No Time to Panic!: A Book of Short Stories

By Sallie Cochren

When in a crisis, the characters in these stories must keep their heads if they are going to survive. Whether dealing with aliens, monsters, a psychotic killer, or finding themselves stranded in time, now is definitely no time to panic!

Stories include:

The Storm Keepers - When three strangers arrive, one with an uncanny ability to predict the weather, are they truly to be trusted by the people of the village?

The Keepers of the Lights - The monsters who live in the woods watch and wait for their chance to escape and attack the people who live in the village.

The Sheriff’s Son - People are being killed, but they aren’t acting like they’re dead!

Traffic Stop - Angela must face her worst nightmare with a psychotic killer after what was supposed to be a routine traffic stop.

The Lightning Tunnel - The newest attraction at Thundering Sands Amusement Park is not all it appears to be. When Mason is transported back in time 55 years, will he ever find his way back home?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sallie Cochren
• Release date: Jul 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950941087

Sallie Cochren

Sallie Cochren has always loved a good story and enjoys stories in a variety of genres. She started writing short stories and skits as a child, thinking it was a great way to spend her free time. She always wanted to write a book of her own, but her teaching career kept her so busy that there was no time to write. When she resigned from her teaching job, she finally had time to start writing and fulfill her lifelong dream.Sallie is drawn to many genres. Her stories encompass a range of writing. She has written horror novels, science fiction, psychological thrillers and even Christian fantasy. She has also written a lighter read with her Alien Cats trilogy. She is currently working on a dystopian series as well as continuing her vampire hunter series.When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading and watching movies. She also loves animals and enjoys spending time with her cat.

Book preview

No Time

To Panic!

A Book of Short Stories

By Sallie Cochren

The Storm Keepers co-authored by Elsie Marie Cochren

Author’s note: All characters and events in these stories are strictly from the author’s imagination and are not meant to resemble any person, living or dead.

To learn about more books by this author or to view trailers, please go to www.salliecochren.com.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by mechanical or electronic means including storage and retrieval systems without the author’s permission. An exception will be made for reviewers. If leaving a review, you may quote a short excerpt. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

ISBN-13: 978-1-950941-00-1

No Time to Panic: A Book of Short Stories Copyright Sallie Cochren December 2017

Previous copyrights on individual stories:

The Storm Keepers Copyright Sallie Cochren and Elsie Marie Cochren June 2017

The Keepers of the Lights Copyright Sallie Cochren December 2016

The Sheriff’s Son Copyright Sallie Cochren May 2017

Traffic Stop Copyright Sallie Cochren February 2017

The Lightning Tunnel Copyright Sallie Cochren December 2017

All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents

The Storm Keepers

The Keepers of the Lights

The Sheriff’s Son

Traffic Stop

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

The Lightning Tunnel

Author’s Notes

The Storm Keepers

The Year 8370

The villagers surveyed their new surroundings. Most of them had lived their lives surrounded by concrete, caught up in the hectic and busy life of going to work and taking care of families. Any nature retreats they had taken were planned in advance. It was so strange for them to now be standing in their village, looking out to the perimeter and seeing all the green foliage and trees that seemed to go on endlessly.

There were so few of them now. So many friends and family members were gone. Colleagues, neighbors and even those who had annoyed the villagers in their past lives were now mourned by everyone in the village. Could they possibly survive with their numbers?

They weren’t alone. There were nearby villages. Many had retreated into the mountains and woods to form their villages. Everyone supposed it was this way all around the world. The cities were feared, thought to still be dangerous, hosting the virus that had wiped out more than 90 percent of the Earth’s population.

Some were resistant and were unaffected by the virus. Those were the people who now went wherever they could to survive. The survivors worried, though. Could any future children they created become victim to the virus also? Could they be sure that their children would inherit the genetic protection necessary to ensure their survival? The villagers hoped that relocating to the woods would protect their descendants and ensure that future generations would keep humanity going. The virus seemed to die quickly without a human host. Surely in these woods where people had rarely come, it would be safer than in the germ-infested cities where so many corpses lay abandoned and rotting.

Greatly outnumbered by the animal kingdom now that their population was so small, everybody knew that there was safety in numbers. No village housed less than fifty people. Most of the former city dwellers feared the bears and mountain lions who now had to share their homes with humans.

