Quarters

Aurora's eyes latched onto the narrow beam of light streaming through the curtains of thin green foilage that hung off the bridge's entrance.

Aurora's hearing would come and go, at the moment sound had faded from her ears.

The taste of canned beef soup had receded from her mouth, but a single piece of beef remained stuck between her two bottom teeth. Aurora couldn't manage to get it out with her fingernails or tongue.

She found that she was still quite hungry, but rations were strict. The group needed to be assured that they had enough food for the remainder of the trip. Apparently they would be at the new shelter in seven days.

Aurora felt tired from walking all day. She didn't know how long it had been but she assumed they had at least been walking for four hours straight since they ate dinner.

Aurora wished she had a way of telling the time but the only one of them with a watch was Felix and it had stopped working. So Aurora continued forward oblivious of time.

As she breathed in, the cool air condensed into liquid as it went down her throat.

All Aurora could smell was the pungent odor of perspiration seeping through the boys stained shirts. Dillon, Richard, and Felix had been carrying the supplies and Noah had his guitar case slung around his back. Despite the adversity of carrying the guitar around, to Noah it was indispensable. Everyone thought Noah was questionable for bringing it but Aurora understood it was probably the last thing he had from his parents. The only thing Aurora had from her parents was her backpack, which Richard was currently carrying full of everyone's necessities. All of Aurora's senses were dull but her baggy eyes persisted to follow the ray of light penetrating the ink black night.

The six of them froze before the old decaying bridge. Dillon, Richard, and Felix set down the supply bags, and Noah removed the guitar from his back. Richard walked up to the opening of the bridge and shined the light down the pathway.

Vines grew on the rusty railings to the side of the bridge and on its roof.

At the start of the bridge was half of a single iron bar, all of the boards beneath it, in front of it, and beside it had given way along with the second half of the beam. The other half of the bridge, separated by a gap, was in complete ruins. A jagged split ran through this area.

The distance separating the right side of the bridge from the rest of the structure was considerably larger than the left.

The few remaining planks on the left side were moss-covered and brittle. Only the two worn beams running throughout this wreckage would support their weight, the first of which was also half destroyed.

Dillon grabbed the flashlight from Richard and looked over the map. After this he scanned the towering hills around the area with the light.

Dillon and Richard disputed something but suddenly seemed to come to an agreement— something that didn't happen often. Dillon shone the light on Aurora's backpack as Richard approached it. The backpack was like a mirror of the night sky; it was covered with glittery yellow star stickers. The stars made out Cephus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Cetus, Perseus, and Pegasus.

Aurora reminisced of when her Dad would look up at the night sky with her using their telescope, as her Mom told the stories behind the constellations. Aurora looked at Sophia and remembered how she had always teased her for knowing so much about the constellations.

"Cephus looks like a water bottle, Perseus is an unfinished stick figure, and how is Andromeda also part of Peagasus, aren't there any rules?"

Now Sophia sat in the grass, her eyes were also focused on the backpack. Sophia leaned back and looked up at the stars. Aurora wondered if she finally had given the constellations in the sky some recognition.

Whenever Sophia spoke, her voice had a slight crack in it like something was lodged in her throat. Aurora was unsure if this was puberty or just because of nervousness and depression. Sophia had thick dark circles under her eyes. While Aurora and everyone else had definitely built up some worn skin under their eyes there was no debate; Sophia had it the worst. But she still had her bright blonde hair that was close to a shade of white, it stood out in the night as well as her rather pale skin. The few times Sophia would show her happiness you could see a slight shimmer in her amber eyes. Sophia was skinny before the attacks. So now she had gotten quite frail, but Dillon would give her some of his ration to keep her in the best condition possible.

Richard unzipped the backpack and fished his hand in it. He pulled two cans of vegetables out of the bag. Richard approached the mouth of the bridge and walked steadily to the edge of the first beam. Dillon centered the light on the gaping opening in the bridge. Richard dropped one of the cans into the water. Aurora couldn't believe they had just wasted supplies she furiously walked forward before Noah stopped her. Noah said something to Dillon after Richard retreated from the beam; Dillon took the cap off the can Richard was holding and pointed the flashlight in it showing rocks inside. They had filled some of the empty cans with rocks and were using them to test out the bridge. Noah pointed towards the hole and made a diving motion with his hands and by reading his lips she could tell he said, "The water's deep." Aurora realized even if the water was shallow, falling in could still be deadly due to the radiation from the bombings. Dillon gave Richard the flashlight and as he pointed it at the bridge Dillon tossed the can at some of the planks. The boards wobbled back and forth for three seconds and the ambiance around them changed.

