Chapter 10 - Judgement Day

I don’t know what was worse. Waking up after learning that I might die from an alien wall or to Alvin’s prank. I woke up cranky, not unusual, and naked. I remember watching Camille’s face as sleep hit me yesterday. Today, I wake up naked to a silhouette of a person wearing a t-shirt. Oh my god, I am a monster. Not only did I lose my virginity, I did it with my best friend who is in love with my other best friend and I don’t remember any of it. Was I good? Did I perform under pressure? Nada. I should hide somewhere and die of shame.

That’s when Alvin joined Camille giggling and the prank revealed itself.

Why?

Alvin had tried to cheer my mood and Camille went along with it. Good job guys, I almost peed myself, but it worked. I am now in a much better mood except the ‘we-all-might-die-today’ thing. I shared everything that transpired in my dream with the two. Both of them remained quiet and waited till I was done.

“So what should we do?”, Alvin held the two treasure chests in his hands and questioned me with an inquisitive look. [Alvin]

Putting the two treasure chests away, “I was hoping one of you might give me suggestions. I have no experience in leading a bunch of people”. I have to speak with Wong and get his input too. [Allen]

Camille asked earnestly, “Can’t we just leave?” [Camille]

Was she even listening? Keeping my anger to myself, I shook my head. “No. The monsters are hiding and hunting. We will likely be ambushed even before we reach the next working car” [Allen]

Camille ran inside the tent and wept holding her pillow tight probably to keep the noise to the minimum.

What did I say?

“She was worried about her mom ever since this all started. And now you tell her everyone is dead. Not cool man” [Alvin]

Fuck you. “I didn’t tell her everyone is dead. I said everyone else might be dead”, yeah, po-tae-to, po-ta-to. [Allen].

“The thing is, I am not sure, okay. We can’t be sure. All I know for sure is that, an attack is coming and we are not prepared for it”. Looking around the store, I notice an air of tension that previously didn’t exist or escaped my notice. “How are these people holding up? and what time is it? I am starving” [Allen]

Alvin looked at me with a surprised expression and said, “You’ve been out like a log. It’s 2 in the afternoon. Our power’s been down since 5 in the morning. We are managing with the generator. Wong said the meat locker is draining all our power and these people are sweaty and irritated. I wouldn’t mess with them if I were you”. He pointed to a table, neatly arranged like a picnic lunch. “Camille wanted us to eat together. She was up and working since 8, till you said those mean things to her”. He waved me to go console her inside the tent.

Ah, why is this happening to me. Monsters are coming to kill us and I have to solace a crybaby. “Hey, everything is going to be alright. We don’t know for sure if everyone else is dead. They may all be holed up somewhere like us. Besides, your mom wouldn’t want you to cry here”. Ouch, saying what her dead mom wouldn’t want, idiot.

Camille swallowed her tears, looked up to me and slowly whimpered in my embrace. She keeps doing that a lot nowadays.

After a few minutes, she let me go, stood up and adjusted herself while walking out the tent leaving me hanging out by myself. Hey, whatsup, other me? Just chilling alone, you know.

She quickly left me behind and went to the table arranging cutleries and serving something from a hot pan. She waved me to join the table and sat quietly staring at the gooey mess in our plates. Yew!

I looked around and everyone was eating whatever mess they had in their plate with no complaints. Guess, I should dig in too. My ravenous stomach wiped the plate clean even though it was not as appetizing as I would have expected. I mean, we are going to die anyway, it doesn’t matter what was in our stomach.

“I want us all to survive. Tell me what I should do and I will do it. I don’t want to be helpless and waiting to hear the news of your death” [Camille]

She is still haunted from her father’s death. “We will be fine. I promise. We will at least survive this. I have an idea. I need you to gather up Wong, Lin and like minded people. Try to keep the group small and within a certain age limit. Only invite people who we can trust. Someone with a family member who is incapacitated or someone with NO RELIGIOUS affiliation”. I insisted we keep the orthodox religious people out, since I have no way of knowing what would happen with people who don’t act logically. [Allen]

“You want me to do all of this?”. Camille looked up with an expression of anxiety and gratitude mixed together. She probably felt cooped up and useless. With newfound purpose, she should be back to her cheery self in no time.

