Counting the seconds, p.4
Counting the Seconds, page 4
I’ve maintained minimal contact with Zane, except to pass the journal around. I’m still offended by the insinuation but I can’t stay mad forever. The silence is creepy enough as is. I have been thinking a lot about why time has stopped for us.
I have been thinking about what could have caused it.
I don’t have too much of a guess but I can gamble on the chance of a nuke being deployed by Russia or North Korea or one of those despicable countries. They all fucking suck anyway.
I know there is hate hidden underneath my words but I mean it. They are always trying to start a war anyway, this could just be the prelude to one. We’d probably lose it too.
But if I think about it too deeply, the logic behind it falls apart.
If a nuclear armament is to fall, then the world is screwed thrice over. At least, that’s what the blogs and forum posts say about these things. Plus, we’d know but we won’t be able to stop it. So, we’d just hang in limbo. Till we die from natural causes or we kill ourselves.
Zane is sleeping at the moment.
His snoring is quiet but in the silence of the hall, it’s the only thing keeping me calm.
It’s far too dark in here.
But it’s comfortable dark.
And this darkness was good.
- Anna
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Day 180
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We’ve been stockpiling on food to reduce the rate at which we have to go out. It’s not like there’s any reason to.
Anna’s been handling the food. We spoke about that (when she wasn’t actively avoiding me) and I told her to take it easy. I’m not sure she agreed because I’m sitting around bags of pasta and bolognese sauce. I honestly believe she’s even gone to get more.
I feel like I should say something but whatever.
It’s not like she’s listening to me at the moment.
I, on the other hand, have been stocking up on books. I figure I use the time to study the programming languages I’ve been meaning to learn for months. It’s not like I’m in a rush to go anywhere.
I also got some novels, including “Y: The Last Man” comic book and the sci-fi one from the Asimov guy. This would be the best time to read those. Maybe I can find some inspiration in it. Some of the other books were mundane but I added them, nonetheless. Figured it wouldn’t hurt.
But yeah, I’m going to be knowledge hunting for as…
Anna’s screaming. I’ll be back…
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Day 181
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Sup’ mysterious future readers.
Andre “the main man” Jones here.
Found this little diary in the hands of a certain prisoner of ours at the moment, and I read through it. I mean, I won’t have but from the way he acted about it, I just knew I had to. There was no way.
And fuck me, what a ride the read was!
Like, I damn near thought I was watching a movie, you know. How this motherfucker, Zane, spoke about his hallucinations and shit, his journey across the country, the Anna broad, everything. Intriguing as hell shit.
So much so, that, like... I sympathize with this brother. I seriously do.
If it was up to me, I’d let him go. Rub his head, give him some food and send him on his merry way. Woulda kept the broad. I mean, I know she’s married and all, but it’s been forever since I felt a live woman, you know. One that can moan back. One that can fight back.
I like me a little feisty bitch.
But like I said, It ain’t up to me.
Even in this frozen as shit world, the strong still dominates the weak.
But fuck it.
Now listen, I’m not saying I’m weak. I’m just choosing to serve my time under his rule, you know. No one really wants to have to fight against the Jaegermeister. At least, that’s the only name he goes by. Lil Timmy said the last non-stiff to say his actual name got his head torn off by the Jaeger.
And shit, if you know how big this fucker is, you would probably be like me, and bow your head. He says that the time-stop, as these guys call it, is a work of God. He calls it “amagedon”, or whatever the shit.
Apparently, we’re the chosen ones to inherit the land because we’re the only ones not frozen in time, especially as it’s been a long while.
Granny would have thought the same, holding her cross in her hands and banishing anything she thought was a demon. Fuck, she’d banish me too if she could, except the old lady’s on a wheelchair and I’m the only one looking after her.
Well, I was... But she’s been frozen, and I don’t know.
Maybe she won’t miss me when she stops being one of the stiffs.
I don’t know if I believe him, but shit.
Jaeger might be right.
- Andre
"Camp?"
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Day 184
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So, like, I read it... but I haven't really had time to address it…
The time-stop thing is fucked, yo...
Like, I see the little graph / table the broad drew in the book. She's good. But it's weirder than that. Mad weird.
See, Jaeger managed to get a couple guys together, right? About 40-45 of us in all. A lotta guys, a couple girls for ‘purposes’. And apart from when we are away from the main group, it's like Time never stopped for us. We be partying and shit, drinking and shit. Like, our own land away from society and all.
It's like, the more we are, the more relaxed the stiff effect is, you know.
Crazy shit.
It's like... so messed up...
