Staying Alive: New Addition
Page 7
“Give that back to me”! Nika pushes the recliner against the wall, it barely misses Elise.
“You’re a dumb fool if you think I’m gonna give this back to you”. Ah, this is another one of their day to day fights. And over a simple bottle of beer. I unclipped the back and front straps of the holder. Letting it drop to the floor quietly. I wouldn’t want to interrupt. I took the chance to get comfortable by sitting cross legged on the gray carpeted floor.
“I deserve this Blasted! I have every right to drink this Stupid beer”. Nika slammed her hand against the desk top making some of the objects on it topple over.
“No you don’t, what if we have to run at any moment and you’re not sober enough to escape”? Elise’s face was turning bright red now. Even though the subject of their bickering involves alcohol I’m quite amused by it.
“For god sakes Elise, It’s not like I’m gonna get drunk right this moment. D’you really think I’m that stupid? It’s just a bottle of beer, if I would have known you were gonna be a biatch about it I should have tossed the whole blasted pack out in the trash. Will that satisfy you”?
Alright maybe now I should intervene. I mean it’s getting a little dangerous. Any more argument and this might conflict all our plans. It’ll put them at odds and they’ll never cooperate with each other.
I’m gonna have to get up and stop this huh...
I grunted and rummaged through the backpack. I took out a piece of paper from a spiral notebook and crumpled it into a ball. I took aim and threw it right between the two of them. Making sure they notice the random white ball smack lightly against the window. They both quieted down, looked at the ball for a second, then turned slightly towards me. Elise was still holding the beer bottle. Must be lukewarm now... sucks.
“Alright you two, I’ve allowed you both to yell at each other for some time now but, I think that’s enough”. I cleared my throat before continuing on. “I’d like to consider Nika’s opinion on the matter. Beer: consuming it during times such as these...I’ll allow”. I crossed my arms knowing that when I do this my bosom pushes up...unfortunately waving to the world of their glorious existence. God, juststop.
“What do you mean you consider her opinion”?
Elise growled at me.
“What I mean, is that who would care? None of the laws that once existed here exist now. Personally I’d love to take a shot of some tequila but, I choose not to because I would like to stay focused during these times. Now will you two please shut the heck up”?
They both focused on me, for a short while until Elise sighed and gave up. The bottle hovered over the piles of neat paperwork stacked high on the desk. At first I wondered if she was going to spill the rest of the liquid onto. Then, she thrust the beer bottle in my direction.
“Take it and toss it out”. She said firmly. Her vivid green forest eyes burning (Literally) holes straight through me.
“What do you want to me to do with the rest of the alcohol”?
I asked, taking the warm bottle out of her grasp. “Just make some Molotov’s from half and the other for refuel”. She straightened herself and stalked out the door. I took a glance at Nika who was otherwise very solemn. Just give them a couple minutes to cool down, don’t involve yourself in their arguments Jade.
“You wanna help me with the Molotov’s”? I asked Nika in my ‘not-so-creepy-but-friendly’ tone. She looked at me and grinned. “Naw, I think I’m just gonna scout from here. Oh yeah...” She lowered herself down and rummaged through the bottom drawer of the desk, she skipped over and placed a small plastic square in my hand. I looked at it closer, you could see the green, red, and yellow buttons taking up most of the square piece. “What’s this for”? I asked her.
“That my dear Watson, is the dock remote for the back”. Her voiced sounded higher than usual, but I won’t mention that to Elise.
“Great, we can put the truck inside”. She spun around and dropped in the recliner.
“I’ve also got eyes on the outside...” She nodded towards the blue painted door in the far corner of the room. “Security system and camera’s on all corners of the building, one in back, a couple more in front and of course ten inside”.
