Torn (9 page)

Colin added, “That’s where I came in. I was just visiting him, left, but just as I was leaving, I felt bad for choosing the lecture over his open mike night, so I went back. When I did, Dare-Dare was covered with roaches. I called 911, but my preoccupation with that call left me vulnerable. I was covered as well.”

Darius shook his head. “I blacked out.”

“Me
,
too.” Colin said.

“Whoa.” Bret interjected. “You guys are lucky. The bug guy asphyxiated
on
them before Sally and I could help him.”

“I was,” Darius said. “They found a nest in my lungs. How I don’t know. See.” He pulled down the collar of his shirt.

“Oh, we’re not hitting on her.”
Colin said sarcastically. “Now
he’s exposing himself. Perhaps I should tell her husband.”

“Stop that,” Darius raised the collar of his shirt. “Anyhow, with all the people
attacked, and there were a lot, w
hy are us five here? Isolated. We aren’t the only survivors. That question popped into my mind when Virginia arrived, and then we heard two more were coming.
Bret is a DJ.
It fits
,
i
f you think about it.”

“That it does,” Colin commented. “Not what I expected, but still she goes along with Chuck.”

Chuck lifted his hand. “Excuse me. Can I ask what you are talking about?”

Darius answered, “I couldn’t fig
ure out why they had Colin and me in here alone
when there were others that had beaten the bite
s
and nestings
, u
ntil they brought Virginia. I’m head of
E
cology. Colin is head of Geology, Virginia is
H
ead Astronomer at Beachit Institute.”

“Earth and space sciences,” Chuc
k muttered. “Where do we fit in?
Neither Bret
n
or I are scientists.”

“No,” Darius said. “But like us, you have the means to get the story out.”

Bret spoke, “What if he just has us here to make sure we’re quiet until the government releases the story. He told me they were when they figure out what they’re gonna do.”

At that, Darius chuckled. “And tell the masses what?”

“Well,” Bret said. “The earth is heating up, and some bugs came up.
They have found the nesting and….
” she stopped talking when Darius shook his head. “What?”

“His explanation is weak at best. Freak bug migrations? He told me that, I laughed. Please. The earth heats up, bugs surface
,
go crazy and eat people? Colin, tell her.”

“It’s not feasible,” Colin said. “The earth’s internal temperature has risen before. Never have we experienced anything like this. No, they have us here to keep us quiet until the United States government gets a division of the scientific community to
explain these isolated attacks
with an explanation
the masses accept. Once they do…
we’re free and clear. No one will want to hear what we say.”

“Or will they?” Chuck spoke in discovery
as he slowly stood up. “What if…
what if Jeffers put us in here with you three on
purpose?
Figuring, hey, we’re gonna sp
read the story; why not spread
the story with another believable angle.
An angle learned from you three,” Chuck paced, “b
ecause he ca
n’t get a decent explanation fro
m his people. That’s possible.”

Virginia shrugged. “It is possible.”

“Have you guys been discussing this?” Chuck asked.

Darius answered. “Nonstop. However, we don’t have data to view. If we did, I think we could solidify some theories. Now all we can do is toss unfounded theories about.”

“Can you get your hands on the data?” Chuck asked. “Information you need?”

Colin replied, “Yes. Once we’re out. Until then, we’re in a theory p
hase. Trust me when we tell you
we want the story out, but we want it out when it is cor
rect and has scientific backing
.”

“Can you hold off?” Darius requested.

“How long?” Chuck asked.

“Days. Weeks. Months.” Darius shrugged. “Who knows.”

Chuck laughed in ridicule at that. “Bugs attack hundreds of people and you want me to sit on the story until you can scientifically prove why it happened?”

“No,” Darius shook his head. “The government will take care of that. We want you to sit on the story until we can figure out where all this is heading. The bug attacks. They aren’t some freak things. They aren’t the end
result
of some strange phenomena.” Darius grew serious. “They are only the beginning.”

“I hate him,” Chuck unlocked his car, and opened his door. He slid into his car at the same time as Bret. “Did I mention I hate him?” His hand f
ran
t
ically reached into the ashtray
before he even shut his car door. “Fuck.”

“Who?”

“What?”

“You said you hate him. Who? We just
left
three different men.”

“Oh.” Chuck glanced up. “Jeffers. Fuck! None.”

“What are you doing?”

“I need a cigarette. I thought I had a butt in here that was doable.”

“Just stop at the store.”

“I don’t have any money. They mailed my belongings home.”

“Oh.” Bret sunk back. “I don’t either.”

“Well, this doesn’t help, see.” Chuck closed his door, and turned over the engine. “We’ll never make back to Pittsburgh
on no gas. One would think.
…” He raised his voice. “Jeffers would have helped us out.”

“We didn’t ask.”

