Chapter
2
Catalyst
I’mbehind Mindy, following her god knows where…
Hermovement fluent and motion precise. Her utmost perfection keeps onastounding me. Her body petite and curved like an hourglass.
Iremain as close to her as possible and continue to nibble on somegranola bar she gave me. She said it’s a small appetizer before wego have a full meal somewhere.
“Thecafeteria is just around this corner.” She says and points aheadtowards a big sign that has: Cafeteria, hanging over a set of openeddouble doors.
Thisplace, my damaged mind presumes as a type of school campus. Nostalgiacreeps over me.
“Goodcause I’m hungry!”
Ihear her giggle. “You should be, you’ve been in the recuperatingprocess for three days now.”
“Recuperatingfrom what?”
“Idon’t know. They don’t tell me those things Wes.” She replies.
“Butwhat do you do around here?”
“Ican’t tell you, but for now, consider me your guide.” She stopsand turns to me. “Hold your questions for a bit. We’re about togo inside the cafeteria. Don’t mind the stares ok, these peoplehere are still a bit skeptical about having you on board, even ifyou’ve lost your memory.”
Iroll my eyes and groan. “Oh shit, perfect.”
Mindysmacks me in the arms. “Hey now Wes, the language.” She says.
Theway she says my name… it’s like a melody, the way it rings in myhead sounds so familiar to me.
There’ssomething about her. Something that calls me to her, yet we’re twocompletely different people. Her story, her self, her personality…it evokes me, inspires me, yet there’s a voice in my head that saysit’s not meant to be.
ShouldI listen? Should I listen to this voice in my head? Or is it a lie?Could it just be the fear that I feel of perhaps attaching my wholesoul to this stranger?
I’mnot sure. But I feel terrible. And my sanity hands by a thread everytime I think about her.
Weturn the corner and ahead a large warehouse sized room with a goodamount of people and chatter. The ceiling is made up of a huge pieceof glass, and outside the glass a beautiful blue cloudless sky.
Mymind and my body ached in a way I couldn’t understand. I feel myheart pound slower, but this unusual feeling in the pit of my stomacherases all traces of hunger that I held before. I squint and clutchmy chest. I blink and with it I feel a tear streak from down mycheek.
Wewalk through the middle of the mass of aligned wooden cafeteriatables towards the food dispense area. A big Food Entrance hung fromthe doorway.
Thestares are a mix of anger, awe, and some even cheerful. A man risesand makes his way towards Mindy and I. I recognize him too, it’sthe doctor.
“Gladto see you’re doing well.” He winks and outstretches his hand.
Itake his hand and feel his firm grip. “My name is AlexanderDemetrio, a Doctor here in this instillation. Welcome David Wight.”
Hisassurance made my unusual feeling disappear for a bit.
“ThanksDr.” Mindy says.
“Yeahthanks again for not dismantling me!” I smirk.
“Maybewe should have, best not to have this fiend walk around.” A randomvoice mutters from behind.
Iturn around and stare at this man with his tray of food in his hands.His glance could kill.
“Yeah,well go f*ck yourself you piece of shit.”
Hesets his tray on the table and claps his hands. “Loud mouth and abadmouth, excellent combination. Good job Alex and Ms. PrincessMindy, hope you three and the Oracle burn for your stupidity.”
Alexanderraises his hand and points towards the exit, “Professor, pleasestay your course and get out of the cafeteria if you’re feeling soegotistic.” Alexander says.
“Yeah,please don’t cause trouble.” Mindy pleas.
AsI turn away from him a hard smack slams me across the back of myhead. I fall to my knees and then feel jab on my back. I fall faceflat on the cold floor until the jet-black clouds my sight andembraces me into the feeling of numbness.
~
“Nightmarescome and go Wes, it’s just how it is and how it was designed.”Ronald said.
Isnickered and crossed my arms. “This isn't a damn nightmare though,look around, it's a reality," I hesitated and calmed myselfdown, after all, he isn’t the one to blame, I'm overreacting, "Howcan this happen?”
Ronaldpatted my shoulder. “I completely understand where you’re comingfrom Wes. This shit happening around us is seriously something Iwould have expected in some goddamn Hollywood f*cked up movie flick.”He smiled and gave me a fake knuckle punch across my chin. “We’llbe fine kid, just got to reestablish communication with my base,surely our country hasn’t been completely overrun.”
Itwas nearly dusk. The sky overhead beamed with an orangey taint as thestreaks of sun slit through the coursing smog spread.
“Sowhat were you studying at in UAB?”
“Biologymajor… I honestly don’t even know why.” I said.
Hesnickered. “Ok, that sure as hell makes a lot of sense.”
“N-No,no, I mean I guess I am bit uncertain, I wanted to be a doctor butthere’s too much crap and school involved, and on the other hand aPharmacist… but to be honest, I really wanted to study journalism.I've enjoy writing and reading so much. But since in this day and agewriting doesn't get you anywhere, I went for a study that had moneyinvolved.”
“Youkids are like a woman, they don’t know what they want.” He shookhis head as he snickered.
Ronaldand I were heading somewhere near the base of operations that theEmergency Transports took people. It was near the coast of MobileBay, so we we’re a long way away from it. At the moment we werehuffing it through the deserted Interstate 69 heading to Montgomery,Alabama.
Ronaldadjusted the strap of his M4 and massaged his neck. “Where the f*ckare the ditched cars at? I’m sure some p-ssy-face f*ck-head wouldhave run off to the woods or something. F*ck.”
Iglanced North and saw the smog circling over the once area where thecity of Birmingham stood. The disgusting odor of burning and rottingstuck to my nose and it made me nauseous.
