Afraid of the Dark

by Chris Hechtl

  Grudgingly the doctor nodded. Yan did as well, smiling a little. “I like animals,” he said simply.

  “We've got a hundred or so. I lost count,” Shane said glancing at Jen who smiled coyly and shrugged. He snorted. “Jen knows what we've got. She or someone can show you around.”

  “I'd like to get settled first,” Yan said. “Take a shower at the least. It's been a few days,” he said.

  “I wasn't going to say anything,” Jen said smiling again. He shook his head. “But we can fix you up. Its barracks living here gentlemen. We can't segregate you. We'll work on your lab as time and resources permit. I'll try to find a place as close to the lab as possible though.”

  “What was the last report from UCR? Overall I mean. Security and stuff how are they doing?” Shane asked them as they got up. Phillips shrugged.

  “Doc didn't leave the lab since the incident. I've been out to catch animals and to get supplies. Its chaos. Animals raid the campus at night. Many people have been killed. Groups have tried to fight them off but...” he shrugged helplessly.

  “Some of the dorms have been abandoned. One caught fire. They've lost power as of this morning,” Phillips said. Yan glanced at him. He smiled a little. “I'm not completely daft young man. I saw the fire from my window the other night. I heard the radio report this morning.”

  “Ah,” Yan said nodding a bow.

  “All but the Chang building,” the doctor said in disgust.

  “Chang building?” Jen asked.

  “Chung actually. Winston Chung. Engineering wing. One of my countrymen worked out a deal with the board to do research on his batteries,” Yan informed them. “It was set up in 2011 to run on battery power. His batteries. He also entered a cooperative to run MPV RV.”

  “Quite ingenious as long as they have something to recharge them,” Shane said cautiously. They could use the batteries and equipment. He made a mental note to find some. Or find the factory. Maybe they had some in storage?

  “A few of the surviving engineering students rigged solar panels and wind turbines on the roofs. Apparently they went out to service one at night and were killed,” Yan said softly. The others winced.

  “If its complete chaos then I expect the campus will break down further over time now that the utilities are cut off. It will most likely implode within seventy two hours if they get a sustained attack,” Shane mused. “We'll probably start seeing refugees around then,” he said. They stared at him. He held up his hands.

  “Military and police training folks. I took a couple of social psychology classes too.”

  “Which has helped out a lot in this situation,” Jen said smiling a little. “He's done a good job taking charge here and diffusing some problems we've had before they got out of hand,” she said leading them out. She led them down the hall and out the door to the main strip. “We've got a community bath in here where the hair salon is. We've also got facilities being put in here and there,” she said waving her hands. “Do either of you have a phone?” she asked.

  Shane turned to view the men. Doc had a small bag, Yan had a backpack. Yan pulled a tablet out but it had a cracked screen.

  “We can get you a new one. We've got some IT guys who can try to salvage your drive too,” Shane said.

  “Thank you,” Yan said bowing deeply. Shane nodded.

  “Let me get these gentlemen sorted out and...”

  “And I'll check on the kids and meet you all for dinner at six. I know, I know, you eggheads want to compare notes,” he teased. She smiled a little at him. He caught her hand and kissed the back of it, making her squirm and dimple. “Until later lovely lady.”

  “Behave!” she admonished as he released her hand and started to walk away. He turned his head to smirk at her and then kept going. She chuckled softly and turned to the two who were looking at her in amusement. Yan looked a little uncomfortable about the public expression of love but Phillips was obviously looking on with approval. She blushed a little more. With a grand wave she indicated the path through the mall. “This way gentlemen...”

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “We don't have enough bunk beds,” Jayne warned him later. He glanced at her. She shrugged. “I checked. We're far from a complete inventory, but I think we've got about one hundred and fifty sets from each of the stores. That's including Mors and the other furniture stores in our area. We've used them all. We're improvising a few now.”

  “Each...”

