Chapter 9: What a shit show

Chapter 9: What a shit show

They got a ride back to Serenitys apartment from a grateful survivor who called their mom to come pick them up. James passed out in the back, leaving Serenity to fend off the excited questions from the teenaged girl in the passenger seat.

He awoke when they pulled up outside the laundromat.

The place was closed, the lights out, the blood smears on the sidewalk black in the street lights.

So amazing, said the young woman as James got out. Im going to get ready, accept the acknowledgment thing, and then dump all my points into Arete like you said.

Constantina Juventud De Marias, you are going to do no such thing, snapped her mother from behind the wheel as she pulled away from the curb.

The sound of their arguing drifted off into the night.

Serenity hugged herself. Were back minus my phone and with no ammo.

You win some, you lose some. Shall we?

The street was dead. They wasted no time unlocking the narrow front door and hurried up the cold stairwell into Serenitys apartment, where James shucked the pimp coat, considered passing out on the couch, then reluctantly realized he had to wash out his wounds, even if they didnt hurt.

Showering was awkward. His bandages were filthy and covered in gremlin blood, as well as having being bitten and mangled. After a long period of hesitation, he peeled off the tape and unwound it. Round and round, till his forearm came into view. The fresh puncture wounds were shocking, but the old bite was already mostly healed.

James studied the scabbed over puncture marks in the harsh bathroom light, dumbfounded. He kept expecting his body to behave the way it had all his life. Then, carefully, he removed the sodden and dirty bandages from around his neck, hissing as the adhesive tugged at his beard.

Just the same.

Well Ill be.

He got into the shower and washed out the gashes and bite marks. His legs looked like something out of a horror movie, his forearms almost as bad, but the pain was negligible. The whole thing was surreal. Hed seen countless people screaming in agony and flopping about in their stretchers with less than this, and here he was casually washing it all out in a grimy shower.

Were infections part of his past?

He was too tired to care.

Eventually he emerged, borrowed some more old clothing from Serenitys ex, and stepped back into the living room barefoot, toweling his hair.

Serenity sat before the TV, hand over her mouth, watching an anchorman trying to keep his shit together live.

James fetched up against the back of the couch, towel still pressed to the back of his head.

evidence now that everyone who followed guidance on not accepting the acknowledgment request from the first and second global wave have died, attacked by something far more powerful that what the Nemesis 1 has been capable of. This is being described as a punitive measure on the part of this enigmatic and malicious system that is controlling events, and even now reports are coming in of tens if not hundreds of thousands dying almost simultaneously.

The man paused and pinched the bridge of his nose. The silence was total. When he resumed speaking, his voice was thick with emotion. On behalf of this station, I wish to offer the bereaved our sincerest condolences and apologies. The NSA, the CDC, and other government agencies that issued the safety guidelines did so with the information they had at hand, information that were now realizing is painfully inadequate. Thus the safety guidelines on all government websites is being amended: do not accept the acknowledgement request if you are unprepared. The National Guard is deploying to every major metropolitan area, and those members who have already killed their own Nemesis 1s will be wearing blue arm bands. The new policy if you receive an acknowledgement request is to find the closest National Guard station, maps of which will be provided on your local government website, and there explain your situation.

The anchors voice gained in strength. The National Guard will then ensure that your Nemesis 1 will be killed when it approaches you, ensuring your safety and wellbeing. This policy will go into effect at different times across different cities, so again, check your local government websites for more accurate data.

Hundreds of thousands? whispered Serenity, turning to stare up at him.

James grimaced and draped the towel over his shoulder. Its probably higher. The first wave was small. The second wave felt much bigger. If most of them refused to acknowledge, we could be looking at millions dead.

Serenity just gaped at him.

James strode to the window to escape that haunted look in her eyes and stared down at the dark street. A little traffic had picked up, but here and there he saw a gremlin stalking through the night.

They were still leaving those whod not been messaged alone.

How long till the third wave struck?N0v3lTr0ve served as the original host for this chapter's release on N0v3l--B1n.

But we can fight them, said Serenity with brittle conviction. Raise our numbers. Develop auras like yours. All we need is - what - a thousand people like you in each city? And we can wipe the floor with them.

Yeah. His voice was soft. But thats assuming this Level 3 aura is as effective against Nemesis 2.

Shit. Serenity stared out at nothing, and James did the same thing. Summoned the count down.

Maybe twenty for level 2? We werent really keeping track, said James.

More than that, said Serenity firmly. I shot at least thirty of them before I leveled.

The Bostonian guys went wide. You what now?

Honey, I emptied a hundred and seventeen rounds at demons this afternoon. You gotta work if you wanna keep up.

Jesus Christ, said the guy, and sat down.

Everyone was staring.

James raised the whiskey, took a gulp.

You know what? Maybe well get a bottle to go, said Serenity. Herman, you hook us up?

You got it, Serenity, said the old man. I saw the video of James here doing his thing. Praise be. You got an open tab till the world drowns in fire. And he pushed a bottle of whiskey over.

Serenity winked at him. Youre the best, Herm. All right everybody, show's over. Were leaving. You see a demon, aim for center mass, yeah?

James finished his whiskey and followed Serenity back outside and up the steps. Closed his fur coat tightly about himself and took the bottle when she passed it to him and drank.

What a shit show. Serenity led the way back. Now we cant even get drinks no more.

Well, at least word got out.

You better credit me as your PR agent. You wouldnt have ever made it big on TikTok without my know-how.

Ill give you a cut of the profits.

Hey. She rounded on him. Whats the matter?

Nothing.

No, for real. You look spooked.

Just I dont like crowds.

Ah, I get it. Yeah. But you were like a hero to them.

I dont want to be no hero. Just I guess I have to help, but it dont mean I want everybody staring at me.

Fair enough. She took a swig of the whiskey. Look, the world has always been a shit place, but now? Its just getting a whole lot shittier. But we did some good work today, and we got a bottle of Jack, and tomorrows another day. Lets go drink this, maybe screw, and see what the morning brings.

James tensed.

Jeez, Im just messing with you! I know you dont want to bang. You like guys?

No, I dont like guys.

You got a wife, then?

His expression settled like concrete, and Serenitys eyes widened. Wow. Never mind. We can kill demons together, save each others lives, but I guess we dont have to get personal. Fine. Will you at least help me with this bottle?

Ill help you with that bottle.

They reached the front door, but then paused as tan army trucks started to roll through the closest intersection. One after another, their backs covered with tarp, each identical, their headlights cutting through the night, ignoring the traffic lights overhead as they rolled on.

Damn, whispered Serenity when the last truck had disappeared. I counted seventeen of them.

There better be a lot more coming. James took the bottle so as to wash down the words he almost said: and well need infinitely more if theyre to make a god damned difference.