The Aging: A Novel Read online

  The Aging

  Jack Hunt

  Direct Response Publishing

  Copyright © 2021 by Jack Hunt

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  THE AGING is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For my Family

  Also by Jack Hunt

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  A Powerless World series

  Escape the Breakdown

  Survive the Lawless

  Defend the Homestead

  Outlive the Darkness

  Outlaws of the Midwest series

  Chaos Erupts

  Panic Ensues

  Havoc Endures

  The Cyber Apocalypse series

  As Our World Ends

  As Our World Falls

  As Our World Burns

  The Agora Virus series

  Phobia

  Anxiety

  Strain

  The War Buds series

  War Buds 1

  War Buds 2

  War Buds 3

  Camp Zero series

  State of Panic

  State of Shock

  State of Decay

  Renegades series

  The Renegades

  The Renegades Book 2: Aftermath

  The Renegades Book 3: Fortress

  The Renegades Book 4: Colony

  The Renegades Book 5: United

  The Wild Ones Duology

  The Wild Ones Book 1

  The Wild Ones Book 2

  The EMP Survival series

  Days of Panic

  Days of Chaos

  Days of Danger

  Days of Terror

  Against All Odds Duology

  As We Fall

  As We Break

  The Amygdala Syndrome Duology

  Unstable

  Unhinged

  Survival Rules series

  Rules of Survival

  Rules of Conflict

  Rules of Darkness

  Rules of Engagement

  Lone Survivor series

  All That Remains

  All That Survives

  All That Escapes

  All That Rises

  Mavericks series

  Mavericks: Hunters Moon

  Time Agents series

  Killing Time

  Single Novels

  Blackout

  Defiant

  Darkest Hour

  Final Impact

  The Year Without Summer

  The Last Storm

  The Last Magician

  The Lookout

  Class of 1989

  Out of the Wild

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Epilogue

  A Plea

  Readers Team

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Jefferson County, Texas

  July 5

  Josh Davenport tapped a Glock 22 against his thigh, watching the sunrise.

  He scanned the single-lane driveway through a slit in the boarded-up window. They’re not here yet. Maybe they won’t come. Maybe she’s wrong. Maybe there is another way. His heart thumped in his chest. His throat felt parched. A warm sun peeked through the surrounding forest, causing him to squint. He turned and looked at a mound in the bed, the still, small frame. The covers rose and fell ever so slowly, hardly noticeable to the eye in the dim light. She’d wanted to sleep in his bed. To feel safe. Was anywhere safe, anymore? He looked out again. His eyes were slightly swollen, dark circles beneath them revealing a lack of sleep. His cheeks were red from a night of tears.

  I can’t do it.

  His sister was blissfully unaware. Too young to understand. Not even he could fully grasp the gravity of the situation. It felt surreal. Again, his mind frantically searched for a way out, an overlooked idea, some alternative. He had nothing. It’s not meant to end like this. He peered out again and trembled.

  “It’s time.”

  He didn’t answer. Seconds passed.

  “I know you’re there.”

  If I remain still, she’ll think I’m gone.

  “I heard the floorboards.”

  Josh gritted his teeth and drew a deep breath. No one his age should be forced to do this. It had been weeks. Surely by now someone should have known how to stop this. He looked around the room at posters of dirt bikes, a few shiny local awards on his side table from years gone by. His white bass guitar leaned in the corner next to a small amp with a set of large black headphones. A collection of dog-eared graphic novels and adventure books lined shelves. Meaningless now. A chair and desk with an opened notebook were beneath. He squinted through the glare of the screen at the news reports. The situation hadn’t improved. It had only gotten worse. They still didn’t have a handle on it. He thought they would by now. They said they didn’t know what it was but perhaps they did and no one wanted to admit fault or tell the truth.

  How could anyone explain this?

  It went against the natural order of life.

  He walked out of the room, down a dimly lit hallway. The walls were adorned with family photos. In the kitchen, the sink had piles of dirty dishes. Trash overflowed from the garbage can. The air smelled musty from not opening the windows in days. He turned on the faucet and splashed a few handfuls of water over his face and dark hair. It was humid. July. The height of summer in Texas. Even with the air conditioning on, it was sweltering. In the middle of the room on a round table was an army green molle backpack full of essentials for the journey. The destination wasn’t far.