  “That's total,” she said. He nodded. “I wish it was more but its not. Some aren't the standard twin size either. A few have full size underneath that folds up into a couch or another twin that is perpendicular to the top bunk. Anything with a larger bed I've got families on doubling up.”

  “Okay...” he said slowly. He was curious as to how he and the family were going to get a set. Was he going to have to pull rank? Make a set? He'd rather have a queen or king, but he knew the space limits made that impossible. Sleeping in piles of bedding and tangled clothing was getting old. He had a plastic coat hanger dig into his right shoulder last night.

  “I've set you and the kids up with a metal one. The bottom bunk is a full since you're six feet tall. I'll get someone to set it up eventually,” she said. He snorted. Better sooner than later as far as he was concerned.

  She shot him an amused smirk. “Okay,” he said amused himself. He nodded smiling a little. She rubbed at her temples. “I don't know what to do about the other beds though. We've got a lot of people.”

  “Hot bunk for one,” Shane said.

  “Hot bunk?” she asked looking at him.

  “Navy thing. They did it on subs and in transports. One person uses the bed per shift.”

  “Um...”

  “We're going to have people up around the clock Jayne. We need look outs and security. Not to mention your crews handling food and KP.”

  “I know that, I'm just trying to do the math. We're still coming up short though,” she said with a grimace.

  “Which is where the people with carpentry skills come in. We'll put them to work turning the other bed frames into bunk beds. Stack them three high if we have to. Or we'll get welders to make sets of bunk beds out of metal pipe or angle iron. Whatever it takes,” he said.

  “Okay,” she said nodding.

  “I'll put bunk beds and twin beds in general on the shopping lists,” he said.

  “Okay, I'll pass the news onto Art and Jesse.”

  “But Bob's got first call on the materials. He'll need wood for the forms. Metal for the supports.”

  “Forms?” she asked, wrinkling her nose. “Dare I ask?”

  “Forms for the concrete. We're going to form a perimeter wall around us. Several if we can swing it. We'll make it out of anything available. I'm planning on cutting up metal shipping containers and using them too. Whatever works,” he said.

  “Ah.”

  “The forms will be set up and hopefully re-useable. We'll try to pour concrete at our weakest points.”

  “Along the 60 side?” she asked. He looked at her. She shrugged. “I've been talking to Bill and Bob too you know,” she said.

  “Ah,” he said nodding. “Yes,” he said nodding.

  “Okay,” she said with a ta-ta wave. “We're on it.”

  “Remember start with the existing bed frames!” he called after her. She waved and kept going. He snorted and turned around. “Now what the hell was I doing...?”

  ...*...*...*...*...

  He noted the long line and flapping banner and frowned. “What's going on?” he asked as Jen came out and smiled at him. Jayne came with her and took his other side. Both women took an arm.

  “Um, ladies? What's going on?” he asked, voice rising a bit.

  “Nothing, really,” Jen said, leaning forward to give Jayne a conspiratorial smile.

  “Well, something actually, something important. And you're such a good leader you're setting an example,” Jayne said, smiling back at Jen and then winking.

  “I am?�
� he asked. A guy moved the banner back so others could see it. It was hand written. He spelled it out. “Blood drive?” he asked. “Um, you know how I am with needles girls, I ah...” he started to struggle a little but he knew it would be useless.

  “Come on daddy, you'll do fine,” Trina said ahead of them. She and her siblings waved. “If we can spare a pint you can too,” she said. She indicated the band aid on her arm.

  “Damn it, not fair,” he growled softly to Jen.

  “I'll make it up to you dear. Later,” she said in mock sympathy.

  “Funny,” he sighed, real funny,” he said. “Careful lady, I'm tempted to hold you to it,” he growled. She giggled at that.

  “They need all the blood they can get,” Jayne said in way of compensation. “We lost a couple of people because they bled out. You don't want that right?” she demanded. Her grip tightened until he gasped a little.

  “No, no, I'll be good,” he said.

