Archive Ch.11

Forty minutes later, at least as Nic perceived it, they arrived at Jordi’s chosen campsite. A simple alcove cutting into the side of a bookcase, shallow but for three nooks cut into the wall. Though made of the same wood, they would serve well as makeshift bunks once lined with their bedrolls.

Making camp mostly consisted of unpacking things from Dewey and setting them up in useful places. A lantern served as their fire, set to a gentle glow that was bright without being harsh. Folding chairs were deployed around it, set at just the right height for Dewey’s open cargo hatches to serve as tables. Upon the same was assembled their meal prep, two dehydrated meals slowly returned to edible consistency with an electric heater.

A minimalist setup but surprisingly comfortable, though Nic suspected that was more on account of his exhaustion than anything else. He hadn’t realized just how tired he was until he’d sunk into his chair and realized getting back up again was going to be an effort. Between all the walking, dodging dive bombing books and the fun new things he’d learned about this place, both body and mind had firmly decided that down was their preferred state of being for the foreseeable future.

A state Jordi did not seem to be sharing. He cheerily went about the camp chores with the efficiency of long practice. By the time Nic thought to offer help the work was basically done, Jordi settling into the other chair next to him.

“Sorry,” Nic said. “Didn’t mean to sit down like that.”

“It’s cool, I’ve got this down to a science,” Jordi replied. “Besides, you need the rest.”

Nic couldn’t deny that and returned to munching on a bit of jerky. Jordi took a moment to check on their food before turning back to face Nic, an expectant expression on his face.

“What?” Nic asked.

“You going to keep us in suspense all night?” He gestured at the two books they’d retrieved where they sat inside Dewey’s cargo shelf. Nic couldn’t help but chuckle at the eagerness in his tone.

“Whose idea was this whole expedition again?”

“Mine, technically.” Jordi said, reaching for the books himself. He briefly flipped through it, scanning each page with a critical eye. As he neared the back end, his finger settled on one line in particular which he turned towards Nic.

“Start from there,” he said. “If I’m reading this right, it should give you some context.”

Confused but undeniably intrigued, Nic took the book. Its surface felt even more worn than he remembered, every nick and scratch standing out with sharp relief under his fingertips. Unlike the last book, this one was handwritten, the blue penmanship messy and faded with age, filling the pages unevenly. Still, it was clear enough for Nic to begin reading aloud from the passage Jordi had pointed out. 

*

April 3

We lost Pat today.

It happened so fast. One minute we were laughing at one of his stupid jokes, the next it was all screaming and chaos. I was front and center for it all, watching as the car he’d been scavenging suddenly sprouted teeth and attacked. Before I could even think to do something, it was already over, the creature vanishing into the shadows with nothing but Pat’s muffled screams to show it had ever been there.

We didn’t go after him. What was the point? It just would have meant we got to put a dozen names up on the memorial rather than just one. We haven’t survived this long by being stupid. Ever since the world went crazy, brave is just another word for dead. Pat’s dead, the rest of the camp isn’t, that’s all there is to it.

Maybe if I say it enough, I’ll start believing it.

*

“Hells,” Nic said.

He looked up at Jordi, finding his companion listing intently as he stirred the food on the stove. He nodded grimly when he noticed Nic’s gaze upon him.

“Yeah,” he said. “Accounts from just after the Resurgence are like that. Not a lot they could do without magic of their own.”

Nic didn’t say anything, trying to imagine what it must have been like. Not even knowing what it was that was attacking you, let alone how to deal with it. The thought sent a chill up his spine.

Shaking it away, Nic resumed reading.

*

April 15

Supply run finally made it through at last. Apparently, those black lights are back, and they had to take a detour around them. Right call but it meant they had to negotiate with some trolls for passage and then something new that’s moved in just east of downtown. No one wants to talk about what happened, but I’ve heard the word ‘witch’ getting thrown around in hushed tones.

Christ what the hell is going on out there? Are we going to start getting dragons flying around next? A wizard living in the CN? And now that I’ve written that down, I need to go find some wood to knock on because tempting fate feels like a genuine risk these days.

Good they got through. We’re burning through meds like kindling right now. Ironic that the thing most likely to kill us right now is the flu. Doc says we should have it under control but there’s a few people still hanging by a thread. All we can do is keep treating them and hope like hell that no one dies. We can’t afford the loss, in more than one way. Still having nightmares about Pat.

April 23

Took in some more people today. Found them skulking around outside the perimeter, a group of six, two men and a woman with three kids. They claim they came up from somewhere down south but that would mean they came up past the lake, so I don’t know if I believe them. No one who’s gone that way has ever come back.

A few protested us letting them in, said we couldn’t trust them. Could be thieves, scouts for bandits, or worse. They’re not wrong, I probably should have turned them away, but I just couldn’t do it. They looked awful, especially the kids. Thin, dirty, wearing rags. A few others agreed at least, so I didn’t have to throw my weight around.

We’re keeping them locked up as a compromise with the nay-sayers, at least until we can figure out what they’re all about. Had a chat with one of the kids, mostly about nothing but it was good. His name is Kevin and he kept asking me if we had a basketball court. I told him we didn’t, and he very seriously told me we needed to make one. I promised I’d look into it.

Today was a good day.

April 24

Something came in with them. We burned the house. Would have been worse if we hadn’t. God, I hope they were already dead.

May 29

Construction of the walls is coming along. Still don’t know why we’re bothering. What’s a bunch of cobbled together crap going to do against the kind of things we’ve seen these last few months? Might as well just put up a sign that says “please don’t eat us” for all the good it will do stopping them. Then again, maybe it’s more so people can feel like they’re doing something.

