{"id":219,"date":"2011-05-25T00:00:02","date_gmt":"2011-05-25T04:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=219"},"modified":"2011-05-25T00:00:02","modified_gmt":"2011-05-25T04:00:02","slug":"day-zero-chapter-5-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=219","title":{"rendered":"Day Zero – Chapter 5 – 02"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davon swallowed hard, looking perhaps a little unsettled.\u00a0 \u201cHow many do we think are<\/em> dead?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cProbably better to ask how many are still alive.\u201d\u00a0 Marin\u2019s voice was quiet. \u00a0She didn\u2019t look up from Thom, who was still dozing\u2014almost sleeping, now, it seemed, given that he hadn\u2019t joined the conversation yet.\u00a0 \u201cProbably not that many.\u00a0 Probably enough<\/em>.\u00a0 But not that many.\u00a0 And not all of them will come here.\u00a0 Some will come here.\u00a0 Not everyone, though.\u201d\u00a0 She licked her lips, repeating quietly, \u201cNot nearly everyone.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matt frowned to himself.\u00a0 I\u2019m not even sure I want to know what she saw.\u00a0 If she saw.\u00a0 Did she see anything?<\/em>\u00a0 He bit his tongue.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t worth asking, really.\u00a0 Wasn\u2019t worth freaking out over it\u2014very little was, apparently.\u00a0 Marin\u2019s crap had never really been worth<\/em> panicking over, though now he was starting to wonder if that hadn\u2019t been a false assumption on his part.\u00a0 If that thing she\u2019d talked about years ago had actually<\/em> been referring to this\u2026
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m as crazy as she is,<\/em> he shook his head at himself, taking another slow sip of coffee, savoring it.\u00a0 There might not be more soon enough.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They were all quiet for a moment, some staring at Marin and some absolutely refusing to make eye contact with her.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t seem to care; she was focused on Thom.\u00a0 Matt struggled not to shake his head.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t you dare hurt her, Thomas.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you dare.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The rain came down harder, lightning struck near enough that the accompanying thunderclap sent shudders through the tent poles, through those clustered around the fire \u2013 even the flames trembled.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFood, shelter.\u00a0 What if she\u2019s right and people come, but not friendly-like?\u201d\u00a0 Tala flicked brown hair out of her face, brow furrowed, expression almost pinched.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll need to defend ourselves.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She\u2019s right about that.\u00a0 And whatever ammunition we can round up for any guns we can round up aren\u2019t going to last us forever, either.<\/em>\u00a0 Matt blew a breath out slowly through his teeth.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll need weapons.\u201d\u00a0 But what kind?\u00a0 Sabers?\u00a0 Yeah right.\u00a0 Guns to start.\u00a0 Hunting bows and arrows.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cSomething to defend ourselves with.\u00a0 After shelter, we\u2019ll need\u2026well.\u00a0 Walls.\u00a0 Something.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re not going to become sort of uncivilized rabble.\u201d\u00a0 Kellin\u2019s voice was quiet, but very firm.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s not why we\u2019ve survived this, not at all.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Then do tell us why, Kellin.\u00a0 Why have we survived?\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t we die with almost everyone else?<\/em>\u00a0 Matt bit his tongue, hard, saying nothing\u2014not yet.\u00a0 Marin gave him a sharp look and frowned, shaking her head slightly at him before shifting her position slightly, wincing.\u00a0 He looked away, exhaling a sigh, staring into the fire.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFood, shelter, and defenses are<\/em> a priority, though,\u201d Kellin continued quietly.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s no question of that<\/em>.\u00a0 We\u2019re no good to anyone dead.\u201d\u00a0 She leaned forward, warming her hands near the licking flames.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll have to find a way to make sure we have a steady supply of clean water, too.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know about the rest of you, but I only trust the water in the Grand so far.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Smart girl.<\/em>\u00a0 Matt found himself nodding in agreement.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe we can find a way to get some of the water from the ravine, from the creeks, before they hit the river. \u00a0That stuff\u2019s usually pretty clean.\u201d\u00a0 Clean as rainwater gets these days, anyway.<\/em>\u00a0 He rubbed at his eyes.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drew got up, picked up some smaller bits of wood and fed them into the fire.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll need more wood tomorrow.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll have to dry it out,\u201d Matt grimaced.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll find a way.\u00a0 Carolyn and I\u2019ll go out in the morning to see what we can find.\u00a0 Figure it out one way or another.\u201d\u00a0 Maybe we\u2019ll get lucky and find some deadwood that\u2019s not soaked through.\u00a0 Not sure I really think we\u2019re that lucky, though.<\/em>\u00a0 He glanced out toward the wind and rain, wind that seemed to be picking up, now.\u00a0 That\u2019s also assuming that this storm lets up anytime soon.<\/em>\u00a0 The sound of the rain changed, harder.\u00a0 Hail?\u00a0 Maybe.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cTemperature must be dropping fast,\u201d Drew said softly, following Matt\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 \u201cSounds like hail.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLooks like, it, too.\u201d\u00a0 J.T. pushed himself to his feet, wandering quietly toward the edge of the tent.\u00a0 He extended his hand, standing for a few minutes, then withdrew it, staring at his palm.\u00a0 A pea-sized ball of ice slowly melted there.\u00a0 He dropped it and wiped his hand on his jeans.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 It\u2019s hail.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Great.<\/em>\u00a0 Matt took one last sip of coffee before settling his mug on the stones surrounding the fire.