Yesterdays Gone: SEASON TWO (THE POST-APOCALYPTIC SERIAL THRILLER) (Yesterday's Gone)

mother’s life easier, and a little happier. But most times it seemed like her mother hardly noticed these things and only saw the bad things that Rebecca did.  
    Rebecca finally broke the silence. “I can’t believe Alexis would sneak out of the house,” she said, shaking her head. “This is just like the stuff you’re always warning her about. Things would be a lot better if she would just listen. She’s probably with that Ronnie Hendricks.” Rebecca glanced at Mother, checking for approval, but Mother’s eyes were fixed ahead, mouth sucking on the cigarette with a scowl.
    “Ronnie is a bad kid,” Rebecca went on, trying not to hide her discomfort of the smoke. It was too cold to roll the windows down, so she’d just have to suck it up. “I think he probably sins a whole bunch, too. Once I saw him smoking behind the A&W. He had a whole pack of Camels, but the box was nearly empty, so he probably smokes a bunch.”
    Mother didn’t respond to Rebecca’s accusation, or anything else she said for the remaining 15 minutes to the community center. But her face stayed angry, all the way until she pulled into the community center parking lot, parked right in front of the entrance, then turned to Rebecca and said. “You need to quit your brown nosing, young lady. And I mean now. Open this door or move an inch before I get back, and you’ll be in just as much trouble as your sister.”  
    Mother didn’t wait for Rebecca to respond, just ducked from the car, slammed the door behind her, and marched toward the community center doors in her pajama bottoms and a sweater. Alexis would die of embarrassment before she even had a chance to be punished.
      Even though Mother was acting mad at her, Rebecca knew it was really because she was so mad at Alexis, who was probably sinning all over the place. Rebecca hated that Alexis always got in trouble, even if she sometimes told on her. She hoped maybe this time her punishment would be so serious that it would put an end to her sister’s sinning. They had their differences, but that didn’t mean Rebecca wanted her sister to burn for eternity in The Lake of Fire. And like Mother said, Alexis’ soul was definitely at risk. Ronnie was a sinner for sure, but just because he was willing to sell his soul to the Devil didn’t mean he had to take her sister’s, too.
    Rebecca’s thoughts were shattered by sudden shrieks from Alexis, growing louder as Mother dragged her by the hair toward the Camino.  
    “AHHHH, MOTHER! That HURTS!” she screamed. Mother’s fist was curled inside Alexis’ hair. The DREAM! A dreadful chill charged through Rebecca’s every nerve.. No, this can’t be happening.  
    “I will NOT raise a harlot!” her mother screamed, cigarette dangling out of her mouth as she shoved Alexis forward.  
    Alexis was as red as the county fire truck, and getting redder as the small huddle of kids, mostly boys, laughed and pointed at Alexis as she was dragged toward the Camino. Rebecca felt a small but undeniably sharp pain, a stabbing wound slipping into her guilt.  
    Mother opened the passenger door, shoved Alexis inside so hard that the girl’s head hit the outside of the door with a loud thud, which made her cry out even louder as she fell into the seat next to Rebecca.
    Mother walked to her side of the car, climbed inside, started the car, then peeled out from the lot.
    A long minute of silence smothered them before Alexis turned to Rebecca and hissed through tears, “What are you smiling at, brat?”  
    “I...I wasn’t,” Rebecca said truthfully.  
    Mother snapped toward Alexis. She looked so mad, Rebecca was sure she was about to slap Alexis across the side of the face. Rebecca felt the usual fear growing fat. She didn’t mind if Alexis got in trouble, but she didn’t want the hitting to start.  
    She quietly prayed that it wouldn't and was glad when it didn’t.
    “You should thank your sister,” Mother said. “She’s looking out for your soul.” With that, she snapped her attention back to the road.  
    “You told on me? I can’t believe it, you little BITCH! You are so dead.”
    Mother reached across and backhanded Alexis across the face, her elbow hitting Rebecca along the way. Mother didn’t allow swears.  
    “If Rebecca hadn’t told me when she did, Good Lord knows what would have happened to you tonight.”
    “Nothing would have happened to me, Mother!” Alexis glared, defiant. “The problem isn’t me, it’s that