The Mesmerized

“Then we’re already contaminated, huh?” Minji set her hands on her hips and gave him a stern look.

Arthur folded his arms over his chest, the end of the child leash still clutched in one hand. “That’s not very comforting.”

“Whatever’s happening, we’re obviously immune to it. Take comfort in that, okay?” Minji twisted her dreads into a tight rope, then coiled it into a bun on top of her head, tucking the ends under to hold it in place.

“I’m not touching them,” Arthur retorted. “I can’t risk it.”

Minji was not in the mood to argue with him. “Fine.”

Mindful of Bailey in the backpack, she set about dragging the bodies to make a passage for the stretcher. She didn’t have to move them too far to clear the way, but it wasn’t an easy task. She was fit from her kickboxing classes, but she was also small in stature. Arthur obstinately didn’t help her move the first bodies, but eventually trudged to her side and helped with the last few.

“Thanks for helping,” Minji said reluctantly, peeved at his overall behavior.

“We can get out of here faster this way,” he answered tersely. “Besides, maybe we are immune, like you say. Now, how do we get your giant husband onto the stretcher?”

“Can you get his shoulders? I’ll lift at his knees.”

“What if we hurt him more?”

Arthur tied the child leash to the wheel frame. Ava just stared.

The thought had occurred to Minji, but there wasn’t really any other choice. She couldn’t wait for someone to come and rescue them. How far had the event spread? How long would it take to get help into the area? And the more dreaded question, how many were affected?

“We have to take the risk,” she decided.

Arthur positioned himself at Jake’s head and squatted to tuck his hands under the other man’s broad shoulders. Minji crouched, mindful of Bailey, and prepared to lift her husband’s long legs.

“You couldn’t marry a short Asian, huh?”

“Fuck you,” Minji retorted. “Lift.”

The muscles in her arms, legs, and torso screamed in pain they hoisted Jake’s long frame upward. Arthur grunted and swore under his breath, but managed to get Jake off the ground and halfway onto the stretcher. It took both of them to get him all the way onto the mattress and positioned correctly. Arthur began strapping Jake down and Minji started to protest, then thought better of it when she regarded the mesmerized crawlers. She helped fasten her husband, tied the child leash to her belt, then clasped the handhold near Jake’s head.

“Same as before, okay? I pull, you push.”

“Where are we going?”

Minji hadn’t really thought that far. She just wanted Jake safe with her.

“I thought so...women. Never thinking ahead.”

Minji frowned at his words. “Oh? This from the guy running off to the airport without considering all the helicopters falling out of the sky? Some of those explosions we heard could have been planes.” As the words left her mouth, again she felt a stab of stark fear for the fate of her in-laws.

“Let’s just get out of here. Once we get outside, we head in the direction that doesn’t have all the smoke and fire...” Arthur gestured toward Ava, “...or those.”

“Her name is Ava.” Feeling protective and defensive, she took Ava’s hand tenderly.

“She’s one of them.”

“If we weren’t immune, we would be, too,” Minji reminded him before pulling on the stretcher and putting her back to him.

Arthur was silent as they wheeled Jake through the resort, which was fine with Minji. Stragglers of the mesmerized wandered through the empty hall, most tottering on injured legs. Some were bleeding profusely and guilt ate at Minji as she ignored their condition. Being unable to help was a substantial weight on her shoulders, but what could she do?

They were almost through the casino when Minji noticed a tall, slim black woman with short, sleek hair staring at them from around a colorful slot machine. Prickles flowed down Minji’s spine when she remembered the man from the bar earlier. She was definitely being scrutinized this time around.

“Hello?” Minji said cautiously.

“You’re okay,” the woman answered, relief flooding her face. “Oh, my God, you’re not one of them.” The stranger stepped out from behind a bank of slot machines. She carried a tire iron in one hand and her royal blue blouse was covered in dirt, blood, and black grime. Her charcoal trousers and matching blazer were also in bad condition and sporting scorch marks. “I saw all the emergency vehicles outside. I was hoping that there was help in here...but you’re not paramedics.”