The Charge

Chapter 3

        “We need food,” Lexie says, voice lowered, shooting a worried glance at Pip. Fortunately, her brother is soundly sleeping.
        I nod curtly. “Yes, we do. ASAP. I’ll go out later today.” We’ve been out of food for a couple days now, and when Pip isn’t sleeping, he’s complaining about being hungry.
        Lexie shakes her head. “No, I will. You went last time.”
        “How about none of us go?” I turn around to see Maxwell rubbing his eyes. He raises one eyebrow. “I mean, the Flood is due to happen today.”
        “It’s urgent, Max,” Lexie hisses. “And we need water, too. Do you really want to go another day with Pip whining all the time?”
        “Do you really want to get your brains fried by a Zapper?” A Zapper was our word for someone with the charge.
        Lexie rolls her eyes. “That won’t happen. And I’ll be back before the Flood comes.” She grabs her backpack, slings it over her shoulder, and opens the trapdoor. “See ya!” With that, she crawls out of the base and is gone, trapdoor slamming behind her.
        “You have to get her!” Maxwell exclaims. “She’ll get fried!”
        I shake my head. “No, she won’t. I trust her. Besides, we really do need food and water.”
        I hear a noise behind me and turn around. Pip is sitting up, yawning. “Where’s Lexie?” he asks, in his high-pitched voice.
        “She’s out getting more food for us,” I tell him, brushing his curly brown hair out of his face. “She’ll be back soon.”
        Pip shrugs and reaches for his shoebox. It’s full of little games and things like coloring books and crayons that we’ve salvaged from different cars and stores. He opens it and takes out the barnyard coloring book and box of crayons, and starts intently coloring.
        I turn away from him and look at Maxwell. He’s staring at me, eyes wide.
        “What?” I say, standing up.
        Maxwell gulps. “D-did you hear that? It’s… it’s…”
        I tilt my head, and suddenly, I do hear it. It’s a faint rumbling sound, and it’s growing louder by the minute! I snap my head up. “Oh, no,” I whisper.         Because I know that sound. I peek out the window and sure enough, a towering wave of water is visible in the distance, getting closer every second. I look back at Maxwell.
        “Lexie,” we say at the same time.