  He stared at it for longer than he should.

  In his minds eye, he heard laughter. An uncommon sound. The smell of a home-cooked food. Big colorful balloons celebrating Lily’s tenth birthday. A cake. It wasn’t always bad. He wasn’t always a problem. It had once been a home full of love. A typical life for an ordinary family making their way in the world. Now it was just an empty shell, four walls, and a murky reminder of t
he past, the pain, and division.

  “Please.”

  He clenched his hand. “Okay. Just give me a minute.”

  Josh checked the items in the pack against a list on his phone, the list she’d sent. Medication, Lily’s inhaler, blankets, matches, and food were among the items including a state map just in case the power grid shut down. All he could think about was the worst, only what could go wrong. That had been his existence for the last three years.

  He considered reasoning with her again. They could wait a few more days and see if the situation improved. These kinds of matters took time, didn’t they? Besides, it was safer here. He could continue to go into town and bring back supplies. They could hold out here until it was over.

  Over? What a joke. It would never be over.

  Even as he thought this, he heard her reasons again.

  You’re too young, you need to take care of her, they will eventually come here, it’s safer at this new location. He looked at the message she’d texted him. He knew the area but didn’t recognize the address. Why wouldn’t she tell him who was there? Why not give him a phone number to talk to the person? Why was it safe there? And what if they arrived and no one was there?

  Even worse, what if the wrong person was there?

  No, it was safer here, he told himself.

  Josh’s eyes welled up again. He was making excuses, putting off the inevitable. A tear streaked his cheek. He wanted to smash the house to pieces. Unleash his anger. He wanted to lash out at the world. He wanted answers, a solution. This was too much for him to carry. No one his age should have to deal with this.

  He looked back down the hallway to the bedroom, trying to summon the courage to go through with it. How could he explain it to her? As much as he had tried to talk his way out of it, he knew the alternative. Josh knew he’d only be doing it for him. A wave of regret hit him. All the times he’d been problematic — acted out. It weighed heavy. What he would give for another chance, more time. More time with her. He needed her. He couldn’t make this trip without her.

  Ah, who was he fooling? He couldn’t stop it.

  Josh set the gun down on the table and fought back more tears.

  Anger rose.

  His father should have been the one dealing with this. Not him. Not her.

  “Please, Josh.” Her voice persisted.

  “There has to be another way.”

  “There isn’t.”

  He sniffed hard and smeared tears against his cheek.

  “I can’t. I can’t go through with it.”

  Silence.

  More silence.

  Josh knew he couldn’t change her mind. No amount of pleading or denying would change the outcome. It was a matter of what was right, she’d say. Right for who? None of this was right. Less than thirty days, he thought. That’s all he got. That’s all she had.

  How could they be sure? The news always got things wrong. They didn’t know how this worked anymore than they did the common flu. Every person was different.

  He wanted to see her but she wouldn’t let him.

  Stuck inside that room. Day after day.

  Even if he went through with it, what life would he or Lily have?

  Josh thought about the future and the responsibility. Could he keep her safe? What if it happened to Lily? To him? Who would take care of her? He looked at the address again.

  “Why won’t you tell me?” he asked from the kitchen.

  “It’s best this way.”

  “We deserve to know.”

  “Do you trust me?”

  He closed his eyes and gripped the table tight. Frustration rising. A myriad of arguments from the past flooded back in. Yelling, slamming doors, unable to express what he wanted to say. Trust was a contentious word. It was loaded. A point of multiple disputes and now she was asking him to trust her?

  How could she ask that?

  “If not for me, do it for her.”

  Twisting the knife with her words. She knew how to push his buttons.

  Josh wiped his eyes and pulled away, leaving the kitchen. He quickly made his way down the hall to the bedroom before he changed his mind. He tightened his grip on the gun. Entering the room again, he strode up to the bed and shook the mound.

  “Lily,” he said. “Wake up.”

  He went over to the window and tugged the board away to let warm sunlight bathe her face. She groaned and lifted an arm to block the glare.

  “I’m tired.”

  “Get up and get dressed,” he said.