“Still he should know. They took my belongings and brought you with the clothes on your back. I hate him.”

“I know.” Bret brought her finger to her mouth. “Oh! Got it. Beep.”

“Why?”

After grunting, Bret reached over and beeped the horn.

“What are you doing?” Chuck asked.

Across the parking lot, Darius and Colin stopped walking. They turned around and looked.

“Darius is from around here,” Bret said. “I’m sure he has access to
money. I’ll ask him to loan us.
…”

“No.” Chuck shook his head. “I hate him.”

“I thought you hated Jeffers.”

“Him, too.”

“Well, you want to get home, right. And you need a cigarette.” Bret opened her door. “I’ll be right back.” She waved her hand, shut the door, and trotted
over
to Colin and Darius.

Colin stepped to her. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes. Well. No,” Bret said, “They sent Chuck’s personal items home. I arrived with the clothes on my back, we have a long trip home and no gas or money.” She gave a humbled look. “Any chance we can borrow a few buc
ks. Colin, I can give it to you.
…”

“Shit,” Colin snapped. “Shit.”

“What?” Bret asked.

“I’m screwed, too.” Colin turned to Darius. “They took my wallet. My money card is in there. Did they take yours?”

“I never carry a wallet,” Darius replied. “Bret, can you and Chuck follow me? I can hit the money machine for you.”

Bret sighed out. “That would be great. Yes. Which is your car?”

Darius pointed to the blue pick
-
up truck.

“Thanks, Dare-Dare. We’re right behind you.” Bret smiled and hurried back to the car.

Colin grinned. “Ah, the good Samaritan in you emerges. Warms my heart. So, like, can you help me out, too?”

“Absolutely not,” Darius said. “She just called me Dare-Dare. Thank you very much.” Darius walked to his truck.

“Not a problem. We’ll just bond some more.” Colin followed. “I’ll stay with you. How’s your couch?”

“Fine. I’ll get you money.” Darius arrived at his truck.

Colin smiled.

Bret accepted the cash
as she stood by the open car door. “Say thank you,” she instructed Chuck.

Chuck leaned with a raised hand. “Thanks, Dare-Dare.”

Darius slightly rolled his eyes then nodded. “I’m killing you, Colin.” He grumbled and laid his hand on Bret’s door. “Be careful. Stay in touch. I mean it. I w
ant to keep this thing going, okay
? We can’t make progress if we aren’t all in it together.”

Bret nodded.

“Oh, she’ll stay in touch,” Colin said. “We’ll even get into it further over lunch, right, Bret?”

“Right.” Bret closed her car door. “See you Tuesday.”

“I look forward to it.” Colin leaned for a second in the w
indow, gave a glance of farewell
then backed away.

Chuck put the car in gear, waved and pulled out. “Jesse will have a fit.”

“About what?” Bret asked.

“Lunch with Colin. You spent days with this man. Jesse isn’t gonna be happy about that. You know how he is. Now you’re having lunch.”

“We’ve bonded.”

“I’m staying clear,” Chuck said.

“Oh, stop. I’ll just explain to Jesse what we’re doing.”

“And what exactly are we doing, Bret?” Chuck asked. “They’re the scientists. What can we po
ssibly do except break the news?
”

“Research,” Bret replied. “That’s what my part is.”

“Research.”

“You know Chuck, if you paid
attention.
…”

“I paid attention.” Chuck put on the turn signal and pulled over into a convenience store parking lot. “What kind of research?”

“I’m supposed to see if I can find out if things like this happened before in history. Just to see if maybe flukes like this occurred before and history is just repeating
itself
.”

“And if not
?
” Chuck parked the car.

“Well, then, we stick to proving one of the many theories we tossed out. That’s Colin and Darius. They have lot of research; it’ll take time and money. They said that’s not a problem.”

“And they are researching what?”

Bret huffed out. “Changes in the earth. God, pay attention.”

“It’s
the
lack of nicotine,” Chuck said as he opened his door. “I’ll be back.”

“Chuck?” Bret questioned. “Why do you seem so disinterested? One
would think.
…”

“It’s not disinterest, Bret.”

“What is it?

“Doubt.”

Bret gave a curious look.

“We’ve had some freak occurrences, really bizarre things. What if it is just the beginning, but not
of strange earthly phenomena? What if it’s something
else, really out of our control.”

“Like what.”

With a hint of sarcasm, Chuck said. “Gee, I don’t know, Bret. You work as a messenger for God. Think about it.”

After the car
door shut, Bret immediately began to do just that…
think about it.

“Kids.” Darius picked up a ball that sat on his walkway and tossed it to the neighbor’s yard.

“Your grass needs
to be
cut,” Colin said as he followed him.