“Yes. Alvin is not suitable because of his .. er .. personality” [Allen]

“You can say it’s because I am black. I don’t take that as an insult. And like you said, we need every help we can get and won’t have time arguing about my color” [Alvin]

“Yes. So, Camille, you are suited for this more than he is. Besides, I have other tasks planned for him. So can I count on you?” [Allen]

Camille’s eyes pleaded with enthusiasm and she nodded vigorously before eating her meal.

I am a sucker for puppy eyes.

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In a corner of the store, away from the majority of the group, in the midst of a few tents around a small camp like set up, some ominous things were brewing.

“Father Gale, is this the end of the world? Are we being judged for our sins?” [Woman-1]

“Is our lord god trying us for the sins of our ancestors?” [Woman-2]

Chorus of’ yes’ or ‘no’ or ‘we want to know’ or ‘why’ and some cries were heard.

Gale had been a faithful worshipper for as long as he could remember. His faith was rewarded with a good life and a good church. The good church going people were faithful, never losing hope even when the times were taxing. His world turned upside down when things .. came at him while he was shopping. He saw a vile creature attack one person after another, while he hid himself cowering in the face of death. He could only watch the slaughter when Mrs.Linda was gouged screaming in horror all the while pleading for his help.

The yellow kid ended the creature’s torment and gave mercy to Mrs.Linda. The woman was a true believer, so why was she abandoned by his Father? Was it his fault she died? No. The sins of others took brought this plague upon all.

Something stirred within him, urging him to herd the sheep before they were slaughtered for the sins of the wolves. It was his lord god pressing him to guide the masses before judgement day tried them all. It was Gale’s divine purpose to lead the innocents. To hell with the others, they will squarely be judged for their actions. He called upon the believers isolating them from the non-believers and arranged for an awakening ceremony for the masses before it was too late.

“Our lord god has deemed this world unworthy of his love. The sins we committed were too much for his son to bear”, he saw the heads nod for every word of his. Assuring himself he is doing the right thing Gale continued, “The judgement day is upon us and the wrath of god will stop at nothing from punishing the sinners. We have to sacrifice them to the angels before they bring more of the vile creatures. Our lord has spared this shelter because his faithful children are here. His anger will not be appeased without the blood of the sinners. Are you ready to do what is needed?”

Gale’s words echoed back with a resounding roar of ‘yes’. The crowd went nuts over his speech. With their enthusiasm unhindered, he praised the lord and continued, “We have to give him the wolves. It is his grace that keeps us warm in the cold”. He pointed at the group of tents in the middle of the store, “Two of them killed his emissaries from hell, averting their punishment. We need to bring them to the hell spawns. The angels will reward us for our service to lord god. Who is with me?”

A cheer of ‘yes’ followed by ‘praise the lord’ echoed through the corner.

Power is a drug. It’s so addictive and makes one feel supreme. Gale bathed himself in his power and concocted ways to bring the two heathens to the hell spawns. Wong and Allen, both of them will face the fury of his lord god. Salvation was reserved only for the worthy.

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A small group gathered near Allen’s bright red tent.

No longer concealing his anger, “The guys at the corner have been at it non-stop since morning. We just left them to their devices. I fear nothing good will come out of their bickering”. [Wong]

No pleasantries and right down to business. I like him already. “Let them be. We will take care of them when they become a threat”, which is sooner than you think. [Allen]

“Camille told me you wanted to speak with us. Has anything happened?” [Lin]

Lin fidgeted while standing close to Wong exchanging conspicuous glances at Alvin. It’s obvious that poor girl had a thing for Alvin, but too bad he is already taken.

