Emily felt like she took her first deep breath in hours as she saw Jeff begin to nod off mid-trance. She knew sleeping might be more dangerous for him, but it still comforted her that he found a place safe enough to rest. She took another deep breath in and out to relieve the stress from the day. The Sun was just setting as the star over Tutorial Planet seemed to be brightening Jeff’s sky. It was amazing how much a four hour difference made for their day cycles.
Emily took another deep breath in, held it for a few seconds, then let it out. She shook her hands releasing a bit more tension.
Seeing the forest wake up and create countless monsters made the severity of the situation on Earth feel more real, more terrifying. Everyone saw exactly how dangerous Level 0 monsters could be when they came in groups. Jeff had difficulty protecting himself and he had plenty of levels, connections, and abilities to help him out. She would have to face that kind of nightmare with none of that.
At least I won't be alone, she thought with a frown. She had a constant sense of guilt for letting Jeff go about his trials alone. She knew it was impossible, but eight years of marriage and sharing each other's burdens made the feeling instinctual. All she could do was trust Jeff to be strong and try the best she could to be strong herself.
“Time to return to your assigned sleeping areas!” A voice came over a megaphone. “Curfew is being enforced for your safety and protection! Please return to your assigned sleeping areas!”
She peeled her eyes off of the Pillar for the first time in what felt like hours and took stock of the crowd around her. There was a murmur in the crowd about the curfew, but there were far more solemn and serious faces than defiant ones. She really hoped that once the Myst came she could count on everyone here.
There had been some group discussions throughout the day about where the best place to hold up and defend would be. Theories were batted around about the most defensible positions. Each discussion ran into a wall of uncertainty though. No one knew what types of monsters they would face or who would make it through the first few hours of chaos. Buildings were the obvious choice, but people were scared of the bugs in the walls turning into monsters. Parking lots and large shopping areas with no living creatures were likely good areas to move toward. However, worms were everywhere and anything that didn’t offer protection from swarms of flying bugs were deemed dangerous.
If Earth’s bugs got as big as the ones the Chosen were facing then there would be danger everywhere. The hope was that the size of the bugs was due to long term evolution in a Myst dense environment. Hopefully Earth’s bugs would remain mostly the same size when they became monsters.
Emily got up and made her way through the mess of chairs and canopies that had been placed over the last few days. She didn’t bother with bringing her cooler or backpack today. Meals had been provided by the church and other couples in the houses nearby. She saw a stream of couples filter toward the church building. She was slightly envious of those assigned to the church’s classrooms with windows facing the Pillar. If she raised a stink about it she was sure she could get one of those assignments, but she also was happy to return to the safety of her familiar apartment.
She made her way back with the rest of the crowd. There were kind words and gentle jokes about Jeff directed her way. She accepted each comment with a smile or a ‘thank you’. She appreciated the kindness that everyone showed her.
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Maybe tomorrow we should do a get to know you game or something with all these people, she thought. They are likely the ones I will be surviving the true apocalypse with…which will start any day now…
She took another deep breath in, held it in for four seconds, and let it out in a rush of air.
Emily ran into Janet at the foot of her staircase again and gave her a deep hug. She and her husband had been at the high school Pillar. She had apparently been the volleyball coach for the twenty-something girl who was the Chosen at that Pillar. The girl had reached Level 4 before a severe injury to one leg left her out of commision the last day and a half.
Emily had nearly forgotten how small of a city this was. With two small kids and working in another town she didn’t get to know that many people besides her neighbors. She felt for all those around her that had to watch friends and family struggle. It wasn’t just her that had to watch a loved one fight for their life against fearsome monsters.
Emily made it inside her door and dropped off the few things she carried when a knock came from the door. She opened it to find two soldiers standing there with large green rucksacks. A man with glasses and a woman with a black braid under an army hat.
“Hello ma’am,” the woman said. “I am Sergeant Jimenez and this is Corporal Watkins. We have been assigned to this apartment for residence while we are doing guard duty each night. It is within your right due to the Third Amendment to decline. However, with the apocalypse looming we hope you will be accommodating.” The Sergeant stepped into the room with confidence as she spoke. Corporal Watkins had a bit of an apologetic expression as he walked in right beside Jimenez.
“Oh, um,” she said, completely surprised by the sudden change of her evening. Of course the soldiers would need a place to stay while they were on guard duty. She figured Governor DeValt had recommended her apartment since she had already been accommodating. “Yes.” She finally said. “Yes, come on in. We have…I have some empty beds in the kids room. As long as you guys are okay with a bunk bed.”
The sergeant smiled, “We are plenty familiar with bunk beds. We will likely only be here while we are sleeping and showering. At least until shit hits the fan. Our squad has turned the leasing office into our HQ. Most of our squad is stationed there, it lacks amenities however. Do you mind if our squad uses your showers if our patrol lasts several days?” Jimenez had a tone that said she was only asking out of politeness. Emily nodded at the question. She felt totally willing, but she also felt like her one place of comfort and safety was being torn away from her.
Watkins jumped in with a grim expression on his face, “Who knows, we might not even use the beds if we both get turned into monsters before then.” Emily swallowed and the thought.
“Can you show us to our beds?” Sergeant Jimirez said and gave the corporal and intense stare.
Emily showed them to the kids room and then gave a tour of the house. She offered coffee, but the sergeant said they already had some at their HQ. They requested that she didn’t lock the door since that would be easier than trying to figure out keys. Then they left her home.
They had come in and back out in just a few minutes, but Emily felt like her privacy had been invaded. She was happy to help. She truly was, but she usually liked to help in the way that she decided on first. Being told that she was helping and which way she was helping just irked her a bit. She calmed herself down enough to take a shower and get ready for bed. She didn’t feel comfortable wearing her normal tank top and underwear, so she got ready for bed in the one full pajama set she owned.
She lay in bed a moment not sure whether tears or sleep would take her first. She was exhausted both mentally and emotionally. Before she could decide though she felt the familiar weight of their cat, Link, jump up on the bed. She glanced down at the kitty as he curled up near her legs letting out a soft purr. She smiled and let herself drift off to sleep.