Slatepocalypse: Unlocked Arcanum

CJ’s head throbbed like a subwoofer at a nightclub. He lifted his right hand to rub as his temples as he sat up. Opening his eyes, CJ realized he was on a cot in a tent. The tent was grey canvas, and the cot was very simple crossed bars holding up the fabric stretched across the frame. There was another cot on the opposite side of the tent, but it was empty. Near the flaps was a gallon jug of water and what looked like a tv tray with a first aid kit on it. CJ could hear people milling around outside talking. Just then the flap swished open and Jerry sauntered in.

“I don’t fuckin believe it. CJ the magician. You survived this whole time and blew up that car? You know Skipper is running this little camp. He’s gonna be so happy to see you. We’ve got all new ways for you to pay off your debts,” chuckled Jerry.

Jerry’s dull green eyes bored holes through CJ. For CJ’s part, he just sat there holding his head. Someone else was trying to push his way into the tent but Jerry was once again being an obstacle. Turned out to be Redmond with his duffle bag. CJ thought he heard the kids outside, but his attention turned back to the bird trying to peck its way out of his head.

“Oh good, you’re awake. Sit back and let me look at you,” said Redmond before turning on a pen light and flashing it in CJ’s eyes.

“Ow. Guess I can finally call you Doc,” CJ quipped.

“You can call me whatever you want you dumb ass. If you hadn’t blown up that car those things would have gotten us, and Skipper’s people wouldn’t have found us. Now hold still. You have a concussion. I’m shocked you weren’t just a stain on the asphalt. God must have been looking out for you,” commented Redmond while checking CJ’s wounds.

It was only then that CJ noticed the bandage on his head and the fact that his hands were wrapped in gauze. He must have tried cover himself from the explosion. Redmond had him lay back down on the cot.

“You’ll have to rest for a little longer. Remarkable rate of recovery you have CJ,” said Redmond.

“What about Tommy, Cynthia and the kids?” asked CJ.

“We’re all fine and we found somewhere safe. Get some rest and we’ll explain everything to you later,” replied Doc Redmond.

“Rest well, you’re gonna need it. Tough to feed all these people without a working supply chain. Everybody must pitch in. Earn their keep. We’ve got a special job for no phones like you,” sneered Jerry.

“No phones? What does that mean?” asked CJ.

“Don’t worry about that now. You rest up. I’ll tell Tommy you’re okay and to come by and see you later. Sound good?” asked Redmond shooting a withering glance at Jerry.

With that both Redmond and Jerry left CJ to his rest. His dreams made his sleep fitful. Flashes of red and orange fire combined with sharp teeth. Then racing through a forest of pines to see depression in the soft ground. The indentation was at least two yards deep with something CJ couldn’t make out in the center. CJ was about to step forward when something dark with no eyes grabbed his feet and dragged him back into the trees.

CJ bolted up in the cot with a start. He was soaked in sweet. Mouth drier than it had ever been. He moved toward the jug of water noticing it was now nighttime outside through the flap. There were moving lights from somewhere high above him. His attention went back to the water. He could barely lift the jug to pour the water into a paper cup on the table. So instead, he knelt and ended up splashing it all over his face and chest. After putting the jug down, he stepped outside.

It looked like a walled compound. There was a large industrial building made of red brick in the center. It had three levels with the base being the widest. A second floor with office windows and top floor made of floor to ceiling glass. Looking at it again, it seemed to be more like an open area with no furnishings that looked down on the second floor. CJ would have to get closer to get a better look but the area outside of it between the walls and building was littered with makeshift tents. It was little more than a shanty town. There were tents erected from every manufacturer on the planet. Some were dome like military tents while others were meant for camping. People sat outside of their tents around small campfires. CJ didn’t understand how he got here or where here even was.

“CJ!” yelled Tommy jogging up behind him.

“Tommy, where the fuck are we?” asked CJ wanting to start with that.

“Nice to see you too. We are at the South Jersey Pine Barren Reservoir. Apparently, this Skipper guy knew this place was here and set up shop after the wah wah wah.” Explained Tommy before whatever keeps CJ from knowing things kicked in.

“Stop, what you’re saying doesn’t translate. Reservoir got it. The walls are impressive. Where have you been? I saw Redmond earlier. Really confused about how I got here. He said something about them finding us. Can you explain that a little more?”

“Sure. You held back to stop the hunting pack. That’s what they were by the way. A pack of wah wah rats that roam the turnpike looking for food. According to the folks here, they showed up after the Skippers men started clearing a lane on the turnpike. Right, not what you asked. They were hunting the damn things to cull the numbers when they saw the fireball your explosion made. Once we flagged them down at the top of the hill, we came back to get you. Did you know Redmond’s an actual ER doctor?”

“I kind of figured that one out myself. Didn’t want to press him on it. How far from the highway are we? Is this place as safe as it looks?”

“It wouldn’t stand up to that snake that was ripping your apartment building apart but there doesn’t seem to be anything like that out here. Knock on wood,” Tommy said that last bit while rapping his knuckles against his head.

