“Drop the bullshit,” Bryce said, seething. “And keep your voice down.”
“At the very least, we take their vehicles. They have them hidden under a camouflaged tarp. Ask yourselves why they would conceal their cars if they supposedly didn't work.”
“Scott, we're all tired and hungry out here, but causing more trouble is not the solution. We need to focus on getting back home,” Jamie said.
“We're fucked, Jamie. I don't know if you realize it or not, but Gordon could well be on his way back to New York,” Scott said.
“And if he is, there's nothing we can do about it now,” Bryce said.
“It would only take a simple phone call back home,” Scott said.
“With whose phone?” Bryce asked.
“Their phone,” Scott said, pointing toward the house. “There's no fucking massive power outage. No EMP. They have power. They have everything. They just don't want to share it.”
“How do explain our phones not working? How do you explain the van?” Bryce asked.
“We must have hit some weird dead zone. Some area that fried our personal electronics and the circuitry of the van. Power lines were a little too low, I don't know. All I'm suggesting is that we strong-arm this bunch. Get them to bend to our demands.”
“Demands?” Jamie asked.
“Let us make a phone call. For shit’s sake, let us take a fucking shower. Or give us a ride into town. Let us—” Before Scott could finish, James approached the group by himself. The men went quiet and looked up at him in anticipation.
“Hey, guys. It's nothing personal. We just don't have the room to put you up for the night.”
The men stared at the ground, shocked and rejected. Scott looked at Bryce with a wild-eyed I told you so look.
“How about a ride into town?” Scott asked.
Jamie turned around and looked at the tarp covering their three vehicles. “Our cars haven't been operational since the day of the EMP strike.”
“Is that so?” Scott asked.
“Yeah,” James answered, looking him squarely in the eyes. “It is.”
Bryce put his arm out between Scott and James in an attempt to prevent further trouble.
“That's quite enough, Scott,” he said. He then looked to James. “Thank you for your generous hospitality.”
“Not a problem,” James said. “Best of luck out there.”
Bryce looked up and noticed Mark and Janice watching them from a nearby window. “OK, gang, let's head out,” he said. After shaking hands with James, the group slowly and reluctantly walked off, back down the hill, the way they came in. James watched as they disappeared into the brush. He felt as though they could have maybe done more for them, but in the end, he felt that housing four men, strangers at that, would soon turned into a liability.
As they walked back into the now familiar and endless forest, Bryce and his crew felt defeated and more despondent than ever.
“Can you believe that shit?” Scott asked. “Not even a goodbye from their group. Not so much as a 'Go fuck yourself.' Guess we're just outcasts through and through.”
“It is a little strange, I admit,” Bryce said.
“You're damn right,” Scott said.
“We made them uncomfortable,” Jamie said. “No more complicated than that.”
“Oh yeah,” Scott said, stopping and turning around. “Well who the fuck are they? Bunch of backwoods assholes. Let me go back there and give them a piece of my mind.”
“No,” Jamie said. “You've done enough already. This whole stupid plan was your idea, and now look at us.”
Scott leapt toward Jamie. “What did you say?” he asked.
Bryce stepped in, placing himself between Scott and Jamie. “Enough! That's enough! Both of you calm down, and get your shit together.”
Scott and Jamie split away from each other and paced around in separate circles as Aaron stood silently nearby. “We're going back to the house, OK? We're going back tonight,” Bryce said, exasperated.
“Why?” Jamie asked.
“Yeah, why?” Scott asked, equally perplexed.
“They seem like nice people, yes. That's why I know they can be reasoned with,” Bryce said.
“And what are you proposing that we do?” Scott asked.
“Whatever it is, we have to be careful. They have guns,” Jamie said.
“One of us gets sick and then needs immediate medical attention,” Bryce said.
“Who is that going to be?” Scott asked.
“Could be you, could be Jamie, hell, could be Aaron. That will be our ticket in the house.”
“And if they don't play along?” Scott asked.