Richard and Dillon began arguing vehemently; the noise gradually increased until it agitated Aurora's muffled ears. Aurora told them, "Keep it down!" They toned their voices down but their strife was still tense. Aurora studied their expressions as they bickered. Dillon continually pointed at something on the map but Richard seemed to refute his ideas. "What's going on?" Aurora asked Noah. Noah gave her a look of empathy and by the time Aurora was able to lip read she made out "I'm sorry." Felix walked over to Noah's guitar case, opened it up and pulled out Noah's journal. He walked over to Noah flipped open a page and wrote,

"Just communicate through the notebook idiot."

Noah took his notebook back and extended his middle finger at Felix as he and Aurora sat down. He began to write as Dillon and Richard continued arguing.

"Richard wants to cross the bridge because it's the fastest route. He thinks if our trip takes too long we'll be found by Russians or blown up by a bomb. Richard's saying, 'Every time we communicate with the shelter in Pittston our radio transmission could be spied on.' Dillon thinks crossing the bridge is too risky and wants to go around the bridge using the mountains."

Aurora ranted to Noah, "Crossing the bridge is a bad idea. We are all tired and half of us are carrying supplies. Do you think with all the stress and nervous energy between all of us nobody is gonna get hurt.? We should at least wait till morning."

"I agree." Noah wrote down.

"I don't want to get into a fight when I can't hear though so I guess I'm just gonna have to wait and see what happens," Aurora said uneasily.

"I don't really wanna get involved either." Noah wrote back.

"You're good.” Aurora responded.

Dillon said something that made Richard freeze in his tracks. Even Felix gave Richard a look of sympathy. Noah wrote his comment word for word and showed it to Aurora.

"If you try to cross that bridge you'll fall into the poisonous waters and you'll decompose slowly just like Theo did! He wouldn't want you to throw your life away like this."

Richard responded tensely from what Aurora read from his body language. Noah handed the notebook to Aurora and she read the response.

"The whole reason he died was because they didn't get to that area sooner! If we stay out in the wilderness forever they'll find us too. Going around the mountains could add a whole three days to our journey! Doing this is risky but if we don't get to the shelter on time we're as good as dead."

The argument didn't stop and there was no end in sight. Richard and Dillon were both talking at the same time interjecting each other. Noah wasn't making much out of it so he wrote one last thing and showed it to Aurora.

"They're both staying adamant. This is going to go on for a while. It will probably last until we take a vote or split up. If it's the latter, let's stick together, I can't really stand the others."

Felix walked up to Aurora and Noah plopped down and took a pencil out of his pocket. He circled the word adamant and then wrote, "nerds."

Noah rolled his eyes as Felix chuckled. Then without warning Felix threw the supply bag he had been carrying over his shoulders and made his way towards the bridge. He began to walk along the bar at the start of the bridge guiding his feet with balance in each step. Felix turned his body with precision. His feet were so steady it was as if they were glued to the bar. Aurora's jaw dropped as Felix leapt to the first beam on the left. Felix landed in a hunched over position and began to topple forward before he pushed himself up using the loose boards. Judging by the cringing face Noah had just made, Aurora assumed the boards had just made some sort of creaking noise. When Felix had finally traversed to the end of the first beam he studied the boards that joined the first and second beams carefully. The light now shining in his direction, Felix crossed over a pair of boards that appeared to be stable. By clever reasoning or luck, Felix had chosen a pair of boards that allowed him to cross without trouble. He knelt down and placed down the pencil that was in his pocket to mark the planks he walked across. Felix traveled across the last beam with his left hand clutching the railing, only releasing it once his feet met the grass on the other side of the bridge.

What was Felix thinking? He had just taken a whole bag of supplies across without consenting anyone.

Echoes of Dillon’s screams fought the vacuum of Aurora’s ear canals.

Felix waved and said something to everyone on the other side. Noah didn't write it down and looked just as annoyed as he usually was at Felix, so it was probably something snarky.