Like...
- Andre
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Continuing on, It's Zane here.
Andre passed over the journal to me so I can try and make sense of the diatribe he's trying to get out of his mind.
I'm not sure why I'm even bothering to write.
I doubt I see the end of the week.
My muscles ache terribly and my swollen left eye and mouth is not any better. Talking is a painful chore, but I have to when they ask questions. They don't like it when we don't answer. The bruise on my chest is a good reminder for that.
What Andre is trying to explain is that, just like how the microwave worked for us, it would appear the bigger the group, the more time seems to undo the effects it has cast on us and the objects around us.
A few days ago, Anna and I had struggled with a few things, save the microwave and that one fridge incident.
Now?
We're in a van.
Yeah, you read that right.
A van. White nondescript van with the that peado-kidnapper vibe that you can just feel when you look at it.
There are currently 8 non-frozen people in the van, counting Anna and me. Three guys are in front, Andre is at the back as well two other guys who don't seem interested in anything except returning back to their home, wherever that might be.
They had tried getting funny with Anna, and I tried to fight them but... well... I can't fight. It took a couple punches to put me down. A couple more mixed with some kicks to persuade me to remain down. Expected to die but they hauled my semi-unconscious form into the van with her. Now, Anna is quiet and I don't blame her.
Every few seconds, the van jolts and a sound of something... or most likely the body of someone hitting the sides or the roof of the van is heard. They ‘whoop’ sometimes when it happens. It’s so casual at this point that I can’t help but feel like it’s a pastime for these folks.
These guys are just driving with no care in the world, knocking over anyone or anything because they believe, somehow, that they are part of the chosen ones. I'm in a van full of crazy people with nothing to defend myself with. Not that the first time was even in the least bit successful.
There's a look in Anna's eyes that I haven't seen before.
I don't think I've known her enough to comment on it yet but she has the look of someone who has resigned to her fate.
The look of someone who's tired.
- Zane
---
I'm going take over from here
This book is now mine.
I'ma be the ones doing the writings, as I don't think lover boy here is going to survive long enough once Jaeger is done with him. I might give it to the broad every now and then when she's spent.
Give her a few minutes to gather her thoughts before she gets put to work again.
Jaeger says everyone has to know and earn their places in the new world.
I'm going to help her with hers.
- Andre
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Day 185
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Today's a slow day. We stopped for a few minutes to clean the blood off the van and to have some stuff to eat. Trejo says we've got a few more hours till we get back to camp. I don't particularly mind. Ain’t like I’m in a rush to give my freedom back to the big boss.
You know, I have to say this shit has been unreal.
I don't think I've written as much as I have so far. Mrs 'Booby' Peckinsy would be shocked. To be truthful though, she always looked shocked when she ran around the classroom chasing me and telling me to sit down. Never did listen. I mean, how could I when her knockers wouldn't stop bouncing around when she ran?
Lool. Fucking A', that was. I wonder if she’s frozen like the rest of the stiffs. Might be old but it’s worth paying a visit sometime.
Anyway...
We're almost there.
Almost home.
Can't wait.
- Andre
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Day 187
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‘Sup future peoples!
Main man here…
I ‘pologise for not writing anything earlier, just been trying to catch up with the homies at camp.
I’m home.
Well, home being the camp cos real home is miles away and I ain’t going back there. Bless my Granny, But the new world is not kind to anyone, so I don't have to be kind to anyone...
Or that's how I think about it.
Anyway...
Jaeger has been locked up in his 'chambers' as the rest of the guys call it.
They said he went in with a few women to do some prayers and concession for the chosen ones. We know what he's doing though. The moans are never as quiet as people think they are but we don't care.
I mean, if we get to have 'concessions' with the ladies too, then who are we to judge, you get my meaning?
So, booty goes a long way.
When Jaeger comes out, we'll be presenting Zane and the broad to him. He's probably given Mr lover-boy Zane the same choices he gave most of us.
Which is no choice really.
I don't think we need him though.
Half the guys are in the fields, doing some farm stuff. The other half are drinking in the bar. I think I know where I'm going to be.
- Andre
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Day 188
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Jaeger was pissed at us.
He wasn't pleased that we had put our hands on Zane. Said something about "that's not how we treat our chosen." That we needed to preach the good word to them
That they were chosen.
He kept speaking until he laid his eyes on Anna. Then he smiled, the kind of smile I've seen on his face before.
Shiieet.
Look at me all trying to be 'elokuent'.
English major, up in this bitch.
