All of the sudden two figures appeared from the gloom. Through the mist they slowly came into shape, one large, one small. The larger of the two was a man, maybe early 30’s or late 20’s. He was wearing a floppy beach hat and an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt over a dirty wife beater and khaki shorts. His face was marred by a long pink scar running from his ear, across his lips, to his chin. A pair of sandals made him look as if he had just stepped off of some California pier.
The other figure was far more menacing. Dirty jeans and laced up boots with a too small hooded sweatshirt and a cotton shirt peeked out the bottom. The most disturbing part was the ancient gas mask that covered his face. And the wicked machete in his hands. Sveni could tell it was a boy but she could deduce nothing else. The gas mask obscured age, race, or even hostility level. She would have to depend on the larger one.
The guy was a mountain of a man, probably six foot four or more. He was muscled all over and hairy as well, though his face was clean shaven which was unusual for the jungles they wandered through. He smiled at her, lips stretching wide.
“Well hello there!” he called in a Southern drawl, “We didn’t expect to see a fragile flower such as yourself out here in the wilds. Mind if I ask your name? Mine’s George. This here is Leon,” The dark boy jerked his head once in her direction.
“My name is Sveni,” she said warily, still keeping about 15 feet back from them.
George swept off his hat in an elaborate bow that was totally out of place in the jungle they were wandering through, “Nice to meet you Sveni! May I also be so rude as to inquire your purpose of being out here? It’s quite, quite dangerous you know.”
“Yes, I know,” Sveni muttered, “I’m looking for my sisters. They lived out here a few years back to escape the sickness and I don’t know if they’re still here. I thought the time was ripe for an escape from civilization.”
“Indeed, indeed,” George said, “The time is always ripe for a little disappearing act. That’s exactly what my companion and I have done. Off the grid, as they say!”
Sveni looked at George’s companion, he hadn’t moved a single time since they had walked into the clearing. Sveni could almost believe he was a statue, or one of the dead. He had his hands clenched at his sides, the hand holding the machete stuck out a bit, but other than that he was perfectly symmetrical. The hood of his sweatshirt cast long shadows on his covered face and the mask gave him an insect like look. Sveni shivered involuntarily.
“Where are you headed?” She called.
“Good question! I’m heading out of the south, my dear, Georgia’s swampland is too much for this traveler. Head West, my children! To Washington, or California, or Mexico at least! One of those states,” George smiled widely, the scar wrinkling up awfully.
“And your friend? Leo, you said he was called,” Sveni inquired.
“Leon, my dear. And he’s coming with me! Knows the path right well this one does, compass up in his inner workings, I’d say. But nothing so useful when navigating a hellhole the likes of this!”
“Uh-huh,” Sveni muttered, she cleared her throat, “Have you met any travelers recently?”
“Honey, other than Leon here, You’re the first breathing creature I’ve seen in weeks!” Sveni let out a sigh of relief, they probably weren’t contaminated then, “‘Cept for the gators of course. And the squirrels. We fixed up ourselves a mighty fine meal quite a few nights thanks to our fluffy tailed friends. Ever tried one yourself?” Sveni thought it odd to be asking about dietary habits at a time and place like this but granted George was a bit loopy and obviously Leon wasn’t providing much conversation for him.
“Yes. They’re easy to catch and cook if you know how.”
“Right you are! So how long have you, my sweet, been looking for those sisters of yours? I’m guessing a while if you’ve made it out this far.”
“Yes, I’ve been trekking for about two months now. You’re the first people I’ve seen,” of the living, she thought but didn’t say it. Towns full of dead are not a part of cordial conversation. Rotten, festering bodies, swollen and infested with maggots. Men’s bodies. Women’s bodies. Children’s bodies.
Near the beginning, before she had learned the hard way, she had come across a little girl, freshly dead within the last week, clutching a ragdoll in chubby fingers. She had wanted to bury the child, give her a sleeping place below ground, rather in the middle of the street where she’d fallen, but knew better than to touch any of the dead. That was suicide. So Sveni had walked on but she could feel the vacant eye sockets of the hundreds lying about following her every move as she plundered what they would no longer need. Especially the child’s. Sometimes she still felt those two empty holes boring into her back. Innocent and evil.
“The first! Here that Leon? We’re the first she’s seen! We should get an award or something,” George nudged Leon in the shoulder and he simply nodded in her direction. George turned back to Sveni, “Mind if we come closer? It’s kind of rude yelling these words across a forest, if you see what I mean.”
“Yes, that’s fine,” Sveni called and began to approach the two travelers.
The other figure was far more menacing. Dirty jeans and laced up boots with a too small hooded sweatshirt and a cotton shirt peeked out the bottom. The most disturbing part was the ancient gas mask that covered his face. And the wicked machete in his hands. Sveni could tell it was a boy but she could deduce nothing else. The gas mask obscured age, race, or even hostility level. She would have to depend on the larger one.
The guy was a mountain of a man, probably six foot four or more. He was muscled all over and hairy as well, though his face was clean shaven which was unusual for the jungles they wandered through. He smiled at her, lips stretching wide.
