Arrival: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller

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They continued down the tunnel, guided by the candle in Janine’s hand, and with no sign of the surface. Janine hadn’t said much as they’d walked, and although Maya couldn’t’ see Reno’s face, she could sense his level of silent frustration building. The situation wasn’t optimal, and Cassie seemed to be coming in and out of consciousness. Nagging Janine about her focus would do just the opposite, but Reno spoke before Maya could.

“You sure you know where we are?” Reno asked.

“Yeah. Just keep heading this way.”

But there was hesitation in Janine’s reply. Maya could sense it.

Cassie groaned. Sweat ran in streams down the young girl’s face, and her eyes were barely open.

“How are you feeling?” Maya asked her.

“I’m so cold, and my stomach won’t stop hurting. It really hurts.”

The temperature inside the tunnels had to be nearing a hundred degrees. Maya couldn’t believe none of them had passed out by now due to dehydration—the adrenaline alone fueled them. For now.

“Stay strong, baby,” Janine said. “We’re going to be out of here soon.”

They kept walking, passing the openings of tunnels. Maya and Reno asked at each one if they needed to turn, but Janine replied with a ‘no’ each time. Sometimes, she didn’t even bother to look up, keeping her eyes on her daughter as she walked along beside them now. When the tunnel they were in reached a dead end, Maya felt the blood rush to her face.

“What the shit?” Reno asked, his booming voice echoing off the tunnel walls.

“Set her down,” Maya said. She and Reno lowered the makeshift stretcher to the ground.

Janine looked up, a confused look spreading across her face. Her mouth hung open, and she stared past Reno and into the darkness.

“What happened?” Maya asked, trying to remain calm and not push the woman over the edge.

“She doesn’t know where she’s going. That’s what happened.”

“Quiet, Reno!” Maya said, turning her attention back to Janine. She grabbed the woman by the shoulders. “Did we miss a turn?”

“I think so. I can’t remember being down this far. I think we should have turned into the last tunnel we passed.”

“Okay, listen,” Maya said. “You have to pay attention. From here on out, you’re going to walk in front of Reno and lead us out of here like you were supposed to be doing.”

“O-okay,” Janine said, a stutter in her voice. “But I really need to make sure she’s comfortable and that—”

“I will make sure she stays responsive,” Maya said. “If you can’t focus and get us out of this tunnel, then trying to keep her comfortable down here isn’t going to do any good. Your daughter is very sick, Janine, and she needs help now. So please, focus and get us out of here.”

Janine sniffled, wiping tears from her eyes and taking a deep breath. She nodded and then turned around to head back in the direction they’d just come from.

Reno approached Maya and whispered, “We are never getting out of here in time to save this girl. Not with that distraught woman leading us.”

Maya looked down at Cassie. The girl’s grip on her stomach had loosened, and her eyes were nothing but dark slits.

“Pick her back up and let’s go.”

“This way,” Janine said, turning into the tunnel.

“Finally,” Reno said, softly enough so that only Maya could hear him.

Maya felt like Janine had lately been able to focus more on their exit and less on her sick daughter, but Cassie seemed to be getting worse. She wasn’t a doctor, but Maya believed the girl’s appendix had already burst and her odds of surviving went down with each passing minute.

“How is she doing?” Janine asked.

“She’s hanging in there,” Maya said, not being entirely truthful. “Just keep—”

Cassie’s eyes shot open, startling Maya. Her body convulsed, only to be restrained by the rope that secured her legs to the wooden planks.

“What’s happening to her?” Janine asked, racing back to her daughter.

Cassie turned her head and vomited. Her breathing became more labored.

“Help me get these ropes off,” Maya said to Reno.

As they loosened the knots, Janine yelled, trying to get closer to her daughter.

“Stay back,” Maya said to the woman.

Janine took a step back, running one hand through her hair while the other covered her mouth. Maya and Reno tossed the ropes aside as Cassie convulsed. She vomited again.

The paramedics stared at each other, tears at the corners of both their eyes. With no proper medical equipment, there was little they could do other than try to keep the girl comfortable.

“Do something!” Janine cried.

But there was nothing they could do. Cassie shivered, and then her convulsions stopped. She looked at her mother with bloodshot eyes.

“I’m sorry,” the young girl said. She then took a final breath, her eyes going wider open, and then glassy.

“No!” Janine screamed.

Maya put her finger to Cassie’s neck, and then her wrist.

No heartbeat.

“Get back,” Maya said to Janine. She honored protocol and began CPR even though Maya doubted it would change the inevitable outcome.

Reno had to pull Janine away when she tried getting too close to her daughter. Maya ignored them, focusing on her routine of compressions and breathing. After several minutes, though, Maya sat up on her knees and could only stare at the lifeless, young girl.

Tears rolling down her face, Maya turned to Janine. “I’m so sorry.”

Janine kneeled next to her daughter, taking her into her arms. Maya just stood up and walked away, unable to watch the grieving mother holding her dead child in her arms.