“What channel was that?”

I kept tuning the radio up and down, searching for the right channel, and there was it. After five minutes of searching, the same man whom I heard earlier spoke again. I smiled and hugged Chase awkwardly. Suddenly, I felt that the world still existed outside this building. The world was still a big place.

He spoke for four seconds and the broadcast buzzed again. I thought the recording was just repeated.

“Three Rivers Broadcast.” The man who said this had a really deep voice. He seemed to talk very slowly and very clearly, announcing every word like it was in a kindergarten’s reading club. “We are a safe shelter in the North, specifically in Three Rivers, Michigan. You will find a small barn with a huge radio tower there, and we’re not hard to find. We currently have fifty-eight people sheltering in here. We’re a small community, but it’s safe here and people live happily outside the threats of predators or bad people. We have trained men and ex-militaries who dedicated their lives to protect the shelter from predators and bad men. This might seem sketchy for you, but trust me, we’re not robbers. I cannot give any evidence to support my claim, but you need to trust yourself. Sometimes, we just have to risk it. The government has fallen and all of their test projects to find a vaccine or a cure failed. Talvid is proven to be unbeatable. Us, the Three Rivers Community swore for our lives to help each other and rebuild the world from ashes. We want to keep the earth habitable, and we want to save people from suffering and menace.”

That sounded like a cheap conspiracy advertisement that you hear all the time in social media, and the same reading was repeated over six times that we began to be sure that it was indeed a recording played on repeat.

My patience was almost over, but then, the radio buzzed in a different way. The sound of the same man arose, but the voice was much hoarser. He seemed tired, reluctant, but he still sounded like a genuine man. He also read a different thing. I concluded that this time, he was speaking live.

“Daily broadcast: 22nd of February, 2022. The weather is fine, cloudy but cold. Two new pairs of survivors from Seattle emerged at our front door. They’re fine now. We currently have seventy-one survivors living here. We got attacked by two squads of IFP last night, but we managed to hold them off. Two friends of ours fell in the process, rest in peace Jarred and Conan. Although the shelter remained undamaged, the holes in our hearts will forever be stained after the losses.” 

The man sighed. It seemed that he had done this for so long it brought him weariness. It felt like Jarred and Conan weren’t his first and second falling comrades.

“We’re here to help you. The government failed every test on animal and human subjects, killing hundreds already. The military went out of control and started bombing skyscrapers and streets, killing some innocents along the way. They broke off from the main American Government and decided to do things on their own, but politics and corruptions went over their heads. Two cities had been nuked; New Orleans and Atlanta. We don’t know what will happen next, but Three Rivers is far from everywhere, so nuke will not be our fear. Please, listen to me! I’m trying to help you. Come to us and we can protect you. Trust us, but trust no one else. Travel light and avoid being seen. Not only predators are trying to kill you, but healthy humans as well. Be safe! Good luck!”

The broadcast stopped. The repeated recording played again. I shut it off and silence consumed the two of us. We just wearily stared into the radio with so many thoughts wavering in our heads.

“Damn,” Chase said, finally breaking the awkward atmosphere.

“Atlanta was nuked. I think that bloody earthquake was it.”

“You’re right. That was what I was thinking too.”

“Do you think they’re telling the truth?” I asked. My voice was shaky asking this question. For some reason I doubted them more than I should. I thought we would be robbed if we ever step foot on that Three Rivers.

“About?”

“Everything. That they’re telling us the truth and that they are trying to help us. I mean, trusting someone in a world like this is technically suicide.”

“I don’t know, Ti.” Chase leaned his head slightly to the right. “He seemed truthful to me.”

It was a big gamble. But the government could nuke Nashville next, or they could just blow up this building like they did to five other ones. Either we have to go and risk our lives searching for a place we’re not sure of, or stay here until either starvation or a missile kill us.

So I retrieved the radio back to my backpack and went to light up the fire in the hearth.

That night, I felt uneasy for myself. Chase seemed conflicted also. I decided to pick up my guitar from my empty bedroom and immediately sat next to him.

“Wanna request something’?”

Chase’s face brightened up. In a second, he suddenly remembered that he was sitting next to his biggest idol ever, and that now I was holding a guitar. He shrieked in excitement. Seeing his face and his behavior reminded me of my life before all of this. I was brought back to my concert, where every single audience turned on their flashlights as I sang my newest song: Myself and the Apocalypse.

I tried to muster the words. They came out light and weak.

Days gone, lights out

And the music rhymed in my heart

It beats out loud, like a drum

When I sing it, with a hum

And the world would be better… sometimes

And the world would be better… sometimes

But those are just words

Words whispered by a child

In the cold, old days we said goodbye

Candles high, stakes are too

And the song muttered by my lips

Are just tasteless sounds of fading clips

Because we’re living

I’m living… yeah

In the Apocalypse…

Myself and the Apocalypse

I almost broke off to tears singing this song. My voice cracked several times. Pain seasoned some lines in that song. 

