Apocalypse Love

It's a sign

The music in the lounge echoed through the outpost as everyone remained silent. Nobody said a word of what happened moments ago at dinner. Andres seethed at Gallant Nana who picks at her teeth, only adding fuel to the fire that was about to cause an explosive confrontation among us all. It only took me a moment after walking away from the table before it to make sense. They were tormenting us. "You're a monster..." Andres finally spoke, anger and rage dropping from his tone. "How could you keep eating? You knew what it was" Andres asked her. "It was chicken Andre. Delicious white meat chicken" she responded, continuing to pick at her teeth. I didn't want it to be real, that Venable and Meads would go so far to prove a point. That, they weren't this heartless and cruel. But I knew that it was all for their fun. "You're a cannibal..." He accused. He then shot up from his chair "You're all cannibals!!!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. He went to go attack Gallant Nana and I shot up from my seat and pulled him back. "Think about it! She ate it too!" I say over his loud sobs as he fought against my hold. "Stu was contaminated. Why would Venable eat irradiated meat?" I pointed out, trying to get him to see my perspective. "That's right!" The new guy spoke. "Why would she feed us posion?" He then asked. "I mean, the whole reason she is here to keep us alive" he added. "Andre, think about it..." I say. "Where's his body then?" Andres asked, looking at me. "I wanna see it. I wanna see him" Andres sobbed harder. Then, something caused me to pull my attention towards the radio. "I wanna see Stu!" He screamed. "Stop! Shut up!" I yelled at Andres. The room fell silent "Just listen..." I held up my finger and Andre begins to sob on his aunt's shoulder. "I don't hear anything" Gallant stated. "Exactly..." I tell him. "The song stopped" I added. Suddenly the radio clicked loudly, causing me to jump. A new song comes on the radio, causing Gallant to rise to his feet. "It's been the same song for two straight weeks. Why would they suddenly change it?" He questioned as The Morning after played loudly through the speakers. Gallant suddenly begins to sing along to the song. "Don't you get it?! It's a message!" Gallant shouted. I arched my brow "The Cooperative is trying to tell us something!" Gallant says as he sings in between. "They're saying hang on we're coming for you" the new girl spoke. "We're gonna be rescued!" Mallory gasped. "Yes! The Cooperative is coming for us! Halle-fucking-lujah!" He shouted as everyone cheered with him. These people were nuts, completely insane. But, I had hope. Even just a little that this wasn't how we were all gonna die. That someone was actually gonna rescue us from this hell.
   18 months later
It's going to be the morning after.... The same song played in the lounge as we all. "Certainly...they're coming" I say sarcastically, mocking Gallant. "It's a sign!" I mocked him further. "I think you called it a little early" I added.  He glare at me "Maybe it's time to eat somebody?" He suggested. "Or like an arm?" Coco agreed. "Are you offering?" I bit back with sass in my tone. Gallant was right about the song though. There was a morning after. It just looked exactly like the previous morning. We weren't being rescued and nobody was coming for us. But the nuclear winter came and finished off anything the bombs had left alive. The world felt colder, deadlier. But even in all the death, I could escape to my books where there wasn't a nuclear winter and the world wasn't cold and dark."You know, what happened to the miss innocent Athena I first met?" Gallant asked me. "Went up in flames" I tell him. "Probably right around the time when she buried her nose in those books" Coco scoffed. "Oh, shut up Coco. At least I'm doing something. Unlike you, who bosses Mallory around like a slave" I stated. "Mallory is a gray" she reminded me. "So, that means she has to wipe your ass?" I questioned. It's been like this between Coco and I for the 16 months. I couldn't stand her and it was getting closer to hating Ms.Venable as well. "You know, I think your jealous" she crossed her arms against her chest. "Of you?" I asked her. She nodded "Because I got here on my own money and not because I slept with my boss" She accused me. "You got here on your daddy's money, there's a big difference" I rose from my chair. "And since you don't know the difference between what is yours and not..." I slowly walked over to her and she stood up. I get inches from her face and stare her straight in the eyes. "Ooo, cat fight!" Gallant Nana giggled as she clapped her hands together. "Athena..." Dinah sends a warning in her tone, but I didn't listen to her.  "Stay they hell out of business, This is your only warning" I warned her. She placed her hand on her hip "Or what?" She challenged. I titled my head to the side and give her a sinister smirk "You really don't want to find out..." I whispered. Gallant was quick to step in between the two of us. "Woah now, ladies. How about we take a step back and breath?" He suggested. "I'm going back to my room" I then turned leaving the lounge.  I got into my bedroom and my stomach turn, letting out a low growl to tell me it was about time for dinner. But that wasn't the only feeling I had gotten. I felt like something was coming, something cold and dark and nobody could stop it. Maybe it was a sign? But what could the sign mean?