Chapter 10: Evacuation VehicleJuly 13th, 2030 Getting out of the dormitory and to the parking garage a few blocks south wasn’t a difficult task. Tony had purposely instructed Ian on which flight of stairs to take so as to avoid the man he and Katie had passed earlier on their way up. Ian didn’t question, and just followed Tony’s advice. With the streets empty from the early morning, the walk there was even easier.
In fact, the only major deterrent was Tony and Katie’s condition. Not only did they move slowly down the streets, but an occasional stop had to be made so Tony could give his foot a chance to rest, and Katie could prop up her leg. Luckily any bleeding was minimal, but that didn’t mean there was any less pain.
The silence around them was eerie, sending a chill down the spine of each. Ian led the way with his can always held in front, his Zippo at arm’s length ahead of them. Tony’s eyes couldn’t help but wander cautiously everywhere, and his finger hovered over the trigger of the gun. If Katie gripped the handle of her umbrella any tighter, she’d likely crack the plastic. Not even birds chirped now, the early dawn having passed.
They probably sense that something is not right. Katie thought to herself.
Animals have that sixth sense about things. Weather, earthquakes. They know it’s unnatural and fled. This idea seemed to be more and more credible due to the fact that even squirrels had seemed to vacant the university grounds.
When they finally did reach the parking garage, the three of them stood against the wall, over-shadowed by the three stories of concrete. Again there was nothing but silence. Ian moved to enter, but Tony put a hand on his arm.
“One wrong move with that thing and you could blow up a car.” He explained, pointing at the impromptu flamethrower. Ian smirked.
“One wrong shot with that and you could do likewise.” He nodded to the gun in Tony’s right hand.
“Yeah… but a gun is easier to aim than a flamethrower.” Tony replied, and Ian conceded defeat. Tony went around the muscular athlete to enter the garage with gun held level.
It’s too quiet… Something’s wrong. Tony couldn’t break that feeling that eyes were upon him, but everywhere he looked all he saw were cars.
~*~*~*~
“Why do you go out with that nerd anyways?” Ian sneered when Tony’s footsteps had grown softer. “He’s pathetic. I’m surprised he even volunteered to scout out the area.”
“Maybe I like him because -unlike
you- his ego is more contained and sensible.” Katie snapped back, brushing back a strand of her black hair so it rested behind her ear. Her eyes looked accusingly at Ian behind her glasses. “You, Ian, are the Narcissus of the modern age.”
“What’s a Narcissus?” Ian asked blankly, confused.
“And he’s smarter than you.” Katie added, shaking her head. “Look, Ian, we are over now. We were over two years ago. We are still done. I am not getting back together with you. I have Tony, and I prefer him; I find his weaker, pathetically nerdy ways to be far more cute and attractive than your egotistically buff body and unbelievable stereotypical stupidity. This is not the time or place to be having this discussion. Just deal with it.” She told him curtly, with an air of finality to her words. Ian fell silent.
And in that coming silence they heard a bang and Tony cursing. Both of them rushed into the parking garage and looked around wildly, Ian’s Zippo opened and flaming, ready to torch the spray can the moment he hit it. What they found, though, was Tony at the far end of the garage, standing in front of the popped open hood of a truck. Katie sighed in relief and ran over to Tony. Ian just stood there and smirked, before flicking his Zippo closed and walking over to them.
It was one of the older 2015 models, a midsized truck with a hybrid engine. After 2010 all newly made automobiles had to get thirty miles to each gallon of gas, and truck manufacturers had discovered that was a bit difficult to do for a truck with a standard engine. So they worked on a hybrid engine that used the gas to power quick acceleration and electricity to keep the momentum going. It actually worked out pretty well, and had been further helped by the fact that after 2010 midsized pickups became the largest pickups on the road. Of course, there was still one problem with them.
“Why can’t the damn Japanese make a truck? Then I wouldn’t have to deal with this American crap.” Tony muttered, looking at his engine as it sat there, not even rumbling. The truck was, of course, a Ford. Some things never changed.
“Well, if you got a new truck you might fare better.” Ian remarked when he arrived, standing next to Tony and looking at the engine. Tony’s hazel eyes narrowed, glaring at the athlete.
“Not all of us have parents paying for our cars, you know.”
Ian shrugged, grinning. “Yeah, I know. Any idea why it won’t start?” Ian asked, leaning in to look at the engine. Tony cast Katie an ‘is he for real?’ look over Ian’s shoulder.
“If he knew, I imagine he would have fixed it by now.” Katie remarked in Tony’s defense, but mainly to prevent him from berating Ian. Ian didn’t seem to be paying too much attention though, as he began to fiddle with the engine. Tony watched on with growing agitation. He didn’t trust Ian messing with his engine. But what else could he do? His right foot was a painful reminder that the needed to get out of there, and right now Ian was his best bet to getting the truck running.
Ian finally pulled himself from the engine, wiping his hands on his white t-shirt and smiling. “Try it now.”
Tony grunted, opening the door to the truck cabin and getting in. Pressing the clutch and turning the key, the engine began to sputter, groan, and finally rev into life. Tony poked his head out of the window and cast Ian a startled look.
“Your belt was a little loose.” Ian explained, still holding onto that smile. Tony shut his mouth and nodded, before thumbing to the bed of the truck. Ian closed the hood and hopped in the bed. Katie slipped into the passenger seat, giving Tony a ‘told-you-so’ look.
“Alright, I’ll admit the oaf is good for something.” Tony rolled his eyes and sighed in defeat. Ignoring the pain in his foot, he shifted the truck into reverse and pulled out of the space.
On cue glass smashed out of various cars around them, large masses ejected from rear windshields to land in a roll on the concrete.