Apocalypsis 03 - Exodus

Gretchen.
    “And get rid of all those bodies,” added Bianca.
    “Bodies?” asked Yokci.
    “We found some of the dead in a sealed fridge,” said Jamal, “courtesy of my curious brother. So we need to move them out of the building.”
    “We can help,” said Rob, nudging Yokci.
    Yokci nodded, a little reluctantly.
    I took a big breath and let it out in a whoosh. “Thanks, guys. I really appreciate you coming all this way. I know it had to be hard as hell, especially for Fohi.”
    Rob gave me a half-smile. “Well, let’s just say that Fohi had a little personal incentive to get over here that made the trip easier for him.”
    I looked over and watched Winky leaning over Little Bee to work on his stomach wound. He was staring at her, watching her every move.
    “Nice,” I said, nodding. “I’m not sure if he’s tough enough for Winky, but it’ll be interesting to find out.”
    “Oh, he’s plenty tough,” said Yokci. “Trust me on this. I’ve tried to kill that little pest about five times, and so far nothing’s worked. He’s hard to kill.”
    I laughed at his serious tone.
    “Come on,” I said. “Let’s go see if we can help.”
    We spent the rest of the day tending to the sick and injured and investigating our new home - a huge warren of hallways, rooms, and untold riches of general supplies, beds, food, clothing, and equipment. Bodo laid out the area we planned to use as a place for a mass grave, nowhere near the living facilities and future gardens, on the farthest edge of the property. We found heavy-duty garbage bags and body bags in storage lockers, not enough for all of the bodies but enough that we could make the job somewhat easier. There were carts used in the kitchens that would do for moving them, and plenty of disinfecting liquids. It would be a grisly job, but having all these pieces in place at least made it seem do-able.
    We sat around eating our dinner of dried meat and fruits, making plans for the next day, eventually bedding down next to each other again when it was time to sleep. None of us wanted to be alone tonight, not even Bodo and me. We fell asleep holding hands, and I dreamed of a safe haven where everyone lived in peace, had food in their stomachs, and a comfortable bed to sleep on. It would have been a perfect dream if it hadn’t ended with Loco, knocking on the front gate, smiling at me with his yellow-brown teeth and asking to be let in while holding up a key to the door.
    ***
    “Bryn, wake up,” said Bodo, right in my ear.
    I reached up, wrapping my arm around his neck languidly, pulling him down for a kiss. I smiled sleepily, anticipating the tickling sensation I was about to get all over my body from the passion he always aroused in me.
    He resisted though, and I frowned, pulling harder. Why doesn’t he want to kiss me?
    “Not right now. You haff to get up.”
    I opened my eyes, blinking a few times in confusion, letting go of Bodo’s neck. The room was still dark, but I could hear whispering.
    I sat up, looking around, trying to figure out what was going on. All the beds next to me were empty, and everyone was standing at the glass doors, looking outside.
    “Come on,” said Bodo, holding his hand out for me to take.
    I grasped it and stood, pulling my shirt and shorts down, trying to make myself presentable. I licked my furry teeth, wishing I had time to run my toothbrush across them.
    “What’s the big deal?” My voice sounded weird, being so loud and echoing across the room, so I lowered it before continuing. “Why is everyone up so early?”
    “Come see,” said Bodo, pulling me along to the door.
    He nudged Gretchen and Bianca gently to the side, making room for me to get up to the front of the glass. “Giff her some room,” said Bodo.
    Ronald and Jamal split apart so I could stand between them.
    I looked out the window, not sure what I was seeing.
    “What is it?” I asked.
    It was dark. I couldn’t see anything past the gate. Something was blocking it.
    “I think,” said Ronald, in a carefully measured tone, “that we are seeing the first influx of settlers to Haven.”
    I turned the lock on the door and pushed it open.
    “Wait!” said Ronald, grabbing my arm and pulling me back. Jamal placed a helmet on my head and the girls passed a flak jacket and then a shield up to me.
    I looked at all of them as I put the jacket on, trying to read their expressions. Gretchen and Bianca were crying. Winky was smiling, looking proud like I’d