“Well hello there!” he called in a Southern drawl, “We didn’t expect to see a fragile flower such as yourself out here in the wilds. Mind if I ask your name? Mine’s George. This here is Leon,” The dark boy jerked his head once in her direction.
“My name is Sveni,” she said warily, still keeping about 15 feet back from them.
George swept off his hat in an elaborate bow that was totally out of place in the jungle they were wandering through, “Nice to meet you Sveni! May I also be so rude as to inquire your purpose of being out here? It’s quite, quite dangerous you know.”
“Yes, I know,” Sveni muttered, “I’m looking for my sisters. They lived out here a few years back to escape the sickness and I don’t know if they’re still here. I thought the time was ripe for an escape from civilization.”
“Indeed, indeed,” George said, “The time is always ripe for a little disappearing act. That’s exactly what my companion and I have done. Off the grid, as they say!”
Sveni looked at George’s companion, he hadn’t moved a single time since they had walked into the clearing. Sveni could almost believe he was a statue, or one of the dead. He had his hands clenched at his sides, the hand holding the machete stuck out a bit, but other than that he was perfectly symmetrical. The hood of his sweatshirt cast long shadows on his covered face and the mask gave him an insect like look. Sveni shivered involuntarily.
“Where are you headed?” She called.
“Good question! I’m heading out of the south, my dear, Georgia’s swampland is too much for this traveler. Head West, my children! To Washington, or California, or Mexico at least! One of those states,” George smiled widely, the scar wrinkling up awfully.
“And your friend? Leo, you said he was called,” Sveni inquired.
“Leon, my dear. And he’s coming with me! Knows the path right well this one does, compass up in his inner workings, I’d say. But nothing so useful when navigating a hellhole the likes of this!”
“Uh-huh,” Sveni muttered, she cleared her throat, “Have you met any travelers recently?”
“Honey, other than Leon here, You’re the first breathing creature I’ve seen in weeks!” Sveni let out a sigh of relief, they probably weren’t contaminated then, “‘Cept for the gators of course. And the squirrels. We fixed up ourselves a mighty fine meal quite a few nights thanks to our fluffy tailed friends. Ever tried one yourself?” Sveni thought it odd to be asking about dietary habits at a time and place like this but granted George was a bit loopy and obviously Leon wasn’t providing much conversation for him.
“Yes. They’re easy to catch and cook if you know how.”
“Right you are! So how long have you, my sweet, been looking for those sisters of yours? I’m guessing a while if you’ve made it out this far.”
“Yes, I’ve been trekking for about two months now. You’re the first people I’ve seen,” of the living, she thought but didn’t say it. Towns full of dead are not a part of cordial conversation. Rotten, festering bodies, swollen and infested with maggots. Men’s bodies. Women’s bodies. Children’s bodies.
Near the beginning, before she had learned the hard way, she had come across a little girl, freshly dead within the last week, clutching a ragdoll in chubby fingers. She had wanted to bury the child, give her a sleeping place below ground, rather in the middle of the street where she’d fallen, but knew better than to touch any of the dead. That was suicide. So Sveni had walked on but she could feel the vacant eye sockets of the hundreds lying about following her every move as she plundered what they would no longer need. Especially the child’s. Sometimes she still felt those two empty holes boring into her back. Innocent and evil.
“The first! Here that Leon? We’re the first she’s seen! We should get an award or something,” George nudged Leon in the shoulder and he simply nodded in her direction. George turned back to Sveni, “Mind if we come closer? It’s kind of rude yelling these words across a forest, if you see what I mean.”
“Yes, that’s fine,” Sveni called and began to approach the two travelers.
“Well, Sveni,” Georg said when they were closer, “Might you be interested in joining our little party? Granted Leon’s not much of a hostess but I’m sure we can get along fine if you can stomach my chatter. Never was one to stand for a silence.”
“Er, I guess so,” Sveni looked at Leon, “Though I should warn you, I’m not so great company either.”
The rest of the day went by fairly slowly, George talked incessantly but Sveni couldn't recall a single thing he said. It slurred into the lilting song of a southern accent, something Sveni had never gotten used to. She made noises of agreement where due and added those of disgust when they were fit. George seemed unconcerned by her silence and never demanded an answer from her. She supposed that came from spending time with Leon. The silent figure of the gas masked boy led the way, using his machete to slash away vines and the dense foliage. Sveni shivered, thinking of what that machete might do to human flesh. Midway through the day they stopped and sat down. George announced it was high time for a lunch. He rummaged around in his pack and brought out a giant bag full of leaves, nuts and berries. The berries had bled red juice which coated all the nuts, giving them a gruesome appearance. George sighed.
“Ah, you were right Leon. Raspberries don't transfer so well in a backpack,” he reached in and pulled a fleshy leaf out. He popped it into his mouth and chewed, “Oh well, improves the taste I say.” He offered the bag to Sveni but she turned him down, instead she reached into her own pack and pulled out the last of the jerky she had brought. She watched Leon intently, knowing he would have to take off the mask to eat. He still hadn’t lowered his hood and she didn’t know how he could stand the heat out here. She wore only her shorts and the light pink blouse she had left home with two months ago and she was still sweltering in the heat. She chewed on her jerky and ignored the dampness under her arms and the trickling of sweat between her breasts. She only wanted to see Leon’s face. But he did not remove the mask. He shook his head at the bag George offered and instead used his machete to whittle a stick into a point.
