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Hell. Two days of straight up hell. After the presidential announcement, confirming the findings and the broad range of what to expect, everything went to hell. Almost half the crew immediately disappeared. Not that they could be blamed as most ran to take care of their families. Those who remained were run ragged. One emergency after another. Fires. Accidents. Suicides. Violence. Each one took its toll.
More individuals slipped away from the crew. Again, Kody could not blame them. If he had family to protect, he would be there right along with them. Christian and the crew had been the closest thing to family he had had in years. Even now, Christian stayed right along with him. Besides the chief, only three others remained. It was the third morning when the chief roused them from what little sleep they had managed to get.
“Look,” Greg looked haggard. “You all have been doing a fine job. Above and beyond really. But” The man looked physically pained as he spoke his next words. “It is time we shut down. Go home. Be with your families. After everything is all said and done, if you can, meet back here at the fire house. Maybe we can assess and… go home. Just, go home.”
Kody watched as the man, their chief, turned and stumbled out the door. One by one the other men left until only he and Christian remained. “What’s next for you?” He leaned back onto the couch and looked at his friend.
Large bags hung under Christian’s eyes. Rough stubble barely hid the grime and dirt that coated the man. “Man, I don’t know. Family is half the country away. Been sneaking in texts when I can. They got a whole family chat goin’ on. Turns out I’m not the only one who couldn’t make it back.”
“You still could.” He ventured, and he nodded as Christian sighed and shook his head.
“No,” Christian ran a hand over his face before continuing. “By the time I drive there, assuming I even survive that, we wouldn’t have the time.”
A little unsteadily, Kody stood. “Then, guess you’re coming with me.” He offered out his hand, “Let’s get going.”
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“Jesus fuck, dude.” Christian stood at the bottom of the stairs. Kody turned back to look at the man and saw his exhaustion had been pushed back. Disblief, resignation, and mock horror showed on his face. “I know I joked you were a prepper, but god damn you are an actual prepper.”
Kody shook his head and moved into the bunker. “Just make sure to close the door behind you. I saved and scrapped to get this place.” It wasn’t a huge space, but more than serviceable.
“How did you even get a place like this?” There was the squeak of metal as Christian closed the door and secured it.
“A company out of Texas.” He gestured to various doors as he passed them by. “It’s not big. Bedroom, we’ll share, living and kitchen space, bathroom. Most of the space is storage and power. Got a lot of options for that. I’ve been stocking up for years.” They both made their way down the short hall and into the living space. Kody collapsed facedown onto the couch, while Christian took the chair.
“Looks like your madness paid off then, eh?” Kody didn’t even hear Christian. He had passed out the moment his head hit the cushions.
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Together, they spent the entire next day recovering. After that, on the fourth day, each took the time to reach out friends and loved ones. The first signs of ‘planetary stress’ had started to appear. More erratic weather as well as minor trembles and rumbles through ground. The house still had power at least. Kody made sure to make the most of it.
The hot water poured over him and the accumulated dirt, grime, and soot of the last few days quickly darkened it. He stared down, watching it spiral away down the shower drain. Mentally he went over his check lists. The bunker’s water reserves were full up. Preserved foods stocked the pantry. The pseudo greenhouse he had set up in one of the storage rooms was primed and ready to go. Not only was it ready to be planted full of the seeds he had stockpiled, but also for waste reclamation.
He groaned inwardly, not looking forward to that conversation with Christian. Quickly he went over the rest of the list. Batteries. Check. Generator. Check. Solar panels. Check. Medical supplies. Check. He had even stashed clothes inside years ago. He was nothing, if not prepared.
With a sigh, he turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. He reached for a towel and started to dry himself off. It was subtle and quiet, but not quiet enough. The soft chuff of boot on wood. He paused, his heart starting to hammer in his chest. Christian knew how to announce himself. After news of riots and looting by the desperate as well as the gangs of those who saw the ‘end’ as a freebie to do as they pleased, the two had come up with a way of notifying each other when outside the bunker.
There was no way he would have missed Christian’s signal that he had entered the house. With ease, he reached down and plucked the hand-axe he carried from his pile of clothes on the floor. He had intended to collect some wood, just in case, but now it seemed like it may need to be wielded in self-defense. His hand gripped the handle tightly as another chuff sounded, this time closer.
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Christian had been beside himself when Kody stumbled back into the bunker a few days ago. His knuckles had been bloodied, his eye swelling shut, and a gash across his thigh. “I still can’t believe Jer would do that. He always seemed so put together, ya know?”
A rumble rolled through the ground around the bunker. As it passed, Kody released his grip from the countertop while Christian eased himself out of the arch to the hallway. Each of them cast a weary glance about their underground room. Finally, Kody spoke, “Doesn’t make them any less desperate. I’m just glad I was able to send him packing. I wouldn’t want Kelly and the kids sitting around and him never coming back.”
“I get that,” Christian sat in the chair. “I do. Just, and I don’t condone it, but just don’t it make more sense to go after strangers? Rather than friends or neighbors?”
Kody shrugged, “Not when you know what your friends and neighbors have. When you justify you need it more, well, easier to ask forgiveness than for permission.”
“I guess, just…” A dull roar interrupted Christian, and they froze, listening. “Bedroom?”
“Go.” They tore down the hall into the bedroom. The room was secured tightly. Each cabinet, cupboard, and drawer screwed shut. Only the two, thin closets remained.
Christian paused, “Are you sur-?”
Kody pushed him into his closet and slammed the door shut. “Not a clue!” He stepped into his own closet. Every inch of it was padded up with whatever they could use. The door was sung shut and secured behind him as he raised his voice to be heard over the approaching rumble. “Secure yourself! Protect your head!”
The bunker shuddered and squealed as the quake hit. Fear and panic instantly gripped Kody and he could hear Christian cry out. The turbulent earth seemed to instantly start throwing the bunker about.
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His entire body ached. It had felt like hours as he bounced around inside the closet. But he was alive. With a hand that trembled, he unlocked the closet and fell out. The emergency lights dimly lit the room. “Chri-” he managed to croak out before he gave in to a fit of coughing. Raggedly, he pushed himself to his feet and stumbled to the other closet. He collapsed against it. “Christian!”
A soft moan met his ear. He raised his fist and banged on the door. “Christian! Open up! Come on!” Panic tinged his voice. After several agonizing moments, he heard the soft click and release of the door. He flung it open and caught Christian’s slouching form as the other man collapsed out of it.
“It’s okay, we made it. We did it Christian, we did it.” Kody was mumbling to himself as exhaustion rolled over him and he passed out of the floor. Christian barely, if at all, conscious on top of him.