Read Dead Highways: Origins for Free Online Page A

thoughts were broken by the sound of someone knocking on the door downstairs. I rolled out of bed. Who could that be? I wondered.
    Robinson?
    Moses?
    The military coming to take me away, or put me away?
    I grabbed Sally from the shoebox, and she accompanied me down the stairs. With the power out, the store was almost pitch black, as was the parking lot outside. Still I could see a silhouette of someone standing out there, their face pressed against the glass window.
    “Jimmy,” said a familiar voice. “If you’re in there, open up.”
    Of all people, it was Peaches.
    I shut off the alarm and unlocked the door.
    Peaches hurried inside. She looked down at the gun in my hand. “You gonna shoot me?”
    “I didn’t know it was you.” I said, putting the gun down on the counter. “What are you doing outside? Didn’t you hear the warnings?”
    “Yeah, I heard them. But I couldn’t stay there anymore. Jimmy, they’re all dead.”
    “Who?”
    “My neighbors in Shady Villas. They’re all dead, well most of them. The others must have already run off.”
    “By dead you mean infected?”
    “Yeah, infected, but they’re gonna be dead if they don’t get help . . . and Jimmy, I don’t think there’s anyone left to help ‘em. I’ve never seen it so quiet out there. It’s like the whole world has just gone to sleep.”
    “Not us. Not yet. Are you sure you’re not infected?”
    “If I were, would I be standing here right now talkin’ to you? I didn’t know where else to turn. I’m really sorry. Do you mind if I sleep here tonight? It’s too creepy out there.”
    “Sure,” I said.
    She ran up and put her arms around me, rested her head on my shoulder. “Thank you.”
    I put my arms around her. “Peaches, I’m sorry about how I treated you. I shouldn’t have said—”
    “It’s okay. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
    I could feel her trembling in my arms. I brushed my hand against her curly blonde hair. “We have to stick together now.”
    I grabbed Sally from the counter and had Peaches follow me upstairs. When we reached the top landing, grandma was waiting for us.
    “Why who is this?”
    “Grandma, I thought you were in bed.”
    “I couldn’t sleep.”
    “This is—”
    “Jessica,” Peaches said, extending her hand.
    Grandma smiled and shook it.
    “Jessica, huh?” I said. “I mean . . . yeah.”
    “It’s nice to meet you. I’m not used to seeing Jimmy with a girl.”
    “We’re not together,” I said, trying to break this line of embarrassing conversation.
    “How did you meet my Jimmy?”
    “It’s a long story grandma. Maybe we’ll tell you tomorrow. Peaches . . . um, I mean Jessica just needed a safe place to stay for now.”
    “Is it safe to go outside yet?” grandma asked.
    Peaches shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. I wish I could say it was.”
    Grandma looked shattered. I told her we’d figure something out in the morning. We said goodnight and Peaches followed me into my room.
    “You’re grandma is sweet.”
    “Yeah, thanks,” I said. “Holy shit.”
    Peaches stopped examining my room and looked over. “What is it?”
    I held up the gun. Sally.
    “I forgot I had this in my hand.”
    Peaches frowned. “Are you okay?”
    “No, I mean yes, but . . . you don’t understand. My grandma hates guns. She doesn’t know I had this. I’ve been keeping it a secret. She must have been so enamored with you that she didn’t even notice it in my hand.”
    “Enamored with me? It sounded like she was more surprised.”
    “Yeah, well, you’re the first girl I’ve had up here.”
    “I feel so special. And you even lit a candle. How romantic.”
    “That’s so we can see.”
    “I know, I’m just messing with ya.”
    I sat down at my desk. Peaches sat down on the bed.
    “So Jessica is your real name?”
    Peaches nodded. “How’d you guess?”
    “You went from having one of the strangest names to one of the most common.”
    “You can still call me Peaches. Everybody