First Activation

We ran, not jumping over puddles or avoiding corpses, but just straight for the apartment with the desperate need for safety. Bernie opened the door in an instant and we piled through, slamming it shut. We all slumped down on the couches and sat staring in silence for ten minutes.

“You did the right thing back there,” I said to Jack. “If you hadn’t shot her, there would only be two of us sitting here now.”

“It’s done, and I want to forget it,” he replied.

Chapter 5 – Temptations

We had landed at JFK forty-eight hours ago, but it felt like weeks. I had witnessed and experienced enough horror in two days to last several lifetimes. If we didn’t get some control back, I knew we wouldn’t make it another two days with killers ready to hide, deceive, and attack us.

Jack hadn’t said a word for the last hour, he seemed troubled after the shooting this morning. I couldn’t leave the tough jobs to Jack, it would put an unfair toll on him. Bernie needed to be armed with more than a flare gun.

“Bernie, your menu seems a little limited,” I half joked, as he handed me another bowl of baked beans.

“Do you buy lots of fresh food just before going on holiday, in case things like this happen?” He said stiffly, as he pointed towards the window.

“Did you have a job before?” I asked.

Bernie sat down on the couch opposite me with a bowl of beans balanced on his knee. “Yes. I was a plumber for the last thirty years and built up a pretty strong business locally. I had twelve staff on the books and I had started to take things easy. We have a place up in Orange County and for the last few years, had started to travel outside the States. I can’t see the phone ringing anytime soon, so that’s me retired. What about you two?”

“We both spent time in the army as you know. Jack worked on missile defence systems, and I was in communications. Although the army always tells you that you are a soldier first, so we do have combat training. For the last five years, we’ve run a landscaping business, but like you say, we’re now retired. Did you have any hobbies?”

“My only real hobby was spending time with Linda. We would eat out, go to the movies, and watch the Jets together. We led a quiet, happy life; none of it involved firing guns.”

“Come on, Bernie, I thought all yanks had at least a hand gun for defence?”

“Nah, New York is the safest city in the world.”

I smiled at his response. If we came across anyone expecting to be rescued and led to a safety zone by three members of Delta Force, they were going to be sorely disappointed. All we could offer at the moment, was a bowl of baked beans in a basement apartment and some speculative arguments.

“Bernie, you said there were a couple of big stores close by?”

“Not again, Harry, I’ve enough food to last us for another couple of days,” he replied.

“I think we should go this afternoon. Then we won’t have to move for a while after that. Let’s just get it out of the way. We can also find you a weapon as well.” I paused and waited for Bernie’s reaction.

“I haven’t seen you kill anyone yet,” he replied, maintaining eye contact.

“It’s not a competition, Bernie; we all need to be armed if we’re going to stay alive,” I said, wondering if he still blamed me for Linda’s death.

Jack had been quiet during our conversation and was fiddling on the computer.

“Are you up for a trip to get some food and drink, Jack?” I called over to him.

“Yeah, whatever,” he replied quietly and carried on surfing the net.

“Have you found any new updates from anyone since we landed?”

I joined Jack at the desk.

“No, it’s all still the same old shit from a couple of days ago. None of the news sites have even changed.”

“Have you checked twitter yet?”

He sighed, typed in the address, and logged in. We had a direct message.

Direct message from Lea Ash

Was that shooting on the bridge something to do with you? We were on our way there and saw a man on the bridge get into a car.

We hung around for a few minutes then heard a shot. Are you ok? We want to get out of the city now, what is your location?

“What do you make of this?” I called over to Bernie, trying not to sound excited.

“This person could still be a killer. They just didn’t get to us first,” he replied, after gazing at the screen.

“Why didn’t she try to take out the other killer on the bridge, then?” I snapped.

“Fine,” Bernie hit back. “We can give them one more chance, but I am not going anywhere near Manhattan. Your friends are dead, just like Linda.”

I hadn’t even been thinking about Andy and Dave. To be honest, I’d already given them up. I didn’t want the argument to escalate, so I turned to Jack, “What do you think?”