"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Becky's knuckles were blanched white as she gripped the steering wheel. "I think so…" Lilli began, the uncertainty washing over her like a wave. "I mean getting into Canada was easy enough. Leaving Canada should be pretty straightforward, I think…" "I guess we don't really have a choice. Our five-day visa was just enough time to allow us to drive east. We have to be out by tonight…" Becky's voice trailed off as their dusty truck crested a small rise in the road and they could see the border crossing lit up like Times Square in New York City. There were only a few cars in front of them, but the line was moving painfully slow. Without the melodic hum of the tires rolling on pavement, Aurora awoke and began to shriek. "Oh my god, you poor thing," Lilli leaned over the edge of the seat and tried to soothe her. "You've been such a good girl on this road trip. We're almost there." Finally the border agent waved them forward and Becky slowly edged up to the booth. "Good evening," she mumbled as she leaned out the window so she didn't have to yell over the racket in the cab. "What brings you to the United States?" The border guard asked dryly. It was painfully obvious that he was tired and hated his job. "Just trying to get home to family," Becky offered as she dug through her purse for the five-day visa paperwork the Canadian authorities had issued them outside of Alberta. "Are you refugees?" The border guard asked as he flipped through the paperwork Becky had handed him. Becky's throat was dry and the voice caught in her throat. "Yes, sir, we are." Lilli leaned towards the driver's side window, placing her hand on Becky's thigh. "Okay, is there anyone else in the vehicle besides you three?" "No, sir." Lilli offered pensively. The guard shined his flashlight into the back seat of the pickup. Aurora blinked and stopped crying for a moment. "Okay, you're free to pass." The border guard clicked off his flashlight. "The refugee welcome center is just down the road. They can get you set up with anything you might need. Welcome to the United States." "Thank you." Becky took the paperwork and cranked the window up. Sure enough, about a quarter mile down the road they saw a large red barn plastered with numerous hand-painted signs. "Welcome!" "All are friends here." "We love you." "Wow! I told you Vermont was great." Becky turned into the barn's parking lot, which was mostly empty. A young girl came out, carrying a bag and a few bottles of water. "Hi!" She smiled as she handed Becky and Lilli a bottle of water. "My name is Jenny. Welcome to Vermont…" Jenny's welcome spiel was interrupted by the wail of Aurora in the back seat. "Oh my gosh, poor thing." Jenny peered into the back seat. "Does your baby need anything?" "Diapers," Lilli blurted out. "We ran out last night." "If you want you can bring her inside. We have a doctor here who can look her over too. If you'd like. We also have running water and cots. If you want to lie down and rest or take a shower." Jenny began to walk towards the red barn, but after a few steps she sensed Lilli and Becky weren't getting out of the dusty old truck. Turning slowly she spoke softly – "I understand how scary things are on the road. The mercenaries, vigilantes, and militias don't represent everyone in America though. We welcome everyone." Jenny grinned, holding the door to the barn wide open, spilling the soft fluorescent white lighting into the gravel parking lot. Lilli and Becky looked at each other for a moment. "Running water and a cot sound nice." Becky offered. "Aurora has never had a checkup from a doctor…" Lilli replied as she took a deep breath. Becky turned off the truck and stepped out into the cool night. Aurora was more than happy to get out of her car seat. She smelled awful after festering in her filth for a day. "Poor thing!" Jenny stroked the hair out of Aurora's face as the three weary travelers walked through the open door. "We have dinner if you are hungry. Baked beans, corn bread, and salad. Hot showers are over there. Donated clothing can be found in that room over there." Jenny pointed around the inside of the well-lit barn. "I'll go find us some new clothes." Becky smiled. "Alright." Lilli returned the smile as she gently rubbed Aurora's back. "Where's the doctor?" "Follow me…" Jenny motioned for Lilli to follow her. ![[annihilation-i-tiredTravelers.jpeg]] Aurora had stopped crying now and was happily sucking on her pacifier. Lilli followed Jenny towards the back of the barn, where there was a small room enclosed with hanging sheets. "Doctor?" Jenny whispered just outside the makeshift sheet wall. They heard a soft voice from the other side: "Come in please." "Hello Doctor Spark. Would you mind taking a look at this young one?" "Absolutely!" The doctor stood up from her desk. "What is your name?" The doctor asked as she gingerly took Aurora from Lilli. "Her name is Aurora. I got pregnant after the meteor strike. So, this is her first visit with a doctor." Lilli sighed as she wrung her hands nervously. "I see." The doctor smiled, then gently peeled off Aurora's dirty clothes and laid her on the exam table. "Jenny, would you please draw a warm bath?" "Of course, doctor." Jenny whisked away into the back room. A moment later there was the sound of running water. A tear streamed down Lilli's face. She looked around the room in wonder. The lights were on, and there were no sounds of generators running. She could even hear what sounded like a TV playing in the background. "Where are the generators?" Lilli ran her hands through her sweaty hair. "I can't hear them?" "Generators?" The doctor asked with a puzzled look on her face. "How do you