After the break for food they set out again. Just as they had before, George kept up a steady stream of conversation and Leon slashed violently at the foliage impeding them. Svenja started to notice that with company the jungle wasn’t nearly as foreboding, maybe though it was because all her wariness was used on wondering whether George or Leon were planning on killing her. Sveni doubted it as they probably would have done it already, but she couldn’t be too careful. One could never be too careful. Especially after Sveni knew all the things she did about the depths of human darkness. Her mind wandered after that. To gunshots and slumped bodies and sickness. Empty eyes and screamed words, drowning. But George brought her back with a question.
“So what’s your story, my darling? You said you were out here looking for sisters? I want to know everything.”
Sveni faltered, but then began, “My full name is Svenja Ulriksson. I lived in Sweden until I was nine years old, then my mother and I joined my father and sisters in America. The sickness hit two years after I got here. My best friend contracted it. I remember her wasting away. It was still in the beginning so people didn’t quite understand. Her parents thought they could cure her. Needless to say they couldn’t. She was gone within a week. I haven’t had a friend since.
“My sisters left a year after the sickness started, after my older sister lost her husband. Not to the sickness though, no. He met a completely different end. The bastard deserved it,” Sveni shook herself, “They only said they were moving down south. To the jungles of Georgia. Away from civilization. The younger said they would build themselves a house in the middle of the wilds and remain there until the sickness was gone. Marcelia always was a coward. She could never face her fears. But then again I’m not so good at it myself.
“I lived with my parents for the next six years. My mother taught me all the things I needed to know, the schools in New York had closed down when the sickness first broke out. They reopened briefly every now and again but honestly I didn’t care much for them. I generally don’t get along well with others. That’s what they always wrote on my reports in grammar school.
“But anyways, two months ago, I decided to look for my sisters. We hadn’t heard from them since the day they left. I don’t even know if they’re still alive or made it to Georgia. But I figured if I searched long enough I’d find them eventually. I packed my bags with all the food I could get my hands on and just left. I walked out of the house. I hitchhiked as far south as I could and then started wandering. I’ve been wandering ever since.”
“Your mama just let you walk right out of the house? Won’t she miss you? And your daddy too? I’d never let so precious a girl out of my sight if I were your daddy,” George shook his head.
Sveni let out a dry laugh, “My mama and daddy didn’t have much of a choice whether or not I left. We’ll just say they couldn’t care less either way. ”
“Oh, that can’t be true. I’m sure your mama and daddy miss you greatly, my dear. They have a certain kind of luck to be blessed with a woman like you as their daughter,” George patted her shoulder.
Sveni just snorted, “Truer words have never been spoken.” George gave her a strange look but she simply nodded at him and looked ahead again. Leon was still forging the way, ten feet in front of them, giving no indication that he heard or cared at all about their conversation.
They continued through the jungle the rest of the day until they finally came to a small clearing where George announced they could stay the night. Leon left them to make a fire and came back a half hour later with a squirrel speared on the stick he had sharpened earlier. Sveni offered to skin it and once she had they roasted it over the fire until the fat dripped off and the air smelled lovely. As she turned the rodent over the fire she could feel Leon’s eyes boring into her. Through the mask she could just feel him dissecting her and laying her out to inspect. But whenever she looked up at him he looked instantly away and would begin to intently clean his machete. Sveni knew that he would finally have to take the mask off and she felt an odd tinge of nervousness. This man was one she had met only that day but for some odd reason she longed and feared to see his face. How would he look? Did he have blond hair or brunette? Perhaps red? Maybe he had scars like George. Grisly ones that made it hard to look into his face. How old was he? he must be fully grown since he was about six feet tall but was he George’s age or younger, perhaps older? He moved like someone in their prime but one could never know. People were always full of surprises. Sveni knew that.
At last the squirrel was done and she used her own knife to remove it from the stick and cut it into three equal pieces. The other two had disappeared, George saying something about answering the call of nature and Leon simply slipping away. She called out to them and both reappeared from the dark forest. It took Sveni a second to realize that the man standing next to George was actually Leon. Gone was the gas mask and the scrappy sweatshirt. He wore a dark grey t-shirt and had a bare face. Oh his face. Sveni had never seen a more beautiful human. He had long, dark hair that curled and hung into his eyes. His body which had been hidden under the sweatshirt was wiry and strong. He had taken off his boots as well and approached her barefooted. He looked to be around eighteen perhaps. A little younger than her. She wanted to just reach out and touch his face, trace the lines of his cheeks and jaw. Sveni had always been captivated by beautiful things, they were few and far between, she found, but provided her immense comfort.
