Radio Star [P2]

The sun had long set on Grim's farm, it was eerily quiet and empty. The usual ambient sound of crickets that would be chirping were absent and there was no sign of any night moths or any other nocturnal insect.

It was as if they were all dead.

Inside Grim's farmhouse, Rick was sitting at the dining table, His bloodied arm had been cleaned up and bandaged. Laura and Jyn were fast asleep in the main bedroom, Mary had been carried to the guest room and was sleeping soundly.

Grim put two glasses on the table and then filled them up with an old bottle of liquor.

Rick hesitated and asked. "Boy, you sure you want to waste this fancy stuff on this old man?"

Grim shrugged and replied. "It was supposed to be saved for grand occasions but I don't think we'll be seeing any of those any more, drink up." He took out a pack of smokes and lit a cigarette, breathing in the smoke grim exhaled.

"You said it boy." Rick took a swig, surprise blooming on his old face. "This is some good stuff boy! What year is it?"

"2922" Grim replied, puffing out smoke like a chimney.

"Damn! It's older than me." Rick laughed taking another swig finishing his glass of liquor.

Rick poured himself another generous helping before asking. "So what do you need boy?"

Grim sipped from his glass and replied with a solemn tone. "The coming days are gonna be hard Rick. I need help if I want to protect my family," He looked towards Rick and said. "And I think you could use some help too.. "

Rick shook his head and replied. "I'm planning to hunker down in my home boy, I have a nice bomb shelter set up. Should last a few months after I go grab some supplies from town. Me and Mary will wait out the storm. I can't help you."

Grim asked. "Didn't you hear it Rick? The voice of god? It said we have to kill in order to live now, how are you going to handle that part huh?"

"Do you think her words are just empty threats?" His eyes focused intently on Rick's.

"I.. I can't.." Rick shook his head firmly.

"Wake up Rick! You can't be that naive right?" Grim raised his voice.

"I'll just slaughter some of the farm animals boy, we have plenty of chickens there." Rick replied with little thought as if it were the obvious thing to do.

*Bam*

Grim slammed the table with a thud startling Rick. He shouted. "You don't understand! Do you think the almighty Azure God would leave such a loophole!?"

Rick held up his hand and said gently. "Please boy, calm down."

Grim took a deep breath and then continued. "I felt it Rick, the moment I killed the Thompsons something inside me receded like the tide. I didn't notice it before but when I did, it had already wrapped itself around my heart slowly snuffing out my life. Only after I killed did that terrifying feeling disappear."

Grim looked at his trembling hands. "Don't you feel it Rick?"

Now that he thought about it, Rick did feel short of breath ever since that inky substance poured into his body. The very thought of it frightened him.

"Don't jump to conclusions boy! Have you even tried using the farm animals?" Rick eyes opened wide as he asked worriedly.

Grim nodded. "Yes, but it didn't work. The suffocating feeling has already slowly come back. I'm worried for my son and wife Rick, if they don't kill soon...like the Azure God said. 'They'll be swallowed whole'"

"Swallowed whole by what.. I'm afraid to know.. " Grim remarked as he rubbed his forehead tiredly. The day had been quite stressful for him as he felt that he had aged several years.

Rick gripped the arm rest tightly, he poured himself another drink before gulping it down. He mumbled incoherently as he shook his head in denial. "It can't be.. can't be.."

"What about your daughter? If you want to keep her alive, she needs to kill someone." Grim said in a grave tone, he continued. "Rick, I can't do this alone. Will you help me? I'm sure you've heard on the Radio how bad it is out there right? We need to watch each others backs." He reached out his hand.

Rick let out a sorrowful sigh and gripped Grim's hand tightly. "Okay.." He looked Grim in the eye and warned. "But don't get too hasty boy, maybe it isn't as bad as you think. Wait awhile, you don't want to start something you'll regret."

Grim slowly nodded his head. "Fine, we'll wait. I hope you're right."