One Hour Before the Chaos.
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"You're sleeping with a married man, you can't possibly think this will turn out well." I continue my thirty minute lecture, "Statistically men will always chose their wife over their mistress."
"He promised me he will leave her." Cam says weakly, "He loves me, that has nothing to do with statistics."
She twirls her wine inside the glass as we sit at opposite sides of the couch. She avoids my eyes, and stares at the family boarding up their houses before chaos erupts through the streets.
"I needed you to be here, I didn't need judgment." She spits.
"I'm not judging you." I lie, "But I would want you to tell me if I was being stupid."
Her eyes dart back at me with fire, and I try to suck to words back in.
"That's judgment, Soni."
"Okay...that was the wrong word." I defend, "I would want you to be honest with me."
"If you loved a guy, I would tell you to go for it." She preaches, "Because it would make you happy. It wouldn't matter what I think."
I roll my eyes, and the guilt fades from my thoughts. "I hope it works out for you, and I hope for the other woman's sake...she will find happiness."
"She's not innocent." She says coldly, "She hasn't loved him the way she was supposed to, that's why he's wanting to leave."
The longer I play this conversation, the more I try to shut my mouth. I wasn't trying to get kicked out one hour before complete chaos flooded the streets. I had no other family here, and no other friends willing to give me shelter. Well...there was mom, but the rehabilitation center didn't allow family to stay with them during 13.
"Right." I say dryly, "Anyways, is Mei close? It's almost time to lock down."
"She said she was almost here like twenty minutes ago. She needs to get here soon, there's a guy walking up and down the streets." She says gesturing her wine glass toward the direction of the man.
I focus my eyes through the window, to see a man dressed in all black. He was too far for me to focus on details, but close enough to see that he was massive.
"He's probably waiting to start the 13." I whisper as if he could hear me, "Fucking asshole."
"If he wasn't a maniac...I'd think he's kinda cute." She says softly.
My eyes roll, "Yeah until he cuts you into tiny pieces and throws it like confetti. I taught you better than that."
"He might be one of those tags." She says quietly, "There's no way someone is that big. He's a robot made by the government."
I scoff, "You really believe that conspiracy?"
"The government thinks it's fun for us to kill each other for thirteen hours straight...I don't think robots who look like humans being sprinkled in the 13 is out of the question. You saw that video of that woman lifting a fucking truck."
"Adrenaline." I correct.
"What about the guy running across an entire football field in less than ten seconds?"
"Video editing." I say sharply, "It's not scientifically possible, even with the technology we have."
"Is everything you talk about based on science and statistics?" She questions.
"I'm a science teacher, I can't help but think about this logically. Trust me, if that were real we would probably see more of it."
"It's real." She argues, "We’re just not rich enough.”
"Either way, the government allows all hell to break loose." I gripe, "All these people, slaughtered...then we have to act like nothing happened the next day."
"Luckily, we actually have protection." She says, brushing her bleached blonde hair from her ear.
The closer the man walks to the house, the more I notice his cold eyes. There's a tattoo skating up his neck, and I begin to back away from the window.
"Get away from the window before he sees us." I warn, "I don’t wanna be his first kill."
"Or he could protect us." She chuckles.
I ignore her comment, and close the curtains before he can look in our direction.
"Wait for Mei, and I'll get the stuff ready in the bunker."
She nods, and I start moving food and extra supplies down to her basement. The tv plays in the background while I lay down the sheets on each cot.
"I'm telling you the 13 helps helps us a human race weed out the weak. Survival of the fittest is the way of the future, and we only want to strongest to survive. Future generations, will only be made up of the strongest genes. Think about what we can do with the strongest, smartest, fastest of human!"
"But at that point you're telling a whole population of people that they don't have basic human rights. Is that not an issue for you?!"
"I'm not listening to this." I gripe to myself, and begin searching for the remote.
After a few minutes of searching I can't find it, and sigh.
"Cam! Where's the remote?!" I yell from down under the bunker.
The tv continues playing, and I roll my eyes before climbing up the stairs. When I hook around the wall to enter the living room, a small force pushes me back and I let out a gasp. I feel soft hands quickly grip my shoulders, and a familiar face flashes an apologetic smile.
"Soni! Sorry!" Mei smiles, and gently releases me.
"No! I'm sorry, I didn't know you had gotten here."
"Traffic was insane." She says calmly. "Plus all those crazy people are already running around the street."
"I'm surprised you didn't stay with Michael this year."
"Yeah, I just thought I'd stay with Bea. I have to go over some things about my mom's will..." she says and I can still tell her wounds are fresh.
"Got it. I'm so sorry, that was-"
"It's okay! Don't worry about it. How is your mom?"
I pause and nod like it was a yes or no question. "She's doing a lot better. The cost of the center is going up, but she needs it. I'm just glad she's safe tonight."
"I swear everyone would die without you. Speaking of, have you gotten through to Cam yet?"
I slowly shake my head, "No, I think she's gonna have to learn this one on her own. She's not listening to me."
"I figured." She let's out a heavy breath, "But thank you for sticking around us."
She tries her best to give a genuine smile, but I can see the glimmer of tears folding over her eyes.
"You know I'm always here." I say softly before bringing her into a hug.
Her arms wrap around me tightly, and her body slightly shakes as she tries to hold her tears. My heart skips as I try to think of more encouraging words, but even if I had them, it wouldn't bring their mom back.
We set up the last of the supplies, before Cam closes the heavy steel door. The isolation like last year, is heavy. The walls are grey, and the small corner I have is almost suffocating. I didn't like it, but I would rather hyperventilate in this room than spend a second out on the streets during those thirteen hours. The TV freezes before a red background appears on the screen. Before long, a small paragraphs written in white slide up the screen in five different languages.
This is the official announcement for all residents of Union X. For thirteen hours, murder and the possession of firearms are encouraged and permitted. At 8:00 am the next morning, murder and the possession of firearms will again be considered illegal. Any murder or shot of a firearm will be punishable by up to twenty years in prison or execution. Thank you for serving Union X, the thirteen hours will begin in five seconds.
The silence followed by the message causes my stomach to twist. It's only been a few moments since the announcement, but I can feel the fear running through the streets. Studies have shown, the first person to die has already passed within the three seconds after the timer starts. This world was sick.
I sink into my cot, before taking a deep breath.
"Let's just hope for peace." Mei suggests, "For everyone who won't make it...and their families."
Her glossy brown hair stretches past her collar bone, and there's a slight hint of anger imbedded into her brown eyes.
"Alright." I nod, "May peace be with those who will loose family, or their lives."
"I have leave on face masks, couple rom-com movies, snacks...so which movie did you want to watch first?" Cam asks pulling out a few things from her pink bag.
"Really?" Mei acorns, "Shit, at least take a moment of silence."
"Yes, people are dying." Cam says firmly, "It's sad, but what is a moment of silence gonna do? It's not gonna bring them back."
"It's about the respect." Mei says rubbing her temples.
"It's not the time to argue. We should sleep." I say calmly.
"That's what a normal person would do." Mei says before pulling her blanket over her legs.
"You're so damn sensitive." Cam gripes. "I'll wake you guys up at four to eat."
I curl up in the blanket, trying to forget the blood being shed through the streets. I roll over toward the wall pulling the thin blanket over my head before closing my eyes. The room grows calmer, and my mind keeps from wandering to the violence.
I usually slept the entire 13. I would do anything I can to block out the growing chaos in the background.