“Mmm, darling, that squirrel smells like quite the feast!” George settled himself on the ground and pulled over a piece of meat. Leon did the same, silent as ever. Sveni nodded to them and began on her piece of squirrel. The meat was hot and delicious, and she savored every bite. For once George was quiet, worrying his own meat with his teeth. Leon was staring at her. Now that he was close, Sveni could see his eyes were framed by lashes longer than any girls. The fire made long shadows of his face and it seemed to stretch and morph in front of her eyes. Sveni could see the fat from the squirrel dripping off his lips and she suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. Leon looked back down at his meal, never even acknowledging her. They finished the meal in complete silence. When they all had finished, Sveni wiped her hands on her shorts and stood up. She rummaged through her pack and brought out her water bottle and hair brush. She took a few sips of water, swishing it around her mouth in an effort to clean it a little then set down to brush her hair. Before she had left the city she had chopped off all of her hair. The long curls to her waist were gone, replaced with a cut short enough to be mistaken for a boy’s. The two months in between had seen her hair grow out to her ears and it lay fluffy about her head like a blond halo. The boys watched her intently, obviously unaccustomed to womanly upkeep. George lay back on his elbow languidly, using a small bone to pick his teeth. Leon simply stared at her, a strange expression on his face.
When she finished detangling her mess of hair she went back to the fire with the others. George finished picking his teeth and flicked the bone away, spinning it through the darkness. He broke the silence.
“Well, I don’t know about you two but I am dead dog tired. I’m hitting the sack if you don’t mind,” He cleared an area of the earth next to him then fetched his pack. As he laid down he winked once at Sveni and said, “Now you two don’t stay up all night talking.”
Sveni smiled at him and Leon nodded once, not looking up from where he had begun to whittle another stick. Sveni sat a few minutes mind wandering, she wondered if it was safe to fall asleep with these two but eventually her sleepiness won over caution and she too cleared a small space and laid down with her head on her backpack.The last thing she remembered before she fell asleep was Leon looking up from his machete to stare at her across the fire.
Sveni’s dreams that night were terrifying. Images flashed across her head and there was terrible screaming in the background. She suddenly found herself in the past. She was standing in front of a door she knew well. She knocked on the door and it swung open revealing a wispy woman who hastily dried tears when she saw Sveni. Oh, Svenja, Maya can’t come out to play today. She’s… the woman choked on tears, she’s very sick. Sveni nodded. She asked if she could see Maya. I don’t know…I don’t think you should. Sveni pleaded with the woman and she finally relented, leading Sveni into the apartment and to the small bedroom Sveni knew so well. Inside, the room was dark and hot. It smelled sickly sweet and Sveni saw incense burning by the bed. But it couldn’t cover up the smell of death. Sveni approached the bed cautiously, there was a small mound of blankets that shifted uncomfortably when Sveni approached. When she reached the side of the bed the skeletal face of her best friend stared at her. Maya’s skin was taut over her nose and cheekbones and she had purple rings under her eyes. Her black hair lay matted and sweat beaded at her forehead. Sveni whispered her friends name and passed a hand in front of her eyes. Maya obviously did not see Sveni, her eyes stared off into the distance with a look of pure terror. Sveni took a step back. Min vän, min sjuka vän, she whispered in Swedish. Vad är det med dig? Är du dö? Varför är du så rädd? The English words simply wouldn’t come. Suddenly Maya gave a ghastly, rattling breath and Sveni couldn’t take it. She turned and sprinted from the room, through the living room where Maya’s mother sat on the couch crying and to the front door. She wrenched it open with all her might and burst into the hallway.
She ran farther and farther but the hallway never seemed to end. All she could see was the deathly face of her best friend and hear the gasping breath whistling down her throat. Sveni ran faster and faster, the doors flashed by her but none were the one she was searching for. Door 8b. Door 8b. She chanted it to herself as she ran but none of the numbers that flashed by were that. She could hear Maya’s gasping breath get louder and louder until it was roaring in her ears and she screamed and covered them with her hands, trying to drown out the sound of her best friend’s sickness. She dropped to ground, eyes squeezed shut, still screaming, hands pressed so tight to her skull it hurt.
Hands shook her and Sveni opened her eyes. She was laying by the embers of the campfire, hands pressed to her ears and mouth open screaming. George had his hands on her shoulders and was shaking her violently.
“Sveni! Svenja! Wake up!” He shouted. Leon’s face hovered behind his, looking extremely anxious. Sveni removed her hands from her ears and sat up. She drew a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She was shaking terribly. George sat back on his haunches and shook his head at her. Leon stood directly behind him.
“Good God, Sveni, you scared me half to death. I thought a bear attacked the camp. Did you just have a nightmare?”
Sveni drew a shaky breath and muttered, “Yes.”
“Mighty terrifying nightmare I’d say then. Times like these’ll do that to a person. Want to tell me what it was about?” Sveni shook her head. She just wanted to forget it. She’d been trying for eight years to forget that day, she wasn’t about to start reminiscing now. Sveni felt embarrassment flood her body. Women her age didn’t wake up screaming from nightmares like a child. They especially didn’t start crying after them either but Sveni felt tears prickling her eyes. She rubbed her eyes with the heel of her palm and smiled at George.