Dillon gestured for Richard to go next.

Noah showed Aurora his exact words.

"Go on Mr. Bright ideas if you really think this is the ideal path then you go next."

Richard's response was met by a rather embarrassed look by Dillon. Aurora eagerly awaited Noah to finish writing. She almost snatched the notebook away before Noah put it in front of her face.

"Are you a moron? The lightest need to go first or else there isn't a chance we're all going to make it."

Richard and Dillon both looked over at Sophia. It was hard to see in the dark but Aurora was pretty sure she was crying. Dillon put his hands on her shoulders and comforted her. Sophia wrapped her arms around Dillon giving him a quick embrace before approaching the bridge. Dillon said something to Richard as he handed him the flashlight and loaded his backpack onto his body, then he stepped in front of Sophia crossing the bridge ahead of her.

Noah began writing in his notebook to explain.

Only a portion of the light from the flashlight made its way in the direction of Noah and Aurora and they had no wish to approach the hostile zone towards the others. Aurora squinted at the words.

"Dillon's going to go ahead of Sophia to lift her up if she stumbles after jumping."

Sophia tried to sooth her jittery body as Dillon stepped to the end of the starting beam. He hesitated briefly before jumping over the gap. His body wobbled back and forth before re-adjusting. Sophia walked across the rusted metal anxiously; Dillon stepped to the side as Sophia got to the end of it and prepared to jump. Aurora knew if Sophia were to plummet into those dark waters, Dillon's sanity would spiral down with her. When she jumped her lack of confidence prevented her from traveling as far as Dillon. Sophia's feet barely met the first beam on the left and Dillon had to immediately steady her to keep her from falling. The beam began to slightly push downwards under their shared weight. Dillon made his way to the end of the first beam with Sophia dragging her feet behind him. His eyes found the boards Felix had marked with the pencil. As Dillon went across the boards connecting the beams they snapped. He flung himself forward with his right foot and his hands managed to catch onto the second beam. Dillon clung onto it desperately with his left foot jammed between a pair of broken boards and his right foot dangling over the water. Even from the distance Aurora could see Sophia trembling. Dillon pushed up with his hands and broke his left leg out of the boards. He pulled his body up at an awkward angle and then used the railing at the end of the second beam to bring himself to his feet. Dillon's hand brushed over his leg that had been clearly scarred.

All of the boards that had been broken by Dillon fell, and all of the boards next to that area toppled like dominos leaving a significantly bigger gap than the one between the two sides of the bridge. Based on the movement of their mouths Dillon and Richard appeared to call out to one another loudly. Richard quickly stepped toward the bridge before Aurora ran up and interrupted him.

"You said the lightest go first!"

Noah wrote down their plan in the notebook trying to inform Aurora.

"Dillon needs someone to throw Sophia over to him. He doesn't think she'll be able to make the jump on her own. She's in shock."

“I'll do it," Aurora stated.

Her eyes briefly surveyed the pitch black water underneath the bridge. Aurora had been eager to go before everyone else because she feared the beams were growing weary with each passing. But now she dreaded this moment. Aurora pushed on, time was urgent. The light focused on her and everyone watched her every move. Aurora never liked having too much attention targeted at her; she felt like a circus attraction. Aurora moved herself with great rigor until she found herself at the dead end of the bar. She changed her direction to face the first beam to the left. Aurora leaped over to it but had no time to be satisfied with her safe landing; Sophia still quivered in front of her. Aurora came to Sophia's aid, she picked her up with disappointment wishing selfishly that Sophia was lighter. Aurora felt gravity sucking her backwards attempting to yank her to her demise. She struggled viciously with the weight of Sophia in her hands. Every fiber of Aurora longed to let go. But she had made the choice to step up. Sophia was counting on her and it was too late to back down. Aurora planted her feet and tossed Sophia over to Dillon, popping her own shoulder in the process. He caught Sophia awkwardly then set her down gently. Dillon reached longingly for the railing. He used this to support himself as he rushed to the end of the bridge. Aurora stood there impatiently waiting for Sophia to follow him to the end of the last beam. Finally when Sophia had made it across, Aurora came onto the last beam with an energetic bound. As Aurora's feet stumbled over each other she used the rail to steady herself.

