Yesterday's Gone: Season One

D-batteries. They filled the truck with food and drinks, then found a Trinity Suites Hotel, a place that normally charged $400 a night for its cheapest room. Though its sign wasn’t lit, the lobby had a faint glow from the backup lighting.
     
    They parked in the hotel’s lot, which had a couple dozen cars. The lobby doors were open, just as Ed expected. “Hello?” he called, his voice echoing off the empty halls.
     
    The hotel was silent, save the buzzing from the emergency lighting and the signs above the doors. They took the stairs to the second floor and knocked on a few doors. Satisfied nobody was inside, Ed kicked in one of the doors while Teagan lit the room with a lantern. It was large, with two Queen-sized beds, a large flat screen TV hanging on the wall, and a broken mini-fridge, plus a separate bathroom and a mini-office setup against the windows.  
     
    The beds were made, meaning the room had likely not been occupied when the Big Vanish occurred.
     
    “Nice room,” Teagan said.
     
    “Okay,” Ed said, “Here’s the deal. You can stay in the next room, and I won’t take offense at all. I’m an old dude with a daughter older than you, so I’m sure you’re nervous to stay in the room with me. On the other hand, I’m not sure what the hell is going on and I want to keep an eye on you to make sure you’re safe.”
     
    Teagan thought about it for a moment. “Are you some kind of cop?”
     
    “I used to be ... something like that,” he said, not wanting to tell her too much, just in case someone hit the cosmic pause button again and the world resumed as normal in the morning. The less Teagan knew, the better off they both would be. “You can trust me. Though I’m sure a homicidal maniac would tell you the same. Which is why I’m going to give you this.”
     
    He pulled out the pistol and Teagan nearly jumped back when she saw it, eyes wide.
     
    He quickly handed it to her, to strip any idea in her mind that he intended to use it on her.
     
    “Here. Take it. Just click this button here; it’s the safety. Aim and fire.”
     
    “No,” she said, shaking her head, “I don’t want ... need that.”
     
    “Okay, fair enough. Then you take this,” he said, removing the cartridge from the gun and handing it to her. One was still in the chamber, but she didn’t need to know that.
     
    She took the cartridge. “Okay, I’ll stay here. Which bed?”
     
    “I’ll take the one closest to the door,” Ed said, “Just in case.”
     
    “In case of what?” she asked, sitting her lantern down on the nightstand.
     
    “In case of anything.”
     

     
    **
     

     
    After Teagan lay down, Ed went into the bathroom. The sink, shower, and toilet were still working to his rather large relief. He took a long shit and then a longer shower. The water was slightly warmer than ice, but after the night he’d had, he didn’t mind at all. He was bruised and battered, but his injuries would heal quickly. A decent night’s rest and he’d be ready to roar.
     
    He dressed in his new clothes — jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt, a far better fit than the stolen clothes, then lay on top of the sheets on the bed closest to the door.
     
    He looked over at Teagan, balled up under the comforter, then flicked the lantern and threw the room into darkness.
     

     
    **
     

     
    “Noooo!” Teagan’s scream woke him violently from his sleep.
     
    His hand was on his gun in less than a second, his eyes scanning the dimly lit room as he jumped out of bed to face whatever was there.
     
    But they were alone.
     
    Sunlight lit enough of the room that he could see Teagan sitting up in bed, crying.
     
    “What is it?” he asked, sitting on the edge of her bed.
     
    She fell against him.
     
    “They were coming for the baby.”
     
    “Who?” he asked, putting his hand awkwardly on her shoulder.
     
    “The men with the helicopters. They were hunting us because they want my baby.”
     

     
    ****

 
    LUCA HARDING
     

     

     
    Luca had never been in a helicopter. And though he thought it would be exciting, it was mostly loud and a little bit scary. Fortunately, they wouldn’t have to stay in the helicopter too long. Will said they would fly to the nearest airport where they could trade the copter for a fully fueled airplane.  
     
    “You can fly a plane?” Luca had never met a pilot before.
     
    “Like you wouldn’t believe,” Will beamed, “Was in the U.S. Air Force for 14 years before