Trapped in the Apocalypse Chapter 7
Mallory, Hannah, and Kate met up once a week for a canned food item. The indulged in the non-perishable food split between them. With 30 cans in total, they hoped they would be saved before they ran out.
Coco became suspicious of Mallory wandering about at night. Mallory thought quick and told her about Hannah's book stash.
Coco visited Hannah one morning, starting her awake.
"Coco?" Hannah jumped up. "What are you doing here, in the Gray quarters?"
"Oh you can relax. I know about your secret stash." Coco said.
Hannah tilted her head. "Whaaat?"
"Your books." Coco said. "Let me see what you have?"
Hannah stood up and pulled a wide wicker basket from under her bed. Inside were 15 novels.
Coco practically pushed Hannah aside to see the books.
Hannah got up and said, "I didn't know you were a reader."
"I'm not except for... here." She picked out a thick book. "Oh thank God."
Hannah glanced at the book. "50 Shades? Really?"
"Hey, we are not allowed to fornicate. This is all I have." Coco said.
Hannah put her arms up.
Weeks passed with no change. No rescue. Just a vitamin cube a day. The can supply got smaller and smaller.
"Maybe we should do this every other week?" Kate asked, looking at the last 10 cans.
Hannah covered her mouth. "I can't wait that long. Besides help will come any day now."
"Oh give it up." Mallory said. "No one is coming for us."
"But that song." Kate said. "The one that plays every evening. It's a sign."
"They probably got lost or died." Mallory said.
"I don't understand." Hannah said. She lied back on the ground. "Where is Harry? And Amy? Why aren't they here?"
Kate lied down with her and held her hand. "These cans are our last taste of the real world. We need to ration them even more."
Hannah folded her lips inward and nodded.
The cans began to be spared as far as one a month. Eventually, they ran out of cans. They used warm water from the showers and sink to make the noodles. Boiling water would have gotten them caught. The warm water did little for the flavor and texture of the cup of noodles. They decided to eat the rest of the noodles raw. The noddles ran out two months later. Mallory stopped visiting them. More time passed and vitamin rations got even smaller.
Hannah and Kate read all the books from the stash. Coco still held onto her book.
After living at the outpost for 18 months, they got a visitor. The residents gathered in the library. The visitor revealed his name to be Michael Langdon.
Hannah narrowed her eyes and looked over at Kate, who shrugged.
He informed the survivors that the other outposts in America (the one in New York, Texas, and West Virginia) were destroyed.
Hannah covered her mouth. "No. How could that happen?"
Kate grabbed her hand. Mallory put her arm around Hannah's shoulders.
"There is a sanctuary I have found. But only the worthy may ascend." Michael said. "I will be conducting interviews with each of you to see who is worthy." He glanced at the purples and the grays. His eyes stopped on Kate. For a moment, they locked eyes on each other. He stared at her, as if he knew something about her. Kate soon looked away, bringing her gaze down at the floor.
Hannah's interview came after Gallant's. She asked Gallant right after his interview how it went. "What sort of questions did he ask?"
"I don't know. He was mysterious. Gave some strange vibes." Gallant said. "I think I'm a shoe in."
Hannah rolled her eyes and entered the room. Michael stood by the desk with his hands together. "Hello Hannah."
Hannah stood up straight. "Hey Mr. Langdon."
He walked up to her. "You have faced so much suffering." He tilted his head. "Tell me about that."
Hannah squinted her eyes. "Well aren't you blunt?"
He chuckled and turned away. "How did it fell to have all yours friends die because of one person?"
Hannah stepped back. The only person who could know that is Kate and she hasn't had her interview yet. Unless he talked to Harry or Amy... She pulled in her sleeves and cleared her throat. "All my friends aren't dead."
"But three of them have died-"
"Those were accidents. Tragic accidents."
"Your sister wasn't."
Hannah looked away. Her heart sank.
Michael surrounded her as he talked. "Your sister was killed. Murdered. And the ones who did it got away. What did they do to her?"
"They worked together. They tied her up. They taunted her. And she... she stabbed my sister."
"Tell me her name." He said. His voice was so calm, yet persuasive. His voice compelled her to speak.
"Samantha." She grit her teeth.
