Day Two 3:37

We were sitting by the river with a few trees at least 2 kilometers away from the mesa or was it 3 I don't really know. I lost count of the distance we walked through the morning night. Occasionally turning on our cellphone flashlights whenever the path is uneven or too rough. Bennie said to follow the river towards the city. I disagreed and said that we should go upriver, less traffic that way. He digressed and said "Not gonna happen. There isn't a civilization for a few miles that way and not even an assurance of shelter or supplies." he stated.

"Sure we may have water but out in the open is a bad Jojo. I don't wanna tempt fate, Richie," he added. "Fair enough," I replied. "Objectives?" I asked. "Take some rest, then head towards the border town. Then we'll work our way from there. I'll take on the hour and you take watch the next." he said. "Roger," I replied.

I slid next to the tree positioning myself as relaxed as I could get and closed my eyes. "I'll watch too." a woman in a well-tailored secretary suit bellowed. "No, you take a rest too. You're gonna need it." Bennie argued with the woman.

Yeah. As much as I like to say we snag a pretty lady in the office floors but no. This tight bun blonde-haired lady is called Abigail Lemmon. A typical secretary you can find in every company. Sexy, sweet and probably good at doing her job under the desk. You know what I mean, but I digress. We caught sight of her during our escape from the parking lot. She was shell-shocked behind a blue Tesla Model 3 car. Looking at the... at the riots? No. What's the better word for that?

Carnage. It was carnage. My consciousness slowly faded away maybe trying to process all that happened in the parking lot. That damn fucking parking lot.

~~~~~~~

Earlier

Bennie held the handle of the exit door and looked me straight in the eyes. "Remember what we talked about," he emphasized. "Roger that Big Ben. Stick to you like a glue."

He opened the door towards the parking lot and it was chaos. Ever tried going inside a soundproof room and going back outside? The background noise is so obvious from the quiet to the hum of the background noise of life. Cars, people talking, the cacophony of commerce. It was that despairingly different. I can't even begin to process what I was seeing. It's like my brain froze for a few seconds and refused to process what I was seeing.

The reason why we didn't meet anybody towards the other exit of the facility is because of the obvious reason I was seeing right now. Most if not all of the workers went for the shortest route to the exit of the facility. Which is towards the main entrance. Hell if Bennie weren't with me I'd go that way too to save time. The problem with that logic is that most if not all other people of the facility are thinking the same way. Even if it wasn't an emergency people would take the easiest and fastest route to go home. Much less in a panic situation? Hah They would cause a stampede heading toward the nearest exit.

That proves it again. Bennie just saved my life once again. Because on the off chance we followed the route to the nearest entrance. We would surely have died.

"Let's move." Bennie chimed. I followed him down the catwalk towards the back end of the parking lot. " We'll climb over the fence. Watch our six." Bennie ordered. "Rog," I replied automatically.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

It's funny how the human mind works no? As long as something is ingrained through practice the brain would automatically register it and command the body even if you don't order it to. Like catching a jar of peanut butter for example. Given enough repeats of the action. Your brain will automatically catch a jar of peanut butter even without your friend telling you "Catch!"

My body moved on its own sticking behind Bennie making sure I didn't lose sight of him in the morning night. We were heading towards the back end of the facility. The fenced-off side if you will.

There on the corner of my eye while we were turning at the corner towards the back side of the mesa. My brain started to process the sight again. The screams, the cries for help, the angry shouts.

"Help!" "Fuck you!" "Argh!" "Mommy!" "THIS IS A RESTRICTED AREA!! DO NOT PROCE..." "Fucking asshole bit me!!" "Give me the keys!" "It's okay honey.. we'll be fine." Hey! Let us in!"

Hundreds of people were people lumbering at the entrance of the facility. Outnumbering the guards at the gates, the people or most likely were people before? Are being chased by other people? Bloodied arms outstretched from the entrance fence. People with bloodied shirts. Some limbs were hanging with just a literal thread of muscle. It was chaos. Apparently, civilians from the town drove to the mesa to seek shelter from the looks of it, and now are being followed by another group of civilians pinning the ones farthest from the gate to the ground. Some were being grappled. Bitten? Raped? it's quite a distance so I didn't properly process what was happening behind me. The only entrance to the facility is closed due to the civilians asking to be allowed entry in the mesa resulting in blocking the only exit for cars in the facility. Of course, the mesa has only one entrance and exit. It's a vital power source for the town and we don't want any civilians having funny ideas trying to cripple or disable the facility. The parking lot was at least 350 square feet. A bit wide for a few hundred employees but with one entrance? It's not enough.

If they wanted to get out, they needed to mow the people down. If the people want to get it in, they need to tear the gate down, and in this confusing situation of what's happening? People who don't know jack shit what to do? Of course, there will be a stalemate between the people who want to get in against the people who want to get out. For all we know they are all trespassers. Mix in the explosion from the facility, it's goddamn Murphy all over again.

My consciousness is sticking to Bennie like glue. It's like my eyes and body are following but my ears and understanding are processing what's behind me. Watching my six.

Then the cries even rose to a higher crescendo. It was numbing, mind-retching, and even heartbreaking.

"NO!!! MY BABY!!!!" "Get back! Get back!!" " I'll fucking shoot!" "Mommy!"

I slowed my steps knowing it was stupid. I don't know what's happening but I'm sure as hell I can save just one. Even one.

"SAVE MY BABY!"

I was gonna turn around to help anybody I could. When Bennie grabbed my arm, forcefully and punched me in the face. No warning, just a straight jab no hesitation. He helped me up and looked at me straight in the eyes.

"You cannot save everybody and you cannot save anybody if you're dead," he said.

My lips quivered looking at him. He too, I can see it in his eyes. He wants to help. But getting out of there is more important. "I cannot save everybody and I cannot save anybody if I'm dead. Got it." I parroted his words.

I have shit for brains, don't I?