“Sorry to scare you two. I’m all right now. Go back to bed,” she said with as much cheer as she could muster. George nodded and lumbered back to his sleeping spot and immediate laid down. Leon took a quick step forward, laid a gentle hand on her shoulder then retreated, laying down with his head on his pack and his back to her. Sveni sat there a moment, the ghost of Leon’s touch still tingling in her shoulder, then she too laid down and fell into dreamless sleep.
The next morning George was his usual chatty self as they ate a small breakfast of left over squirrel. When they set out Sveni tried her best to forget the dream from the night before but the rattling breath being drawn into dying lungs was ringing in her ears. In an effort to drown it out she struck up conversation with George. He told her of how he used to live in a beautiful apartment in the poor part of Atlanta.
“Never was a prettier place, quite small but my Louise kept it sparkling clean. Never a speck of dirt or thing out of place,” George smiled, looking up at the sky through the overhanging branches, “Oh, how I miss that place some days.”
“Louise was your wife?” Sveni asked cautiously. It was never prudent to ask after people these days, but Sveni could never control her curiosity.
“That she was. And the most beautiful girl in the world to boot. Until the sickness wasted her away. Even on her last day I thought her beautiful without compare.”
“They didn’t take her away when she got sick?” Sveni asked. Usually as soon as a person got sick they were taken away and left in one of the quarantine areas. In rural areas people had been known to leave the sick out to die of exposure. It was too a big a chance to be infected yourself.
“Oh, dearie, they tried. They tried to take my Louise away from me but I didn't go. When you love someone you never leave them. You hear me girl? You remember that, don’t you ever leave someone you love. No matter what they tell you. In the beginning, when she was still aware, my Louise begged me to leave. Said she’d hate herself if I got sick because of her. But I stayed with her. And when they came to take her away I barricaded the door and sent a shotgun blast through it as warning. Course that didn’t stop them. But by the time they’d gotten enough reinforcements down my Louise was already gone. I stayed with her to the very end, so when they finally came I opened the door, let them in and led them to her body. They wrapped her up and took her out. I watched her leave for the last time the apartment she so loved. I stayed one more night in there. It was so unbearable the next day I gathered all my things, said goodbye to the neighbors and left. After a bit I met Leon here and we decided west was the way to go. And here we are today. Our little group expanded by one more.”
Sveni smiled sadly at him, “George,”she said, “I’m so sorry about your loss. But I’m grateful to be traveling with you and Leon.” Sveni had decided she trusted these two unlikely friends and had started to rather liked George with his unusual way of talking and never ending cheer. Someone like that was good for her. She needed some cheer.
“Never would have guessed we’d find you out here, not a likely place for someone so beautiful as you, dearie. But I figure you’re not poor company. At least I have someone to talk to. As you can Tell Leon’s not a big talker,” George smiled wryly and Leon looked back at them. He had the horrid mask on again so Sveni couldn't tell his expression. She wanted to ask why he wore that mask. Why he never talked. Why he was so cut off from them but she knew it would be rude. Maybe another time, when Leon wasn't around.
“Well I’m glad I can help in some way,” Sveni smiled at Leon then turned to George, “And I apologize I’m not always the greatest conversationalist.”
“No, no, sweet!” George laughed, “You’re perfect the way you are! It’s a blessing to have you here. I could talk the ear off a rock, my Louise always said. You can tune me out as much as you like. And having you around will be good for Leon too. He needs someone like you around. Hell, we both do!” George laughed loudly and Leon suddenly turned around. Sveni and George stopped in their tracks. Leon had his machete up, pointing directly at George’s heart; Sveni noticed his hand was shaking.
“Sorry, bud. I shouldn’t have said that,” George said apologetically. He gently put his hand on top of the machete and pushed it away, “It was insensitive. You know my big mouth, can never keep it shut,” George shook his head. Leon nodded and lowered the machete fully. He nodded again and turned around. He resumed hacking away at the jungle and George and Sveni followed. All was quiet for a long time after that. They ate lunch in silence. All three sharing nuts they’d gathered on the way. The gas mask lay on the ground next to Leon, not fully forgotten. Every now and then, Leon would glance over to check it was still there or reach over to touch it as if deriving some comfort from the feel of the slick rubber. He did similar with his machete which lay across his lap. Sveni could tell these two objects held serious meaning to him and she was curious as to what it was, but she was too afraid of the answers to ask. Such odd things to be attached to. Anyways, Sveni wasn’t sure he would even answer, he had yet to make a sound, let alone hold a conversation.
“Er, I guess so,” Sveni looked at Leon, “Though I should warn you, I’m not so great company either.”
The rest of the day went by fairly slowly, George talked incessantly but Sveni couldn't recall a single thing he said. It slurred into the lilting song of a southern accent, something Sveni had never gotten used to. She made noises of agreement where due and added those of disgust when they were fit. George seemed unconcerned by her silence and never demanded an answer from her. She supposed that came from spending time with Leon. The silent figure of the gas masked boy led the way, using his machete to slash away vines and the dense foliage. Sveni shivered, thinking of what that machete might do to human flesh. Midway through the day they stopped and sat down. George announced it was high time for a lunch. He rummaged around in his pack and brought out a giant bag full of leaves, nuts and berries. The berries had bled red juice which coated all the nuts, giving them a gruesome appearance. George sighed.
