Take Over Chapter 2

 THE TOWN

TJ sat in the passenger seat trying not to show any signs of his anxiety about the situation but he could not stop the churning in his stomach.    What was going on?  Was his family safe?  Were they sick? 

He kept a steady gaze on the horizon trying to see any indication of what might be going on at home.  He wished he had some of the super powers the characters in his books had.  He could fly in, assess the situation and handle it with a swift kick or punch or some super laser eye vision.

“Guys,” Kyle said, breaking the silence. “ Don’t you think we should pray?”

“Good idea,” TJ said.

“Lord,” Steve began, “ we don’t know what is going on, but you do.   Direct our steps and please keep our families and friends safe.”

“AMEN,” they said in unison.

The three continued on in silence. They were about ten minutes out of town now and coming to “The Ridge” as it was called.  It was a small hill that went between a hogback. The town sat low in a valley with a Mesa to the east and the hogback to the west. The bulk of the towns 1500 people lived in the town.  It boasted of one stop light, and a K-12 school. Most of the people commuted into work sacrificing the hour or more drive for some peace in a small community.  The rest were farmers, ranchers, local business or work from home professionals. 

TJ and his family moved there when he was eight.  Shortly afterward he had met Steve and Kyle at church. They practically lived on the same street and had seen each other almost every day for the last eight years. 

The closer they got to town the more agitated the three became.  They crested “The Ridge” and started down into the town.  There was not a soul in site.  Every shop was closed and the town’s only stop light was flashing.

“What is going on?” TJ asked.  He stared out the window at the empty store fronts. 

“I don’t know…” Steve said. Something was very, very wrong. “Maybe we should head to the sheriff’s office.”

“Good idea,” Kyle said. His heart was racing a little. 


Steve made a left turn off of Main Street and onto Fifth. The town was set up on a grid of numbers that ran north and south and letters ran east to west.  Steve pulled the jeep to a stop in front of the sheriff’s office.  There was not one single patrol car visible. The three exited the jeep and went to the door.  It was locked.  TJ started pounding on the door hoping by some chance that someone, anyone was inside.

“TJ, I don’t think anyone is in there,” Steve said. 

Steve stood peering out into the street, “We’ve got to get home”

They got back in the jeep and, disregarding the speed limit, Steve headed toward their homes.  He rounded the corner to their street and slowed.  TJ’s house was the first and on the right.

“I’ll check my house and then come down to yours,” TJ said.

TJ jumped out of the car and bounded up the steps to his house and knocked. He had a key but he hoped he would hear a “who is it” from his dad or mom or sister.  He took the key from his pocket and with a racing heart he opened the door.  His fear of them being gone was confirmed as he stepped inside.

“Mom, Dad, Anna?”  he said tentatively. He set about checking each room. Finally he sat on the edge of his bed, hot tears making trails down his face.  This can not be happening, he thought.


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Kyle stood in his empty kitchen staring down at a half empty dog dish.  His eyes burned as he gritted his teeth and fought back tears.  Everyone was gone.  Even the dog.  What could have done this? What disease was so bad that they had to take everyone away and where had they taken them?

He turned and ran out of the front door towards Steve’s house.  He noticed TJ standing in the window as he approached.  He entered the house without knocking.  Steve was seated at the diner table TJ turned toward Kyle.   No word were said.  There was nothing to say. 

“How could an entire town be taken away and why?” Steve said “What disease could be so bad that they would have to remove everyone?”

“I don’t know,” TJ said, “I wonder if we are in any danger.  If it is in the air we….WAIT!”  he yelled at Kyle. 

Kyle was standing at the refrigerator, glass in hand.  He was about to fill his glass with water. “What?” he said, “I’m thirsty.”

“What if it is in the water?”

“You’re crazy,” Kyle said

“No,” Steve said, “TJ might be right.”

“Listen, if it is in the water no one would be able to drink it and they might take everyone out of here just to make sure,” TJ said.

Kyle set the glass on the counter and wiped his hands on his pants.  The thought that he could have exposed himself to some terrible disease, unnerved him.  “Can I at least get something to eat?”

Steve and TJ looked at each other. Steve said, “I guess that would be OK, but the power is out so I wouldn’t open the fridge.  There is no telling what you will find in there.”

Kyle went to the cupboard and took out some crackers. He looked at the box and then thought again.  Eating crackers without something to drink was not an appealing thought. “ Well what now?”  he asked to no one in particular.

TJ sat at the table with Steve “I guess we film the town for evidence and then head to the city to see if we can find anyone and if they can help or if they know anything.”

“Have you tried the TV?” Kyle asked.

“We haven’t had TV for years,” Steve said.

“Neither have we,” TJ said. “But we do have radio.”

“Yeah,” Steve said he arose and headed to the counter.  Mounted under the cabinet was a radio where his dad would dock his Ipod.  He pushed the buttons. “Oh right. No power.”

“That is strange,” TJ said “I can kinda understand evacuating everyone, but why turn off the power and why not leave someone to make sure everyone was gone?”

Bang! They all jumped. Silence. Then the three were startled by a pounding at the front door.