"Thank your lucky stars she's dead." He said.
"Rotting in the ground." She added.
"A pile of ash."
"Forgotten by the world." Hannah said. She blinked.
He smiled.
"I don't know what just happened." Hannah said.
"You showed you true colors. Your darkness."
"I don't... I'm not..." She looked over at the fireplace.
"No use lying to me." He put his hands behind his back. "I know all about your secrets. Your hatred. Your cans."
Hannah's eyes widened. "Cans?"
"Yes, your cans of fruit and vegetables and meat. How you and your friends would share a can every week. You're lying to everyone here. You kept food from the purples. Tisk tisk."
Hannah scoffed. "They gets to be waited on and don't have to have their hair up in these stupid dos. And they know their loved ones are all dead. I don't know where my husband is!"
"Husband oh? You're awfully young to have found someone to spend the rest of your life with-"
"We've spend a lifetime together." Hannah said, annoyed. "Who was at the other outposts? I mean, anyone famous?"
He chuckled again. "We're done here."
Hannah put her hands out. "What? That's it?"
He nodded. "You May leave."
Hannah scoffed and stormed out of the room.
During Ms. Venable's interview, she stated they none of her charges deserved to go to the sanctuary.
"And what about the grays?" Michael asked.
"What about them? They are lucky to have made it this far. You're wasting your time, interviewing them." Ms. Venable said.
Michael raised his head and smirked.
Kate was next up for her interview. She slowly walked through the sliding doors and into the room.
"Hello Kate." He said. He was squatting by the fireplace.
"Hi, Michael." She replied.
He stood up and turned around to face her. "Who are you?" He stepped towards her. "What's your story?"
Kate raised an eyebrow at him. "My story? It's not a good one."
"That's alright." He said. He spoke very calmly. His hands here behind his back.
"Who are you, Mr. Stranger?" She asked. "You come in here, after 18 months, telling us that all the outposts are mysteriously destroyed and there is another place: a sanctuary."
He tilted his head. "You don't believe me?"
"I don't know..." she said. "It's a lot of convenience at once."
"You don't trust easily."
"You wouldn't either of you were a foster kid."
He smirked and looked at the floor. "Who were your parents?"
Kate made a face. "My mom was an addict. Dad died when I was four."
He walked around her. "Any siblings?"
"No."
"Where did you live before the apocalypse?"
"All over."
"What is it about you? What makes you special?" He asked. He stopped walking and stood a few feet in front of her.
She narrowed her eyes. She took a moment before answering. "I really can't say. I don't play any instruments. I don't dance or paint. I don't speak multiple languages, not that that would be useful at a time like this... "
He laughed to himself.
"I'm just an ordinary person."
Michael leaned closer to her. "No. There must be something else."
"Why?" Kate said. She put her hands on her hips.
"Because I could sense something about you from the moment I saw you. There's something you're not telling me."
"Well I've told you all I know." She said.
She started to walk out of the room, but Michael lunged after her, grabbing her arm.
Kate gasped, and had a vision. She saw Michael, younger, at the Hotel Cortez. He found Queenie and helped her escape purgatory. Then she saw him at the science class where Misty was stuck. He killed the teacher and brought her back.
Kate stepped back and stared at the ground.
"What's the matter?" Michael asked.
Kate slowly turned to him. He saved her friends. He brought them back to life. Misty wasn't doomed to endure an eternity in that place. Her friend and her favorite character from Coven. She lived beyond Coven. Her story didn't end there. Queenie could leave the hotel. He did it. Michael did it. He made this possible.
Suddenly she saw him in a new light. He didn't seem so mysterious anymore. He seemed heroic and... even handsome. How dangerous is it out there? And he came all this way for us? For her and Hannah and Mallory. He came here to give us hope. He took so long because there aren't any cars or planes.
Kate turned to face him slowly. The longer she looked at him, the more attractive he became in her eyes. The more she liked him. An urge began to flow through her. A sudden, strong urge that she gave in to.
Michael looked at her, still looking for a response.
Kate ran up towards him. She jumped on him and began kissing him passionately. He was surprised, but didn't stop her. After a moment he kissed back. He carried her over to the couch, where they finished the deed.