“Ah, you were right Leon. Raspberries don't transfer so well in a backpack,” he reached in and pulled a fleshy leaf out. He popped it into his mouth and chewed, “Oh well, improves the taste I say.” He offered the bag to Sveni but she turned him down, instead she reached into her own pack and pulled out the last of the jerky she had brought. She watched Leon intently, knowing he would have to take off the mask to eat. He still hadn’t lowered his hood and she didn’t know how he could stand the heat out here. She wore only her shorts and the light pink blouse she had left home with two months ago and she was still sweltering in the heat. She chewed on her jerky and ignored the dampness under her arms and the trickling of sweat between her breasts. She only wanted to see Leon’s face. But he did not remove the mask. He shook his head at the bag George offered and instead used his machete to whittle a stick into a point.
After the break for food they set out again. Just as they had before, George kept up a steady stream of conversation and Leon slashed violently at the foliage impeding them. Svenja started to notice that with company the jungle wasn’t nearly as foreboding, maybe though it was because all her wariness was used on wondering whether George or Leon were planning on killing her. Sveni doubted it as they probably would have done it already, but she couldn’t be too careful. One could never be too careful. Especially after Sveni knew all the things she did about the depths of human darkness. Her mind wandered after that. To gunshots and slumped bodies and sickness. Empty eyes and screamed words, drowning. But George brought her back with a question.
“So what’s your story, my darling? You said you were out here looking for sisters? I want to know everything.”
Sveni faltered, but then began, “My full name is Svenja Ulriksson. I lived in Sweden until I was nine years old, then my mother and I joined my father and sisters in America. The sickness hit two years after I got here. My best friend contracted it. I remember her wasting away. It was still in the beginning so people didn’t quite understand. Her parents thought they could cure her. Needless to say they couldn’t. She was gone within a week. I haven’t had a friend since.
“My sisters left a year after the sickness started, after my older sister lost her husband. Not to the sickness though, no. He met a completely different end. The bastard deserved it,” Sveni shook herself, “They only said they were moving down south. To the jungles of Georgia. Away from civilization. The younger said they would build themselves a house in the middle of the wilds and remain there until the sickness was gone. Marcelia always was a coward. She could never face her fears. But then again I’m not so good at it myself.
“I lived with my parents for the next six years. My mother taught me all the things I needed to know, the schools in New York had closed down when the sickness first broke out. They reopened briefly every now and again but honestly I didn’t care much for them. I generally don’t get along well with others. That’s what they always wrote on my reports in grammar school.
“But anyways, two months ago, I decided to look for my sisters. We hadn’t heard from them since the day they left. I don’t even know if they’re still alive or made it to Georgia. But I figured if I searched long enough I’d find them eventually. I packed my bags with all the food I could get my hands on and just left. I walked out of the house. I hitchhiked as far south as I could and then started wandering. I’ve been wandering ever since.”
“Your mama just let you walk right out of the house? Won’t she miss you? And your daddy too? I’d never let so precious a girl out of my sight if I were your daddy,” George shook his head.
Sveni let out a dry laugh, “My mama and daddy didn’t have much of a choice whether or not I left. We’ll just say they couldn’t care less either way. ”
“Oh, that can’t be true. I’m sure your mama and daddy miss you greatly, my dear. They have a certain kind of luck to be blessed with a woman like you as their daughter,” George patted her shoulder.
Sveni just snorted, “Truer words have never been spoken.” George gave her a strange look but she simply nodded at him and looked ahead again. Leon was still forging the way, ten feet in front of them, giving no indication that he heard or cared at all about their conversation.
They continued through the jungle the rest of the day until they finally came to a small clearing where George announced they could stay the night. Leon left them to make a fire and came back a half hour later with a squirrel speared on the stick he had sharpened earlier. Sveni offered to skin it and once she had they roasted it over the fire until the fat dripped off and the air smelled lovely. As she turned the rodent over the fire she could feel Leon’s eyes boring into her. Through the mask she could just feel him dissecting her and laying her out to inspect. But whenever she looked up at him he looked instantly away and would begin to intently clean his machete. Sveni knew that he would finally have to take the mask off and she felt an odd tinge of nervousness. This man was one she had met only that day but for some odd reason she longed and feared to see his face. How would he look? Did he have blond hair or brunette? Perhaps red? Maybe he had scars like George. Grisly ones that made it hard to look into his face. How old was he? he must be fully grown since he was about six feet tall but was he George’s age or younger, perhaps older? He moved like someone in their prime but one could never know. People were always full of surprises. Sveni knew that.