Many of the villagers had barely gotten out in time before their cities were put on lockdown. Others escaped the borders after their cities were quarantined, risking being shot by the authorities who guarded the perimeters of the cities. Of course, there wasn’t much to worry about when most of the people enforcing the quarantine died from the virus. Then, survivors just walked right out without anyone pointing a gun at them.

The woods seemed much safer, more virus-free, if there was such a place. Everyone had always believed that fresh air was healthy. Here in this remote place, there was certainly plenty of that. In time, the air in the cities began to clear as factories shut down, fuel ran out and vehicles stopped traveling the roads. But no one knew how long it would take for the virus to go away, and many wondered if the cities would ever be safe again.

Over time, life became more primitive when cell phone batteries ran out and satellites became useless. Villagers now had to live without running water or electricity. It was very hard for most people at first, having been used to the luxury of city living. Some didn’t know if they could ever get through this.

They now were forced to have conversations with their new neighbors. No more texting. That seemed minor now, though, given all of their losses.

So, a new world began. The cities sat abandoned, waiting for future generations who were too afraid to reclaim them. The villagers learned to survive in the woods and to make do without all of the technology to which they had become accustomed. Soon, thoughts of the old world passed. People looked to the future, striving to rebuild their civilizations.

Present Day, Year 8412

The village of Phloxwood was founded in the mountains of Colorado. Several other villages were nearby in the region also. The villages had grown in population slowly with many people dying of illness or falling victim to animal attacks. But now, things had stabilized a little. Over the years, there had been a few brave people who had made treks to the old city of Denver to retrieve needed supplies from pharmacies and stores.

Travel took time. Men rode horses and traversed old highways, pulling wagons behind them. Some of the roads had been overgrown with weeds. Branches from fallen trees littered the highways. At times, the men wondered if they could even get their wagons to pass through the roads.

Of course, when they left the city to return to their village, they had to be quarantined in Forsta, a campsite located between the ghost town of Denver and their home, Phloxwood. This was done to ensure that they didn’t bring any potentially remaining virus back with them. There was a small ranger station in Forsta which had stood for centuries. It only had one small room where two people could lie down on the floor. There were tents and sleeping bags inside the station so that it allowed multiple people to sleep on the ground outside.

Expeditions usually included four to six men, and they took turns sleeping inside. There wasn’t a lot of protection from the weather inside the old ranger station anyway. Wooden boards hung loose from the walls, and the roof leaked. But of course, those sleeping outside were more vulnerable to an animal attack. They kept their weapons at the ready even though they rarely had a problem.

For the most part, wildlife stayed away from the men as they didn’t want to take on more than one person at a time. It was easier to catch prey in the woods and leave the humans alone. Still, it was better for the men to be safe rather than sorry, and they always went prepared with weapons to defend themselves if necessary. The villagers had a few rifles and the men going on the expeditions were always afforded one. They also each had a sharp knife that they kept close to them at all times.

When they remained healthy after a month of staying at Forsta, they were allowed to bring supplies back. In the old days, anyone who contracted the virus showed signs of illness within a week of exposure and were dead within three weeks. So, this was considered to be a safe time period to quarantine those going for supplies.

Still, it was always considered a risk, and these ventures didn’t happen very often. For that reason, they continued to live off of the land as much as they could.

When they went on their expeditions, they still gathered what few medications were left on pharmacy shelves, which wasn’t much. Of course, no one knew how well the medicines would still work. Over forty years had passed since the virus had come. It seemed like the medicines still worked, at least sometimes. So, they raided pharmacies for whatever they could find.

Over the years, the villagers had learned to grow herbs and had pulled old books from library shelves to learn which herbs might be effective in fighting illnesses. Books were very useful for people who were trying to rebuild their civilization. They contained a wealth of knowledge, so the expeditions always included the libraries and bookstores on their list of places to raid.

There were also other things that came in handy – toiletries (on the rare occasion they found any), blankets left on store shelves, jackets hanging in abandoned department stores, fabrics for the women to sew new dresses with. Some of the items had worn out with age, but some of them were still in decent condition. So, the men gathered anything that might be useful. There was always something that the villagers needed.

