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

Her voice sped up and so did her hands. “She seemed so afraid to do something like that, I didn’t really think she would do it. But I guess she did if she’s missing.” Before Mary could press Paola into telling her what that meant, she continued, “Rebecca told me she was thinking about sneaking into the woods by her old house for a picnic with Carl.”
    Will and Mary exchanged a look. Will broke the instant silence, “You need to go find Sarah.”
    Mary nodded and launched from her seat like a geyser just as Luca asked if anyone needed any help. Mary shook her head and said maybe later, then darted toward the middle house.
    She walked fast, anxious to tell Sarah the good news, imagining how worried Rebecca’s mother must be, probably beyond hysterics. Mary could only imagine how she would be feeling or what she would want to do in the same situation. Mothers will do anything and everything to protect their child. Mothers with missing offspring must go through some unimaginable torment.  
    Mary found Sarah sitting with another of the women, Rosemary, just inside the kitchen area.
    “We think we know where Rebecca is,” Mary said. Sarah looked up at Mary, her eyes red and watery.
    “Yes?”
    Mary cleared her throat, sure that the news would be a relief to Sarah but unsure if it would frighten her too. Rebecca had gone off the reservation, literally. Who knows how this holier-than-though bunch will react to that. “Paola told me Rebecca said she was thinking of having a picnic with Carl, over in the woods by your old house. That’s close, right? It should be easy enough to find them. I’m sure they’re safe.”  

    An awkward silence expanded between them for a few seconds.
    Sarah stood up, and her face went from that of a worried mother, to the stern face of an angry spinster.
    “Thank You for informing me. I am sorry to hear my daughter has shamed The Sanctuary. I’ll inform Brother Rei so he can pray for her soul and send someone to get her.”
    Holier-than-though indeed. Poor Rebecca, and Carl.  
      Sarah turned back to Rosemary, who put a hand on her shoulder and whispered something, while Mary stood alone with her shock. She had an inkling Sarah’s reaction might involve some scorn. But complete and total disdain? No ounce of relief? No hint of a smile? Just anger? Rebecca had always seemed so nice and calm. Mary knew she was a bit high strung, but she’d never seen the kind of righteous anger that flashed just now.  
    Once she gathered herself, Mary returned to her huddle with Will and the others, who’d moved to the front porch. They watched as Sarah, Rei, and Rosemary stormed over to the garden where The Prophet was sitting by himself in prayer. Though they couldn’t hear the group, they could feel the anger coming from them.
    “Sorry,” Paola shook her head, “I shouldn't have said anything.”
    “Yes, you should have,” Mary pulled Paola close and wrapped her arms around her. “You were perfect.”

    * * * *

DESMOND ARMSTRONG: Part 2

    “JOHN!”  
    Still nothing.
    The clicking cut through the dark, bounced across the walls of the cave and boomeranged back. Desmond swallowed, then held his breath when he thought his swallow might have been too loud. The squish beneath his foot from earlier was now moving on its own, at least it felt that way in the freezing fear of the pitch black cave.  
    The clicking came closer.
    Can these fuckers see in the dark?
    Desmond swam in the darkness, waving his hands slowly and awkwardly through the air, one tentative step at a time, searching for wall or John, and hoping not to find a monster. Between the clicking and being rendered virtually blind, Desmond had nothing to hold onto and everything to fear. No matter where he turned, his hands met air. And no matter where he turned, the clicking moved closer, as if it were just out of reach, watching him — waiting to strike.
    Desmond stopped moving completely, but that didn’t help.  
    Click...click...click...
    It can see me. I know it. Fuck!
    Closer and closer, louder and louder, a single click and decibel at a time.
    When the clicking was close enough for Desmond to hear the squish of its wet, he turned himself into a statue, holding his breath as the world around him heaved and sighed. In and out, in and out, Desmond drew and released shallow breaths.  
    His body tensed, Desmond felt a sudden boiling hatred for John.  
    Desmond would survive this. He would kill the monsters and find