\u00a0 \u201cBetter get some more of those walls rigged up, Davon, and staked down in case the wind starts shifting things sideways.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The other young man nodded in agreement, pushing to his feet.\u00a0 \u201cRight.\u00a0 Where\u2019d we leave the hammers?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOver there.\u201d\u00a0 Matt gestured vaguely.\u00a0 He knew where they were.\u00a0 He glanced toward Marin and Thom.\u00a0 \u201cDo you want to lay down before we go get this done?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She shook her head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u00a0 We\u2019re all right.\u00a0 Company\u2019s better than quiet right now.\u00a0 Go on.\u00a0 We\u2019ll still be here when you get back.\u201d\u00a0 She smiled up at him.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matt nodded slowly, turning and moving off to scoop up one of the hammers while Davon was wrestling with the tent walls, huge swaths of plasticized canvas with grommets at the bottom and clips at the top to secure them to the lines that ran along the edges of the tent roof.\u00a0 J.T. joined them, getting the heavy stakes to secure the bottom edge of the walls.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The three men picked their way carefully amongst the sleepers, starting to rig up the walls as quickly as they could.\u00a0 More often than not, J.T. and Matt found themselves on the outside of the tent rather than the inside.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matt spat a curse the fourth time he caught a quarter-sized hailstone in the head.\u00a0 \u201cGot to be a better way to do this.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T., crouched on the ground and holding the stake in place for Matt to hammer down, snorted.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 Get the walls up before<\/em> the storm starts.\u00a0 Just get them up.\u00a0 Sooner they\u2019re up, sooner we\u2019re back by the fire, getting warm and dry.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matt mumbled a few choice words.\u00a0 Yeah.\u00a0 That <\/em>would have been the smart way to go about this.\u00a0 Shame we had other things to be worrying about.\u00a0 Like fires and food.<\/em>\u00a0 He mopped his brow with a soaking wet sleeve.\u00a0 \u201cWe need to add lanterns to our list of things to go loot,\u201d he mumbled.\u00a0 \u201cWaterproof ones.\u00a0 And candles, too, with matches.\u00a0 Make life a little easier, at least for a little while.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. was barely visible against the stormy sky, but he nodded in the dark and they resumed their work.\u00a0 It took perhaps half an hour to get things together, and by the time they were finished both Matt and J.T. were soaked to the skin.\u00a0 Matt\u2019s teeth were chattering and he could barely feel his fingers as they made their way back to the fire, but at least the tent was enclosed as much as would be safe with the fires still going.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGo put on something dry, Matt,\u201d Marin said quietly after looking him up and down slowly.\u00a0 \u201cYou too, J.T.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. waved her off and sat down by the fire, shrugging out of his shirt, moisture glistening on his bare flesh even with the shirt off.\u00a0 \u201cLet me get warm for a few minutes, Mar, then I\u2019ll listen.\u201d\u00a0 He stretched his hands out toward the fire, red and raw from the frigid rain.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My bruises have bruises from that hail,<\/em> Matt thought sullenly to himself as he took a knee, easing close to the fire to warm his own hands.\u00a0 \u201cNext time, we get the walls up before<\/em> the hail starts,\u201d he mumbled.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davon watched them both for a moment before announcing quietly, \u201cI\u2019m going to go get you two some clothes and towels,\u201d and disappeared into the dim.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHe could have taken a turn out in the wet,\u201d Matt grumbled, shaking his head.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. just rolled his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cDavon?\u00a0 Not him, not so soon after some sort of major disaster.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s just mean,\u201d Marin chided.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sure it is.\u00a0 It\u2019s also true, and you know it.<\/em>\u00a0 Matt smiled wryly at the dirty look his sister threw in his direction after she tossed one at J.T.\u00a0 He started working his shirt off, grimacing as the wet fabric caught and bound.\u00a0 God, was it cold<\/em>.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kellin studied the pair as they inched closer to the fire unconsciously, each trying to get warm again.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s that bad out there?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI lost count of how many times I got hit in the head by hail after five,\u201d Matt mumbled in response.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d say it\u2019s pretty bad out there, Kel.\u201d\u00a0 This is insane.\u00a0 We\u2019re insane.\u00a0 Completely and totally, irrevocably insane.\u00a0 How the hell are we going to survive this?\u00a0 How?<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kellin was staring at him.\u00a0 \u201cBecause we have to, Matt,\u201d she said softly.\u00a0 \u201cWe don\u2019t have any other choice.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He stared at her for a long moment and finally sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face.\u00a0 \u201cRight,\u201d he mumbled.\u00a0 \u201cNo choices left.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWe make do with what\u2019s left to us, my friend.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My friend.\u00a0 First time any of them have said<\/em> that to me.<\/em>\u00a0 Matt nodded slightly.\u00a0 \u201cRight.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kellin smiled.\u00a0 \u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Davon swallowed hard, looking perhaps a little unsettled.\u00a0 \u201cHow many do we think are dead?\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cProbably better to ask how many are still alive.\u201d\u00a0 Marin\u2019s voice was quiet. \u00a0She didn\u2019t look up from Thom, who was still dozing\u2014almost … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-5","category-day-zero"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-3x","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}