The Mesmerized

With a sinking heart, Minji knew what would happen next. “They’re going to start walking now.” A disconcerting numbness settled like a mantle over her mind and body. Now that it was evident they were not going to be rescued, or even hauled off to be tested, Minji recognized that she was on her own. The rescuers were now victims of the event. She’d have to find a way to save her husband on her own and doubted Arthur would be any help.

“But where are they going?”

The sound of the first synchronized footstep sounded like a thunderclap. Both Minji and Arthur jumped. Unlike the first attacks, once the mesmerized began to walk, they did not stop. The rumble of footsteps vibrated in the air. Gripping Ava’s hand, Minji watched the people who had occupied the makeshift rescue center start their trek northward. It gradually dawned on her that many of the survivors still wore their hazmat suits and gas masks. A quick study of the area revealed only a few people had died instantly at the beginning of the attack. Why did some die, but not others?

“I need to get out of here to the airport and onto a flight home,” Arthur mumbled, fishing his phone out of his pocket.

“Do you really think the planes are flying? Helicopters just fell out of the sky!” Minji winced at the thought of Jake’s parents flying home. How far did the event reach?

The violent quake of his fingers made it difficult for Arthur to work his phone and frustration turned his face a fiery red. “I can’t be here anymore!”

“Where are you going to go?” Minji averted her eyes from the mesmerized mass. She didn’t want to watch anymore people die, but death would occur as the horde funneled through the burning wreckage of the helicopters and cars.

Arthur flailed his hands, then let out a short bark of frustration.

The acrid reek of smoke was intensifying. Minji finally dared to venture from beneath the table to peer out of the tent. Dragging Ava with her, she laid gentle kisses on Bailey’s sweaty forehead and surveyed her surroundings. She ignored the people that she couldn’t save, and focused on the abandoned ambulances nearby. The paramedics were gone, but their equipment remained. Dragging her eldest daughter with her, Minji rushed to the nearest one. The back doors were open and a speedy examination revealed that the stretcher was still tucked inside.

Sweat trickling between her shoulder blades and the sun burning against her skin, Minji studied how the stretcher was attached to the floor of the ambulance.

“What are you doing?” Arthur yelled after her.

“I’m going to save my husband,” Minji answered. The muscles in her arm were screaming for her to put down the baby, but she didn’t dare. Ava was at her side, but still staring after the mesmerized.

“How?” Arthur asked, flinging out his arms. “Don’t you see what’s happening? Vegas is on fire! People are zombies! How are you going to save him?”

“I don’t know,” Minji snapped. “But I’m going to.”

Arthur came around the door and stared at the stretcher. Tugging on the end, he gave her a contemptuous smile when it didn’t budge. “You don’t even know how to get this out of the ambulance.”

Spotting directions on a sticker attached to a long metal bar holding the stretcher in place, the tension in Minji’s chest relented just a bit. Giving Arthur a triumphant look, she pushed on the silver bar and the claw holding the stretcher released.

“Okay, so you did that, but now what? How are you going to get him out of there?”

“You’re going to help me,” Minji answered simply.

“Look, lady—”

“Minji,” she corrected.

“Mindy—”

“Minji. It’s Korean.” Though Lily had changed the spelling, she’d made certain to name her only daughter a popular name in her family’s homeland.

“Whatever.” Arthur exhaled explosively, shaking his head. “I’ve got my own family to worry about. You go deal with yours. I have to find a way home.”

“Where’s home?”

“Atlanta.”

“How are you going to get there?” Minji looked meaningfully toward the burning visage of Treasure Island. “As you pointed out, Vegas is on fire.”

“I’ll get a car and drive back...” Arthur started toward the congested road.

“Please, help me. If we work together we have a better shot of getting out of here and finding help.”

Arthur set his hands on his narrow hips and stared at the stretcher. “How? Are we just going to wheel him down the road?”

“Yes. Whatever it takes.”