The meeting didn’t last long. For Marie it only brought more questions and doubt about any success for survival.
Even though there was no use arguing, Sam tried. “Why don’t you come out into the woods with us?”
“What makes you think it’s safe out there?” Marie brushed at the moisture that still clung to her jacket sleeve. “Ouch.” A dot of bright red blood grew on her finger.
“We’ve got all kinds of ammunition.” Sam didn’t pay any attention. “Anything or anyone that tries to get us will have to face an army. Here we don’t stand a chance.”
“I’m so tired of hearing about surviving. Nothing’s going to be the same. I just want to curl up and… and…” Marie let her voice trail off with a sob. She put her finger in her mouth and sucked the blood off of it. There must have been a sticker in the sleeve, from the last time she and Bill had gone camping.
Another clap of thunder brought a shudder to the building. A window shattered. Plaster fell around them. Wind and rain battered the roof, tearing the protection to shreds. In the growing gale, angry clouds gobbled the sky’s remaining light.
“We need to get out of here.” Mark stood. “You have a car don’t you?” He asked them.
The others who had been at the meeting flooded out leaving them to fend for themselves.
“Yeah, come on.” Sam led them back to her car. At first it wouldn’t start. Finally, after letting it grind and grind, the motor coughed to life.
“Whatever else you do, take me home first. Or I’ll get out and walk,” said Marie.