“And how long have we been here?”

“Right, about two days. You slept most of the first day. You look way better by the way. Can barely tell you had first degree burns on your hands and face. Are you hungry? Let’s get something to eat and I’ll tell you the rest,” Tommy replied while leading CJ away from the medical tent.

They ended up walking past several different tented areas. Some folks were managing to create little cul-de-sacs to share fires instead of one for every new tent. Tommy managed to show off some of the work he’d been doing the last couple of days. It seemed like the Skipper had given him a job. He was creating wooden gates and barriers with his Carpenters class.

CJ listened intently noticing the people around him were not as enthusiastic about the situation as Tommy was. As Tommy continued to explain his work, CJ made a mental note that the barriers and gates were going up between the people in the tents and main structure for the reservoir.

“… in about an hour. That’s way faster than before and all it takes is a little wah wah. What do you think about that?”

“Oh, yea that’s great.”

“Hey, did you zone out on me? Here we are. The mess hall. Check out these tables. I made them from the trees they cut down. Perfectly round. I didn’t even have to use a sander. Check out how smooth the grain is.”

“Tommy, any idea why he has you creating a barrier between the building and the people?” CJ asked as they queued up behind some others.

“What do you mean? I’m just putting in additional layers of protection. Earning my keep, as the Skipper likes to say. Oh, I get it. You’re jealous. Because I can do real magic and your whole career is card tricks.”

“Woah, where is this coming from? Haven’t I been on your side since this whole thing started? I’m just looking around and making observations. That table is remarkable. Especially without any industrial grade equipment. Now that I’ve finished stroking your ego, what’s the deal with the barrier. From what I could see on our short walk there’s only one gate all these people have to squeeze through if something terrible gets in beyond the walls. Maybe we should have this conversation in your tent.”

“Thank you. It is a really nice table. Also, I sleep in the building. Not tent city. Look I’m not in charge here. The boss says make a wooden palisade; I make a wooden palisade. Unless you’ve forgotten, the world out there is filled with monsters now. The Skipper runs a tight ship, night patrols around the wall and two flood lights hit the tree line. You couldn’t find a safer place right now. You should be thanking your lucky stars we made it here or you’d be dead in the back of some abandoned pickup truck.”

CJ just stared wide eyed at Tommy as they waited in line. He didn’t realize how scared the guy must have been this whole time. From everything they’d done up to now, CJ had been going with the flow. Losing two full days may have made him lose track of the gravity of their situation.

“Tommy, I’m sorry. It’s been a crazy week and it’s not even Friday. I’m starving and the world doesn’t make sense anymore. I guess I’m homeless now and Monty… Where’s Monty?”

“I haven’t seen him since before the car bomb. He didn’t show back up when we started running. Probably still out there.”

“I have to get out there and find him. Maybe he’s still close to the highway.”

“I’m glad you feel that way No Phone, ball tap,” came Jerry’s voice from behind CJ who then smacked his nuts when he spun to face him, “Because the boss has a special job for you.”

“Ow! Fuck. What the hell man? I guess I could do a few shows a week. It’ll take me some time to collect what I’ve got left and create a half hours’ worth of material. Should be good for moral,” said CJ cradling his nethers with one hand and fumbling around in his pockets with the other.

“The boss doesn’t want to see your pathetic magic tricks. We have actual magic now. You see, we have an especially important job for No Phones like you,” snickered Jerry who was now joined by two other goons.

“Why do you keep saying no phones? What does that mean?” asked CJ.

“Your friend over there didn’t tell you I see. Most of the people in these tents are No Phones. No access to the wah wah. There’s a new pecking order between the haves and have nots. I know you’re a no phone. I was the one who broke it. Considering there was no time for you to get a tablet or PC between that and the event. Welcome to tent city,” said Jerry with more venom than CJ had ever heard in someone’s voice.

“Snap out of it No Phone. It’s getting dark and I’d like to make it the Reservoir before it’s too late,” yelled Jerry before pushing CJ hard enough he almost fell over some tree roots.

“I’m going, I’m going. Fisher men treat their bait with more respect than you do,” quipped CJ.

“You’ve been doing this for two weeks and you’re the only one that keeps coming back alive. That should tell you how valuable you are to the organization. More people sign up every time you make it home. Only reason Skipper hasn’t killed you yet,” said Jerry without the tiniest hint humor in his voice.

“What would you do with all your bullying time if he did?” CJ said under his breath.

“What’d you say to me? You know that mouth is gonna get you in trouble… Shut up. Did you hear that?” Jerry said abruptly as he raised his shot gun and started scanning the trees all around them.

CJ squatted down to get out of the firing line in case something jumped out at them. He didn’t hear anything, but Jerry’s class was a Lookout. Sort of the rogue version of a scout. He’s led many groups into the pine barrens and out to neighboring towns to scavenge. The woods grew eerily quiet and then there was the sound of deep clicking.