They Walk

Chapter Eighty

Twenty minutes later found us in the room with over a hundred new people.

It would seem that there were more people down here in the tunnels than I originally thought. There are so many in here, that it’s only standing room available now. Which leaves my little group having to lean against the far wall, closest to the entrance, and from here I can see the line of people traveling down the two narrow hallways. Seeing them I am definitely sure they weren’t all at the apartments, but Dan filled me in that on the way here they ended picking up some stranglers. Quite a bit of them I would say.

They are all in various stages of undress, since most of them had to be woken up to come out here. I’m glad to see that there are a lot of families with small children here, and in a way it kind of gives me hope that all this isn’t the end. I remember the single woman with the two small girls at the Collisee, and I like to think they are safe and sound already.

I’m still between Gabe and Dan, but we now have a new buddy with us. Maria’s little brother Michael, though ‘little’ isn’t a very good description of him since he could pass for her older brother. Like Dan and I, you can see the family resemblance in them, with their light hair and eyes. The only difference between them is that she is open and sweet by nature, and he is more quiet and reserved. Not much has changed about Michael, and I can never forget the way we found him weeks ago hiding out in his house. Having to kill your own parent does something to you inside, and I don’t think he’ll ever be the same video gaming comic loving teen. Right now, he just leans against the wall beside Dan and gazes out at the masses with a look of indifference.

But I really can’t say anything about that, since the rest of us are just staring out at everyone waiting.

We don’t have to for long though, since I can see Randy weaving through the bodies and making his way to the front of the room. Closest to us, oddly enough. What is odder, is the fact that he doesn’t have to say or motion for everyone to stop their quiet chatter, they all just stop as soon as he is up front. He stoically stares out at everyone, almost waiting to make sure they hang on to his every word. From the way he had that as soon as he walked up here, I don’t think he really NEEDS to get their attention, he already has it.

“As you can see, we have some new people here with us tonight. And in fact they are the ones that left us a week ago.”

He turns and points to us, and while Gabe waves to them all, I can feel my cheeks warming up to a deep blush. Every face to watching me, and I can see that they heard of us. Apparently we are popular for leaving? Who knew?

“They come back with news, and I’m afraid that it isn’t good.”

He pauses and takes a deep breath, and man is I glad I’m not the one having to tell everyone there are bombs coming. I’ve never been one to like doing presentations. I’m rather comfortable standing to the sidelines.

“They got word from the military that they are planning on dropping air bombs to wipe out the dead. And they are coming our way sometime tomorrow.”

To say that everyone in the room didn’t take the news well is a very big understatement. AT first there is shocked silence, almost like they are waiting for Randy to yell out ‘sike’ and start laughing. When he doesn’t though, that is when the yelling starts. It feels like every single one of them are shouting and screaming at the same time, and it makes my temple throb with a pulsating beat that matches them. They are all demanding as one, why Randy is even telling them this and why the military would do such a thing in the first place. Whereas no one can answer the latter, I’m thinking Randy has his own reason for the prior.

A sharp whistle cuts through the room like a knife, and brings everyone a startling silence, that leaves my ears ringing. Beside Randy now, is Brady and when he lowers his hand from his lips, I’m thinking he is the source of the whistle.

“I’m only telling you all this, because it’s entirely this shelter might not hold up against actual bombs.”

There are admonishments from the crowd, but Randy silence’s them with one look before he continues.

“This place was built in the sixties, during war time and fear of nuclear fallout. And we all know nothing really happened, so the structure was never properly tested. And I’m not a hundred percent sure it’ll stand up against the real thing.”

There is more silence now, as everyone ponders over what he is saying.

This is taking longer than I thought it would, and rather worrying over needing to leave, all I want to do is sit down. I’m so physically and mentally tired, that I’m to the point of not really noticing now that I have a constant headache and the body aches of an old woman. Dan and Michael rotate on watching Randy and the way the crowd reacts to what he tells them. Gabe just watches me, and he doesn’t even try to hide it either.

Not that I mind.

“It’s possible that the tunnels might hold up against the bombs, but what is above ground definitely won’t. It would be a lot of work to get back to the surface, if anyone stayed. So I want you to choose if you want either stay or leave for the border.”

Randy lowers his head to his chest and lets out a heavy sigh. The crowd is silent, waiting to see if he’ll continue, and he doesn’t let them down. Slowly he raises his head and stares them all down.

“You must all decide quickly, for anyone who wishes to leave has to do it as soon as possible. The group that is going leaves in an hour, after that we’re sealing the doors.”

This sends everyone into an instant uproar, one so loud I can’t even hear Brady whistle again. He doesn’t have any effect of the crowd this time, and Randy just shakes his head at him to stop. I guess there wouldn’t be a point in trying to stop the crowd now, since all the rest is up to them and what they want to do. Randy turns to us and shrugs, almost saying ‘well I’ve done my part’, but he does turn back around when some of the other people approach him with questions. I have to hand it to him; he is a lot better under this kind of pressure than I would be.

I would be a jumbled mess and probably make matters worse.

I’m about to ask the guys, what we’re planning on doing, staying or going, when I see Maria weaving through the crowd towards us. Her eyes are already locked onto Dan’s, and from the way she can’t hide her anguish like it’s a cloud around her, I know she has something bad to tell us.

About my mom.