Chapter 2.
Most people were close to two huge tables, both offering a great number and diversity of food. One was about fruits and vegetables and raw meat, and the other a whole bunch of dried and cured treats. "So fresh but quickly perishable on the right and conversely not perishable sustenance on the left. This is very wrong ...". Nick felt like he was following some path, playing in the hands of something impossible to understand. "Who so casually left all this shit here for us to find ? As surprising as it might be, this is the weirdest part of this whole crazy context, and yet I seem to be the only one on the verge of a panic attack here !". True enough, most others where rather relaxed all things considered : everybody could clothe themselves, especially the naked ones, food was available and about to be consumed, and some curiosities were here to be wondered about. It was probably a temporary feeling to them, but a welcomed one. Nick stood against the entrance of this cave, with weak knees and sweat slightly drowning his eyes. Could have just been smelly water though.
- What do you want ? We're hungry here !, exclaimed a part pleading, part annoyed voice to Muscle who just placed himself between the tables of food and the mob of starving looking plebe.
- Again, people, calm down. You got to think a bit right now. This quantity of food might seem substantial, but you need just to look around to see how little it is. We are numerous, after all.
Nodding heads answered that statement, begging for a follow-up proposal on what to do. Nick was called back to the world by this event and began to wonder. Not about the food nor the global state, but more about the total lack of decisiveness from the majority of the folks present. Like an irresolute herd of stupid looking cows. "That's not how normal people react, I think. There shouldn't be so few inquisitive minds for such a large group. What if ... what if they all suffer from a twisted memory and that makes them as lacking as myself in pretty much everything ? What about Muscle though ? He seems collected and shit ... a liar ? Maybe he is acting, trying to be an anchor to the rest of us.". If it was true, Muscle definitely was a beneficial contribution to the well-being of the group. But when there is such a person, then a polar opposite must also be present. And what do you know, a familiar raspy voice sounded :
- Who said you could decide anything here, man ?
Beer was there, behind the crowd, flanked by the proper chick from before, making quite a pair of seemingly disruptive individuals. Muscle and Beer faced each other, with the plebe in the middle, like some prize for the winner of the argument.
- Nobody said anything like that, and yet such a person is needed., answered Muscle. But I suppose you have a better alternative to what I said, don't you ?
- I fucking do !, said Beer, a few octaves higher but still in a deeply broken voice. I say we vote on who gets to decide shit based on what they propose right now. I say we eat our fill while we can, and let a ... rescue team ... help us.
The latter part of his speech was quite confused, confirming Nick's hypothesis : he didn't know what a 'rescue team' was visually, but it surely was what he wanted to say. And even though the words where vague, everyone still understood his point, and agreed to some extent. It was an odd feeling to agree without fully understanding. Or was it ? Nick felt like he had already done something similar on multiple occasions but could 'naturally' not point to why.
- But what if this team never comes ? Or comes too late ? I am not interested in dying of starvation in here., countered Muscle, which was a reasonable enough remark.
However, as reasonable as his point of view was, people were frightened and hungry and probably very lost from their lack of memories, more willing to let these feelings take over rather than think straight. In a few seconds, the mob just went passed Muscle and began taking whatever they felt like devouring. The big biker guy had an angry expression, casting a mean look at Beer. He still decided to keep calm, which was not the best approach. "He lost this argument, but he was right, and not doing anything right now is just making his future words less impactful ... however, that is not my problem !", thought Nick while trying his best to get some food.
He quickly retreated when faced with some crazy and angered looks of these famished hyenas. As it happened, his eyes fell upon the other tables, more precisely the one with tools and some bags. His movements were not observed, most already pretty busy with their mouths. He grabbed a large backpack made of sturdy leather, with many pockets, and went back to the food. By that time, some had left the area to collapse nearby, with a full belly and traces of various juices on themselves. The recent events definitely made these people a bit savage in their ways.
Nick slithered between the wall and a ravenous chubby woman and began filling his bag as subtly as he could with whatever was near. He chose to mainly take dried and cured food, like sausages and sachets of almonds, or even prunes. Anything that was at grabbing distance ended up in the backpack as long as his actions were not noticed. He then sneakily retreated again, taking in the view of the entire cavern : a bunch of crazed morons on one side, two adversaries in a battle for some semblance of power or influence on the other, all of that in the middle of a creepy as fuck atmosphere.
"What am I doing here ? I honestly have no idea why I decided to stock up on food when those guys are probably going to notice eventually. I don't really want to get stoned to death ... so why ? It feels like I do things as reflexes, due to my past self which I don't know anything about.". He felt like he had no control over his own actions, influenced by himself without thinking beforehand.
He was creeped out by his behaviour, but at the same time, it felt like it was the right choice. A great effort in concentration was needed for him to manage a basic understanding : "I have to part from those people.". It was the absolute last thing anyone would think in this situation, but Nick tried to be rational about it. "They are not under any control, listening to their needs. It can only escalate from here on out, with the fear and instincts slowly taking over. I don't want to be there when it blows up ...". So he decided : he would take everything he needed and try to escape the place solo.