by Mariah Lynde
“What was the question?” Cal snapped in irritation.
“I said, ‘How what’ when you said that Angel was not overreacting,” Again that exasperation in Jay seemed to be shining through. I could only wonder at its cause, but thought it best not to push the subject just yet.
“Oh. Well, I’ll admit, listening to Miss Warren’s explanation, I heard things explained that I never would have thought of. She did the same last night, so I was just wondering how often does she actually think that way? Is it common?” He looked between me and the computer screen several times. As if he was not sure just what he should believe.
“Always. She’s been like that since I’ve known her.” Robbie chuckled with a laugh, “And that’s been almost twenty years.”
“I haven’t known her as long, and mostly we’ve only ever talked online. Robbie’s right, she’s always like that, even when we game. She sees angles most of us don’t.” Dave chimed in before snickering.
“Meh, she sees stuff, but it’s not always right. Also kinda gets us all in trouble when she overreacts.” Alec chimed in and I could only roll my eyes. Any other meaningful part of the conversation and he was silent. Bring up my faults and how they made him work or get in trouble – it became a gab fest.
Taking another drag of my cigarette, I listened to them all speak while I straightened out my legs in front of me. Honestly, I expected this conversation. It really wasn’t too far from the truth, embarrassing as it may be. I did happen to be a little too paranoid at times.
True, there had been times before that I had gone off the deep end to try and prepare for incidents that did not take place. This, however, did not seem to be shaping up to be one of them. In the course of twenty-four hours I’d already encountered two of the ‘afflicted’. So now, it only seemed to be a matter of time before it got worse. Thing is, I couldn’t help but think that all of this could be avoided if people stopped playing out of the general rule book.
While the others argued, I mused over that particular thought. I mean, setting up this curfew as a form of containment was folly. Especially with the health announcement they had given. Why even bother doing such a thing when time and again, such actions had proven to cause more trouble than they were worth.
Another drag was taken from the cigarette as I tuned back in to the conversation at hand. Cal was watching me warily while Robbie spoke.
“None of us are denying her thought pattern might be a little…extreme. Still, when you’re trying to think about the intricate details of a worst case scenario, she’s definitely a person you want to have on your side. Angel is one of those people that has a contingency plan for her contingency plan. It might sound insane, but it works. No matter the situation, lethal or non-lethal, she can navigate most people through a situation that they otherwise wouldn’t know how to handle.”
I smirked hearing my best friend’s defense. Honestly, I wondered what he thought about the way I operated sometimes. Hearing it out loud now, I felt a little more at ease. Sure, he’d just pretty much owned up to the fact that I could be the equivalent of twenty pounds of crazy in a five pound bag, but no one was perfect.
Turning my head, there was no avoiding the gray eyes staring directly at me. Whatever anyone else thought, I knew that the man beside me had not come here today because he wanted someone to hold his hand. He’d come here because he’d been thrown into the deep end of the pool and realized that he was as far out of his depth as he could get. That particular realization had a small twinge of guilt pulling at me. Still, I refused to carry dead weight. If he wanted guidance and maybe an ally, I’d do what I could to set him on his merry way but he’d have to earn it.
“You really have thought all of this through.” His words sounded flat, his voice lacking in real tone, as if the fight had been sucked out of him. I could sense confusion and a good deal of mortification as he dropped his gaze away from mine. “All of that stuff upstairs…that’s to get ready for all of this?” He waved his hand in a general sweeping motion that left me in no doubt that he meant the whole of the world around us changing.
“Yes.” I answered simply, taking one last pull from the cigarette before moving to snuff it out in the ashtray.
“How does all of that…figure in to the grand scheme of things?” Even as he spoke, he was moving to settle back in the chair. Well, settle is too nice a word to use for the action I witnessed. His shoulder slumped in defeat while the rest of his body just kind of fell back in a raw interpretation of a rag doll. I suppose I couldn’t really blame him, the knowledge that you’re witnessing the end of the world does have a tendency to hit a person with the impact of a freight train.
“After tonight, the next few days are going to be bad.” I spoke softly, turning my chair a little so while I spoke to him, the others in the Skype call could hear me.
“How do you mean…bad?” Again, his voice wavered, a touch of weariness that had a certain air of resignation to it.
I had not intended to break the man. If anything, I’d only wanted him to be aware of what exactly was happening around him so he could survive.
“Pretty much, it is going to get anarchy bad. Well, we’ll try and be positive and say it’s more like organized chaos.” Leaning forward, I propped my elbows on my knees and peered over at him. “With the public service announcement about people feeling sick, there’s going to be a panic. The minute that those gates open in the morning, there will be a flood of people filing out into the world at large. Some will head for the hills and go to places they feel safest, others will raid grocery stores and pharmacies to stock up on what they consider their definitive needs for the next few days.
“However, they’re working on a limited amount of information. Few people have the advantages that we’ve had. Tomorrow, when that curfew lifts, people will hit the ground running. Stores will gouge their prices on basic items and the customers will buy all the things they think will get them through this minor crisis. Think of it like the snow storm warnings in winter. Everyone rushes out to get milk, bread, and water, but they forget to grab candles and lighters in case the power goes out.” Peering over at him, I gave a weak smile.