Expeditions took a long time, and those who went on them were always happy to finally get back home. They enjoyed life in their village. It was so much more peaceful than rummaging through the deserted city.

The village looked like a place out of the past. Women wore dresses that hung just below their knees. Men wore button shirts and trousers. Families resided in wood cabins that people had painstakingly built throughout the years. Almost everyone got married and started a family. Still, their population was only around one hundred and fifty. It was very slow growing their numbers although by now, few people remembered much about the large populations of the past. No one spoke about those days anymore. The city was only seen by the people who went for supplies, and the young men who saw it thought the city was strange with all of its concrete pavement and tall abandoned buildings.

Animals rarely attacked anymore. They got used to the villagers and seemed to respect their boundaries. Of course, an occasional snake got into the village and claimed its victim, and there were a couple of people who went too far outside of the village and succumbed to bear attacks.

Wells supplied fresh drinking water for the villagers, and campfires stood outside cabins with kettles hanging over them for the women to cook meals for their families.

Even gender roles reverted to ways of the past. Women tended to cooking, cleaning and raising their families while men worked the fields and hunted for meat. No one seemed to mind. By now, this was all that anyone knew. Promiscuity was shunned. Young girls were supposed to act like proper ladies. Even mild flirting would get them a reprimand.

Often, women gathered to gossip around the stream where they went to fill their wash basins. As they scrubbed their clothes in the basins, there was always something juicy to talk about.

Do you think Catherine and Barnabus will wed soon? Sabrina asked.

Mom! Eliza said. It’s not our place to guess at such things.

Eliza had inherited her mother’s light brown hair. It came about six inches below her shoulders. She stood about five and a half feet tall and had brown eyes and fair skin. Like her mother, she was very beautiful.

Well, if you ask me, they should be married at once, Mary said, a woman in her forties. I heard they were seen on the outskirts of the village yesterday holding hands.

Sabrina shook her head.

That’s what I heard too, she said. Can you imagine if either of them were your children?! They’d best get to the nuptials before they bring shame on their families.

They were just holding hands, Eliza said. It wasn’t like they were caught kissing.

If they are comfortable enough to be holding hands in public, then I shudder to think what they do when others aren’t watching, Mary replied.

Eliza remained silent. This was the life she had been brought up in. She knew nothing of previous worlds where girls flaunted their figures and made out with guys openly. Still, it seemed to her that there had been nothing wrong with what Catherine and Barnabus had done. Didn’t mothers hold their children’s hands? Wasn’t it just a show of affection?

There wasn’t any point in arguing, however. Eliza knew full-well what was tolerated in Phloxwood and what wasn’t. She went about her daily life, holding her tongue and saying no more about her thoughts on the matter.

Catherine was her friend. They had grown up together. Perhaps that made her biased. If Catherine was any other villager, would she feel the same way? Eliza didn’t know, but she was determined to tell her friend what the women were saying about her.

That night, the village had a big dinner. The villagers all came together once a week. Women brought enough food to feed their families, and they gathered together in the center of their village in what was called the meeting circle. Here, they set up tables to accommodate everyone. Eliza made sure to find Catherine and pull her aside.

I hear you are quite the scandalous young woman, she teased her friend.

What? Catherine asked.

Eliza raised her eyebrow.

Oh, Catherine said. I suppose people are talking about me and Barnabus holding hands.

Catherine was a beautiful girl. She had dark hair and skin, brown eyes and stood about two inches taller than Eliza.

Of course, Eliza said. They want to know when you are to wed.

Catherine smiled and looked around to make sure no one could hear her.

Can you keep a secret? she asked mischievously.

Of course, Eliza said. We’re best friends, aren’t we?

Barnabus asked me to marry him! Catherine practically squealed with excitement.

What?! Eliza asked, surprised. That’s great!

I know, Catherine said. I can scarce believe it myself.

Eliza paused for a moment and thought about it. Then, she asked Catherine a question that was on her mind.

But why haven’t you told anyone? she asked. Why is this a secret?

Then, a thought so scary entered her mind that she couldn’t even bare to think it.

Wait, she said. You’re not with child, are you?

Eliza! Catherine shouted so loudly that those nearby stopped and looked their direction.

