face.

“What? It’s fine. They aren’t going to mind,” Nancy said with a shrug. “They aren’t here.”

“That’s not the point,” I said to myself.

“Hm?” she asked. I forced myself to smile as I shook my head.

“Nothing,” I lied. Nancy dove straight into her work upstairs. She had the door shut behind her. For eight days, she didn’t leave the room. Nancy didn’t eat or asleep. I started to get worried about her. Ava looked up at me with those big doe eyes. I patted her on the head.

“I’m worried about her too,” I told her. I didn’t know what to do. I came up to that door many times during those two weeks.

“Don’t think you should rest?” I asked her one day.

“I have to get in contact,” she said. “I have to let them know we’re okay.”

“But…” I said.

“Go away! I’m busy!” she yelled. I took a step back with my hands up. Okay then. I am not confrontational person. I can take a hint. I just had to tend to Ava and Marshmallow.

Finally, the door opened. Ava, Marshmallow, and I looked up. Nancy stood in the doorway, grinning.

“I did it,” she said. I stood up.

“You fixed it?” I asked.

“Uh-huh,” Nancy said. She walked back into the room. I followed behind. A small black box radio sat on the desk. My jaw dropped.

“You made this?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she said. Nancy sat down in the chair and turned on the radio. Ava poked her little head in the doorway. Crackling filled the air. Her mother started messing with the knobs. The crackling grew loud before it softened.

“Hello?” Nancy asked. “Come in. Can you hear me? Hello? Hello? Can you read me? Come in! Come in!” It sounded like something was trying to come through. The voice came out choppy.

“Hello? Is anyone there? Hello? Hello?” she asked. Nancy messed with the knobs and listened closely. I just waiting.

“Maybe it’s—” I started to say. Nancy shushed me as she waved me off. After a few seconds, a man’s voice came through the speaker.

“Calling all citizens! Calling all citizens!” the man said. “Winter is coming. We can’t allow anyone out of the domes! I repeat winter is coming! We can’t allow anyone out of the domes! Everyone stay where you are! Everyone stay where you are! No one is coming to the surface! If anyone is on the surface, you stay where are!” The voice cut out. I turned to see Nancy looking pale. I think she was about to cry.

“Come on,” I said. “It might not be that bad…” The man on the radio started to speak again.

“If you are still trapped out there, I wish you luck. That is all,” he said. The static came back. My eyes never left Nancy. She looked hollowed out as she leaned back in the chair. A tear ran down her cheek. She couldn’t hear me as I called her name. Even shaking her on the shoulder didn’t work.