“Why the pharmacies though? I understand the grocery stores, but that…”
“Is situational. With their call to people about the curfew and the whole cover story about people feeling ill with flu like symptoms the public will panic. Tomorrow, people will flood stores for vitamins, flu remedies, and all manner of medications to try and ensure their safety from whatever this is. Sadly, as you’ve seen for yourself, it won’t do them much good.”
“Okay, but that still doesn’t explain all that stuff you have piled up above us. That’s more than a few days worth of supplies. What’s the point in stockpiling it here.Or at all?” Gray eyes watched me with enough intensity that I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. It felt as if he were measuring me, taking stock of my person, as it were. The last thing I wanted to deal with was the third degree in my own home. Especially by someone that I’d known for a grand total of twenty-six hours and who had done his part in frustrating me to the point of no return.
Shaking my head, I leaned back in my chair and struggled with the idea of being calm. Honestly, I wanted nothing more than to reach out and strangle Cal until he passed out. At least then I’d have some peace and quiet. Unfortunately, that was not an option that seemed to be open to me at the time. Praying for patience, or sanity, I drew in a slow breath and lifted my gaze to Cal’s own.
Whatever I’d been intending to say caught in my throat as gray eyes locked me in place. There was a look there I hadn’t seen before. Whatever this man was thinking was something that centered solely on me. He seemed almost angry, feral. Enough so that the glare he gave me appeared almost feverishly manic and made me wonder if perhaps he had been infected
Shifting my weight, my feet pushed down onto the cool concrete floor to get some added space between us. I no longer had any idea what I happened to be dealing with, bu
t one thing was certain. The cool, calm, and collected executive I had been dealing with was far from this place at the moment.
What the hell had I been thinking? I didn’t know a damn thing about this man and here he was, in my home, with access to all of the things I’d gathered in the last day and a half. I had been so blinded by my own agenda that I hadn’t stopped to think about just what he could be up to.
What if all this had been a setup? What if he had known all along what was going on and came here to take any and everything that I had acquired to make things easier for himself? That thought in particular left me cold and I shifted uneasily once again. Absently my gaze moved around the room, searching for some kind of weapon or object that could be used to put distance between us if needed.
“Where did you just go?” Cal snapped, the hard edge in his voice drawing my gaze straight back to him. I should have left him to his own devices against Teena Hawthorne. It had been folly to let him into my home. I realized right then, I didn’t know enough about him.
“Sorry.” I uttered softly, knowing full well that everyone on our little Skype call could hear me. While that wouldn’t be much comfort if something did happen, at least there was a chance that I’d eventually get help.
Steel gray eyes watched me with an intensity I was in no way prepared for. The look there was one I could not readily describe. I sat there, frozen in place under the weight of his gaze and struggled to draw in air. When he spoke, his voice sounded just as it had before: quiet, confused, and sincere. That tone in no way matched the intensity that burned in his eyes and I couldn’t shake the thought that there was more going on here than I realized.
“So?” He began softly, “Are you ready to answer my question now? What does all that stuff you have upstairs have to do with the grand scheme of things?”
Peering at him, I tilted my head and slowly leaned back in my chair again. At that moment, the more distance I could put between us the better. I had no idea what the hell I’d been thinking in caving in and allowing him to stay in my home. What angle was he playing? What did he really want? Honestly, these were questions that I couldn’t know the answer to without keeping a closer eye on him.
“I…” Exhaling a little as I peered at Cal, I knew that the best way to play this off would be to show a small amount of trust. Whether it came from a belief that he was too dumb to handle this situation on his own, or the fact I hadn’t thought about his possible defection, was for him to decide. “That’s just it, there is no grand scheme.”
“How do you mean? What’s the point of all that stuff upstairs, Miss Warren? There’s no way it is for day to day use. Some of it doesn’t even make sense to have.” He frowned a little, moving to stand from his chair and kneel in front of me. “I’m just trying to understand.”
“True, some of it may be a little excessive. I grant you that. As far as there being a ‘grand scheme’ there isn’t one. Something a whole lot of people forget is that you can’t really plan for the unknown. Part of that stuff upstairs, is just a cushion. This thing goes sideways and zombies overrun the cities, you don’t know what you might need. If everything goes well and all of this never becomes a problem, then I’m just well stocked for the next year or so.” I shrugged a little, choosing to leave it at that instead of going into specifics.
“How many possible what if’s could there be for a long term scenario. Hell, even a short term one wouldn’t require all of that stuff.” This time his hands moved to take hold of my own while he spoke. It took everything in me not to jerk back and away from his touch.
“Plenty.” I breathed a sigh of relief as Robbie chimed in. If my best friend had been there in that moment, I likely would have kissed him. His interjection crackling over the computer speakers had been just enough to bring a sense of control back to me. In the wake of my musings over Cal’s presence in my home there had been an almost oppressive force that left me feeling as if my personal world was spinning out of my control.
