Tomorrow seemed brighter, now that she didn’t have Lynch to worry about. She’d have food to eat. She could rest knowing that no one could extort anything from her. She knew she had to balance the safety she felt with the loss of some of her rights. She was still on the fence with that concept. A full stomach went a long way in quieting complaints.
Once more, her thoughts went to her parents. Were they in Hives? Were they struggling? Did they have enough to eat and were they safe? She was sure she’d never know the answers to those questions. For now, she could only concentrate on herself and the hours before her. More than that, well, it was just too hard to see far into the future.
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Kansas City, MO
Trish was tired, it had been a long day. The ER had been filled with injured people. This was becoming more and more common place. There had also been a fatality, a refugee. He’d been beaten nearly to death. He had died on the table. The police officer said the man was attacked. A crowd blamed the man for the food shortages. People were getting stupid; fear was making people crazy. Food was in short supply and people were now fighting to get bread, rice or milk. A loaf of bread was now fifteen dollars. Milk, twenty, or rather the coupon’s worth. People were looking thinner, their faces tight with fear and frustration. The government was metering out very little information. She shivered.
Coming to a stoplight, Trish waited. She thought about earlier in the day, one of the other nurses had been watching her with bead bright eyes, at the desk. Trish had been taking a break and eating lunch. Their day had been so hectic, that she could only manage a few bites.
“You seem to be doing okay on food, Trish. That’s a lot you have there. Is that spaghetti with a cream sauce?” Rina Timmer asked, her bright blue eyes boring into her own. Rina was usually on the night shifts, but more nurses were working, with the increase in violence. Rina was a slightly chunky woman and she eyed Trish’s lunch with lust. Trish felt the tiny hairs raise along her body. Warning bells screaming. If she gave Rina the food, that would signal to Rina and anyone else, that she had plenty to spare.
“Sorry. This has to last me for the next three days, lunch and dinner. I only eat a few bites. I have to make it last. Sorry.” She’d smiled and shrugged apologetically. Not surprising, when she’d gone to get her container later, the spaghetti was gone. She’d seen Rina later with a satisfied, smug look on her face. She couldn’t prove it, but she was sure the other woman had stolen her food. A few other nurses complained about missing food as well. It would seem that Rina was stealing from everyone.
While driving, she was conscious of her speed. Gas was now so high that it was becoming too expensive to drive to work. Something had to give. She wanted to go pick up groceries, but it was getting near ten, and everything was closed. Curfew was at eleven and anyone out on the road after eleven would be arrested. Martial law was now in effect, and there was no letup in sight. She’d make it home just about eleven. The shifts were now changing to accommodate the evening restriction. Her shifts were now down to six hours. Sometimes eight.
Slowing down for another light, she looked around at the closed restaurants. Sadly, many had to shut their doors. Food was scarce and the inability to ask reasonable prices had many establishments closing their doors. She stopped at the light and sighed. All she wanted was a bath. A soft smile crossed her face. Hogan would have dinner waiting for her. It wouldn’t be a big dinner, but he always fixed her something nice.
Glass exploded all over her and she screamed, turning her face away from her window. She felt someone grab her coat and jerk her roughly. They were trying to pull her out of the window.
“Give me your food. I want your food!” A man screamed in her face. His breath was foul and caused her to gag. Screaming, she tried to knock him from her. He was pulling her out of the seat, the seat belt held her, and she fought him. She couldn’t get him off her and she shoved her foot down on the gas pedal. The truck lurched forward, and she used her elbow and tried to break the grasp on her coat. Cold air warred with the hot reeking breath of the man attacking her. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed the steering wheel, yanking away from the man.
“You fucking bitch, give me all the food you got!” The man screamed and made a grab for her hair. She was dragging him along with her. Screaming, her head was being pulled hard, she used her elbow to smack the man in his face. She heard the crunch of bone and felt a warm spray of blood spray across her face. The man screamed in rage and pain and she accelerated the truck, leaving the man behind. Looking into the rearview mirror, she saw the man rolling on the street.
Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she cried, trying to steer and wipe the man’s blood from her face.
“You son of a bitch!” She screamed, rage coursing through her body and mixing with the fear that nearly suffocated her. She’d never been assaulted. She’d been hit by patients, but she’d never been violently attacked. The man had been crazy. She sped
