It Was Quiet

1

It was quiet. The world around me continued to buzz with life but I heard nothing. Nothing except the beating of my heart heavy in my chest. I felt the blood pumping through my veins. My head spun with the information that had just been announced on the television. The world was ending.

The vaccines for the colossal virus that had been running ramped was doing us in. I would joke when the world had slowly started to go back to normal. 'Just wait maybe the zombie apocalypse will happen.' I was never serious but, I never realized that I would ever be right.

I wouldn't call these "things" zombies perhaps but I don't have a proper name for them. I had never seen one in person. Only on the news that had been blasting for three days at the little coffee shop I worked in. The headlines read 'DEAD RISING', 'STAY INSIDE! STAY SAFE!'. It was so overwhelming but I guess that was the point. To scare people into staying alive.

We hadn't been allowed to leave the coffee shop in days. Three workers and a handful of customers had made little homes for themselves on the chairs and couches that were placed around the café. Bags of plastic straws used as pillows, old aprons from the back tied together into makeshift blankets.

I had been in charge of the shift when we got the call from the president of the company. We were hitting out busiest time of the day when I heard the phone right. I left the two people up front and grabbed the phone from the back.

"Hello? This is Bella from Busy Bucks Coffee Company. How can I help you?" I recognized the voice on the other line almost instantly. Everyone had met the president before. It wasn't rare for him to call different stores and check up on the staff.

"Bella, I need you to listen. This is important. I need you to lock all the windows and doors. Pull down the blackout blinds and stack the tables in front of the doors. The CDC has announced a nationwide shut down. At this point everyone must remain inside," He was talking so quickly I had barley registered what he had said before be started to speak again. "Are you listening?"

"Yes, I am still here. What is going on? What about the customers?" My voice trembled as I was visibly shaken. I heard someone behind me and I figured it was Braden coming to get milks out of the fridge to make some more drinks. I heard him stop behind me. His hands found my shoulders and he rubbed my arms in an attempted to stop my shaking form.

"Tell them to stay in the building. They will be safest inside with all of you. I will be in touch as soon as I can. I have a truck on the way with supplies just in case. Blankets, pillows, clothes, food. Anything you guys could possibly need. There is enough stuff in there for a good three months. I have to go now. Please be safe. I will call when ever I can," With that the call dropped. The dial tone was heard in my ear and I was frozen. I felt Braden's chin find the crook of my neck and he spoke in hushed tones just in case someone could hear us.

"Who was it?" His voice was filled with concern. We had been together for over a year now. I met him outside of work before he even started working here. It was a happy accident. Ironically, I spilled my coffee on him and he bought me a knew one even though I hadn't paid for my coffee in the first place but at the time he didn't know that.

"The president. Take my keys. I need you to lock all the doors and secure the windows. I will put up a closed sign. Get the people who are in the drive through done with then I will brief the rest of the people here. Don't say anything," I turned around to face him and pulled my keys out of my apron pocket and put them in his hands. He looked at me worriedly. "Trust me."

"I trust you. What ever is happening I trust you to be safe," He gave me a peck on the lips before walking back out front and locking the doors. I took a deep breath and turned around. The back door would be unlocked at this time of day which was lucky for me because I had just given my keys away. I pushed the door open and placed a door stop to keep it from closing.