Helena crouched behind the convenience store counter. She could hear the crowd that formed outside the locked door. They were banging so loudly she knew at any moment they would crash through. She eyed the shot gun but decided against grabbing it. Helena was reconsidering though. Her life wasn’t worth this job. She wasn’t invested in keeping this store afloat if the owner wasn’t. Why didn’t he show up?
It had only been an hour sense it was announced all over television that the city would be shut down. She immediately locked the doors. Being the only person in the store she knew, it would be overwhelming and that the best bet was to close up shop. But just as she headed to lock the door a person was trying to run in.
“Let me in,” the patron demanded.
“I’m sorry sir. We’re closed.”
{BANG BANG BANG}
“Open the fucking door!”
“You’ll have to go elsewhere.”
He stared in her face and tried to throw a garbage can through the window. Thank God for the plexiglass. Helena retreated to the back of the store ready to sneak out the back. But just as she cracked to steel door open, there was a group of people trotting her way. She hurried to shut the door. Now, there were people banging on the front and back of the small store.
Helena grabbed the telephone, no dial tone. She scrambled to get her cell that was on top of the counter. Her hand scanned the top, she dared not pop her head up. Even though they knew she was in there, she didn’t want to be seen. It was taking longer than she wanted but when she finally got a hold of it, she hugged it tightly as if it were her long lost best friend. Helena took a long deep breath then dialed 9-1-1.
“Emergency services, what’s your emergency?”
“There’s a mob trying to get in the store where I work.”
“Are you in a secure location?”
“I’m hiding behind the counter, I’m the only one here. They are trying to break down the door.”
“Ma’am I will dispatch the police. Please stay calm.”
“Thank you.”
Helena hesitantly disconnected the call. She was afraid but she knew there were probably many calls coming in. As soon as the operator was gone it seemed like the banging got louder. The doors were shaking. Helena sat hugging her knees to her chest rocking. She decided to Video call her brother.
“I’m on my way,” her brother said before Helena could say one word.
“It’s a bunch of people outside the door of the store, they’re trying to get in. I called the police. I just wanna get outta here. I don’t care about the stuff in this store.
“I’m pulling up in a second. I’ll get you out.”
“I’m scared, Hank.”
“It’s ok sis, I’m at the corner.”
He disconnected the video call just as Helena heard screeching tires outside.
“Yo! Back away from that muthfuckin’ door,” she heard her brother command.
She heard the crowd begin to yell and grumble then the next thing she heard was a barrage of gun fire. Then, it was quiet, too quiet.
“Hell, you can come out,” she heard her brother yell through the glass.
Helena slowly pulled herself up from the floor and peered at the front door.
There stood her savior with an AK-47 and 5 other people behind him with a variety of weapons. In that moment she felt safe and knew in this ordeal, he’d protect her. From zombies, aliens or crazy people, whatever it took.