8 Strength in Numbers

Probabilities.

I remember taking classes where we learned the probability of things. The ratio of what is and what isn't possible.

Like how many chances you have to get a one on a dice. Or the ratio of getting a hearts card in a deck of cards. Chances of events happening. Possibility of situations never existing. Probability and chances could but be calculated if you try hard enough. There is... something that I want to know now.

What is the possibility of running into not one, but two people from the old world?

"Marie?"

Time snapped back to normal. I saw that both men looked at me with either confusion, concern, or a mixture of the two. I gulped, mouth suddenly dry as a whistle, as I opened my mouth to speak again.

"Sorry... just not.. Used to seeing this much people from back then." I said, no whispered, no whimpered out. The pounding in my brain still overbearing as I found myself stumbling back down onto one of the cushions. Squeezing my eyes shut to stop the room from spinning.

"wait hang on, how long have you guys been here?" Richard questioned which did nothing but cause a hiss to arise from Bryce.

"Hold the question can't you? Can't you see she is in pain? god!" He exclaimed before turning around. "If anything I should ask you that!"

"What-but I ask first!"

"I don't care, you're in our fuckin base! You have no authority here!" Bryce spat back. I could only imagine to glare the other man held, his stomp of aggravation seemingly emphasized his outrage.

"And what does that mean huh? That you have it instead you fucking twerp?"

"What did you say to me?"

"Guys..." I sighed, hearing their banter grow. They ignored me, of course, soon getting in each other's face and spitting out lines after lines of insults and accusations. The volume growing louder which caused hell to rain on my poor head.

Grumbling, I took a deep breath and look up.

"Guys!"

"I didn't need your fucking help!" "I wish we didn't help you in the first place!"

I groaned, taking a peak at the two and just shook my head. Gulping, I began to stand up. Shakily making my way over and clasping my hands tight on each of their shoulders. The moment they looked down was the moment I shot a glare.

"Calm the fuck down okay?" I hissed, soon pushing myself off the both of them to grab at my head. Hoping a tight grip will suppress the convulsing pain I felt.

"Let's put old world grudges aside and work together. We could be the last fucking humans on earth at this point."

They both grew silent as if they just realized just how dire the situation is. It's best to not be at each others throats when we are already so close to extinction.

Bryce was the one who moved first. Saying a quick sorry to him but a more sincere one to me. A sigh leaving his lips as he excused himself to head to the bathroom, most probably to cool off. That leaves me with Richard. Both of us avoiding each other looks. Perhaps out of awkwardness? or regret? I'm not sure.

With a cough, I turned away. Heading to the kitchen to start up some food.

"Just um..." I sighed out as I reached into the last still-closed-cabinet to grab a can of soup, "just go chill out. I'll make food for us and stuff."

He only gave a small grunt of acknowledgement as I heard his footsteps leading to a cushion no doubt. A soft thud soon heard right after allowing me to sigh out. Tensions still felt high but regardless, this is a good place to start.

Within a couple of minutes, Bryce reappeared. Giving me a pat on the shoulder as he, himself, pulled out his own package of food to add into the mix. The room was quiet, aside from the occasional sound of boiling soup. Taking the time to side eye my companion, I scanned his features trying to get a hold on how he was doing.

"You doin okay?" I whispered to him.

"Yeah just..." He took a quick look back, as did I, to see our other member passed out, "Listen I just... I don't like this..."

I nodded in agreement as he continued.

"I know I should be glad that there's more people out there, but this fucking asshole had to be the one we ran into. I don't like him, not after..." He paused and gulped before shaking his head, "Y'know... the thing with him... with her."

If I was any better I'd probably say something. Consolidate for whatever the hell he was currently feeling and offer words of support. But all that preoccupied my mind right now was just how I couldn't remember just what he was hinting at. Perhaps my memory became worse over the years?

I could only rub his back and nod.

Dinner was equally as tense. My eyes flickering between Richard and Bryce who were all but pawing at the bowls of soup and years old crackers that we had for the night. I coughed a bit, the creep of unnerving stress and perhaps fear began to rise on my neck. Desperate for some resolution, I tried striking up a conversation.

"You've been here huh?"

"Yeah," Richard mumbled. "For a year now."

This caused me to raise my eyebrows, leaning back in my seat as I stared him up and down.

"w...where?"

"Up at offices in the mall."

"Speaking of which," he addressed to the both of us, "Were you guys the ones who happen to be taking the food? We've noticed a sudden change in stock down by-"

"the super market?"

He nodded, taking the time to sip his soup as if waiting for me to explain.

" I've been here for months. So I guess the blame is on me huh?"

"you did what you had to to survive." Bryce finally spoke up, setting his bowl on the coffee table and leaning back much like me. Whatever anger has finally died out and what was left was an extinguish state of numbness. More bored than interested in the conversation, but he stayed purely out of courtesy.

It took me a second but I nodded. Turning back to Richard who seemed to be looking at me and Bryce. A purse on his lips before a single scrawny finger was brought up to point at us.

"So you guys are together I presume?"

For the first time, I felt a sudden heat wash away any other emotion I normally felt. Warmth spreading over my shoulders, up my neck, painting my ears and cheeks in a strange glow. I turned slack jawed as the facade my companion had crumbled. Soon erupting into stutters and exclaims.

"W-what?! No! I just met her yesterday!"

I nodded and rubbed my cheek, "Yeah, he practically almost killed me as well."

He turned to me with a mock shock, a hand dramatically landing on his chest as a rather snooty looking expression took over the embarrassment he had.

"Excuse me! I wasn't the one who ran at me with a bat."

"Says the guy who chased after me..." I snorted causing him to roll his eyes.

"You're the one who chucked the can first!"

"Hey! I wasn't the one who blew up the car to cause that explosion!"

"Wait that was you?" Richard finally butted in causing our bickering to stop momentarily. His words suddenly clicking in my head causing me to snicker and nod.

"The man thought it was a smart idea to go and blow up a whole ass car."

"Hey!" the man in question called out, "I did what I had to do to survive!"

I just chuckled, rolling my eyes. Richard, on the other hand, seemed to have a look that was a mixture of confusion, concern, yet impressed as well. With an approving nod, he clicked his tongue at the situation before he said his next words.

"Where the hell did you learn that?"

"My ol' base camp in Alberta." Bryce stated proudly, puffing his chest out with his head held high. I couldn't help the smile that stretched on my face. A sigh soon displacing it as I turned to Richard once more.

"So what about you? You been out here by yourself all these years?"

he shook his head, a smile almost akin to nostalgia came to his face as he stared down at his soup.

"No," he chuckled as watched the soup swirl about in his bowl, "I've got my own crew."

"Who, the drama kids?" My friend snorted, half jokingly half sincerely. This still drew a glare from Richard.

"Yes actually, well..." He trailed off a bit, gripping his chin. "Only the ones who mattered. Or useful..."

I let out a choke of air.

"you're kidding? There's more people from highschool here...?" I muttered.

He nodded before a strange look came across his face. It read worry but it felt wrong. Concern seemed to mix with anger as he clutched his bowl ever so tighter. I watched his eyebrows twitch. The way he chewed on his bottom lip.

"I have to get back, make sure they're still there."

I shot a look to Bryce who seemed to have caught the strange way he phrased his words. Make sure they're still there? Was he implying that they would leave him? I stared at Richard who, at this point, almost shut us off. His teeth still chewing roughly on his lips and now his hands began to grip the bowl uncomfortably tight. My throat ran dry as I saw the pure look of worry and desperation.

"We'll help you."