Ashley did most of the lyrics. It was the best song we’ve ever made. It didn’t break records or win Grammys like my other ones like Lexington Street or Sunday Dawn, or my other country songs like Tables or Hell is Here, but it was my personal favorite.

“Ohh this must be the best day of my life. You know, you responded my comment in Instagram like a year ago, and I bragged it to every single person in my class. They were impressed. They would probably pass out if I told them that Tiany Valley talked to me. Well, that is if they’re still alive. But hearing you sing live is just out of this world.”

I smiled after his response. He was such a fanboy.

“If you wanna request something else, go ahead!”

“Okay, okay, okay. Umm, shoot. I have so many inside my mind. Umm. How about Shelter Me. Oh no, do Trauma.”

Trauma was the first song that I ever released. It went viral worldwide and suddenly, my life completely changed. That song was probably the most impactful on my life after Myself and the Apocalypse. I spilled everything about my bad relationship with my two parents in that song.

So I sang him the song. He requested me some more.

“This is easily the best night in my life. Hope my sister and brother could be here.”

And we spent the rest of the day singing and laughing. Joy drugged us off and it was one of the best day of my life, you know, despite being almost killed by two dumb men and almost getting robbed by them and that the world did end.

The night was already so deep when I finished.

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Ti.” Chase worded it out and yawned before he turned to his sleep.

Then, everything went silent.

Then, I heard something loud.

A gunshot. Two gunshots. Three gunshots. They were far, but the echoes were so loud, I jumped from my sleep.

“What was that?” Chase asked in a panic voice.

“I don’t know.”

But I knew exactly what it was. Must’ve been those two jerks from before. Gladly there were about five hundred rooms in the entire building. It should’ve been ages for them to find us.

I need to do something about this. They can be threats.

“They made so much noise. Those predators downstairs must’ve heard them.”

“You’re right, Chase. Just stay here.”

“Where are you going?”

“Imma check what’s up.”

“Are you crazy? They have guns. You only got a baseball bat.”

“Just trust me, Chase. They must be those people from before. They could harm us. I need to do something.”

“What? Kill them? That’s not the worst that could happen. You could die too.”

I didn’t answer.

“Ti, those predators gonna get to them anyway. You don’t have to do this. It’s too freaking dangerous. Please, just stay inside.”

I could’ve sworn I saw Chase’s teary eyes chimed in the dark.

“Sorry, but this is for our own good. I need you to listen to me, Chase. I need to stop them now. It was a mistake not taking their pistol when I had the chance, but no regrets. I have to go.”

“Ti, don’t do this.”

“Chase! I have to. They’re gonna find us one way or another. You need to listen to me now! I have to know if you’re listening to me.”

Chase waited a few seconds. “Okay. I’m listening.”

“You need to pack both our bags. Fill them with foods, supplies, clothes, the radio, everything that you think is essential for us to survive, including knife and flashlight. After that, I need you to hide inside that closet and do not come out in any circumstances. You come out only if you hear my voice, okay?”

“Please, don’t go.” Chase was crying now.

“Chase, you understand? You understand what you have to do?”

He nodded.

“Okay.”

“What if you don’t return? I don’t want to be alone, Ti. I’m scared.”

“I’m returning, Chase. I promise.”

That was reckless of me. I should be there to protect him always, but instead, I decided to hunt for these two men. I didn’t know what I was thinking, but if I didn’t do this, they could come in at any time without us knowing. They could burst in to our room when we sleep. I had to do this.

I had to do this.

−

I made sure my bare feet didn’t make any sound when I walked slowly towards the stairs. The floor was freezing, but wearing shoes would just be suicide. 

I gripped my lovely baseball bat with both my hands.

There was another gunshot when I crept in the dark. I almost jumped as it was so loud. That was very scary. Imagine creeping in an empty building surrounded by nothing but darkness and killers and then a gunshot just caught you by surprise. The sound would go up and bounce towards every room. My heart skipped a beat when it happened.

One by one I paced slow but effectively on the stairs. I checked before I went, and then patrolled over the areas.

I heard a hiss just below me, and then a gunshot. The fast bright light from the gunshot flickered to my face, illuminating the entire section of the building in less than a second. I saw a man holding a gun in that flicker of time. He just shot a predator point blank in the third floor. He was right below me.

Shit.

“Tiany Valley? Where the fuck are you, bitch?” His voice was full of anger and hatred, and it echoed throughout the building, stabbing me right on the spine and filling me with fear.

He shot two bullets to the ceiling. I jumped. My heart throbbed uncontrollably. My breathing became unstable. He seemed really angry.