“We make them play along. Just think of it as another day in the office. Do we ever take no for an answer?” Bryce said.
Scott slapped Bryce on the back in agreement. “That's what I'm talking about! There's the cutthroat Bryce I know.”
“Are you serious?” Jamie asked.
“What other choice do we have?” Bryce said, looking desperate.
“Yeah, Jamie, what other choice?” Scott said, grinning.
“You're both fucking nuts,” Jamie said. “I don't want any part of this.” He then looked to Aaron. “You're in on this plan?” he asked.
Aaron looked from Jamie to Bryce, indecisively. “We need to stick together. That's what I think,” he said.
Jamie was beside himself, as his face flushed with anger. “Fuck the lot of you. I'm through with this little charade.” He stormed off, stumbling along the dirt road, leaving without looking back.
“Come on, Jamie, don't be like that!” Aaron shouted. But Jamie kept walking.
Hungry, tired, confused, and angry, Aaron, Bryce, and Scott looked at each other in confusion. Scott took the opportunity to reassert himself. “Let him walk it off. We've got work to do, right, Bryce?”
Bryce didn't respond. “Right?” Scott asked again.
“Yeah, that's right,” he said, but his eyes were on Jamie’s back.
Bryce turned in the opposite direction toward the bug-out house and headed that way as Scott and Aaron followed. The plan was unclear, but they weren't done with James and his group just yet.
Downward Spiral
It was dark in the living room. Few lights had been turned on, and they sat around like churchgoers at a solemn mass. Apparent divisions in the prepper pact had revealed themselves. Janice and Terrance sat on the couch. Mark rocked back and forth in a La-Z-Boy recliner as James leaned against the wall beside the white-plastered hallway leading into the kitchen. Christina paced past the windows, shutting the blinds as she went by. The room grew even darker as a result.
James had kept the outside generator off, not wanting to attract anymore undue attention. The only appliances running were the refrigerator and freezer, both powered by a large 24-volt battery. No one seemed willing to discuss the division they felt, the first of its kind. Janice and Terrance didn't feel it right to have sent Bryce and his people, strange as they were, back into the woods. There was more they could have done. That is what they believed.
James tried to remain neutral, even though he cast the tie-breaking vote. Mark emphatically wanted them gone. He believed they couldn't be trusted. Christina had nothing against them, but felt they had helped enough. Despite the day's events, Terrance knew that it was close to the time for him and Tobias to hit the road. Tired of sitting in silence, James left the group and went back into the kitchen. Tobias and Paula, who had been off by themselves, emerged from their room, expecting dinner. They were growing restless and were surprised to see everyone sitting around in silence. They immediately felt the tension.
“What is everyone doing?” Tobias asked.
“Yeah, I thought we were having fish tonight,” Paula said.
“Not sure just yet, kids. Let the adults talk,” Christina said, taking a seat in a rocking chair near the couch. But no one was saying a word.
“Weirdos,” Tobias muttered. “Let's go outside, Paula.�
��
“OK,” Paula said.
As they walked to the back door, Christina jumped up to stop them. “No!” she said. Tobias and Paula stopped and turned around. “It's getting dark out. Better that you two just stay inside tonight.”
“What, are we on curfew now?” Tobias asked.
“Just go back in your rooms, and we'll tell you when dinner is ready,” she said.
“You mean our room. There's one room, and it's driving me crazy having to share it with this little shrimp,” Tobias said.
“Hey!” Paula said.
“Then go in the basement or something until supper time,” Christina said.
Tobias headed downstairs to the basement with Paula following him. “Ugh,” he groaned. “Do you have to follow me?”
“I called basement first,” she answered as they pushed each other to try to get downstairs first.
“Did not!” Tobias said. Their voices soon faded.
James walked out from the kitchen, looked around at the quiet room, and attempted to put the matter to rest. “Now I know there's some disagreement about the decision made, but we have to stand by it.”
