My Say

6

After grabbing a bite to eat we had all crashed out upon arrival at the cabin. No one had the energy to do more. Morning showed us the truth of our hiding place.

"Holy Cow!" Nell said as we stepped into the basement of the small cabin. "Never would have expected this."

"No one would have and I suspect that was the point", Nick agreed.

"We need to do an inventory of everything here, what we have and what we may need." The nurse in Monica had kicked in as she stared at the wall of medical supplies. Mark was already at her side.

Before anyone could move to touch anything Craig concurred with Monica, "All of this needs to be inventoried. We don't know what we are dealing with. How many there are. Or even what they want."

"We also don't know what is with them", this had everyone turning on me. "Craig the men who took the car said wolves and men came into town. From what they said it sounds like werewolves or something like that", Nan began to laugh. Mark and Nick stared at her as if she'd lost her mind.

"That is the shittiest thing ever said. You expect us to believe that some damn pack of werewolves has invaded our town?" The rest were looking back and forth between us as if this was a Championship tennis match.

"I don't know. Damn it, NAN! I am going off the available information. Do I think this one of those sexy Alpha mate books you keep in the back of your bookshelf?" Nan's blush told us I'd hit the nail on the head. "No, this is our life and life is never storybook material. What I'm saying is we need to make sure and prepare for something that has to be hit with a 44 or double barrel to the head or heart. If whatever is out there is that hard to stop we're in trouble."

"Alright we only need one problem at a time. Right now we need to inventory everything here and upstairs. After that we'll..." We all went quiet as the floor above us squeaked. Our eyes flashed to Craig, our military man. Using hand signs he directed us to hide while he went up to check things out. While the rest followed his orders I reached over and picked up a Baretta, checked the clip and chambered one. Then followed him up, the look he gave me promised retribution. I know he would have appreciated one of the bigger guys but he got me.

We didn't expect the door to fling or D to be standing there. "Oh man, am I glad to see yous."

Pushing Craig against the wall, I rushed past him, sliding my gun into the back of my pants. "Thank God you're OK. Where are the rest of the guys? Did Greg find you? What about..."

"Chill, take a breath there", D's laugh had me smiling. He was such a laid back joker, never failing to see the bright side of a situation and helping to lighten the atmosphere. "Who else is here?"

"Craig, as you saw", D's head nod had his curls bouncing making me smile. "Nan, Monica, and".

"Me D." Nell rushed up and gave her cousin a hug. "How is the town?"

The other waved from the back of the room.

"Guys ya need to sit for this." D's face made us all sweat. "The town is toast. It was like something out of a SiFi movie, these guys and big wolves came out of the woods and just destroyed everything. They kept sniffing and then took off, shortly a scream or yelling would be heard. I watched one of the wolves become a dude. One second he was a four legged furry wolf then boom a naked guy was there." His face was flushed and his hands were shaking. Nell moved over next to him and gave him a hug, she continued to hold him as he spoke. "He grabbed up Annie and cucked her over his shoulder then howled, there as a lot of that sort of thing going on."

"How did you make it out?" Nan had leaned in close.

"I was taking out the trash when it started", he turned toward Nan. "Remember Aunt Ti complaining about me not washing the trash can and how much they stunk?"

Nell nodded.

"I think my laziness saved my life", with that he broke and bawled like a baby. Over and over he muttered that their family was gone and how he didn't look but had only seen Uncle Cole and he was dead. The guys looked really uncomfortable with all the emotion.

We left D and Nell to mourn. Stepping out onto the porch was hard, "This is really happening". Nan's acceptance was a blow.

"You believe him", I ask?

"Rom, I've known D since he was a little kid and he has always been truthful. Even when it might get him out of trouble to lie, he didn't." Nan's face was pale and her eyes bright with unshed tears. "What are we going to do?"

"We're going to survive. We have each other and we will find others." I pulled her in for a hug. "Craig, let's get started on that inventory. Monica please take care of the medical supplies since it now appears your our Doctor. Nan, let's you and me find out what food and tools we have. Mark you and Nick Start with the saddle bags we brought in."

D helped Monica and Craig downstairs as we attempted to make heads or tails of our food and tools. "Crap, I forgot to ask him about Greg." I said standing on the counter handing out foods from the top shelf.

"I don't even want to know if I want to know." Nell sighs.

"I feel ya. Sometimes the not knowing..." Nan bumps her shoulder moving on to set things on the table.

D suddenly burst into the room, "Ya gotta hear this", he yells waving us down stairs.

"Do not be alarmed. No harm will come to those who comply. Gather at the closest town and we will assist you..." The voice droned on repeating the message.

"WTF???" Nan yelled. "Who was that? It wasn't us or they would have said 'Emergency Broadcast Thingamajiggy'. Collapsing to the floor she began to rock and cry softly. Nick gathered her up and held her, stroking her hair and letting her cry.

"Craig?" Monica just stared at him, I saw her hand reach back for Mark's. As he reached forward for her.

"D found the ham radio setup and flipped the power switch. This has been the only thing playing on all the stations." Nell tells us.

"It has its own power from the solar. Grandpa and Uncle Cole said the government was going to come put chips in us and this place would keep us off the grid and safe." D looked around his face showing his heartbreak, "I thought they were wack, ya know. The government don't care 'bout folks like us. Now this shit has gone down." Wiping tears away, "Guess we're gonna use this place as they wanted us to though." Walking over to Nell, he helps her off the floor and they head upstairs.

"Turn it off", Monica says. I lean over to do it when the message changes.

"You have until the fall of night 3 days from now to turn yourselves in for assistance. All those who fail to do so will be deemed a rebel and dealt with accordingly."

The silence was deafening as I flicked off the power, no one spoke as we headed upstairs for some food contemplating how to adjust to our new way of life.