Jacqueline Druga - Omnicide

Cars were stopped in the middle of the road, abandoned with the doors open. A sure sign that people stopped immediately what they were doing and ran for cover, as if some bomb was going off.

In an essence it had.

She had no choice but to stop her car and pull over in front of Grinders Coffee Shop. She wouldn’t be able to get down the road, everything was blocked.

It wasn’t that far, she could walk. In fact, a friend of hers, Steven, lived six blocks away. He had several cars, so she’d stop and see him to borrow a vehicle.

No sooner had she exited her car, everything hit her. At first the quiet, the unbelievable silence. Not a bird, dog, or mechanical sound. Then came the horrid smell. It was rotten and sour and carried in the air around her. Immediately she started gagging and brought her shirt up to her nose. Her eyes lifted to the coffee shop, and she came up with the brilliant idea to use coffee as a smell filter while she walked.

Trixie wasn’t thinking when she opened the coffee shop door; the smell was worse in there and bodies draped over tables and chairs. Latte cups were tipped over and spilled. Had they just dropped that fast?

They must have sought solace in the coffee shop, to wait it out and Trixie couldn’t spend another second in there.

With a whimper of fear and pity for those people, mouth and nose covered, she bolted out.

Her legs moved fast as she raced down the street. She wanted to get out of the section of town that she loved so much.

If ever she was truly scared in her life, it was that moment. In the dead silence, racing down the sidewalk of a once bustling community that was now stripped of life.

She kept looking back, over her shoulder, as if death were chasing her, never realizing she wasn’t running in a straight line until she ran smack into a parked car.

A sharp pain radiated up her side, taking her breath away as she stumbled back.

She nearly fell to the pavement, but in some figure skating style move, she spun, and jumped a little catching herself before she was injured any further.

She told herself right there to get it together. It was only the beginning of her journey, she had friends to check on, people she loved.

“I’m stronger than this,” Trixie said out loud. “I’m stronger than this. I’m….” She froze when she looked at the car she had run into.

The doors were shut, the windows up tight. A man and woman were in the front seat and two children in the back.

It looked as if when the warning came, they pulled over and sealed the car instead of getting out. They all looked the same, heads tilted back, eyes bulging and wide, their cheeks sunk in. Had they passed away from whatever was in the air or simply died from heat exhaustion in the sealed car? She didn’t know and didn’t want to find out.

Trixie had been locked away for days, away from the horror. Now she was cast right into it.

It took everything she had not to vomit, not to crumble on the sidewalk with defeated tears.

Inhaling a deep breath of courage, eyes focused forward, Trixie walked quickly ahead, not looking back again.

As horrible as it was, that crash course in realty was what she needed. It was preparation for what Trixie faced ahead.

The sight of Eb smoking again took Cass by surprise. It was a habit he picked up as a kid and one he’d given up years before.

He stood outside the theater as people walked in, nodding his head in that ‘up’ way of saying hello as people passed him.

“Hey, Eb.” Cass approached him. “When did you start smoking again?”

“When Ada gave me one yesterday.” He looked down at it.

“She shouldn’t be smoking either.”

“I don’t think Ada cares,” Eb said. “And with all that’s going on, really who cares?”

“We could be the last ones left and you have that attitude.” Cass shook her head.

“So I take it no one is replying to the post?”

“That’s why I’m here, I wanted to give Mark an update before he started. I’ve got to get back to the station, I’m on social media monitoring duty while we still have a connection.”

“Who is there now?” Eb asked. “I saw Kit go into the meeting.”

“Oh, Floyd.”

“I thought he was watching for deer on Miller Run.”

“He is. Or was. Will be again. Bill, Art’s dad is up there now. He’s from Texas so you know he knows how to use a gun.”

Eb laughed.

“Anyhow, I’m gonna go inside, talk to Mark and get back to the station before Officer Floyd screws something up. Plus, he’s got to get some sleep. He’s pulling the night shift on the road. I suggested Ada, but Kit said he didn’t want her up there at night. But Ada said not tonight, anyhow.”

“That’s because she has the two new science guys coming over to discuss the fungus.”

Cass flinched a little at the oddity of that. “That doesn’t even sound remotely fun.”

“It’ll be informative. I’m looking forward to it. I don’t have anything to contribute, but hey, it doesn’t hurt to know what you’re up against.”

“I thought… I thought it was done,” Cass said.

Eb shrugged. “I thought so too, but Niles called the meeting with Ada.”

“You’ve been spending a lot of time up there.”

“Well, don’t say anything, but I kinda think it’s cool hanging out with the celebrity lady.”

“She’s married.”

“I can still think it’s cool. Why don’t you come up.”

“Maybe, if I can get someone social media savvy to cover the station.” Cass looked at her watch. “I better get in there.” She opened the door. “Maybe I’ll see you tonight.”

She walked inside where a familiar buzz rang in the air. People’s conversation all meshing as one. The room was full with everyone from town. Although Cass didn’t do a roll call.

She spotted Mark off to the right of the stage, Niles and Art behind him. Mark was reviewing notes in his hand. He was focused and glanced up when Cass touched his arm to alert him of her presence.

“Hey,” Mark said. “Just in time.”

“You have a full house and it’s not even five yet.”

“How about that.”

“You think maybe you should have had it later? You know you’re gonna deliver this news and send them home to spoil their supper.”

“I had to, Cass, especially with the internet working they probably know more than me. Speaking of which… any takers on that post by Lena?”

“Actually, yeah, we got twenty-two calls so far. Six are from overseas.”

“Are they coming to Griffin?”

“Hopefully. I’m gonna call them back. I want to keep looking. Keep trying some of the people that talked with Trixie.”

“Good idea,” Mark said. “At least I have news of survivors beyond us.”

“And you know there has got to be more. There has to be.”

“I agree,” Mark told her. “And I better go.”

“Me, too. I have to get back to the station.”

“I’ll get some volunteers to help on the social media angle,” Mark said. “And I’ll let you know about the teams. My goal today is to inform them, give them time to think about solutions, and then have another meeting.”

“I hate meetings.”

“I know you do.” Mark tapped then pinched her on the cheek. “But you’re cute about it.” He turned and walked on to the stage.

“Ow,” Cass joked then shook her head watching him.

“Good afternoon,” Mark said. “If I can get everyone to take their seats. Please.”

The mumbles quieted down rather quickly.

“Again, thank you for being here. I know this is short notice. I am very glad you came. The last twenty-four hours have been a doozy and this town has been calm and level-headed about things. Many of you didn’t ask questions, that’s why we’re here today. To inform you, talk to you, plan with you and answer questions. Although.” Mark paused to nervously chuckle. “You probably all are informed now being that the internet is back.”