When Apocalypse Hit, I Made Them Beg

Chapter 2

I pressed myself against the door, my voice low and earnest.

"Dad, Mom, I'm not lying. Even if you don't believe me, what's the harm in staying here until after New Year's Eve? Just open the door. There are only three days left before the Collapse. Once it starts, it'll be too late."

Vivienne let out a cold laugh. "It's almost the New Year. Who wants to spend it cooped up in that gloomy hole with you? If you can't stand watching us enjoy ourselves, just say so. There's no need to put on a whole performance."

"Enough with the lies," Dad snapped. "If I'd known the countryside would make you this insufferable, we never should have brought you home. Stay in there and think about what you've done."

With that, all three of them walked away.

I slid down the door and sank to the floor, burying my face in my arms.

I lost track of how much time passed. Then noise drifted in from outside.

I looked out hopefully, my eyes searching for any sign of them.

Mom, Dad, and Vivienne were heading toward the bunker, carrying armfuls of holiday decorations.

Vivienne caught my eye and smiled with barely concealed glee.

"Don't get the wrong idea," she said. "These are just our leftovers. We figured you'd be spending the holiday in there, so we thought we'd bring a little New Year's spirit to you."

The light in my eyes dimmed instantly.

They hung up their decorations, laughing and chatting among themselves. The place suddenly looked almost cheerful.

They were completely unaware that no matter how festive they made this place look today, in three days it would all be soaked in blood.

I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted iron.

I had to find a way to make them believe me.

By evening, they had set up the grill in the courtyard, set up the grill in the courtyard, right in front of the bunker entrance. The smell of food drifted over and died against the sealed door. Car horns sounded at the gate, and a stream of Mom and Dad's friends filed into the Estate.

One of them noticed the bunker, so jarringly out of place among the decorations, and called over with a smirk, "Is Iris still caught up in that doomsday thing?"

Dad shook his head. "She's been at it for months and still won't let it go."

Someone rapped on the small window. "Hey, Iris! Having fun in there?"

Laughter rippled through the group.

I pressed my lips together and answered calmly, "I'm not making this up. You should all go home and stock up on food and supplies. The Collapse is real, and it's coming."

Nobody listened.

I stopped trying.

The only people I needed to save were the four members of the Calloway family. There was no point wasting my breath on anyone else.

I turned and went into the storage room, took out a can, and started putting together dinner.

Vivienne laughed from the other side of the glass. "Still eating canned food? Just admit you were wrong and come out. We have a whole grill going!"

I glanced at her and said nothing. I wasn't going to apologize for something I hadn't done.

Someone outside frowned at the sight of me. "Why is this girl so stubborn? There's perfectly good food out here and she'd rather sit in that metal box. Richard, I know how to handle a kid like this. Watch."

He walked over to the grill, scooped up a shovelful of charcoal, then crossed to the air vent beside the bunker and upended the whole load into the duct.