have electricity for all these lights and is that a TV I hear?" Lilli asked as Jenny returned from the back room with a baby-sized tub of water. "Thanks, Jenny." Dr. Spark beamed. "Of course. Do you need anything else?" Jenny smiled at Aurora and stroked her cheek softly. "I think we're good." "Okay, I'll be up front if you need anything." Dr. Spark's eyes followed Jenny as she walked around the corner, then back over to Lilli. "Right – you're probably not used to all this." The doctor took out a tape measure and measured Aurora around her midsection. "New England didn't lose power after the meteorite strike. There were food shortages for sure and the violence was pretty bad for a while – during the uprisings and all. But things have settled down now and have gone back to normal... and yes, that is a TV. There is a rec room by the kitchen where travelers can watch the news if they want to." "Wow, a TV! I haven't watched television in almost 18 months. My husband and I lived in a cave for almost a year before we found our way into a rural town in Wyoming. They had electricity, but only for a few hours every day…" Lilli's voice trailed off as she remembered the last time she saw Andor. "How's Aurora?" Lilli blurted, eager to change the subject before the desire to cry became too overwhelming. "This little bundle of joy is quite healthy. You said you lived in a cave for a year?" The doctor's eyebrow rose in shock. "That's right, for a year. She was born there too. We'd still be there now, but we ran out of food and had to leave to find more." Lilli's voice cracked, and she quickly dropped her gaze. If only we had stayed another few days, Andor would still be alive. This thought had been tormenting Lilli for months and made it nearly impossible to sleep. She was exhausted, and in the back of her mind she was scared she was about to crack from the sleep deprivation, stress, and sorrow. "I see…" the doctor looked up, a sympathetic look on her face as she placed Aurora onto a scale. "Where's the little one's father?" "He's dead." Lilli stared coldly at the floor. "I am sorry to hear that. What was his name?" Doctor Spark asked as she rubbed a soapy sponge over Aurora's little chest and belly. "Andor," Lilli replied as a tear rolled down her cheek. "He was a Marine, so when he heard the Wormwood demon was spotted nearby, he volunteered to help track it down. He didn't come home." Lilli sank into a chair and sobbed into her hands, her back heaving as the emotion poured out of her. She had held it in for days as they traveled east, but talking about it with the doctor broke the dam she had built to hold back the fear, uncertainty, and loss. "Wait!?" Doctor Spark spun to look at Lilli so suddenly that she jumped. "Your husband is THE Captain Andor Kellogg?" "He was 1st Lieutenant Andor Kellogg, but yes." Lilli replied, curious as to how this doctor could know who her husband was. "Well, I'll be damned!" The doctor's eyes twinkled. "Your husband's famous. He killed the demon." "I had no idea!" Lilli's mouth hung agape in shock. "We don't get much news out in Wyoming." "I can imagine, they're in the thick of it out there right now. You'd think all of the racist religious quacks back in the dark ages under Trump had died off. Turns out they just hunkered down in Idaho." The doctor's voice trailed off. "We barely made it to Canada from there." Lilli shuddered. "A group of vigilantes stopped us at the border. They didn't like the look of two women traveling with a baby. We tried to play it off that we were sisters, but we don't look anything alike. My girlfriend shot two of them, and they chased us to the border. When we got close to the border, the Canadian Mounties drove 'em off." "Oh my god! That sounds terrifying." Doctor Spark's mouth hung agape. "Is your girlfriend here?" "Yes, she's looking for clothing, I think…" Lilli wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. "I'd heard about the vigilantes and militia groups intercepting supply convoys. I had even heard rumors they were trying to prevent people from fleeing the carnage. I guess they felt it was divine retribution… Misery loves company. I'm so glad you three are here now – safe and sound." "Honey? Where are you?" Becky's voice echoed softly down the corridor, interrupting the conversation between Dr. Spark and Lilli. "I'm in here." Lilli called out. "Oh, there you are." Becky smiled as she poked her head around the corner. "Aww and there's our wee little nugget and doesn't she just look so happy to be covered in soap bubbles!" Little Aurora cooed, then splashed her hands erratically into the warm water, spritzing the table and the doctor, who was gently cradling her. "I'm sorry – I don't think she's had a proper bath in ages…" Lilli blushed. "Oh, it's quite alright – this little angel can splash me anytime." She nuzzled Aurora's neck with her nose and cooed. "Those religious crackpots have turned most of the American West into a third-world country. Welcome to a more sane part of the country. We aren't perfect, but at least basic human rights aren't being taken away in a vain attempt to appease a theoretical angry god." Lilli and Becky stared back at the doctor, not sure how to respond. "Sorry. I can get carried away sometimes…" Dr. Spark stammered, then she lifted Aurora out of the murky water and toweled her dry. "It's okay, I don't care much for Christians either. They've done nothing but hurt me since I was a little kid." Becky replied as she dug into a bag of clothing. "Look what I found for Aurora!" She held up a pink onesie. "Oh my god, what an adorable outfit!" Lilli squealed in delight. ### Next Chapter: [[4 - Gungan Tribe 🥬]] ### Previous Chapter: [[2 - High Priest ⛪️]]