“I stand by it completely. It's simple common sense,” Mark said.
“Good ol' practical Mark, always has the answers,” Janice said.
“OK, let's say hypothetically they stayed with us for the night. One of us would have to stay awake and keep watch on them. Then what happens when they find out that we have power? That our vehicles work? You think they're gonna want to leave then?” Mark said.
“Mark's got a point,” Christina said.
“Well, I'm glad you and him see eye to eye on this,” Janice said.
“All right, that's enough,” Terrance said, standing up. “Tobias and I are leaving for Atlanta tonight, and I don't want to hear you guys at each other’s throats over this.”
“Tonight?” Mark asked. “You're leaving tonight?”
“I have to,” Terrance answered. “The time has come. Can't let Richie fend for himself any longer.”
“What if they come back? We need the manpower,” Mark said.
“Oh, Mark, stop it. This isn't Mad Max,” Janice said.
Mark turned to Janice with near contempt. “We're not far from that scenario, trust me,” Mark said.
Janice was confused and unable to quarrel in front of everyone. Mark turned away and said nothing more.
James spoke up, hoping to prevent any further arguing. “I'm going to fry some fish, as planned. I'm sure everyone is mighty hungry.” He looked at Terrance. “You and Tobias need to eat before your trip.”
“Very well,” Terrance said. “We'll leave after supper.”
Christina didn't object or say nothing to that effect. The thought of both Terrance and Tobias leaving saddened her, but showing the right emotion at the right time was often a struggle. Instead, she just went silent.
“Need any help with anything?” Janice asked James.
“I've got this,” James said. With that, he walked in the kitchen and took some foil-wrapped packages out of the freezer. Janice got up from the couch and slowly walked toward the kitchen.
Mark looked around the room after she left and clapped his hands together. “All right, grilled salmon!” he said, excitedly. James went out the back door to the backyard where the grill awaited him. It was quiet and peaceful out. A blanket of stars flashed dimly from above. He could smell something burning in the distance. A fire of some sort. But it seemed far enough away not to raise any concern. It was the perfect night to grill some fish. Especially the strips of salmon he had so proudly caught earlier.
“Things are going to work out,” James thought. “Once we all kiss and make up, we'll get back on track. This house has everything we need.” James felt grateful to be living in relative security with sustainable resources. Things could have been so much worse. They were doing OK, and with only one encounter in so far, James considered his group lucky. There was no denying it any longer: he loved the house.
A few miles away, Scott and Bryce were plotting while Aaron stood idly by. Their collective desperation had reached a fever pitch, but the answers weren't clear. The forest was dark and hard to navigate, but the stars illuminated the night sky enough to allow limited visibility. Bryce leaned against a tree as Scott stood in front of him, searching for ideas. Aaron knelt down and sat cross-legged on a pile of dead leaves. He thought of his missed opportunity to follow Jamie, but he was angry in his own way about how they were turned away by the people they had met. Maybe Scott was right. The bag of treats given to them was little more than a slap in the face. That was his thinking.
“So we know they're all probably armed. Most of them anyway,” Scott said, talking with his hands as if giving a lecture.
“That's correct,” Bryce said.
“But we've got the element of surprise. That's one advantage.”
“It is, but it won't matter much if they put a gun to our faces.”
“I counted five adults and two children,” Scott said.
“Think that's about right.”
“So here's what I'm thinking; they're fortified in that house. They're heavily armed. We tell them that Aaron here has been injured. Twisted his ankle or something.”
“What if they ask about Jamie?”
Scott stopped and scoffed. “No one gives a fuck about him. We go there in the middle of the night and wake 'em up. They'll be all disoriented. We'll say we got lost again. Now with Aaron injured they couldn't possibly turn us away.”
“I'm listening,” Bryce said. He thought the plan sounded convoluted but didn't see any other option. They had to get into town. They needed a vehicle. He had to get in contact with his family. He had to get his life back together.
