Free Allison Hewitt Is Trapped by Madeleine Roux Page B

would know what to do. She was always so strong, so put together … She would know just what to say to me. Maybe my instincts are wrong and maybe Ted is right, but I’ll be damned if I start acting like nothing and no one else matter. It all matters, every little last vestige of humanity matters now. The books, the radio, the people … We have to carry it forward.
    In the living room they’re still standing around, useless, staring at Zack like he’s Zombie Santa Claus just fallen out of the chimney. I push through them, through the wall of Janette and Matt, and take Zack by the wrist.
    “Everybody, this is Zack. Zack, this is Janette, Matt, Phil and Holly, and the guy in the other room is Ted. I’m Allison. It’s good to have you with us.”
    Zack is staying in our apartment because the suspicion and dislike rolls off of Matt in a pungent, snappish wave. Ted is doing his very best, but I know he’s swallowing his pride and his frustration. Holly, of course, is affable and kind. She’s an asset to us, I can see it now. When everyone else refuses to smile or laugh, Holly is a bright ray of sunshine bouncing down the halls. She’s even begun an art project in the living room of our apartment, something to make it look a little cheerier and more like home.
    Zack has volunteered to sleep in the bathtub with some pillows and a comforter, which gives me the bedroom all to myself. I can hear Zack’s elbows bumping the walls next door, and Dapper is stretched out on the end of the bed, but otherwise I have solitude, a quiet place to write and rest. Hollianted use the hide-a-bed out in the living room. I think they’re grateful for the privacy and I envy their relationship. I hate that Ted is a little bit right. I’m lonely, and he can see it. Maybe everyone can see it.
    COMMENTS
    Brooklyn Girl says:
    September 29, 2009 at 3:37 pm
    Bed Stuy still here. We’ve managed to block the stairs to our apartment and use the fire escapes to go out for supplies. So far the fires have managed to burn away from our block, but the smoke is making visibility horrible. You don’t see the things until they’re right on you. We’re raiding the bodega down the block tonight. Keep the faith.
    Allison says:
    September 29, 2009 at 5:51 pm
    Thank god. I thought NYC would be the first to go. Is Manhattan history?
    Rev. Brown says:
    September 29, 2009 at 5:58 pm
    Let your faith be your shield! Your arms will tire, your blades will dull, but the Lord’s light will carry you past harm.
    Be not afraid! His righteous judgment has fallen on this world of sodomites and non-believers, and only we, the faithful, will be taken up to heaven after he has culled this herd. As the dead marched on Jerusalem when Jesus was hung upon that cross so too do they march on us in this final hour.
    When the rapture comes—and fear not, it will, and soon—the Lord will see the faithful into Paradise while leaving the satanists, atheists, and homosexuals behind to eek out an existence before being consumed by the fires of hell.
    Bob in Rhode Island says:
    September 29, 2009 at 6:32 pm
    Try to make it to a supermarket if you can, there won’t be much left unless you hurry.
    Allison says:
    September 29, 2009 at 7:07 pm
    I’m aware, but right now venturing out is risky. I’m just glad we managed to move into the apartments without incident. I mean I guess Zack qualifies as an incident but that might hurt his feelings.
    S.W.A.T. SGT. jason jeffery says:
    September 29, 2009 at 7:45 pm
    I live 30 miles from Arlington in a small town, so its not so bad, my guys scott and jerrod are the only survivors I found, and we 3 are holding up pretty good at scotts house, keep posting, you’re a light in the darkness.

September 30, 2009—Breakfast of Champions
    “Happy Last Day of September!”
    I wake up to breakfast in bed. It’s the first hot food I’ve had in weeks: oatmeal with maple syrup and chocolate chips. There’s a little fabric posy on the side of the plate,