“Tiany fucking Valley! You are a dead fucking kid. Because of you, Gary almost lost his goddamn life. I’m very angry now, Tiany. I’m going to fucking murder you.”

I ran back upstairs to the fifth floor, keeping both my ears open. Unlucky me, I tripped and fell because of the darkness that swallowed me. An echo of thud came when I tumbled. 

“Was that you, Tiany?” I heard his footsteps fast forwards upstairs.

Shit. He’s after me now.

“Tianyyyyy! I’m coming.”

I ran to a random room and closed the door without creating a sound. Everything was dark, and the smell reminded me of Roundley’s room, but for sure there was no predator or human alive in there. 

“Tiany! I’m here!”

His voice was just really close. I heard him reloading his gun.

My hair drenched in sweat. I hold my breath. I was too scared. I panicked. My heart throbbed quicker than the speed of light.

“Tiany, it would be best to surrender. I promise not to excruciate you before taking your life. I would just shoot your brain once and churn it out, no big deal.”

I heard his footsteps stopped. He was right outside the room I was in. How the hell did he know where I was? He must’ve smelled something.

“I know you’re here somewhere, bitch.”

BANG

I heard him shoot the door knob of a room. I checked, but it was not where I was. I thought he was in the room across this one, but there was no way to be sure.

I need to do something about this. He’s going to kill me.

Before I tried to touch the knob and exit the room to flee, a hole was suddenly drilled to the door of the room I was in. The bullet almost touched my hip. It flew accordingly and landed right across the room. He was getting in.

I slumped to the floor in panic and desperation.

He kicked the door open. It slammed to the wall behind it, and I was there, sitting with my hands on my mouth, concealing myself inside the darkness of the room. I led myself deeper and deeper into the corner, hugging both my knees with tears swelling my eyes.

“I smell you, Tiany. You’re close somewhere.”

There was a point where he stood really close to me, but then moved on outside and checked the next room. He didn’t see me. It was too dark and he didn’t have a flashlight. Outside was dark and slightly raining, so to check in rooms would be really hard.

Okay, breathe, Tiany. Just breathe! Help yourself.

I closed my eyes. The adrenaline inside me rushed like quicksilver running through my arteries. 

Fuck, I’m ending this.

I tried to hear him with my cunning ears. He was trying to bust another door. I prepared my bat, high and strong. I lunged forward, aiming for his head, but he suddenly deflected it and lurched left. My bat hit nothing but the door.

“There you are!” His voice was delighted. I could see his creepy face resembling in the dark.

Before he did something, I tried another attack. I knocked his weapon down to the floor, but he charged me without thinking and slammed me to the wall with both his strong hands. He grinded my neck so hard, locking me in his choke so I couldn’t breathe. It felt exactly like when my father did it to me, helpless. Hope seemed to fade at that point.

But I didn’t want to surrender just like that. I quickly bit his arm and just deepened my teeth to his flesh until blood rushed out. He jumped backward in pain and anger.

“Damn you!”

I grabbed the baseball bat at the floor, but when I returned back up, he kicked me right on my stomach. I was knocked down to the floor.

He raised his booted foot and tried to stomp my face, but I trundled left so he stepped on nothing but the floor. I snatched the bat and slammed it right to his vitals.

“Gaahh! Fuckin−”

I upped my body and now stood at my feet.

BANG

A bullet flew right to my left shoulder, spraying blood by a little bit. The pain suddenly registered in my mind, but it hurt me more than I ever felt pain before.

I looked back and saw Gary, the fatter man, with a broken nose and a scary face, pointing his gun at me. He brought a lantern with him and I could see his face dimly brightened by it. 

I was holding my bullet wound, but it kept spraying blood. My vision turned blurry real fast, and the bleeding didn’t slow down.

“Yowe ded, bish!” His voice seemed distorted after I wrecked him before.

He pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. 

“Syiitth.”

He was reloading, so I picked up the bat and fled the scene with every bit of energy left inside. He shot several bullets but missed. I ran back upstairs, leaving a disgusting trail of blood on the floor. He didn’t seem to chase me directly. He probably helped his pal first.

“Shit. Shit. Shit.”

I didn’t realize, but thankfully the sign ‘9th floor’ flashed in my eyes. I turned to the familiar hallway and throttled quickly inside.

“Chase!”

Chase hurriedly exited his hiding spot and was about to hug me, but he saw my shoulder pouring blood like crazy.

“Oh no. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. We have to get out of here, Chase. You ready? They’re coming.”

Chase didn’t stop gazing towards my bullet wound, but I had a more oppressing matter at hand. I asked him my backpack, but he insisted on carrying both (and those two combined were so heavy). I grabbed my room key while also forming an escape plan inside my head, but I was beginning to feel delirious and disoriented. I started seeing dragons and fireflies like in cartoons or animations.