Aaron tore open the Ziploc bag and started eating the food in oversize handfuls of dried fruits and nuts. Irritated by his chewing noises, Scott stopped the conversation, turned around, and snatched the bag of food from Aaron's grip.
“Hey, what the hell?” Aaron said, as crumbs fell from his over-stuffed mouth.
“You see this?” Scott asked. Aaron stared at the bag. As he began to stand, Scott took a step back and threw the bag as far as he could in the opposite direction.
“No!” Aaron yelled like a drug addict who just had his fix taken away. The bag sailed high into the air, out of sight, and into oblivion. There was no telling where it landed, but Aaron immediately ran off after it.
Scott lunged forward, grabbed Aaron's arm, and pulled him back. “What are you doing? Forget about it,” he said.
“That was our only food!” Aaron shouted. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Keep your voice down,” Scott snapped.
“Let go of me!” Aaron said, pulling himself from Scott's grip.
Bryce stared at both men, completely perplexed by Scott's actions himself.
“Listen to me,” Scott said. “To hell with their charity bag. What are we, a bunch of helpless children? We don't need handouts; we're going to take it all.”
“What are you talking about?” Aaron asked.
“Just follow my plan, and I'll get us in the house. Then once we turn the tables, it will be us sending them off in the woods with a pitiful peace offering.”
Impassioned and wild-eyed, Scott spoke a mile a minute as tiny droplets of spit flew from his mouth, nearly hitting Aaron in the face. He backed away from Scott in disgust, not at his haggard appearance, but at his utter delusion. Unusually blunt, Aaron raised a finger and pointed it directly in Scott's face. “You're going to get us all killed, and I want nothing to do with it.”
Scott laughed then turned to address Bryce. “I'm done trying to talk sense into this one. You have at him.”
Aaron jumped in. “Why don't you leave Bryce out of it for once. You're always pulling him and us along with your schemes. For some reason, he doesn't tell you no. For some reason, I never tell you no, but it all changes right here and now. I'm leaving this shit show, and I'm going to f
ind Jamie. We'll find Gordon and face what we've done.”
Scott stared at Aaron with abject disappointment. The sting of betrayals felt like a punch in the neck. “You're a fucking idiot,” he said.
Aaron laughed and walked past Scott, brushing against his shoulders. “You gentlemen have a good night,” he said.
Scott turned around and watched in disbelief as Aaron walked away from them and their objective, it seemed without a second thought. “You gonna say something to him?” Scott asked Bryce.
“He's made up his mind,” Bryce said.
“Fuck that. We need him!” Scott said, taking a few steps in Aaron's direction. “You coward!” he yelled. “None of you have the balls to go through with anything!” By the time his words reached Aaron’s ears, he had already disappeared into the darkness.
“Look, there's nothing we can do about it. He's a grown man. Let him make his own decisions,” Bryce said.
“So what now? Are you going to play the injured man now?” Scott said.
Bryce took a step forward and cleared his throat. With Aaron and Jamie vanished into the wilderness, the plan was unclear. Bryce and Scott had asserted themselves as leaders of the group many times over the years and often attacked each other. Now they were all that was left of the group. “Your plan has fallen apart, Scott. You're losing it,” Bryce said.
“I'm what?” Scott said, astonished.
“You heard me, hotshot, we've lost control of the situation, and you're the only one right now who has failed to realize that.”
“Excuse me? If I remember correctly, I let you take charge—”
“You let me take charge. That's a good one,” Bryce quipped.
“I let you take charge, yes, that's correct. When we approached those people, you were acting leader. What did that get us? A bag of fucking nuts!”
Bryce took a step closer, getting into Scott's face. “That bag you so carelessly threw was enough food to get us into town. You tossed it away like a spoiled child!”
“Back off, Bryce, I'm warning you,” Scott said.
“No,” Bryce said. “Aaron made a good point. I don't know why I go along with your bullshit schemes half the time. Now that I think of it, all of this is your fault!”
End Days Super Boxset Page 183