Apartment 905 by Sahin, Ned (readnow .TXT) 📕

Toshi tells me that they grow veggies and raise chickens. They have a kitchen behind the greenhouse where they cook for the entire camp.

While we cut thorns and put them in the plastic bags near the wall, he tells me more about each building in the camp. I couldn’t ask for more. Even though there is no sign of where they may keep hostages, this is a perfect first day for me to get to know how a Savior camp works.

I don’t see many people and vehicles in the camp. It looks like a small camp. They may not even be participating in outside operations in which I have witnessed a few times.

While he is busy trying to remove a stubborn piece of weed, I take the toilet paper from my pocket and wrap it around a small rock. I throw it to the other side of the high wall. This is the east side of the camp we agreed with Miguel to communicate in an old-school way. I hope he finds my note soon. I may not get any response from him because he won’t throw anything inside the walls unless there is an absolute emergency.

I will continue to inform him about Saviors and any clues about where Val might be. I hope she is safe and somewhere close.

“Let’s check the South wall if you are done over there,” Toshi says. I stare at the deep blue sky while following him. I wonder where the plane I saw a few days ago went. I haven’t seen any aircraft since that day. I thought about asking Toshi, but it’s too early to ask many questions. I decide to keep it low-key for a while.

While scanning the sky, I notice Big Six looking at our direction from the guard tower.

Chapter 11

“Asheville COP, Asheville COP… This is Fairfax, over,” a voice calls out in my headset.

It’s been almost a week since I joined the Saviors Combat Outpost or as they call it COP. Thanks to my knowledge of computers and other electronics, Big Six placed me in the control room. I work here with a seasoned radio operator, William.

William is an ex-military who worked at a private security company before the snowball of civil unrest and mob take-over. Saviors had recruited everyone in his company to control the streets and key locations.

I return the message and say, “Fairfax, this is Asheville COP, go ahead.”

“We have intel about equipment storage at 3741 Haywood Avenue. Requesting immediate pick-up. Over,” she says.

“WILCO, Fairfax,” I respond, letting her know that I received the message and will comply with the order.

“Thank you, Asheville COP. Over and out,” she replies and closes the connection.

“You heard that, William?” I turn to him sitting at the next desk.

“Yeap. Let me tell Big Six,” he says.

When there is an intel about a potential stockpile, a vehicle with two people is sent out from the camp, which reminds me of the two Saviors I saw when I was at the storage unit in Old Fort. They must have been on a similar supply run.

“He wants you and Toshi to check it out,” William says as he puts his headset down. I am not surprised Big Six wants me in this mission. I am one of the only three guys who have an IT background in the camp. One of them works on the night shift. The other one is William. Since he has a senior position here, he doesn’t bother risking his life for some computer cases and printers.

I am happy that I will go on this mission with Toshi. It’s my first outside task, and Toshi is the only person I trust here. Despite losing his sister during the riots in the early days of the second wave, he kept his faith in humanity.

He is dreaming of going back to Japan to be with his parents again even though he knows it’s next to impossible to make that trip in this new world.

I go to the newbie barrack to take my everyday carry bag and sidearm. Toshi seems to be ready.

“Ready for your first outside mission?” he asks sarcastically.

“It’s about time to go after some computers!” I say, and he laughs.

“I will drive. You enjoy the view,” he says, referring to the downtown streets as the view. The location given to us by the headquarters is one of the main streets in Asheville downtown. I know that there is already a Saviors patrol there all day long.

We leave the camp and head to downtown. It’s only about two miles away. I see abandoned businesses, upside-down cars, shattered bus stops, toppled garbage containers, hateful graffiti, a pillaged grocery store, and a dead body.

Toshi parks the car in front of a boutique. The car is a normal size sedan with Saviors stickers all around. Toshi’s hoodie and my jacket have Saviors badges too. Seeing their logo of an eagle head looking at the objective with red eyes and an orange beak sickens me.

The patrolling Saviors see us. They slowly walk to us while we get ready to break the boutique’s window.

“What’s up, folks?” one of them says. We see them at the camp cafeteria occasionally. Like other patrols, they don’t always stay in the camp. They probably occupied an apartment downtown.

“Got an intel about some supplies here. How is the neighborhood?” Toshi asks.

“Safe and sound. No drama,” the other patrol guy says.

We enter the boutique while the patrols walk away. Women clothes and shoes are lined up on the shelves.

I see my reflection in one of the mirrors. Despite my messed up hair and dark bags under my eyes, I look healthy, but I know I am mentally devastated. The last time I heard from my family was about two months ago.

Knowing what I had done to my neighbor Kathleen and still unable to find out where Val is held are adding to my stress and anxiety as well.

“Look at this stuff, buddy,” Toshi says, standing behind the cashier