Catherine waited until people went back to their socializing and then continued to address Eliza’s preposterous suggestion.

Why, I would never! Catherine said. Can you even imagine? Barnabus and I would be outcasts. We would have to go survive on our own. And with a newborn, no less! Of course I would never do anything so improper! How could you possibly think such a thing?

I’m sorry, Eliza said. I just didn’t understand why you wouldn’t want to share this joyous news.

It’s quite simple, really, Catherine replied. Barnabus hasn’t asked my father for my hand in marriage yet.

What? Eliza asked. Is he crazy?

It was just that we were in the perfect moment, and he let the words slip out, Catherine said.

If your father finds out, Eliza worried.

He won’t, Catherine assured her. You promised to keep my secret, didn’t you? You wouldn’t want my father to deny me happiness and say no when Barnabus goes to ask, would you? We both know that if he found out, his house would be shamed. He couldn’t allow me to marry Barnabus.

Of course, I won’t say a thing! Eliza promised.

About that time, a yellow cat came and rubbed against Eliza’s legs.

Starfire! Eliza said, picking up the cat. I’ve missed you. Where have you been?

Starfire was an explorer and had been gone from the village for a couple of days. He didn’t belong to anyone but visited the villagers often. However, he especially liked Eliza and hung out with her a lot.

That cat adores you, Catherine said.

Not any more than I adore him! Eliza said as she kissed Starfire on the forehead.

Their conversation was interrupted by one of the villagers who was using a bullhorn to get people’s attention. Clayton called for everyone to be silent. His siblings, Edmond and Annabeth, stood by his side.

Please, everyone, Clayton said loudly. Those who are standing, please have a seat. I have a very important announcement.

Slowly, the villagers stopped talking. Some of those who were standing went to chairs and had a seat, and some sat on the ground in front of the trio. As the village became quiet, Clayton resumed talking.

The news I have to share with you is something like you have never heard before, Clayton said. I fear you will think me crazy, but it is imperative that you listen closely.

People listened even closer now. Everyone wanted to hear what Clayton had to say. Clayton was a young man, twenty-two years old. He and his siblings had traversed the woods two years ago to come live with them when their small village had burned to the ground, killing most of the people who had lived there. The few survivors scattered, looking for homes. Only ten people had survived. Forty-two had perished. Some villages had turned the survivors away. But when the three young people came to Phloxwood, the villagers took pity on them and accepted them into their community.

No one in the family was married. It wasn’t that they couldn’t be married if that was what they wanted. They were all very attractive and well-liked. Clayton had blonde hair while his brother’s hair was a reddish-brown shade. Edmund was a year older than Clayton. Like their sister, he and Clayton had flawless light complexions. Many girls had crushes on the two brothers. But being the proper young ladies that they were, they didn’t let on to how they felt about the young men.

Annabeth was just as desirable. She was the youngest in the family at twenty years old. Several guys showed interest in Annabeth with her long, silky black hair and light blue eyes. But she had turned them down on the rare occasion that they had gotten up the nerve to ask her out. She wasn’t interested in dating anyone.

People assumed that the siblings simply needed more time to feel at home and to be comfortable in finding their spouses among the villagers. When the time was right, they would eventually marry.

I know we are the newest citizens here in Phloxwood, Clayton said.

Not quite! George called out loudly.

George was an elderly man. His daughter had just given birth to his grandson, Charles. George pointed to his daughter who held Charles proudly.

Of course, Clayton said. My apologies. I wasn’t thinking of the children born in the last two years but about the fact that my siblings and I were the last people to travel here to Phloxwood.

The crowd had settled down from laughing at George’s comment. They now listened carefully once more.

The other night, I had a strange dream, Clayton continued. It was a silly dream. I dreamt that Andrew would sprain his ankle.

Villagers gasped. Andrew sat among the villagers. He turned and looked at Clayton more closely. He still hobbled around after spraining his ankle that morning and needed an occasional shoulder to lean on in order to keep from falling.

I know, Clayton said. It freaked me out when Andrew sprained his ankle this morning also. The thing is this wasn’t the first time this had happened. At first, I thought it was a coincidence. But now seeing what happened to Andrew, well, it certainly made me rethink things.

What was the first time? a man called out.