They took forever to reach our floor, so I ran to my bedroom and just randomly bandaged my wound carelessly. Chase helped me with it. At least the bleeding slowed down, but I felt so lightheaded.

“Ti, what’re we gonna do?”

“Just stay close behind me, okay? They are coming and we’re going to run as fast as we can.”

I applied more and more layer of bandages. Consequently, my left arm started to feel numb. 

Some more gunshots echoed somewhere below. I really hoped predators caught them, but we were high up here. Those assholes must’ve already blocked the stairs to the lobby so the predators couldn’t go through.

Ten minutes felt like ten hours. We waited while the constant gunshot echoed somewhere in the building every now and then.

How many bullets do these guys have? A million?

Finally, the moment came where their footsteps arrived at the ninth floor. I could hear them slowing their paces, and then checking the rooms one by one, as also to shout my name repeatedly.

My right arm was clutching the bat, and my bleeding left hold Chase closer. He was trembling uncontrollably. He was so scared that he turned really pale and cold.

We waited next to the door with both our ears opened. I did have a plan, but if it didn’t work, then our lives would come to an end.

Suddenly, the door flew open and banged the wall behind it until a crack was formed. We almost got slammed by the door, but dodged quickly and reacted instantly before one of them could pull the trigger. 

One of the guys blared at us in surprise. “Ah.”

But I knocked his weapon down again. Gary grabbed me frantically and locked me with his arms, but my hand was like glued to the bat and I swung it up, knocking his face one more time. I struggled free and kicked them both inside my room. Gary fell toward the other guy, and they tumbled down in the carefree darkness of my apartment room. 

I closed the door as fast as I could and locked it. As the key plundered out from the lock, two bullets flew through the door and almost hitting me on the legs. Chase screamed shortly next to me.

“Let’s go, Chase!”

I took his hand and led him away. We ran with our pulses beating harder than ever. The hallway’s lights flickered, creating a horror sensation typical to thriller movies. 

I swerved my legs right at the end of the hallway, next to Roundley’s empty room, and sped up toward the western staircase which would lead us to the backyard where we buried my sister and Chase’s brother.

“Why are we going here? There is no way out!”

“The only way out is through the lobby. It’s swarmed with predators from what you said. The entire city also probably heard those shots. Just trust me, we’re escaping through here.”

A second after we went down through the stairs, three gunshots filled the atmosphere. Those guys were probably shooting the knob and busting themselves out. My adrenaline charged me again. I even forgot that my left arm still bled.

Long story short, we actually arrived at the yard.

So let me explain. The backyard, or small field, was reinforced by three high walls surrounding its western, northern, and southern side, and the apartment building to the east. Behind those walls were other living spaces. To the west, there was an office building used by an insurance agency. To the south, there was also a tall building which was used by the government. To the north, as far I knew, was a small colonial home used by the rich couple: the Gobbles. Only a high cemented fence separated the yard from the home.

The wall was probably 13 feet high, or four meters (I prefer the metric system).

“Here, Chase!”

I analyzed the high wall, but thought no more and decided that that was our escape route alright. The night was still dark and cloudy, light rain cruised the air and bothered us not at all, so we could also use the darkness to avoid those two psychopaths.

“Toss the bags there!” I pointed the northern wall.

“What’s behind it?”

“The safest place to escape. Just do it!”

Chase hesitantly tossed both heavy backpacks to the other side of the wall. I heard two thuds after and was sure that no hisses came after that. Hopefully, the house was not inhabited by predators.

“Now help me.”

I pulled one of the yard’s benches and placed it right in front of the wall. Then, I told Chase to place the metal trashcan right above the bench. After that, I told him to climb the wall first.

“Are we seriously doing this, Ti?”

“You wanna live or not?”

He nodded and proceeded to climb the two items. He needed to jump a bit and finally grabbed the top of the wall with both his hands. He was dangling there, but after balancing himself, he pulled his body up and sat above the wall.

“My turn.”

I climbed the trashcan, but when my arms tried to reach Chase’s palms, the wounded one felt really weak and fleshy. I screamed audibly when Chase pulled me up. It was a hard struggle, but I did it anyway.

“Painful?” He asked dumbly.

“No. It only hurts like hell.”

I kicked the trashcan down and jumped down to Gobbles’ yard with two feet. Our bags were there, waiting for us to come down.

The thunder surprised us, and three seconds later, the rain got massive. A storm emerged out of nowhere, deafening the entire neighborhood with crashing drops of water.

It was really cold, and I didn’t remember to bring my jacket. At least Chase wore his, but he really felt bad when he realized he also forgot to bring mine.

“We need to get inside the house.”

The backyard of the grand city house was really big and nice. 

And I realized that we just escaped deaths. Chase could be killed.

I didn’t want to lose Chase. Not him. Not again.

Not ever.

-------

Art by : minka on We Heart It from Pinterest
Art edited by me