Fortunately, I have a savior. Mine, just happened to be a Puerto Rican as mentally high strung as I was. At a time like this, such a thing was a godsend.
“Like what?” Cal’s head turned toward the computer, his attention wavering enough that it gave me a chance to pull back and away from him and settle in a little distance away. Robbie’s intervention gave me a chance to acquire some much needed breathing room.
“Well, say Angel is right in either scenario.” Robbie began, “Let’s start with short term. If they spend the next three weeks, imposing curfews and rounding up the infected, this will limit the amount of time people can be out to get food, services, and supplies. For the remainder of the day when they’re locked down in their homes and emergency services are tied up, there could be any number of things that happen. Power outages which will eliminate cooking food or shut down refrigerators causing food to spoil. Crews will only have a limited amount of time during the days to try and restore power, if that is even possible. So, having certain foods available that are not reliant on being refrigerated or frozen is a good way to make sure you’re covered.”
While Robbie spoke, I watched Cal carefully. Each single word that he heard had his shoulders tensing just a little more. It seemed reminiscent of watching patients in the emergency room being given bad news about a diagnosis for one of their family members. That particular reaction happened to be one I knew well.
When you were given bad news, it seemed almost like the whole of the world around you stopped. In that time, every single weight, worry, and care that you spent most of your days pushing to the back of your mind would crash in on you with near suffocating force. If Cal Mitty had any agenda in mind on taking the reins and getting access to the supplies I had acquired, I’d know soon enough.
Even if that were the case - with the description that Robbie was giving him about the possibilities lying before us, each one painted more grimly than the next. Seeing his reaction in being faced with them, anyone would have been knocked down a peg or two.
“Now, let’s go to the other side of that, long term scenario. If Angel is right and the world as we know it is about to choke and burn. People are going to get violent. In the midst of chaos, there is more chance to be hurt and infected by being out in the middle of the melee then there is in being safe within your home and an environment you know intimately. Supplies like she’s gotten, with staples that will last for a couple of months, give her an opportunity to avoid the worst of the chaos.
“Taking into account the things she bought, if she gets stuck and ends up having to deal with long term power outages or being cut off from the ability to go scavenge for food - she’s pretty much set for at least a month or two. While the initial panic is at its worst and others are risking infection or death from the chaos that ensues, she remains in her home, in an environment she can control.” When he finished, there was a small hint of a smile beginning on my lips. Any doubts I may have had about my over eager stockpiling of supplies had just been laid to rest.
“I don’t understand the medical stuff; she literally has boxes of medicines, vitamins and more gauze than anyone can use, ever.” As Cal spoke I frowned. I hadn’t realized he’d been given an opportunity to really see what all materials I had acquired. Had he been taking stock so he knew what he could take? That thought sent chills down my spine. Zombies I could handle, human beings? I wasn’t quite so sure I was up to that task yet.
“Why so interested?” Brandon asked, mirroring my own thoughts, “I mean, I thought you’re only there for tonight and tomorrow you’d be gone.”
“I…well yes, I got caught here for tonight, but I’d like to know what I should be preparing for when I leave here.” My gaze immediately locked onto Cal as he stumbled over the words. Maybe I hadn’t been too far off the mark in my assessment.
“Same thing the rest of us are preparing for, whatever you need to survive a small lockdown.” Robbie cut in, and I took that time to grab another cigarette out of the pack and light it. Anythi
ng that would be a distraction from my slightly paranoid train of thought was welcome at that moment.
“So, basically, just shoot for whatever’s random?” Cal asked. I almost felt bad for him, his tone of voice sounded almost lost, as if he were drowning in the events that were taking place around him.
“Well, not random, but whatever you think you’ll need to survive.” Jay interjected. Again, as the others picked up the thread of the conversation to keep Cal engaged I could only find myself extremely grateful for friends like these.
“Well, Miss Warren said you all had a plan. Wouldn’t it be wise for me to stick with her and be part of a larger group?” His question had me choking on smoke as I’d just taken another drag of the cigarette. Hacking up half a lung, my free hand moved to pound at my chest while my eyes watered and blurred any sight I had of the man nearby.
Whatever answer I might have given anyway was immediately negated by the sound of the others in the call laughing. Everyone seemed to find his question outlandish, even by our nerdy standards.
“He thinks he can be a part of this group.” Brandon laughed a little.
“The spooner thinks he can use us...maybe that stick up his ass will make him a good puppet to use as bait.” Mack chortled from the background on Ray’s end of the call.
“She’ll eat you alive.” Ray chimed in cheerily.
One by one everyone chimed in until only Robbie remained. God knows, the others made me sound like some type of horrific monstrosity and I couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or a bad one. Sadly, no matter what all of them said, the final votes to weigh in would always fall on my best friend and I. While the others had been voicing their opinions on Cal himself, no one had made a decision about including this man in our little circle. That responsibility lay on the pair of us.
That particular subject was one I would have preferred discussing with Robbie in private, but it seemed that would not be something that we could accomplish tonight. There were things about this whole situation that irked me, though what those were, I couldn’t really say.