At last the squirrel was done and she used her own knife to remove it from the stick and cut it into three equal pieces. The other two had disappeared, George saying something about answering the call of nature and Leon simply slipping away. She called out to them and both reappeared from the dark forest. It took Sveni a second to realize that the man standing next to George was actually Leon. Gone was the gas mask and the scrappy sweatshirt. He wore a dark grey t-shirt and had a bare face. Oh his face. Sveni had never seen a more beautiful human. He had long, dark hair that curled and hung into his eyes. His body which had been hidden under the sweatshirt was wiry and strong. He had taken off his boots as well and approached her barefooted. He looked to be around eighteen perhaps. A little younger than her. She wanted to just reach out and touch his face, trace the lines of his cheeks and jaw. Sveni had always been captivated by beautiful things, they were few and far between, she found, but provided her immense comfort.
“Mmm, darling, that squirrel smells like quite the feast!” George settled himself on the ground and pulled over a piece of meat. Leon did the same, silent as ever. Sveni nodded to them and began on her piece of squirrel. The meat was hot and delicious, and she savored every bite. For once George was quiet, worrying his own meat with his teeth. Leon was staring at her. Now that he was close, Sveni could see his eyes were framed by lashes longer than any girls. The fire made long shadows of his face and it seemed to stretch and morph in front of her eyes. Sveni could see the fat from the squirrel dripping off his lips and she suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. Leon looked back down at his meal, never even acknowledging her. They finished the meal in complete silence. When they all had finished, Sveni wiped her hands on her shorts and stood up. She rummaged through her pack and brought out her water bottle and hair brush. She took a few sips of water, swishing it around her mouth in an effort to clean it a little then set down to brush her hair. Before she had left the city she had chopped off all of her hair. The long curls to her waist were gone, replaced with a cut short enough to be mistaken for a boy’s. The two months in between had seen her hair grow out to her ears and it lay fluffy about her head like a blond halo. The boys watched her intently, obviously unaccustomed to womanly upkeep. George lay back on his elbow languidly, using a small bone to pick his teeth. Leon simply stared at her, a strange expression on his face.
When she finished detangling her mess of hair she went back to the fire with the others. George finished picking his teeth and flicked the bone away, spinning it through the darkness. He broke the silence.
“Well, I don’t know about you two but I am dead dog tired. I’m hitting the sack if you don’t mind,” He cleared an area of the earth next to him then fetched his pack. As he laid down he winked once at Sveni and said, “Now you two don’t stay up all night talking.”
Sveni smiled at him and Leon nodded once, not looking up from where he had begun to whittle another stick. Sveni sat a few minutes mind wandering, she wondered if it was safe to fall asleep with these two but eventually her sleepiness won over caution and she too cleared a small space and laid down with her head on her backpack.The last thing she remembered before she fell asleep was Leon looking up from his machete to stare at her across the fire.
Sveni’s dreams that night were terrifying. Images flashed across her head and there was terrible screaming in the background. She suddenly found herself in the past. She was standing in front of a door she knew well. She knocked on the door and it swung open revealing a wispy woman who hastily dried tears when she saw Sveni. Oh, Svenja, Maya can’t come out to play today. She’s… the woman choked on tears, she’s very sick. Sveni nodded. She asked if she could see Maya. I don’t know…I don’t think you should. Sveni pleaded with the woman and she finally relented, leading Sveni into the apartment and to the small bedroom Sveni knew so well. Inside, the room was dark and hot. It smelled sickly sweet and Sveni saw incense burning by the bed. But it couldn’t cover up the smell of death. Sveni approached the bed cautiously, there was a small mound of blankets that shifted uncomfortably when Sveni approached. When she reached the side of the bed the skeletal face of her best friend stared at her. Maya’s skin was taut over her nose and cheekbones and she had purple rings under her eyes. Her black hair lay matted and sweat beaded at her forehead. Sveni whispered her friends name and passed a hand in front of her eyes. Maya obviously did not see Sveni, her eyes stared off into the distance with a look of pure terror. Sveni took a step back. Min vän, min sjuka vän, she whispered in Swedish. Vad är det med dig? Är du dö? Varför är du så rädd? The English words simply wouldn’t come. Suddenly Maya gave a ghastly, rattling breath and Sveni couldn’t take it. She turned and sprinted from the room, through the living room where Maya’s mother sat on the couch crying and to the front door. She wrenched it open with all her might and burst into the hallway.
She ran farther and farther but the hallway never seemed to end. All she could see was the deathly face of her best friend and hear the gasping breath whistling down her throat. Sveni ran faster and faster, the doors flashed by her but none were the one she was searching for. Door 8b. Door 8b. She chanted it to herself as she ran but none of the numbers that flashed by were that. She could hear Maya’s gasping breath get louder and louder until it was roaring in her ears and she screamed and covered them with her hands, trying to drown out the sound of her best friend’s sickness. She dropped to ground, eyes squeezed shut, still screaming, hands pressed so tight to her skull it hurt.
Hands shook her and Sveni opened her eyes. She was laying by the embers of the campfire, hands pressed to her ears and mouth open screaming. George had his hands on her shoulders and was shaking her violently.
“Sveni! Svenja! Wake up!” He shouted. Leon’s face hovered behind his, looking extremely anxious. Sveni removed her hands from her ears and sat up. She drew a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She was shaking terribly. George sat back on his haunches and shook his head at her. Leon stood directly behind him.
“Good God, Sveni, you scared me half to death. I thought a bear attacked the camp. Did you just have a nightmare?”