  Josh collected his MP3 player and large headphones from the living room and returned a moment later as Lily slid her arms into a red top. He helped her when she got stuck as one of the arms was turned inside out. Once she was dressed, he led her over to the closet and opened it, then had her sit down below a rack full of clothes. The closet also held football gear, an old school bag, and old video games that he’d been meaning to give away. “Listen to me carefully. Put these on, and don’t take them off. Don’t come out of this closet until I return. Do you understand?”

  “But Josh.”

  “Do you understand?”

  She nodded.

  “Repeat it back,” he said.

  “I…” she muttered.

  “Lily!” he barked.

  “I’m not to take these off and not to come out.”

  “Good. Until when?”

  “Until you get back,” she said.

  “Okay.” He set the headphones over her small head. They were too big. They pressed down her blonde bob cut. He adjusted them and then turned on the music, making sure to increase the volume so that it was loud enough that she wouldn’t hear but low enough that it wouldn’t hurt her ears. Josh mouthed the words, “Is that okay?”

  Lily gave a nod. He kissed her forehead and stepped back. Josh closed the closet doors.

  Reaching around into the back of his jeans, he pulled the Glock and walked out of the room before he fell back into hesitation. He hurried down the hallway, took a left turn, and approached the door. He set it down and knocked. “It’s outside.”

  As he walked away, she said, “Josh.”

  He stopped but never looked back. He knew the door was still locked.

  “I love you,” she said. “Always remember that.”

  His body trembled as he muttered an inaudible reply before running into the kitchen, away from the room, away from her, away from what he’d done. Did she hear his reply? What if she never heard? The anguish was already setting in, eating away at the back of his mind. This is for her. This is not for you. He slumped down into a chair, staring at the backpack.

  Seconds passed.

  More time, maybe a minute.

  Only the sound of a ticking clock.

  Then a sudden noise. Unmistakable.

  Crack.

  It echoed so loud. His body shuddered, his muscles froze then his shoulders went limp.

  It was a sound he wouldn’t ever forget.

  Josh lifted his eyes to the window, to the perilous world beyond, through a curtain of tears. Wiping his face, he sat there for a moment longer, reining in his emotions before collecting the bag from the table, shrugging it over his left shoulder, and returning for Lily, hoping she didn’t hear, hoping she wouldn’t see he’d been crying.

  He had to be strong for her.

  For the two of them.

  In the bedroom, Josh opened the closet door to find her still there, head bobbing to the music, blissfully unaware. A strained smile tugged at the corner of his lip then vanished fast. Had she heard it? Did she know? He extended a hand and she took it, following him out of the room toward the back of the house.

  “Put this on,” he said, taking her small denim jacket off the rack and handing it to her.

  “What about mom?”

  “I told you.”

  He’d gone over it multiple times.

  “I’m not leaving without mom.”

  “We have to go.”

  “But I…”


  Lily tried to pull away but he held her tight.

  She was forcing him to tell her. He didn’t want to tell her but he did. It came out.

  “Stop it. Stop it. She’s gone, Lily! She’s gone. She’s never coming back. You hear me?” He paused. “It’s just you and me now.”

  Somewhere behind those teary eyes, she understood, at least he hoped so.

  “We’re taking the motorcycle, you’ll need to hold on tight. Can you do that? If you don’t, you will fall off and hurt yourself. Do you understand?”

  She nodded, taking a hit of her inhaler, trying to calm her nerves. “Okay,” she said, her tone full of false confidence.

  “Let’s go then.” He kissed her on the forehead and led her to the front of the house. A warm breeze brushed up against his skin as they exited. He looked around nervously, knowing that at any moment health officials could show up and take them away. They wouldn’t believe them, his mother had said.

  They would have taken the two of them.

  Fifty feet away was the carport. A rusty shack that covered the SUV. A black tarp was draped over his white Suzuki DR-Z400. It had been a gift from his uncle Harley, a man who shared his love of bikes. Weeks of no use had left a thin layer of dust on top of the SUV. He led her over there and removed the tarp and pushed the bike out. He leaned it up against a shed before telling Lily to wait there while he removed a ten-gallon canister of gasoline.

  “Don’t move.”

  He trudged back to the house and entered, shaking out the contents, a steady trickle unfurling over the floor and furniture. He went into every room except hers. She was adamant that he wasn’t to go in there. She didn’t want him to see her that way. Not like that. The smell of gasoline made him cough as he retraced his steps. Outside he took out a Zippo lighter.