Apocalypse Fighter

Chapter 2 Plans

“This isn’t over; I will make you pay.” Karen muttered as she left red-faced. 

Karen had not expected Richard to behave like this, there was something very different about him, there was a coldness about him that had not been there before, and Karen shivered as she let herself out. 

Mary could see that Richard was angry with Karen;

“Karen had no right to say those things to you, but please try and stay calm. Being angry is not going to change the situation, and it is bad for your heart. You know they can’t legally fire you for having a heart condition, it’s unethical. If they would even consider it, then I don’t think it is a good place for you to work. I feel like I am partly to blame for our financial situation too, if I hadn’t lost my job after having Steven, then we wouldn’t be in this position. I know that put extra pressure on you to provide for us, maybe we should think about selling the rental property.” Mary suggested. 

“You are not to blame Mary if you were still working there would be no one to look after Steven, you did what was best for us. Are you serious about selling the house?” Richard asked. 

Richard thought it would be a good idea to sell the house when the apocalypse came; the home wouldn’t be worth anything. Richard had the outline of a plan; he could sell both properties and have the money to move his family to Washington, where they would be further away from the fallout.

Selling meant that they would be able to stockpile food and supplies, with any luck they would survive but he couldn’t tell Mary of his plan yet. Richard was worried that Mary would think he had lost his mind, no one would believe him if he said doomsday was coming in a week. Richard wondered if it was possible to sell two properties in less than a week, maybe instead of selling he could borrow money against the houses. Even if he didn’t pay back the loan it wouldn’t matter, the world as they knew was going to collapse. 

“To be honest, Richard, I have been thinking about selling the rental for some time now. We have medical expenses; we need money to look after Steven. I know my cousins are living in that house, but I think selling is our only option right now, I’m sorry I didn’t mention it earlier, I wasn’t sure, but now I see that is what needs to be done. I will tell them they have to find somewhere else to live.” Mary said, almost regretful. 

The rental property belonged to Mary before she had married, Richard always said that she should hold on to that house in case anything ever happened to him, at least that way she had something she could live in or sell if needed. Mary was anxious about telling Richard she wanted to sell, she knew that his intentions were good, and she did not want Richard to feel added pressure to make money. Mary knew that Richard could be very stubborn and was concerned that he would insist on hanging on to the house, regardless of their financial situation. 

“I would never be upset with you for suggesting that it is your property after all and you can do whatever you want with it. I think it is a good idea; I’m going to see if I can sell this house as well, we will be moving to Washington as soon as possible.” Richard replied, gently patting Mary on the head. 

Richard got up and dressed, he went to the filing cabinet and grabbed the paperwork he needed and put them in his briefcase. 

Mary was shocked;

“What? I don’t understand why we have to move, especially now. You are recovering from a serious medical episode, we have a life here, family. Why would you want to abandon all that?” 

Mary watched him gather the papers; there was a coldness about him that frightened Mary. It was not like him at all to make a rash decision, to be so decisive on a matter. Mary suspected the heart attack had affected Richard in ways that she would never understand.

“A colleague of mine helped me find a job in Washington that pays several times more than my current position. It’s an immediate start, so we need to move as soon as possible.” Richard lied smoothly. “Besides, there are more opportunities for better schooling and qualified professionals who are leading the way in patients with heart issues. I will be in better hands. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you until now, I wanted to make sure that I had the job before I mentioned anything.” Richard said, standing at the front door. “I will be back as soon as I can.” Richard kissed Mary on the forehead and walked out. 

Richard did not like lying to Mary, but it was necessary, he didn’t want to worry her. He would take care of everything and protect his family; he would do everything in his power to keep them safe, even if that meant he would meet his end.

Richard stood on the curb and waved down a taxi, it was Fall, and Richard took a moment to appreciate the varied colours in the trees that lined the street, it wouldn’t be long until the trees were no longer standing and it filled Richard with sadness. Richard got in the taxi, gave the driver the address and sat back. He took the chance to enjoy all the little things that he had always taken for granted, the children laughing as they rode their bikes down the sidewalk, the barking dogs in peoples yards, the neighbors chatting over their fence. 

No one was expecting that their lives would be turned upside down in a week, Richard wondered where the strange meteor had come from and why the world would be plunged into fire, death, and destruction.