Nomore than a minute later the sky overhead roared with thunder andthen particles of ash fell alongside the haze of rain.
Thisnightmare was a reality.
“Socan you tell me a bit more of what’s happening?” I asked.
“Thingis, I’m not entirely sure either. I was left out of the loop. All Iknow is I was activated to maintain order in the streets while theTransports picked people for departure towards Mobile Bay, Alabama.Of course, this emergency evacuation only concerned the Southernstates, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina.They’re sending these transports to the coast where they’d betaken to Alaska.”
“Andthe rest of the states?”
“ThatI’m not too sure… I-I mean the f*cking orders we’re given sofast, that I barely had time to grasp what was happening.”
Isped up to catch up with Ronald’s quicker stride. “But thatdoesn’t make sense, are we in an unexpected war or something, Imean there’s got to be a reason for the evacuations.”
“That’swhat doesn’t click Wes… it’s a global phenomenon. I’m notsure if it’s some kind of late twenty-twelve bull shit, or if it’sArmageddon… I-I can’t put my finger as what’s really happening.But I do know, it isn’t war.” Ronald said and then glared up atthe sky. “It’s something else.”
“Okthen, so apparently there’s some supernatural force bombing ushuh?” I rolled my eyes and tried to take in this complete and uttercrap that’s spiraling about. He doesn’t know if its war or notbut a big bomb just took out a whole city.
“Kid,do you even live around here?” Ronald asked.
“Notreally, I have a buddy that I go to school with that lives inAlabaster, but my parents are in New York City… or so I think, Ihope nothing has happened over there.”
Ronalddug into his pocket and pulled out an iPhone and then handed it tome. “Service is still up, see if your friend in Alabaster happenedto have slept in as you did.”
Itake the phone and dial his number.
Itrung once, twice… and finally: click.
“Hello?”
“Andrew,Andrew oh my god dude thank god you’re still alive!” I pressedthe speaker button on the phone.
“Holyf*ck man, what the f*ck is happening? T-The cable is out, internet isdown, even my power is f*cked!” Andrew yelled.
Ilaughed. “Dude relax! Do you still have your car?”
“Yeah,why—what’s up, I was actually about to leave and get the f*ck outof this place. Where you at?”
“Awesome.”Ron muttered and then yanked the phone from me. “Listen here,Andrew right?”
“Uhyeah, who’s this?”
“I’mUS Army Sargent Ronald T. Jenkins, I’m traveling with your friendWes here, listen up ok? Get in the car and head to the interstate,take the opposite road towards the North, heading towards Birmingham,you’ll bump into us. Grab some food, water, and quickly get yourass here.” Ronald said.
“Gotcha,I’ll be on my way.” Andrew said.
“Thanksa bunch man!” I said.
“Anytimebro.” Andrew said and then the phone went dead.
“Sonof a bitch, f*ck, f*ck… battery died.” Ronald said. He sighed andstared at the sky. “I seriously hope my Com doesn’t f*ck up too.”
“Ihope he doesn’t get lost trying to find us.” I said.
“Youknow, not even a f*cking retard would miss the only two peoplewaltzing down the interstate by foot.” Ron patted my back. “We’llbe fine.”
Isnickered uneasily.
“Don’tyou think we should be a little more discrete? I mean, a city justgot bombed, wouldn’t whatever is attacking us search forstranglers?”
“Shit…”he paused. “I didn’t think about that. All this happening hasseriously f*cked up my judgment, survival mode is on and I’m notcomprehending shit.” He stopped. “Kid the only thing I know wecan do is head south towards Mobile Bay, we’ll have to quicken ourpace and hope Andrew finds us… or maybe the Com would send us someform of communication.”
Igrimaced. “Wish the phone had enough juice to contact my parents tosee if they’re alright.”
“Onroute when we get a car I’ll try and find a battery charger forthis thing.”
~
“MaybeI should have just brought you the food Wes!”
Iheard Mindy say.
Iopen my eyes and see Mindy over me, patting my head with a bag ofice.
“Heythere, welcome back!”
Igroan and rub the lump on the back of my head.
“Whathappened?”
Someoneapproaches from the other side of my bed. “Don’t worry about it,Wes is it?”
It’sAlexander.
“Yeah,yeah Wes.” I answer.
“TheOracle confiscated him and sent him off to another district. Hiscourse of action had no obligatory right. I already fixed you up soyou don’t have to worry about permanent bruising.”
“Thanksa bunch doc.”
“Pleaseaddress me as Alex.” Alex winks at me.
“I’llbe on my way Wes, I’ll tell the Oracle that you’re awake. Sheapparently has news for you.”
Alexleaves and I lay my head back on the pillow.
“Ihave food for you on the table next to you. It isn’t much but itshould be enough until we can get something when the cafeteria isless crowded.” Mindy says.
“Asmuch as I fear your kind, I honestly don’t know why, b-but—there’sgot to be a reason behind it. What am I not being told Mindy? Whathaven’t I recalled yet that’s being kept secret?”
Mindytakes a couple of steps back and leans against the wall. Her headslumps over and grimaces.
“Thereisn’t a reason to fear us Wes.” She mutters. “Fear is a productof insecurity… I-I completely understand you’re a”—
“That’snot the point”—
“Therightful point is you’re on a need-to-know basis. Don’t burdenMindy with your perpetual queries that wont have an end, I’ll takecare of that question a little later.” The Oracle says from thedoorway.
Mindystraightens and bows. “I apologize Oracle.”
“Sweetheartthere isn’t anything to apologize for. Please leave and give metime with Wesley.
***