The First Days (As the World Dies 1)

"Is there a problem here?" Katie strode up to the man, hands on her hips, head tilted to one side and gave him her most direct look.

The man was in his early to mid-thirties, dark hair, blue eyes, cleanshaven in that almost too clean look. He was holding his phone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

"Yes, I can barely get into the store because of some hick truck pulled up to the door. I get inside and this retard spills coffee on my shirt and trousers, and now I have a blond bitch giving me lip. "

Katie motioned to his phone. "Does that work?"

He blinked, not expecting that response. "No, because we are in hicksville and there is no signal. "

Katie slightly nodded. "Or the world has gone to hell and the city is in ruins. Doesn't anyone listen to their radio anymore?"

"Look, bitch, I make a six figure salary. I don't have time for radio or TV.

I dictate letters that will bring in millions of dollars a year when I'm on the road. I work constantly. I am a busy man. My time is money. I am money. I have a meeting in one hour in the city and I'm running late thanks to your stupid friend here and that damn truck. "

Katie laughed in his face. "Well, buddy, hate to tell you this, but the world is over. The city is in ruins and you aren't going to make that meeting and you're not going to get a signal. Your six figures means nothing now. "

The businessman moved toward her and towered over her obviously trying to intimidate her.

Katie looked up at him, her eyes cool, her jaw set.

"I don't deal with crazy people. And no one talks to me like that," he hissed.

"She does. " There was an audible cha-chung! as Jenni raised the shotgun and cocked it. Her eyes were dangerous.

The businessman stumbled backwards. "You people are crazy. "

"If you go into the city, you're the crazy one. You'll die. Something has gone wrong. People have gone insane and are killing each other. We barely escaped. "

The man shook his head at Katie's words and backed up to the door. His eyes were wide and unbelieving.

"You're crazy psycho redneck bitches!"

Katie looked at Jenni and they both started laughing.

That was enough. The businessman ran out, narrowly avoided the back end of the truck pulled up to the doors, and ran to his Mercedes. Katie noticed he held onto his coffee and that made her laugh all the more.

"You really need to put that gun away or I will call the police!" The teenager finished bagging the latest batch of food and supplies and slid it across the counter.

"Will you really?" Katie arched an eyebrow.

The boy ducked his head and mumbled.

"Thought so. "

She grabbed up several bags and headed out the door. They needed to load up the truck and head out as soon as possible. She felt too exposed and too vulnerable. Jack gazed at her solemnly through the back window and let out a tiny woof.

"We're hurrying," she assured him.

Jenni slung some bags in and ran back into the store. Katie followed and grabbed more bags. A few more trips and their stockpile looked pretty healthy in the back of the truck bed. Jenni huffed past her lugging several gallons of water and Katie walked back into the store as her gaze flicked briefly toward the road.

Still empty.

"You need to sign your receipt. "

Would he never stop being annoying? Katie sighed and walked over and signed the receipt. It had to be at least three feet long.

"I will never pay this. The bill will never arrive. You need to understand this," she said to him.