She then gave me the keys to the blue door. When I got inside, the room was filled with at least 20 small video screens and a work desk. I sat down on a folding chair and played around with the video screens. Taking note that, in all of them you could see nothing but Bodies. There were more than the last time we got here. I shivered inwardly, no amount of killing those things will make the terror I feel go away. Appearing in and out of the camera view, my skin began to prickle, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Thankful for the blue door separating me from Nika, I’d hate to show how weak I could become. I flexed my hands above the keyboard. Calm down, you’re okay, just calm down, in and out, you’re fine
I took a shaky breath in and slouched into the chair. I stayed there for as long as I could, forcing my hands to stop trembling. After about an hour of looking over the surveillance feed, I stuck with a plan for the truck. I’ve got to go over this with Elise, see if this works for her.
I cleared my throat and got up from the chair. I shut the door behind me and tossed the keys to Nika, she caught them without even looking up. We’ve all trained ourselves to be flexibly alert, it’s become a habit for all of us. Even my mom can catch things without me telling her to.
“Are there any walkie-talkies or comms”? I leaned my hip against the desk.
“Mm, second drawer to the left, there are four talkies”. She was distracted by something in front of her. I looked over her shoulder; she was reading one of those magazines. Where she got it from, is the main question.
“What...the heck are you reading”?
“Ah, I found it rolled and snugged behind a drawer. Bet that person is missin’ this thing pretty badly...I mean look”. She flipped to a page that showed one girl on all fours; wearing something that resembled a bathing suit, crossed with be jewels. And that was all. I choked on my spit and slapped the mag shut.
“You really...shouldn’t be looking at that, you’re sisters gonna kill you and me for even finding it”. She looked up at me, her face contorted, her lips twisted in an odd angle.
“Pshh, she ain’t gonna care. Besides, it’s only curiosity right”? I really have no comment for that.
“Nika. Get up and monitor the surveillance cams”. I snatched up the magazine and tossed it across the room. Before I could make it out of the room, I felt something tap the back of my neck. A crumpled paper ball rolled between my legs.
“You and Elise are a bunch of ugly faced fun suc-”. I grabbed my katanas from the floor and closed the door behind me, hooking the holder straps on my shoulder and walked down the stairs.
Elise was in the food isle...again. Only this time she was snacking on a box of chocolate chip brownies. It’s a good thing that some food was left on the shelves, enough for all three of us to last for a month. I made sure that we locked the front doors and stacked a few car tires in front of them. It wasn’t hard getting the truck inside. We waited out until the back and front were clear. Nika was on the cameras, Elise was the driver and I was sort of like the distraction. I sliced through a few of them, the roar of the trucks engine was loud enough to pull more of those things our way. I took care of them mind you, most of them didn’t even have any legs so it was easy-peasy
Thankfully the loading dock was large enough for the truck. We then, filled it with two 24 water packs, granola bars, canned foods, some spare clothes, and a first aid kit. We’d be set if the time came for that. For now, we can relax, at least that’s what I hopped for.
Chapter 10
You’re gonna break a bone or worse”! I shouted from across the aisle. This idea was definitely, absolutely dumb. Nika and Elise where both in mountain bikes on the other side of the store. I’m not sure whose idea it was but, who’s ever it was must be some sort of undiagnosed retard.
“Its fi
ne, it’s fine! Just wave the signal flag already”.
Nika shrieked.
“C’mon, Jade”! Elise made a sound which was supposedly the rumblings of an engine. I shook my head, this was idiotic!
“Fine”! I grabbed the make shift race flag (which was made from some checkered cloth and a decorative bamboo stick) I stood firm, towards the end of the store,
“Ready”!? I shouted, my voiced echoed around the open space.
I’m gonna regret this...
“GO”! I swung the flag downwards, letting the tip, tap lightly against the polished floor. And they were off, Nika was ahead for a few seconds, then Elise rushed forward, the tires squeaking with each peddle thrust. When they got closer, I took a step back.
Depending on how fast they were going I would not like my toes to be crushed, No thank you
“Put those long legs to good use Elise”! I chuckled when she growled past me. They both screeched to a halt, the tires marking black smudges on the floor. I waved the flag once more to finish off the race, I was too distracted to tell who won.
“So”? Nika was panting beside me, sweat glistened on her fore- head. I shuffled in place.