Aurora began to topple to the left.

The vibration of the railing detaching from the bridge jolted her body. She violently jerked in the other direction and approached the end of the bridge in a violent panic. Aurora lunged forward over the last beam. The pain from pulling her body away from the falling railing intensified after she collided with the ground. The sight of grass once again relieved Aurora. When Aurora had reached the other side she looked back at the last two people yet to cross: Richard and Noah.

She watched the tension between Richard and Noah as they debated. Aurora was able to piece together through their physical actions it was about Noah bringing his guitar across. After failing to convince Noah of what he was saying, Richard stuck the map he was holding deep into his backpack and went on his way. He crossed the bar at the entrance thoroughly and hopped to the left side of the bridge with less difficulty than everyone who preceded him, almost with ease. Richard had taken some gymnastics lessons and even though he was by no means the top of his class the way he jumped to the last beam almost appeared effortless. Aurora boiled with spite when Richard joined the rest of them, especially since he was able to cross the bridge with a flashlight in one hand. The plan worked well for Richard because traversing over tricky areas was just muscle memory for himself. But for some of them it was life or death.

Noah dropped his notebook into the guitar case and zipped it up. He slung the case around his back and mimicked the motions of everyone he had watched. Noah came to the end of the opening bar but did not back down from his audacity; he vaulted over the gap despite the weight that was centered on his lower back. Noah's feet landed far apart; he took a few seconds to catch his breath. Then, he faced himself forward and walked across the first beam on the left. He briefly stuck his arms out to his sides to guide himself. Noah leaped recklessly to the final bar. He landed with a harsh jerk forward. His arms flapped around, fighting to regain balance after Noah remembered there was no rail keeping him from flying over the edge. Aurora's heart raced as she watched Noah begin sprinting to the end of the final beam as his balance failed.

“NOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” Aurora violently screamed as tears began to blind the very scene that had her complete focus. Everyone retreated back as Noah desperately dove forward. Noah's torso successfully landed on the grass but his legs hung between the gaps in the bridge. Aurora began to pull on her friend who was quickly sinking backwards. Her left shoulder fought her own will to keep pulling. She was able to buy just enough time for Richard to grab his other hand and successfully pull Noah out. Once he got to his feet Aurora gave him a long and tender hug as the rest watched. She didn't care if they all saw her like this. Aurora almost lost the one person she really cared about. She wasn't going to pretend like the thought of losing Noah wasn't horrible. Aurora wasn't going to act like she wasn't grateful he was alive. As Aurora released him he briefly made contact with her eyes that were still full of streams of devastation. He gave Aurora a look of gratitude and then began to follow the others. She wished she could tell Noah how stupid he was for risking his life over a guitar but it was late and he probably wasn't going to pull out his notebook again.

Even though it was a spring night a shiver lodged itself inside of Aurora. The nuclear waste and debris had lowered the climate considerably. The group climbed a hill before realizing they couldn't go on anymore. They set camp dividing up the haggard blankets for each of them to sleep. Dillon agreed to stay up and keep watch. Aurora found herself repeatedly looking back at the shadow of the bridge from the hill, her heart pounded and she was unable to rip the memories from her head. Everyone but Dillon and Richard collapsed together onto the ground. Aurora laid on top of her covers, her hair falling through the holes in her blanket. She peeped at Dillon and Richard, who were talking away from everyone else, through the slits open in her eyelids. Dillon looked at Richard with resentment and as he barked at him specks of spit flew from his mouth. But unlike earlier Richard looked back at Dillon sternly and confidently as he responded and then walked away refusing to continue the conflict. As Richard began sorting out his blanket the narrow gateway in Aurora's eyes sealed shut.

RIIIIIIIIP. RIIIIIIIP. RIIIIIP.

Aurora awoke from her sleep with cloudy eyes; startled by the sudden noise and her sense of hearing returning so suddenly. She followed the noise and then sank back down in fear. Aurora closed her eyes pretending to sleep. The brief seconds she had seen locked in her mind. Aurora wondered if it was a dream. She hoped it was a dream. But there is an undeniable feeling when you are in reality that cannot be numbed. Aurora had seen Dillon taping a sharp, jagged piece of metal onto a thick and hard stick forming a sharp dagger. A dagger nobody knew about. Nobody but her.