Refoliation
The bombs fell all night long. First, they sounded like late-summer fireworks in the distance, but then they got louder, deafening. Jace held his young brother Xander throughout it all. When it sounded like the bombs were right on top of them, they prayed ceaselessly that they’d be safe. Maybe God heard them and saved them. Maybe the bombs had a different purpose. Whatever the reason and however the cause, their house stood until morning. Jace was woken up by his brother shifting. He was still holding Xander protectively. He knew they were alright, but he didn’t know anything else. Fearful to discover the worst, he opened their bedroom door and listened. Sounds of life came from the kitchen. Bolstered, Jace and Xander went downstairs to join their parents. “We thought we’d let you sleep in, since your school called for a 2-hour delay,” said their mother as she made them bowls of cereal. “What happened last night? Were we attacked?” Jace had so many questions, but he stuck with the most important ones first. “We don’t know much. It sounds like no one was injured and most buildings are completely unharmed. They’re not saying who did it.” “Was it more terrorists?” “Again, we don’t know. No one seems to have claimed the bombing. Maybe they failed.” “Until we know more, they’ve recommended us to stay at home unless it’s necessary to leave,” Jace’s father spoke up. “The public schools have off, but your school insists on having you go in. I still have to go to the hospital, so I’ll take you on my way. Jacob’s mother will bring you guys home.” While a 2-hour delay wasn’t as good as a whole day off, it meant that Jace and Xander could play a little Monkey Ball on the Game Cube. Normally, their parents wouldn’t let them, but it felt like a special occasion. Unsurprisingly, all of the conversations at school involved speculations and “where were you when you first heard the explosions.” Sixth graders have wild imaginations, and Jace’s friends were no exception. “I bet it was Osama Bin Laden, back from the dead.” Jacob’s suggestion didn’t really sound feasible, but Jace couldn’t deny that when Jacob folded a 1 dollar bill a certain way, it spelled out O-S-A-M-A. One kid suggested aliens while another kid suggested they all just had the same dream. He pointed out that no one died and, except for some downed trees and broken glass, nothing was destroyed. “Bombs destroy things, after all,” he reasoned. When it came time to go outside for recess after lunch, two teachers stopped the kids at the door. “In light of the township urging people not to go outside needlessly, we’re going to have recess in the gym,” they said. This was met by a collective groan from the middle schoolers, but there was nothing they could do to persuade the teachers otherwise. Recess in the gym was better than no recess at all, even if all they wanted to do was run around in the September sun. By the time last period came around, no one had any new ideas of what had happened. The collective dream idea was winning until the Principal came on the loudspeaker. “Attention, students. Attention please. The school buses will not be running this afternoon. In addition, boys’ and girls’ soccer practices are canceled. We have called all your parents asking them to pick you up. Will the following students please report to the main office: Charlie Appleton, Candy Dumphry, Terry Goodman, Mary Madsen, Timothy Owens, Daniel Southfield, and Nina Strayer. Everyone, please remain in homeroom until your parent comes to get you.” The announcement ended with a repeated list of the names. It didn’t change plans for Jace and Xander. Jacob spoke to his and Jace’s homeroom teacher, telling her that his mom would be picking Jace and Xander up, too. The homeroom teacher called Xander’s teacher to inform her. As soon as the bell rang signifying the end of the school day, Jacob’s mother, Mrs. Coldwell, appeared at the door, looking agitated. She tried to look calm, but Jace noticed the nerves operating beneath her rushed pace. They stopped by the fourth grade room to pick up Xander before hurrying towards the parking lot. “Something strange is going on,” Jacob’s mom finally said in a low voice. “It might be related to what happened last night, but we still don’t know.” “What is it, mom?” asked Jacob. “Something to do with Bin Laden?” His mother looked at him out of the corner of her eye, deciding not to answer the second question. This was not the first time he blamed something on a dead man coming back from the grave. “Well, there are massive vines crawling up buildings. It’s messing with traffic. And some people have gone missing. It could be