There are lights over downtown now, different from the highway ones the traders talk about. We’re starting to hear singing too, real low but getting louder at sunset. I try not to listen but it’s easy to just fall into the melody when you’re not paying attention. It’s soothing, calming, hypnotic. Which is the most worrying. We’ve got people walking around in pairs, one with earmuffs as a precaution, checking on people to make sure they stay with us. Seems to be working so far.

Found a basketball hoop in a storage unit. No idea why it was in there but it’s serviceable. Just need to find a place to hang it now.

June 4

Snow in June shouldn’t surprise me at this point, but it did. Snowed for a solid three hours this morning, heavy enough that it started drifting. It’s all melted now, but the damage might already be done. Crops did not take kindly to the sudden cold snap, and we had zero precautions in place. Why would we? It’s the damn middle of summer! Some of it might be salvageable but not enough. We’re going to be hard pressed for food this winter. If winter is even still a thing. Who the hell knows anymore?

Those lights are getting closer, some of them only a few streets away from the compound. No one’s managed to get a good look at them yet, they keep disappearing every time we try and approach. Not just from downtown either, we’ve seen them on every side. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they were scouting us. Not that anyone’s listening to me much these days.

Found a spot for the hoop, just need to clear the old concrete and it should do nicely for the court. Slow going, especially with the need to move cars but I’ll get it done. I have to.

June 10

Scavenging is getting harder and harder. Those lights are everywhere now, and their singing is almost constant. People have started just sitting around when they have nothing to distract them, staring into space and listening to it on the wind. Can’t say I blame them. It’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard in my life. Doesn’t change the fact we need stuff, either to use or to trade. Food is still a problem, and all the easy spots were cleaned out ages ago. Having to do it in earmuffs is just complication on top of difficulty.

Another survivor showed up. A loner, which was honestly more of a surprise than anything else. No one travels alone anymore, certainly not in the direction he was coming from. Says his name is Sharpe. Weird dude to look at him, wearing this harness full of computer parts and crap. Says he’s travelling the world in search of survivors to help start rebuilding. Gate guards weren’t impressed and sent him away without another word. I wanted to object but read the room and bit my tongue.

Ever since that disaster back in April, people have been slow to trust outsiders. Wonder how long it’ll be before we go from turning people away to shooting on sight. I’ve not heard anything direct, but people tend to hush up when I enter the room now. I suspect leadership isn’t long for my job description.

Basketball court is going slow. It’s a multi-person job and I can’t move all of it on my own. We’ll have to see if I can convince anyone to help.

*

“Well, there he is again,” Nic said as he turned over the page to continue reading. This was followed by a dismayed noise when he discovered that, for some reason, the last page of the book was blank.

“Seriously?” he said, flipping the page back and forth several times, as if that would make words appear. Jordi just laughed at the scene.

“Seems someone has a sense of humor today.”

“Hilarious,” Nic said, casting him a withering glare. “Did you know this would happen?”

“Suspected,” Jordi said. “The field notes on that shelf recommended taking multiple volumes at once.”

Nic’s gaze flicked down to Jordi’s glasses where they hung around his neck, still amazed just how much information lay within. He looked away when Jordi started spooning their dinner into a pair of bowls.

“Food’s done if you want,” he said.

“In a minute,” Nic said, reaching for the other book. “Going to drive me nuts if I don’t find out what happened.”

Jordi smiled at the statement, settling back with his own bowl as Nic cracked open the second book and began to read.

*

“Marabeth, why must you go?”

The Lord Darcy reached out his hand to stroke Marabeth’s cheek. For all she knew she must, she could not stop herself leaning into his touch, feeling her chest soar with feeling she could no longer deny.

“Please,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “Stay with me.”

Nothing in the world would make her happier. If she could never leave this man’s side again for as long as she lived, it would be all she ever wanted. Damn the council, damn her father, damn cruel, cruel fate for what she must do.

“I cannot my love,” she said at last. “Do not ask me again.”

“Why!?” cried the Lord Darcy. “Gods and devils, why!?”

She choked back sobs, pushing away his hand before she said something she couldn’t take back. He couldn’t know, could never learn her secret. It would destroy him and her right along with him. Better that she break his heart now than let him learn her secret.

For who could ever truly love a were-squirrel?

*

“What the?” Nic said.

“Problem?” Jordi asked, looking up from their food.

“Uh yeah, I think this is the wrong book.” Nic flipped the text around to show the page. “See?”

Jordi leaned in to look, his eyes narrowing in the same confusion Nic felt. He took the book, flipping quickly through several more pages.

“Huh,” Jordi said eventually. “That’s odd.”

Pulling on his glasses, Jordi scrutinized the book, turning it over in his hands to scan both covers and the spine in turn. His expression went from confusion, to intrigue, then back to confusion. Finally, he blew out a breath, placing the book down on the table as he sat back in the chair.

“This is the wrong book.”

“Yeah,” Nic said. “What is it?”

“Novelization of a Net drama called The First Spell.” Nic very carefully said nothing as Jordi continued looking the book over. “It’s in the wrong place, that’s the important thing.”

“That can happen?” Nic asked.

“Sometimes,” Jordi shrugged, though it didn’t escape Nic’s notice that he’d become significantly less animated. He was back in serious mode, calculating thoughts ticking away behind his eyes.

“So, what now?” Nic asked.

On a dime, Jordi’s expression flipped back to smiles and sunshine, putting the book aside as he picked up their food.

“Right now, we eat while the grub’s hot, then we get some sleep.” He thrust one of the meals towards him. “We’re in for a long haul tomorrow I think.”

*

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