“Who won”? Elise was putting her bike away, grunting while she placed it back on the bike rack.
“You know what, I’m not really sure”. Dropping the flag on the floor, I shrugged at them both, I found their expressions funny, too funny. So much so, that I wanted to laugh in both their faces about how ridiculous they looked. With their eyes slightly closed, and their lips puckered like a fish, how could a person not,
“I think I won”. Nika sauntered to my side and hooked an arm around mine. She looked at me, fluttering her eye lashes. She then leaned in and slipped something into my hand. I felt the rough edges of paper and stilled. Oh, she can’t beserious.
“Nika...” She looked up at me and gave me one of those “what- ever is the matter officer” looks.
“Keep the change”. She whispered into my ear.
Good lord, what the heck is wrong with this child. “You...cannot be serious right now”. I wiggled loosed from her hold and held up the crinkled five dollar bill in the air. She just did it...
“Nika...” I sighed.
“All you gotta do is scream, “I DECLARE NIKA THE WIN- NER”! I blinked slowly at her, and heard Elise tsk behind me.
“She gave you money right”? She asked, holding out her hand.
I gave her the green bill.
“Where’d you find that”? I asked Nika. She was spinning in place, jabbing the hair with her fingers.
“In one of the registers in front”. She spun around until she tired herself out.
“Is that all you found”? Elise stepped up beside, she crossed her arms. I glanced over and found that she was scowling again.
Don’t fight
“Yeah, I checked the others but, they were all cleaned”. She paused to take a breath. “I only found that five and a roll of quarters. People prolly looted them during all the chaos”. She pouted.
“Let’s keep the money ,just in case. We might need it for trade”. Elise poked Nika in the shoulder, I guess that’s one way of disciplining a person. Elise’s pokes were not to be messed with. After all that, I still had to decide a winner. They were taking this whole race thing a little too seriously, but I had to satisfy them in some way. I turned my back on them and paced forward, then hummed, then spun back to face them. They were both eager to hear the results. And I had come up with one.
I clapped my hands two times and made a trumpet noise with my hands.
“You’ve both shown true talent out there, both contestants proved to be equally strong, but I’ve made my decision...and the winner to the 300th Walmart biker race is...” I paused, for a more dramatic effect. I swung around and pointed,
“MISS ELISE STANFORD CONGRAGULATIONS”! She screamed and jumped up and down. “Yus”! She fist pumped the air.
“NO! I gave you money, that’s not fair...you’re choosing over favorites”. Nika stomped her foot, then the other one. I allowed her to do that a couple more times; allowing her to release all the tension before I spoke back,
“Nope, it was indeed a close cut, but Elise was ahead by a nose”. Elise froze in place, her left hand in a fist, halfway in the air. Ah, Lord
“What do you mean, she was close by a nose”? Nika asked, she huffed.
“A nose, as in; she won...” I really didn’t want to finish that sentence. The look on Elise’s face was literally a warning. I saw something register in Nika’s expression. I think she got it now.
“Oh”! She exclaimed, then she turned to Elise and snickered. “Don’t even...” I pointed a finger at her.
“its cause her nose is so big, that’s how she won right”? I rubbed my face with a hand, covering my oncoming laugh, inching a finger so I can peek at Elise. I was surprised to find her totally calm. I guess that’s to be expected, she knew I wasn’t making fun of her. But still, I knew that the whole nose thing was a sensitive subject for her. The thing about Elise is that she has a bit of a complex about it. I keep telling her not to mind it, “Don’t let it bother you”, I remember continuously telling her that. I think my nose is pretty freaking weird too. It ain’t as big though, but I won’t mention that.
She breathed in and out, and settled herself down.
“Jade, did you finish making those Molotov’s I told you about”? Her voice was strained. She was ready to explode, all it would need is a trigger. And that would be Nika
“Yes...we’ve got 10 I put them along with the rest of the stuff in the truck”. She nodded at me. I don’t know, it was still a little unsettling, she’s too calm... way too calm. Her eyes were wide and bright, the brightest I’ve ever seen them, then she began to smile and it was towards me. I would have found it cute in a different situation but right now, it’s just freakin me the heck out.