a coincidence.” “Maybe the vines are eating people?” suggested Xander, too amused to be appropriate for the situation. “Don’t be stupid,” chided Jacob. “Vines don’t eat people. They squeeze you until you explode." “Jacob, this is serious. Get in the car. Boys,” Jacob’s mom addressed Jace and Xander, “I want you to go right inside your house and stay there. Don’t leave it, understand?” Jace nodded, promising to take care of the both of them while Xander still had an amused twinkle in his eye. She wasn’t kidding, the road was littered with vines. Some had broken through the glass of buildings, wrapping into them like a kraken attempting to sink a pirate ship. Other vines seemed to be growing right out of the sidewalk. The vines were green, their leaves were green, even the sky seemed to be a light teal color. Luckily for them, the roads weren’t crowded, making it easier to dodge vines. Though it seemed like most people heeded the advice to stay home, there still were many people on the sidewalks, stepping around, over, or on the vines to go about their business. BOOM. The car exploded in the turn lane next to them, bursting the glass in as their car flew a few feet to the right, tottering on two wheels before finally rolling over onto its roof. Glass lay strewn on the ceiling, below the heads of the seatbelted children. “Is everyone okay?” asked a panicked and disoriented Mrs. Coldwell. At that, Xander started crying. Jace looked over at his brother. His face and arm were covered in small scratches, but otherwise he was fine. “I think so, Mrs. Coldwell,” responded Jace. He carefully undid his seatbelt while lowering himself to the ceiling of the car. Then, he helped Xander down, trying to console him. It worked pretty quickly, and by the time they made their way out of the car, he had stopped crying. Jace used a towel lying in the back of the car to wipe away his blood. Jace looked back at the car. It generally looked okay except for the broken windows and the fact it was upside down. Looking to the left, he saw what was left of the car that exploded. Pieces of it were strewn everywhere. Vines seemed to cover the intersection now, seemingly to have originated where the car had exploded. “Stay right here,” Jacob’s mother said after looking them over to convince herself they were fine. “I’m going to go into this store and call my insurance company and the police. I’ll be right back in a few minutes, if…” she didn’t get to finish her thought. “Uh… I don’t feel so good,” said a man half-limping on the sidewalk towards them. He was looking pretty green. About fifteen feet out, his eyes shot open and he stopped. He gasped for air and then vines burst from his body in all direction, sending body parts and blood flying. The vines unfurled at lightning speed. “Let’s go to your parents’ house, Jace. If we hurry, it’s only 6 or 7 minutes away.” “Mrs. Coldwell?” Xander’s voice was smaller. “Yes?” she turned to look to him, her eyes widening. A vine had wrapped tightly around his ankle. “Hang on.” She dashed towards him to free him. Before she reached him, another vine unfurled and wrapped around his torso. “Ouch!” he exclaimed before whimpering and bawling. Jacob, his mother, and Jace all started to tug on the vines to free Xander, but they held fast. Then, they started constricting, and Xander started screaming. It was hysterical, the sound of someone with no idea what’s going on but feeling extraordinary amounts of pain. They heard a snap as the vine holding his ankle broke it. Xander’s voice choked for a second before redoubling in volume and hysteria. As the vines around his torso continued to tighten, Jace was powerless to do anything. About half a minute after the vine snapped his ankle, Jace heard a crunch. Xander’s screams were pure anguish, catching and turning breathless. The vines had broken his ribcage. “NOO!” Jace started pounding the vine with his fists, but it was like punching a rock. Xander released a strangled exhale followed by a wet popping sound. Blood started running out between the vines, pooling on the ground. Xander’s head lolled to the side. He had no pulse. “No” Jace collapsed, sobbing. Xander’s body started shaking and shivering. “Jace, we have to go. NOW!” shouted Mrs. Coldwell. He didn’t move. She grabbed his arm and dragged him until he got his feet under him and started to run with her. Another explosion sounded behind them as they reached the far side of the intersection. Xander’s favorite necklace landed at Jace’s feet. Recognizing it immediately, he scooped it up without breaking stride as he ran to his house with Jacob and his mother. Back to Table of Contents (x)