Sveni drew a shaky breath and muttered, “Yes.”
“Mighty terrifying nightmare I’d say then. Times like these’ll do that to a person. Want to tell me what it was about?” Sveni shook her head. She just wanted to forget it. She’d been trying for eight years to forget that day, she wasn’t about to start reminiscing now. Sveni felt embarrassment flood her body. Women her age didn’t wake up screaming from nightmares like a child. They especially didn’t start crying after them either but Sveni felt tears prickling her eyes. She rubbed her eyes with the heel of her palm and smiled at George.
“Sorry to scare you two. I’m all right now. Go back to bed,” she said with as much cheer as she could muster. George nodded and lumbered back to his sleeping spot and immediate laid down. Leon took a quick step forward, laid a gentle hand on her shoulder then retreated, laying down with his head on his pack and his back to her. Sveni sat there a moment, the ghost of Leon’s touch still tingling in her shoulder, then she too laid down and fell into dreamless sleep.
The next morning George was his usual chatty self as they ate a small breakfast of left over squirrel. When they set out Sveni tried her best to forget the dream from the night before but the rattling breath being drawn into dying lungs was ringing in her ears. In an effort to drown it out she struck up conversation with George. He told her of how he used to live in a beautiful apartment in the poor part of Atlanta.
“Never was a prettier place, quite small but my Louise kept it sparkling clean. Never a speck of dirt or thing out of place,” George smiled, looking up at the sky through the overhanging branches, “Oh, how I miss that place some days.”
“Louise was your wife?” Sveni asked cautiously. It was never prudent to ask after people these days, but Sveni could never control her curiosity.
“That she was. And the most beautiful girl in the world to boot. Until the sickness wasted her away. Even on her last day I thought her beautiful without compare.”
“They didn’t take her away when she got sick?” Sveni asked. Usually as soon as a person got sick they were taken away and left in one of the quarantine areas. In rural areas people had been known to leave the sick out to die of exposure. It was too a big a chance to be infected yourself.
“Oh, dearie, they tried. They tried to take my Louise away from me but I didn't go. When you love someone you never leave them. You hear me girl? You remember that, don’t you ever leave someone you love. No matter what they tell you. In the beginning, when she was still aware, my Louise begged me to leave. Said she’d hate herself if I got sick because of her. But I stayed with her. And when they came to take her away I barricaded the door and sent a shotgun blast through it as warning. Course that didn’t stop them. But by the time they’d gotten enough reinforcements down my Louise was already gone. I stayed with her to the very end, so when they finally came I opened the door, let them in and led them to her body. They wrapped her up and took her out. I watched her leave for the last time the apartment she so loved. I stayed one more night in there. It was so unbearable the next day I gathered all my things, said goodbye to the neighbors and left. After a bit I met Leon here and we decided west was the way to go. And here we are today. Our little group expanded by one more.”
Sveni smiled sadly at him, “George,”she said, “I’m so sorry about your loss. But I’m grateful to be traveling with you and Leon.” Sveni had decided she trusted these two unlikely friends and had started to rather liked George with his unusual way of talking and never ending cheer. Someone like that was good for her. She needed some cheer.
“Never would have guessed we’d find you out here, not a likely place for someone so beautiful as you, dearie. But I figure you’re not poor company. At least I have someone to talk to. As you can Tell Leon’s not a big talker,” George smiled wryly and Leon looked back at them. He had the horrid mask on again so Sveni couldn't tell his expression. She wanted to ask why he wore that mask. Why he never talked. Why he was so cut off from them but she knew it would be rude. Maybe another time, when Leon wasn't around.
“Well I’m glad I can help in some way,” Sveni smiled at Leon then turned to George, “And I apologize I’m not always the greatest conversationalist.”
“No, no, sweet!” George laughed, “You’re perfect the way you are! It’s a blessing to have you here. I could talk the ear off a rock, my Louise always said. You can tune me out as much as you like. And having you around will be good for Leon too. He needs someone like you around. Hell, we both do!” George laughed loudly and Leon suddenly turned around. Sveni and George stopped in their tracks. Leon had his machete up, pointing directly at George’s heart; Sveni noticed his hand was shaking.
“Sorry, bud. I shouldn’t have said that,” George said apologetically. He gently put his hand on top of the machete and pushed it away, “It was insensitive. You know my big mouth, can never keep it shut,” George shook his head. Leon nodded and lowered the machete fully. He nodded again and turned around. He resumed hacking away at the jungle and George and Sveni followed. All was quiet for a long time after that. They ate lunch in silence. All three sharing nuts they’d gathered on the way. The gas mask lay on the ground next to Leon, not fully forgotten. Every now and then, Leon would glance over to check it was still there or reach over to touch it as if deriving some comfort from the feel of the slick rubber. He did similar with his machete which lay across his lap. Sveni could tell these two objects held serious meaning to him and she was curious as to what it was, but she was too afraid of the answers to ask. Such odd things to be attached to. Anyways, Sveni wasn’t sure he would even answer, he had yet to make a sound, let alone hold a conversation.
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