Yesterday's Gone: Season One

at Luis, his mind reeling.  
     
    “I’ve gotta go out there. I will find my family. I feel it in my gut.”
     
    “That’s hope you’re feeling,” Melora said, “But it’s not informed by fact. And chasing hope is an empty pursuit.”
     
    Brent glared at her, wondering if it was still never okay to hit a woman, even at the end of the world.
     
    “So, what? I’m just supposed to give up? Hole away in an apartment and hide day and night while my family might be out there and in danger? Then what? What’s the plan after that, huh?”
     
    “We don’t have one,” Luis said.
     
    Brent thought the comment almost sounded like a criticism of the group, then Melora threw Luis a dirty look that confirmed it.
     
    “Listen,” Stan said, trying to make peace, “We’re as much in the dark here as you are. Sure, we have theories and ideas, but we don’t know what’s next, what’s out there, or where anyone went. If you want to check it out, I understand. Really, I do. But I think Melora is right about your family. You saw the video. You saw the people vanish.”
     
    “Yeah, but we don’t know where they went, right? I mean, when people vanish, they go somewhere , right? You can’t just make matter disappear without a trace. We haven’t found any bodies or mysterious piles of ash or anything, correct?”
     
    “No,” Melora said. “The beds are all empty. No trace of anything.”
     
    “So,” Brent continued, his hands were everywhere as he worked through the ideas taking shape in his head. “All we know is that all the people went somewhere. But we don’t know where . Which means they might still be in the city somewhere.”
     
    “Or in spaceships,” Stan suggested.
     
    “Maybe,” Brent gave him that, “But if that’s the case, maybe we’ll see them. Or maybe the aliens will come and take us too, and we’ll be reunited. Did any of you lose anyone last night?”
     
    “I did,” Luis said, “My little girl, Gracie. She’s seven.”
     
    “And do you really want to sit here and do nothing?”
     
    Luis looked at the others then shook his head no.
     
    “You’re talking millions of people,” Melora said, “The odds of millions of people being somewhere in the city ... no. That doesn’t make sense. I’m more inclined to believe they all got called to heaven in a Rapture, than walking around the city or being held somewhere by aliens. And I’m an atheist.”
     
    “I don’t think they were raptured,” Brent said, “And maybe they are in UFOs, for all we know. But sitting here isn’t going to answer any questions. I’m going out there. And if any of you want to come, I’d love the help. Otherwise, I’m going solo.”
     
    “What about those things?” Stan asked, his voice shaky, “What do we do if we run into them? How do we fight?”
     
    “I don’t know,” Brent said, “But I’d rather go down fighting than cower in here waiting to die.” He headed toward the door, then turned back midway and said, “You don’t have to stay here and wait for fate to find you.”
     
    “I’ll go,” Luis said, “We just need to go to my place and grab some shit.”
     
    “Anyone else?” Brent asked.
     
    Stan said nothing, but looked at Melora for direction.
     
    “There’s nothing out there for me,” she said. “I wish you luck. And when you give up, our door is open to you both. We have enough supplies to last a long while and we’re happy to share with you.”
     
    “Thank you,” Brent said, “And good luck.”
     
    “I’ll keep in touch with you all via the two-way radios,” Luis said. “Turn them on every half hour, and I’ll do the same. Anything happens, anything at all, we contact the others.”
     
    “Good luck,” Stan said, shaking both mens’ hands.
     
    “Be careful,” Melora said.
     

     
    **
     

     
    Upstairs, Luis grabbed a black duffel bag full of supplies, most of which were of the shooting variety.
     
    “You any good with a firearm?” Luis asked as they walked down the stairwell to his car outside.  
     
    “Eh,” a regular gun, maybe, not those submachine guns. “You?”
     
    Luis smiled, “Those two up there, they say they’ve been preparing for this day, but neither one of ‘em ever really got ready to fight. I did nothing but prepare to fight for the past 10 years. I’m ready for anything and everything, and all of it at once.”
     
    Brent found himself liking his new friend. A lot.
     

     
    **
     

     
    The fog had