[Recording 24] | DAMNED

[Recording 24] | Short Story Featured in DAMNED

[Recording 24]

Cassette One [Recording 1] –

"This is recording one, Fall of the Nation."

There was chatter filling the basement of my house. Fifteen people there are, fifteen too many. The room was tight, covered in people's belongings, cans of food, water. There wasn't much that could be done. I was the only one with a basement big enough for everyone to somewhat fit in. Brandy's basement was just a small wine cellar, not even four people would fit in that thing. So mine it is.

"Everyone is gathered in my basement. We are waiting it out. Although we aren't exactly sure what we are even waiting for. A bang? Silence? No one knows."

It's been going on for about three weeks, no one knows how it happened. It just did. One day we woke up and it was all gone, electricity. The last few weeks have been a lot easier than expected, but that's just here in our safe zone. No one has been out of this room since.

"No one knows what waits for us above. War? It sounds that way. Every day you can hear people shouting in the street, hear cars speeding down the roads, guns firing, people screaming. It sounds like a nightmare."

Everyone is gathered around a small battery powered lamp playing a card game, but I refuse to join in. This is no time for games and I'm the only one who is taking this matter seriously. I'm sitting on an old couch on the opposite side of the room to everyone else. Go fish is for losers.

"Am I the only one here who takes this matter seriously? Maybe. I can't hear any noise coming from the streets, the temptation to go look around is pulling at me. Maybe they won't notice if I slip out for a few minutes. Just to have a look."

Here goes. Benefit of sitting here, I am closest to the stairs. I watch everyone carefully as if they were my prey, except I wasn't ready to strike. I was ready to run. I wouldn't be long.
I carefully sat the tape recorder on the couch and rose as silently as I could. The chatter was loud enough that I could walk up the stairs without startling the pack. I reached out for the handle.

"Scot where are you going?" Brandy had seen me. I just froze and slowly turned to her.
"Uh, nowhere, I'm just going for a look. We would have to eventually." It's not like I was lying. She nodded and started to approach the stairs. "Brandy what are you doing?"
"Coming with you." I couldn't object, she had already started climbing up the stairs. Even if I did object, she would have immediately alerted the others about my little outing.
"Fine, but stay close. I have no idea what is up here." She nodded and did as she was told. The others hadn't realised yet so we snuck out without a sound.

The house was empty, bare. It looked abandoned, furniture had been knocked around, there was graffiti on the walls and black marks all over the ground from fires. It's a scary thought to think that people had been through the house without alarming us. I would have had no clue that someone, well more than just one person, had been in here.
"Damn, I should have brought my tape recorder. Looks like we will have to go back and get it." I didn't want to get the recorder. I was scared. I wanted to go back down into the basement where I knew I was safe. Like I said before, who knows what could be in this house. I turned around and started to head back towards the basement door, but I was stopped by Brandy, she had one hand on my shoulder, and in the other was my tape recorder. Great. "Oh, thanks, Brandy." I awkwardly smiled at her and looked away. Now that I had the recorder how was I going to get back down to the basement without admitting my fear.

"We just exited the basement for the first time in weeks. So far it looks like people have in fact been in here. There is graffiti decorating every wall in view, and there is furniture tipped over and scattered all over the place."