“It does?” Darius peered around. “I guess.” Scratching his head, he moved toward his door. “But doesn’t it strike you as odd?” he asked then stopped at his door. A huge stack of mail flowed in front, and Darius kicked it aside as he turned the key on the lock.

“What?” Colin picked up the mail. “That you just kicked your mail.”

“No.” Darius opened t
he door. “Strike you as odd. As
…ah, man.” His hand shot to cover his mouth and nose.

Colin stepped in. “Tell me, does your house normally smell this foul?” He shook his head with a wince.

“No.” Darius immediately opened a window. “God, what is that smell?”

“I’ll just leave this door
open,” Colin said.

“Please. I wonder if I left food out on the stove.” Hand still covering his mouth, he walked to the kitchen of his sing
le-floor one-bedroom
home.

Glad to find the couch under the abundance of p
apers, books and notes, Colin sa
t down his briefcase. “Was it food?” he asked in reference to the sound of Darius in the kitchen.

“No, maybe it’s milk gone bad,” Darius called.

“Well, check
,
will you?
Do you have any air freshener?”

“I don’t know.”

Colin mumbled. “He doesn’t know. Go figure.” He bent down and lifted a newspaper from the table. An entire half of a pizza was glued to it. “What are you doing in there?”

“Looking for the source of this horrible smell.”

“Maybe it’s an accumulation of odors over time,” Colin suggested, pacing about Darius’ living room. “How long has it been since you cleaned in here?”

“I don’t know. Can you boot up my computer please.”

Speaking soft
l
y to himself, Colin said, “If I can find it.” He stepped over the coffee table. “Ah, yes. There. I see it.”

“My house isn’t that bad.” Darius banged about in the kitchen.

“Yes, Dare-Dare it is,” Colin replie
d. “I think I’m gonna open more.
…” Colin stopped speaking when his foot caught onto something.

Darius came out of the kitchen. “Maybe the neighbor has a sewage problem.”

“It’s not the neighbor, Dare-Dare, it’s your smell.”

“What?” Darius chuckled.

“I found the odor.” Colin glanced downward.

Darius walked over to Colin. “Aw, man.” He w
h
ined as he looked down. “My cat died. Fuck.”

“You’ll have that when they don’t eat for a week. The humane society is gonna love you.”

“Let them register the complaint with Jeffers.” Darius shook his head and walked back toward the kitchen. “I really liked that cat.”

“Where you going?”

“To get a garbage bag.” Darius said.

“A garbage bag.” Colin whispered. “Wow. You really did like that cat.”

“Ha. Ha. Ha. Funny.” Darius emerged with the bag.

“You aren’t gonna just toss it in the garbage are you?” Colin asked. “Of course the garbage men wouldn’t know if you mixed it in with all of your other stuff.”

“No, I’m not gonna put her in the can. I’m putting her in the bag so I can bury her.”

“You’re not gonna make me sit through a major production funeral like you did
when you were sixteen and your guinea p
ig died.”

“Shit.” The bag dropped from Darius’ hand and he flew from the room.

“What? What did I say?
”

After briefly disappearing, Darius returned from the bedroom. “My hamsters are dead, too.”

“Hamsters
,
as in plural.”

Darius nodded.

“Before we pr
oceed with the mass grave thing, a
re there any other pets that you possess that may be deceased at this moment?”

Ignoring him, Darius picked up the garbage bag and handed it to Colin. “Here. I’ll be back. Start with her. I think she might be stuck.”

“Me?” Colin questioned. “Dare-Dare.” He inched his foot into the dead cat. “She’s st
uck alright. We may need a jackhammer.” He turned his head;
Darius was gone. “Really, if we just shuffle the mess no one will know the cat is here. The smell will dissipate in a few days.”

“You know.
…” Darius poked his head from the kitchen. “This isn’t funny. I’m upset. I loved my pets.”

“Are you getti
ng another bag for the hamsters?
”

“No
,
tongs. I’m just gonna flush them.” He withdrew into the kitchen.

“Oh,” Colin said with a single nod. “Flush the hamsters. That’s love of pets alright.” He nudged the carcass of the cat. “I’m
in
trouble when I die, aren’t I
,
cat?”

Colin was too apprehensive about drinking anything from a cup that came from Darius’ cupboards, so he opted for a can of soda. Not really his favorite.

“You realize,” Colin said as he shuffled to join Darius at the
computer desk. “This house it’s…
it’s deplorable.”

“It’s not that bad.” He replied.

“Really? Health
department catches wind of this…
you’re shut down.” Colin wiped off chair and sat down. “Does your mother know you live lik
e this?
”

“Fortunately for me, no
. Of course, I haven’t heard from her in six months.”

“Really?”

“Really.
”

“What kind of guy is it this time?” Colin asked.

“Weather
man.”

“Figures.”

Darius just l
ooked at Colin then returned to
the computer. “Nothing.”