There's Nothing We Can Do

Chapter 2: Uncertainty

In the weeks following the news broadcast, there have been two main types of people. The ones who think that this is all a hoax, and the ones that don't. Either way, some of both parties still take this as an opportunity to cause chaos as a form of, as they like to call it, going out with a bang. Even without the fighting, we'd still all go out with a bang. Although I know that it's over, even if by some miracle, this comet misses earth, Venus, Mercury, and finally, the Sun, all come after. I mean, it is still far enough away to the point where we don't even know how big it is. This thing could be Jupiter sized for all we know, and even if it isn't, this is still the one to take us out. Yet, we don't even know if we have 10 months. After these weeks, it's fast approaching Neptune. What if, by chance, we get hit with the debris coming from the planet? Will that be enough to get rid of earth? Certainly, and I won't dare underestimate the works of the scientists today.

Today is November 16. There is still 10 months and 4 days until the comet is supposed to hit. Me and Devon have been hunkering down at my place. Just as we suspected, even though there is still 10 months left, the world has gone to hell. Derived into an every man for himself warzone. Many people left and right have been quitting their jobs, from convenience store workers to people working in business, and even people working to keep our electricity on. Only the few wanting the world to keep some kind of grip to what it was before the news hit were willing to stay in their jobs. Grocery stores have been raided, gas stations have been blown up, and mass killings have occurred all over the world. 

"Dude, we ought to get some food," Devon said.

"Yeah, I am starving, but think about it, every place has probably been completely raided, and it might even be too dangerous to go out. Just a few days ago, a crazy group of people blew up the base of the goddamn Burj Khalifa, and hundreds died," I responded.

"We aren't in Dubai, calm down man-"

"That's not what I am saying. All of our lives are going to be cut short, so terrorists don't care anymore, they could blow up the Empire State Building for all we know, and not to mention-"

"James, calm down man, we just have to lay low, avoid big places, you know? Why would someone want to blow up something in a small town?"

"I guess you make a point. But still, where will we go? Most grocery stores in our area have already been completely wiped out! We'll be lucky to find a single damn Slim Jim!"

"Okay dude, relax, we could at least get your dog some food, and maybe we could bring him along to sniff out some food-"

"Devon, you can't be serious... At this time, someone sees a dog, they see a goddamn meal, I am not putting my dog's life on the line for a damn snack!"

"Calm down! We won't bring him! Nevertheless, we have to go! Do you wanna die of goddamn starvation? We don't even have the time to waste by arguing! This moment, right now, is going to be where the most food is left behind for the rest of our lives. Now, we either pass up our opportunity to actually eat something, or we take it on and gather food for rations! Do you wanna die before our expiration date?!?" Devon was visibly pissed, with his fists clenched, and his eyes tearing up.

"Okay. I'm sorry. Let's head out."

"Thank you."

We decided to head out at 2:28 PM, and made way to our local grocery store. Surprising enough, there were still a couple things left, like a big bag of dog food,  a few bags of chips and some semi-fresh produce. We grabbed a basket and took as much as we could. After we decided to call it a day and got home, my dog, Gilbert, welcomed us excitedly. I filled his bowl to the brim with the dog food we found. Conveniently, it was a brand he liked. In the days following, we knew this would not be enough to hold us out. If we wanted more, we needed to go to places farther away, and that is risking a lot. More killings started happening in our area. By December 12, the world as we know it was as uncivilized as it could have gotten. It was now every family for themselves. Or, if the people get desperate, we'll be in the true circumstances for the beginning of a new era, an era where people have lost their faith in others, an era where people don't care. Devon and I are too much of a friend to let that happen. In the following weeks, we stocked up on weapons, like handguns, such as 1911s, and Smith & Wesson brand revolvers. The end was nigh, but not so many would be left at the time the comet will hit. As of right now, we have to get moving. We can live in the car, and we have to bring Gilbert. I would never leave him behind under any circumstances. We have to go into the warzone. We have to put our lives on the line just to postpone our deaths. It seems useless, but I don't want to die before seeing the world be destroyed. I need to see the view before I die. As for Devon? Chances are, he just wants to fulfill his bucket list.