  “Better,” Jen said. “I'll pinch you so hard...”

  “Ladies can we tone it down?” he asked looking around at a few of the others around them. A few were looking amused; a few were trying to ignore the byplay. He colored a little. “I'll be good. Honest. No need to gang up on me. One of you is enough to outnumber me as it is,” he said dryly. “I'll do it. I promise.”

  “And we'll be here to make sure,” Jen said, syrupy sweet. He sighed and shook his head in wry amusement.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Jen came over to see people clustered around the TV. A voice was on, she craned her neck as she got closer and caught an image of a news broadcast.

  “What are we watching?” she asked. She hoped they were recording it. Gabe had said he had set up Tivo's for every broadcast. She'd have to check and make sure he had enough boxes.

  “Shhh!” several people shushed her. A girl pointed a remote at the TV and then turned up the volume.

  “To repeat, the meteor shower from several days ago has covered the planet in alien bio-matter. Every square meter of the planet received at least a dozen animals, as well as what now appear to be plants. The animals are different species. Those that land and cannot adapt or find food die and become food for the others. We've heard reports of land animals landing in the ocean only to drown, while water animals land on the ground only to expire.” The woman frowned. Jen looked at her. They obviously were skimping on the makeup and hair. The woman looked more than a little disheveled. Hell so did she, she thought to herself with a pang, running her hands through her hair and over her face.

  “Authorities are urging people to stay in their homes or in a defensible place and board up their windows and doors. Remain calm and only come out if you have to and only during the day. Repeat, the alien menace is primarily active during the night so please, stay indoors and...”

  Jen turned around, shaking her head. Jayne was nearby so she walked over to her. Her BFF was talking to someone on her clipboard.

  “What's up?” Jayne asked as she got closer.

  “Idiots,” Jen said, jerking a thumb over her shoulder. She turned looking back. “It’s news?” she asked.

  “What?”

  “News broadcast to stay inside at night and board up your windows and doors.”

  “That's news?” Jayne asked chuckling.

  “Well apparently so. I'd say its a slow news day but who are they kidding?” Jen asked shaking her head. She put her hands to her face.

  “You okay?” Jayne asked her.

  “Fine, fine.” She opened her eyes and straightened her shoulders. “Just tired. This schedule is screwing me up. I want it to be over, like everyone else here,” she said, indicating the crowd around the TV.

  “They are clinging to it. The news broadcast. It’s a taste of our past,” Jayne mused.

  “It’s a waste of time. We need to get Gabe to TiVo it so we can get back to work. He said he was going to but I don't know if he set the system up or not. They can watch it at night when we've got the free time.”

  “At night everyone's too exhausted,” Jayne said.

  “True.”

  “And scared out of their little minds,” Jayne said.

  “Also true,” she said scowling a little. “That should change once the boys have the perimeter wall up and things settle down. We need to hit back though. Someone does anyway.”

  “Your husband and the others are working on it. Give them time. We've only been at it a little while,” Jayne said and then chuckled softly. Jen gave her a long look. “Listen to me, we've only been at it a little while,” she said again, and then chuckled. She shook her head and walked off.

  After a moment the TV broadcast cut off and the group broke up. They were talking quietly, most were glad to see some semblance of civilization was still hanging on even if they were a bit behind the ball. Jen shook her head, took a deep breath and then got back to work.

  Chapter 16

  He shouldered the strap to his shot gun and rested his left hand on the butt as he walked out into the light. He looked around. The parking lot was abuzz with activity. The wall was growing. People were everywhere. For once in the past three days of hell he felt secure. Safe. Just this moment, this second he felt like they had a chance of winning. That nothing could touch them. He drank in the sunlight, looking up as he put his sunglasses on.

  And out of nowhere he felt a sudden stabbing pain in his left buttock. He jumped in surprise, spinning as Jen grinned stepping back out of reach. Wise of her in this case.

  “What was that for?” he asked, rubbing the aggrieved flank.