Wong interrupted me with a grunt, “Yea. Some of us don’t have the luxury of having a fair maiden take care of us while we sleep all day”.

What’s his problem. Fucker, insulting me at every turn he gets. “I slept for a good reason. Damn it, now I am explaining my actions to him. I have something very important to share. I want your inputs, suggestions and whatever you think might help us deal with what’s to come. If you have any objections, leave now. You staying here will be taken as your consent to my plans”. Including wong, lin, I have two new black kids, probably Alvin invited them. Justin Jr and Rebecca Crease. Justin is the fire chief, his son Justin Jr is our high school quarterback. He is older by 2 years and graduated just last year if I remember correctly. Rebecca Crease is a cheerleader who dated Justin Jr in highschool. both of them have found each other after the world went to shit. Can’t believe how narcissistic people are. Naming their kids after themselves. Too much of vanity I say.

Bunch of noobs, perfect. I shared with them everything Trevor told about the attack. I didn’t give away everything. I needed some leverage if things go sideways. I informed them about the attack, how he gave me another treasure box, how transcending oneself is the way to get more rewards and magic might be real.

“Do you think we can rope some adults into trusting this information?” [Allen]

“My dad will help organize some kind of defense. The town folk are somewhat grouchy from the whole air conditioning thing. Are you sure leaving here wouldn’t be safer?” [Wong]

“Yes, I am sure. Unless you have 50 more guns and some heavy armored humvee hidden in the garage. By the way, where are the dead bodies? How did you guys clean it up?” [Allen]

Lin snapped at me saying, “Don’t bark at him. We are all just scared” [Lin]

Hiding his disgust, Wong whispered, “We have the corpses locked in an ice cream machine inside the meat locker. We were scared to dispose of them outside the store. For one, it will bring us more predators. Rotting corpses are sources of pandemics. Better to keep them frozen before deciding what to do with them” [Wong]

That explains why the meat locker needed priority. Pre-med is doing well for this kid. I know a couple of people here, who would do anything for their family. Even assuming all hands on deck, we still don’t know how many monsters lurk and how they plan to attack us. They could simply wait out till we ran out of food or water. At that point, we won’t have enough stamina to resist anyway.

“Alright, no use mucking around. Wong, prioritize in people registry, we need to know what our strengths are. Lin and Camille, can you speak to people with families about a possible attack and they may need to help us. Don’t be forceful. Just create an ideal outcome such that without their help everyone they know and love will die”. Too evil, but I am not exactly sympathetic. [Allen]

“I think dad had already started on the registry. He collected the names of the survivors saying the army will need it to find their relatives or friends. Just need to add their occupation and we are set. Let me check the progress” and wong left us to our schemes. [Wong]

Camille joined Lin and both of them whispered ‘stuff’ to themselves. Finally both of them gave me a nod and left the rest of us.

“Justin and Rebecca. This is too much to ask the two of you, but please help convince your .. kin to join the fight. I know the town has been shitty to them and they would rather watch it burn, but trust me, this is a fight for our survival. We will need a united front” [Allen]

Alvin spoke to the two of them and may be he convinced them, may be not. Either way, both of them reluctantly joined ‘their’ group of people and started gathering a crowd. I can only hope we made the right choices. Alvin led them to a corner. He is a better leader than I am.

I walked to the restroom and adjusted myself in the mirror. The more I looked at myself, the more I felt like gagging.

“What the hell am I doing? I am way out of my depth. If only dad was here, he would know what to do. I am not prepared to shoulder the fate of these people” muttering to my mirror self, I washed my face hoping my fatigue washes away as well.

My ostensible feeling of gagging was replaced by actual gagging. Some ragged cloth, probably a smelly old socks covered my mouth and a pair of strong masculine hands held me in place while I struggled violently before surrendering to his force. His hot musk filled my nostrils as my vision faded in his embrace. Be gentle with me.

At least I won’t die a virgin.

….

Oh wait, that was a fucking prank. Bull shit.