Still... it seems the Anna broad knows Jaeger or he knows her but either way, her face goes all white like she's been dreading seeing him again. Zane looked confused as fuck but I think he was seeing what I was seeing.
He told Trejo and Martin to take Zane to the medics, to patch him up and then put him to work as he is now a chosen.
I disagreed at that.
I told Jaeger that Zane had been with Anna and that they might be fucking each other.
Probably shouldn't have said anything.
I fucking hate when he stands in front of me and puts his hand on my shoulder. It's the scariest shit.
Now, don't get me wrong... I'm not saying I'm scared of Jaeger, mind you...
I'm just not comfortable with being touched, alright?
That's just it.
But this Jaeger guy... he's big. He's so fucking big.
It's like looking up to a giant, I swear.
He patted me on the shoulder once and told me thanks for telling him the message. His eyes weren’t on me though. They were still on Anna and me talking seemed to make her more scared. I don't know why but it looks like some history is there.
I was going to ask Jaeger for her, as my spoil of the shit we brought back.
I don't think he would have agreed though so I let it go...
I can always ask tomorrow.
- Andre
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Day 190
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The broad hasn't been let out of Jaeger's room since he got her all up in there. To be honest, I don't think anyone has seen him since he took her back to his chambers. I guess she is his now and that fucking sucks.
All the broads in the camp, he's basically claimed them as his.
Until they get stiff or they get broken in their minds, then he gives them to us.
I'm talking about a camp of 40 other men. That's just bullshit, right?
I'm watching over lover boy at the moment. He's been trying to sleep but I'm not letting him. Every couple seconds, I move the curtains covering the windows in the sleeping quarters just to let the sun shine over his face. Just for a little bit.
And he’d startle and glare at me.
It's the only way I can calm myself down.
I think I should have had my way with the broad when we got her in the hall.
Just for a few moments.
- Andre
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Day 191
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Jaeger came out today.
He says we're going to have to pack up camp and start moving soon.
I don't want to go.
After the time we've spent riding around, looking for more chosen fucks for him, been meaning to stay put in one place.
This fucking sucks.
- Andre
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Day 192
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Jaeger has been locked up in his room again.
I'm gonna stop writing.
This diary shit is gay as fuck.
It was fun the first couple days but the guys are beginning to whisper and I can't let them take me for some pussy.
Real men don't keep diaries.
Will probably give it back to lover boy once he leaves the medic bay.
- Andre
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Day 194
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I don't know where to begin. The swellings are still there. It's still hard to talk a bit. But whatever...
At least, I got the journal back.
- Zane
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Day 195
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Part of me wishes that I had kept moving, even if it meant moving on my own.
That maybe if I hadn’t stifled the misguided, unknown instinct of continuing the journey, we won't be in a camp filled with crazies who believe that we're in some sort of b-movie apocalypse.
A couple of guys are in the fields, farming. Others at the bar. A smattering of blank faced women walking around… or trying to walk. They have the same face as Anna did in the van. Resignation.
The farming doesn’t even make sense. There’s no ebb and flow to the plants growing. It’s just unrelenting sun and some moisture and manure. Plants don’t grow in that kind of environment.
The Jaeger guy though...
I can see why they'd follow him. He's intimidating on size alone.
I guess my biggest issue is trying to figure out if Anna knew him or not.
And based on everything so far, I think she did.
Heck, I think she was running away from him. It's the only way it would make sense to me. I mean, before she showed up, I'd been on my own long enough to be comfortable, I think. Long enough, at least to understand certain things about the time stop.
Long enough to not have a gun in the situation.
I mean, it wasn't like a bullet will suddenly travel out the gun. And yet, there she was, with a handgun, shooting.
Maybe she knew it was going to hit me.
Maybe she thought I was part of Jaeger's crew.
It's all doing my head in and I'm not sure what to do.
Still...
Apparently, I'm one of the chosen now, so I have to work in the fields in the morning and then guard duty in the evenings. Not sure what we are guarding against exactly, but maybe Jaeger has enemies.
I don't care.
I just want out of here.
- Zane
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Day 199
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The days are long.
That's an odd thing to say, isn't it?
"The days are long..."
Like of course they fucking are.
It's not like the sun has set to even give us some semblance of reality but no, just hangs in the sky like a goddamn CCTV camera with an infinite battery.
…
I…
Let me start again.
The working moments are long and arduous. All the workers get a few hours to sleep after which we are forced into the fields to till the ground and plant crops. Some deal with the animals, others are put down for the heavier work of forestry. This 'Jaeger' guy has made it very clear that he wanted to start anew as per the 'apocalypse'.