  “It didn't work?” she asked. “Darn,” she said with a little mischief lilt in her voice. One couldn't quite call it a snicker. Her eyes were twinkling.

  “What didn't work?” he asked, eyes flashing. Thoughts of an appropriate revenge were spinning in his head. Her mischief grin wasn't helping to ease them either. He couldn't help it, every time she had her hair up in a school girl pony tail and had a devil may care attitude he felt his own tensions loosening. She had one of his plaid shirts on, unbuttoned of course, with the sleeves rolled up. Under it was one of her tank tops. She had a pair of old worn jeans. The fit was practically skin tight, something he loved to see on her. Damn she looked good. She looked better and better every day.

  “Why, I heard a rumor that we're all dreaming and that if we pinch the right person we'll be out of this nightmare,” she said. She rubbed at her nose with the base of her thumb. He snorted softly as she rubbed the tip of her nose with her index finger too. He wasn't about to tell her she was smearing dirt and grime onto her face. Let her find out some other way.

  “Oh? Might as well click your shoes together three times and say there's no place like home,” he growled getting closer.

  “Um... I'm not sure, though I did see a nice pair of ruby red slippers somewhere...” she said backing away until she ran up against a greenhouse table. “I'll ah... I'll...” she tried to sidle to one side but he was onto her. “Just go... Hey!” she laughingly squealed as he caught her.

  “You're not going anywhere lady. Revenge!” he said triumphantly. She tried to fend him off, but he slowly worked his way down. She caught the hand but he brought the other in play. “Okay, nipple sounds better,” he said.

  “You wouldn't dare!” she squealed again, twisting and writhing in his grasp, eyes flashing. He got his right hand in and pinched her soft right cheek hard.

  “OW!” she said. He grinned as she dimpled and belted him on the arm. He chuckled as he turned to the side. She belted him again a few times for good measure as he backed away, hands going up in defense. “That hurt!”

  “Duh!” he said shielding himself, still laughing. “Didn't work though did it?” he asked with a grin.

  “No,” she said rubbing her poor abused rump and pouting.

  “Ah, come here, let's see I'll kiss it and make it better,” he said, arms out.

  “Stay away from me you letch!” she growled, eyes flashing. He grinned at her.

&nbs
p; “Well, I suppose I could try it on someone else...” he said.

  “Don't you dare,” she hissed suddenly in his space. She smacked his arm again. “You hear me?” she growled as his arms went around her.

  He leaned down and kissed her suddenly. She protested a little and then melted into his arms. When the kiss broke he still held her, looking into her eyes. “Better?” he asked.

  “A little,” she said smugly, turning in his arms. Her arms were on his shoulders. They kissed again.

  “We could always...” he started, but stopped when she colored nicely, dimpled, and shoved an elbow into his gut. He oofed and then snorted. “Going to be that way huh?” he asked.

  “You... behave!” she said, turning again. He bent over and she laughed out loud as he blew a fart noise on her neck and then pretended to bite her. She pounded on him laughing as he tickled her, pinning her arms up so she couldn't retaliate. People around them were a little annoyed at first, but a few softened at her high pitched infectious laughter. The kids came over and they finally slowed down and relaxed. In unison they glanced at the three kids. All three were smiling a little.

  “They are so cute at that age,” Tori said smirking and cocking her head in obvious approval.

  “Whatever,” Nick said shaking his head, arms crossed. Cat rolled her eyes at Tori.

  Tori turned her smile on her sister. The two turned back, “On three,” she said index fingers together.

  “Awwww,” the twins said together, cocking their heads together, hands together, grinning like loons as their eyes went wide. Then they turned a look on their older brother who tried to scowl. Nick wasn't winning that fight, a corner lip turned upwards in a grudging smile of approval and amusement.

  Jen turned a twinkling smile on Shane. “You thinking what I'm thinking?” she asked, dimpling again. He could read her pure mischievous mind easily.