“Thank you, I’m sure that took a long time to do”. Her voice settled to a low tempo, I could almost hear the vibrato in her words.
“Yeah well, they could be put to good use, when we need’em”. I scratched the back of my head, the air around use was starting to feel uncomfortable. I knew Elise when she gets pissed, and this was way, way beyond that point. I’m gonna evacuate before the bomb detonates.
“You guys have your walkie’s on ya”? I asked them both, they nodded. “I’m gonna head over to the front, check the barricades, keep your walkie’s to station 7, I’ll report anything I find...suspicious”.
They both nodded again, I kept my mouth shut and walked towards the front. The store settled around me, a quiet that both relaxed and disturbed me. Nothing but the light squeaking of my boots against the floor, to help put me at ease. I tightened the straps of my katana holder, the clip nearly pinching my skin. I stood in front of the sliding door, tousling my loose strands of hair before curling it back behind my ears.
“I need a shower”. And a new tank too. It took me a good three hours to pick out a new tank top. The one I wore was covered in blood, it dried to an unearthly deep brown color. I picked off a white cotton spaghetti strapped tank and stripped out of the old one. It smelled of synthetic downy wash. And that “New shirt” smell. Taking no mind in the fact that the fabric was a little too sheer, that my black bra was totally viewable. Aside from that it was flexible and thick.
“It’ll do”. I untied my hair and slowly combed through the knotted strands, making sure to tie it back in place.
I looked down, and wondered if I should change my shorts as well. They weren’t as blood splattered as my shirt, but I spotted a few holes in the cloth, they should be fine...for a while. But just as a precaution I grabbed a clean pair of jean shorts and tossed it over my shoulder. Then Ieyed a dark blueand white ombre’ but- ton collar shirt. It was crinkled and in need of an iron. My fingers itched to fold the discarded clothing piled on a display counter. Some habits are hard to break.
I walked back to the sliding doors and jumped. Blood, there was fres
h blood on the glass. I noticed it was on the other side, I ignored that small detail, the blood appeared to besmeared across the glass, ending on the far side of the doors, and you could almost make out finger prints. What scared me the most was that the tires we so painstakingly rolled one by one were pushed aside. I leaned in closer, and found the bottom of the right sliding door was shattered, leaving a gapping crawl through hole. Blood tracks smeared the floor, leading towards the store’s bathrooms.
In a moment I was on full alert. I took in my surroundings. How could we have not heard the glass shatter? I might have happened when we were distracted with that stupid bike race. With Nika screaming like a howler monkey, I almost socked her right then and there.
I fumbled for the walkie on my belt. Tuning it to station 7, “Nika, Elise...you hear me”? White noise, then a few seconds later.
“Yeah, what’s up”? Elise sounded fine...better than fine, she sounded like her old self.
“Yes Alpha, this is Charlie...what’s the situation, over”? And there goes Nika. I chuckled and pressed the speaker button.
“You don’t need to say ‘over’ Nika”. I said. White noise.
“It sounds more official that way, over”. She chirped. A rustling noise sounded from inside the bathroom. The sound made my right ear tickle.
“What is it”? Elise asked. I sighed and pressed the walkie closer to my lips.
“There’s been a...breach in our defenses”. Some more shuffling, it seemed to grow louder the longer I stand here.
“Breach? Why what’s happened”. Elise sounded concerned. I took a deep breath and pressed again,
“I noticed one of the tire stacks slanting, I checked; there’s a giant idiot in one of the doors, and I think one of them is inside. I need you both in the front, now”! I flexed my fingers.
“Rodger”. Nika said.
“I’m on my way”. Elise cut off before I could reply. I slid the walkie back on my belt and stepped slowly towards the bath- rooms. My heart thundered against my chest, I pounded my fist at it, thinking that it would somehow calm it down.