Jacqueline Druga - Omnicide

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yes,” answered Art. “You should leave. Pack what you need, bring supplies, and make your way here. It won’t take you more than seven hours. I would suggest leaving first thing tomorrow morning. We’ll give you directions because we don’t know how long things will be up so don’t rely on GPS.”

“I don’t want to be alone,” Trixie said. “I mean no one does. But no one knows it’s safe, they’re scared to leave their homes or apartments. No one has even answered so they’ll be glad to hear.”

Kit looked at Cass curiously. “Trixie, this is Officer Modine. Who will be glad to hear that it’s safe?”

“Everyone waiting inside,” Trixie replied.

“Okay, so you’re not meaning specific people,” Kit said. “You’re speaking in general.”

“I don’t know their names. I know their usernames.”

A huge ‘what’ of shock rang out around the room.

“Usernames?” Kit asked. “As in social media?”

“Yes,” Trixie answered. “I mean I have millions of followers, nothing compared to Lena. And usually when I post I get thousands of answers. I only had fourteen, but we have been talking ever since.”

“Fourteen people replied?” Art asked. “What did you post?”

“I just asked if anyone knew what was going on.”

Niles muttered, “I didn’t even think of social media. We can see who is posting.” He pulled out his phone.

“Useless,” Cass said. “There is no signal.”

“Really?” Niles lifted his phone. “I’m online”

Like it was a rush to a mad sale, everyone grabbed their cell phones.

“Quick,” Mark said with a point to Lena. “That signal can go at any time. You have a lot of followers. Make a post. Put our police station number up. Get them to contact us.”

“Got it.” Lena turned her attention back to the phone. “Trixie, I can’t get a hold of John and the kids. My mom is supposed to be there too. Can you try, maybe even drive over there?”

“Oh, Lena, you know I will. As soon as we get off the phone I will head right over.”

“Thank you. Thank you. I’ll keep trying to call,” Lena said.

“Trixie,” Mark said. “If you can just hang on, grab a pen, I’ll get you directions to our town.”

“I can do that,” she replied.

“Everyone check their social media feeds,” Mark instructed. “I think we need an emergency town meeting now instead of later. People need to know. We need volunteers for search teams, food supply runs, things like that.”

Cass looked up to him. “You’ve been thinking about his.”

“I have.”

Cass smiled. “See, that’s why I married you.”

“Aw,” Lena gushed.

Kit rolled his eyes.

“What?” Cass asked. “What is that look for?”

“Will you need us to speak at the meeting?” Niles asked.

“It would be good if you’re there to answer questions,” Mark said. “Right now, let’s tell everyone to be at the theater in one hour. No exceptions, it’s an emergency.”

“How?” Kit asked. “How are we… oh. Oh.” He shook his head. “So does this mean you want me to ride around making the announcement again?”

“Yes,” Mark stated.

“Son of a bitch.” Kit lifted the keys.

“Oh! Hey, wait.” Cass stood. “I’ll do it. I’ll drive around and announce. I am an official police officer now.”

Kit tossed her the keys. “All yours. I want to go online for the news.”

It didn’t matter to Mark who did it, as long as it got done. He wanted his town together, to plan together. He hoped that Trixie was one of many that would find their way to Griffin.

He found it ironic that a town that was always a communication dead zone ended up being a beacon of light in a world that went dark of life in the course of two days.

It wasn’t as simple as just walking out the door. Trixie had to deal with the fear that had built up inside her over the course of the last few days. She didn’t even realize the extent of it until she reached for the doorknob of her bedroom.

She couldn’t bring herself to walk out.

She kept telling herself that she’d promised Lena she would check on her family, but in order to do that Trixie had to leave.

Yes, the doctor in Griffin told her it was safe. But that was there, what if it wasn’t safe in Los Angeles?

Baby steps.

What she needed was fresh air. And if by some chance it wasn’t safe, there was really nothing Trixie could do about it. Did she really want to die in the bedroom of her home? Die from starvation that would eventually come.

She walked to the sliding doors of her bedroom that led to the balcony, and with a trembling hand she slid it open.

It was warm and the breeze hit her. Trixie filled with panic when she inhaled.

Once she took that breath, she took that step.

Out on the balcony she stood there, taking in the quiet.

There were no sounds. No birds. Nothing.

She’d made it outside, sure she could now leave her bedroom.

Nothing had been packed, not yet. She’d be leaving in the morning and had all evening to gather her things.

Stepping back in, she didn’t realize how badly her room smelled from lack of ventilation. It smelled like stale food and body odor all mixed with blueberry candles.

She walked across her bedroom and opened the door.

Directly at her feet was the rolled-up towel Anita had placed there.

That towel could have been the difference between life and death for Trixie. And while Anita had not answered her calls, Trixie was going to find her.

She had to.

In fact, after she sought out Lena’s family, Trixie was going to locate any and all of the friends she’d made in the city.

Discover their fate.

If they had succumbed, Trixie prepared herself for the challenge. It wasn’t going to be easy.

Her home was big, too big for just one person, but Trixie never had to worry about where she left her stuff and her purse was still right where she’d dropped it a couple nights before.

On the floor of the foyer near the front door.

She lifted it, pulled out her keys and unlocked the front door.

Her car was still there, badly parked out front.

She wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, what was out there in the city, but the only way to find out was to go.

She got into her car, started the engine, and turned on the radio.

Nothing.

Not even static.

It was as if it had been broken. After placing the car in gear, Trixie pulled down her driveway and turned left.

Lena didn’t live far.

Two or three miles.

It wouldn’t be long before she would find out for her friend the fate of her family.

Trixie prayed it would be good news.

It took until the end of her street when she realized, those prayers probably wouldn’t be answered.

She dashed the thoughts of breaking bad news to Lena from her mind. She couldn’t think that way, but what she saw told her otherwise.

Trixie had always loved the intersection at the end of her street. It reminded her of her hometown in Ohio, a business block with shops and restaurants. Only the ones in Los Angeles weren’t as simple and quaint.

They were eloquent and artsy but still, it was as if she’d driven into a small town nestled in a huge metropolis.

But things were different that day. There were no cars waiting on the light at the end of her road. No one trying to cross and blocking traffic. As soon as she turned onto the main drag, she realized it.

Every day a man stood on the corner with a sign that read ‘free eye exams’ promoting the expensive eyewear store, luring people in.

He wasn’t there and his sign was on the sidewalk.