Nothing really, Clayton said. I dreamed it would rain when I started to plow the fields. Then as soon as I started to plow, the rain began. Again, I just thought it was a coincidence until this morning.

Wait a minute! Andrew shouted. Why didn’t you warn me? Maybe I could have been more careful!

Yeah! another villager said. You should have warned him!

People started agreeing and shouting out. It took effort, but Clayton eventually got them calmed down again.

No one would have believed me, Clayton finally said. The truth is I didn’t even believe it myself. I’m sorry for that. Of course, had I thought it was real, I would have said something.

There was more murmuring, and it took time to get them to listen again. Finally, Edmund shouted at the top of his lungs into the bullhorn.

Would you all stop and listen?! NOW?! he shouted.

At this, everyone halted their tongues and looked to the trio, still standing there waiting for Clayton to finish speaking.

The thing is, I have had a third dream. Now, I believe my dreams are premonitions. I must give you all warning, Clayton continued.

Everyone listened closely.

I dreamed that a lightning storm will strike the village and that one of our own villagers will be struck dead, Clayton said.

What?! Who?! the cries came out from dozens of villagers.

I don’t know! Clayton shouted. I wish I did. The dream didn’t show me that much. All I can tell you is that it is a man. I saw him struck from behind.

When will this storm hit? someone asked.

I don’t know that either, Clayton confessed. I just know it will be soon. I don’t know how I know that, but I just do. It feels like it should be upon us already.

Well, we shouldn’t be sitting out here in the open! a man called out.

Another agreed, and people started to pack up to run back to their cabins.

Wait a minute! a villager named Johnathan called out.

Johnathan was a middle-aged man and a father of two. He and his wife had a happy marriage, and he wasn’t buying into all of this premonition nonsense.

This is ludicrous, he shouted from the bullhorn which he had retrieved. It was just a dream! Since when are we all so superstitious?! We should stay here and enjoy the dinner that our wives have prepared for us!

People thought about it. Some didn’t know who to believe. In the end, about half of the villagers went to their cabins. The other half stayed with Johnathan. Many agreed with him. They had overreacted. Surely, this was all just a bunch of hogwash. Nothing was going to happen to them.

Clayton and his siblings looked at each other and then looked to the villagers who didn’t heed Clayton’s warnings.

Well, there’s nothing we can do about it, Clayton said. We tried to warn them.

Annabeth and Edmond nodded, and the three of them retreated to the safety of their cabins. They hadn’t been in their cabins for more than fifteen minutes when the first crack of lightning broke the silence of the skies. A large thunderclap nearly knocked the villagers off their feet. Those who had retreated to their cabins looked out their windows, looking to the sky above. Those who were still in the open began to panic. They quickly grabbed their belongings and started to head to their cabins.

The rain began to pour, and people stumbled as they tried to outrun the storm. Pushing into each other, many didn’t even stop to help those who they knocked down. Eliza and Catherine were more courteous. As they ran for shelter, Catherine stopped to help a woman up who had fallen. Eliza held onto Starfire. Soon, they had all found shelter.

Great lightning strikes came down from the heavens and lit up the night sky. People screamed and continued to try to scramble for safety. They retreated to their cabins and closed their doors. The storm ended about a half hour later. People slowly began to emerge from their cabins to survey the damage. When they went back to the dinner tables, they found no one. Nobody had been harmed by the lightning. People felt foolish for letting themselves get so worked up to believe what Clayton had told them. They worked together to gather up the leftover food so it wouldn’t draw in wild animals. When the area was cleaned, they went home and went to bed.

The next morning, Eliza saw that Starfire was gone. He had wandered off again. She hoped that he would return soon.

Soon, she and the other villagers were awakened by a woman’s scream piercing the silence of the morning. People tossed on their robes and ran to the sound of the scream. The sound had come from the perimeter of the village. As the villagers headed that way, a woman named Martha came running toward them and met them.

He’s dead! she shouted, horrified.

Who? people asked.

Dennis, she said. I saw his body lying facedown.

She pointed them in the direction of Dennis. Sure enough, when the villagers got there, they found Dennis lying facedown. His shirt had a burn mark, and everyone knew what had happened. The lightning strike had been intended for Dennis.

What was he even doing out here? someone asked.

No one knew. Everyone