Blackout • NH

Chapter 3

Day 2: Friday, May 11th: 3:57am

Ellen had went off to bed a few hours ago. I however stood awake. Nothing like this has ever happened in the history of the entire earth. Something was wrong, I could sense it in every single nerve in my body and it was an uneasy feeling.

Maybe I'm just over reacting. I've had a very stressful day with homework so maybe that's what's keeping me at alert. I decide to head to bed.

(1 hour later)

I jolt awake to the sound of banging on my door. I jump out of bed and go to the door to see who's out there this early in the morning. When I look rough the peephole in the door I see Marc looking very distressed. I open it and he runs in and shuts it, locking it behind him.

"Marc is everything okay?" I ask hesitantly.

Marc doesn't say anything, he looks as if he's seen a ghost. He was so pale and had a blank look in his eyes.

"Marc!" I repeat a little louder.

He looks up at me, almost terrified. "Jodie, I- I was outside watering my flowers this morning when..." He started tearing up.

"What happened Marc?!" I say, quite concerned now.

"Well I w- was looking down at the open courtyard, like I usually do... A-and I saw s-someone..." He was full on sobbing right now.

"What did they do?! Marc it's okay, you can tell me." I say with reassurance in my voice.

"S-someone ran up to Mr. Durang sitting on his patio and s-shot him and his group ran inside and took a bunch of boxes filled with stuff."

He collapsed in a chair and put his head in his hands and cried harder. "I couldn't call the police because nobody's p-phone is working. I ran down to Mr. Durang along with a few neighbors and it was t-too late." He was calmer now but the tears were still flowing.

I stood there, shocked as I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Mr. Durang was like a second father to the entire apartment complex. I begin to feel tears running down my cheeks.

"What did they take?"

"I don't know, we walked in and his valuables like jewelry and money were all untouched, nothing was broken. We don't know what they took. We looked everywhere but couldn't find anything. Why would someone kill a man, and then break into their apartment and steal anything other than jewelry and valuables?"  He said feeling disappointed and upset. 

"Jodie what's going on?" I hear a voice behind me.

"Ellen..." I start to say.

"Why is Marc crying, what happened?!" She said in a panicked voice. I had to tell her, but I just didn't know how to.

"Ellen..." I start. "Why don't you sit down." She goes to the couch and looks at me, with fear in her eyes.

"Mr. Durang was..." I was trying so hard to tell her.

"He was what Jodie?" She said more scared than ever.

"He was shot this morning and robbed. The criminals then broke into his apartment and took some of his stuff." I say

"W-what?" Her eyes beginning to water. "H-he's dead?"

"Yeah..." I say looking down. Ellen begins to cry and Marc goes to comfort her.

"Marc, what is happening?" I ask unsure and unsafe.

"Jodie, something is wrong. Mr. During wasn't the only one killed today. There were hundreds who were attacked this morning all over Los Angeles." Marc said.

"What the hell do you mean by hundreds?" I say shocked.

"I don't know what it is, it's like people are getting greedy?"

"Why would they be greedy right now? Nothing has changed except for this power... Oh no." I say realizing what is about to go down within the next couple of days.

"Marc...I think I know what's-"

"Yeah I know." He inturuppted. "Jodie, you and Ellen need to leave the city within the next few hours. Get as far away from every city that you can, go to an area that's not so civilized with people. The cities aren't safe." He said.

"Where would we go? What about you?" I ask confused.

"Don't worry about me, but you and Ellen need to get away from every highly populated place. Head to a mountain range far from here. A mountain range like the Appalachians." He said.

"Appalachians? You do realize that it would take 36 hours by car to get there?" I ask.

"I know, but there's an old cabin up there that me and my family go to every year for vacation. I'll give you a map a supplies to help get you there."

"Marc, just come with."

"I can't Jodie," he says defeated.

"Why?" I ask, kind of scared to even want an answer.

"I promised your dad that if anything like this happened I'll be sure to protect you long enough for you to get out of the city." He said. "After you're safe I'll meet you and Ellen at the cabin."

I stand there quietly. Ellen continues to stare between the two of us unsure of what to say.

"I have a friend named Elliot who's waiting outside the city. He is willing to take you and Ellen on the journey with his group to the Appalachians." Marc said.

"How do you know he's willing to take us, does he even know of your plan?" I ask.

"Yes, everything electronic may not be working but walkie talkies still work so I was able to talk to him this morning. He said he's willing to take you and her under his wing. He's a good man. A highly trained fighter that's for sure. I'll lend you and Ellen both a weapon for protection in case anything happens in the escape process" He said confidently.

I stand there and ponder. Should I go with Elliot and his group. I know this is a very dangerous situation right now but Marc is right, staying in the city is basically a death sentence.

"Ellen..."

"Yeah?"

"Go grab a backpack and start packing. We leave in an hour."