Final Chaos

7

Rob was partially in shock. He didn’t know what to think.

At first, he’d thought that Jim had just lost his mind.

But he looked up to Jim. And Jim knew that. Mostly, he’d gone along with Jim just out of respect.

But also to make sure Jim didn’t do anything stupid.

After all, even the sanest people could snap. They could just suddenly lose it.

And Jim’s been going through a lot. Aly was so important to him, and when she’d said that she’d wanted some space, it had hit Jim really hard.

He’d been in the worst shape that Rob had ever seen him in. In fact, Rob had made sure to come by the computer shop every day, just to check in on Jim. To give him someone to talk to.

And he’d stopped by sometimes in the evenings too, sometimes bringing some Chinese takeout, or a couple sandwiches. After all, Jim hadn’t been eating that well. As far as Rob could tell, he’d been living off of beef jerky from the gas station, gallons of whole milk, and whatever Rob brought him.

Rob sat in the passenger seat of the beat up old Subaru wagon. He glanced nervously into the rear window.

There were more people in the street than there had been. Fortunately, he hadn’t seen that man that Jim had threatened with his revolver.

But people, here and there, seemed to have come out of their houses. Now they were mingling with the drivers of the stopped cars.

At this point, Rob knew that Jim wasn’t crazy.

Something was going on. Something strange. Something serious.

Rob tried remembering exactly what they’d said on the news. It was just a fuzzy memory, since so much had already happened between then and now.

Shouldn’t they have given the public more information?

Rob’s thoughts turned for a moment to his job interview. He supposed that it was all right he didn’t show up. Although showing up even in extreme circumstances could show initiative. And that was something that employers often looked for. Or so he was told.

As Jim would attest, Rob certainly wasn’t an expert at employment.

From inside the house came a muffled sound.

It sounded like a gunshot.

Rob’s heart started to accelerate.

Had Jim shot someone?

His eyes darted around. His body froze up. He didn’t know what to do.

Behind him, in the rearview mirror, he could see people in the street stopping, their heads turning towards the house.

Shit. That wasn’t good.

Before he knew it, there were people around the car, apparently trying to get a better look at the house.

“That’s where Judy lives.”

“Judy?”

“Yeah, and her daughter’s been staying with her. Some problems with the husband.”

“Was that him, the guy who pulled the gun out?”

“Might be.”

“So this is his car here?”

Something had to be done. At the very least, he was going inside, to see what had happened.

Rob opened the door.

“Don’t worry everyone,” he said, using the same voice he’d used as an employee at the movie theatre, when the movie had stopped all of a sudden. “There’s nothing to be concerned about.”

“I heard a gunshot.”

“And who are you, anyway?” said one woman, who wore a very prominent pearl necklace. “What are you doing here?”

“Look, he’s got someone in the car!”

“It’s a woman.”

“And she’s not moving.”

“What did you do to her?”

“I didn’t do anything,” said Rob. “Listen, I can explain. I know it seems strange, but…” He was talking in that calm voice of his. Or at least doing his best too. The situation was already starting to get to him.

He remembered back when he’d worked at that movie theatre. He’d done his best with the crowd. He’d tried to stay calm.

But in the end, he’d lost his cool. He’d told them all to shut up, and that they’d get their money back, and that it wasn’t his fault at all. He’d kicked a door so hard that he’d bruised his toe.

And that’d been the last day he’d worked at the movie theatre. The last hour, actually. They’d fired him on the spot, probably to make a show for the customers.

Rob tried taking a step forward, but people were all around the Subaru now.

He just wanted to get inside the house.

Jim might need his help.

But there were a dozen people surrounding him now. And in the crowd, he recognized the man that Jim had threatened with his gun.

A big, burly man was blocking Rob’s path, standing right in front of him.

Someone else was trying to open the back door, but it was locked.

“He’s kidnapped her, probably.”

“What a monster.”

“Someone call the police.”

“The phones don’t work, remember?”

“Listen,” said Rob. “It’s not what you think. She was biking in the middle of the road, and Jim didn’t see her in time… There was a cop, but Jim realized that the only way to get her to the hospital was to take her ourselves.”

“Then why aren’t you at the hospital?”

“It’s a long story,” said Rob. “If you’ll just let me explain.”

“He’s lying!”

“We’ve got to get this woman out of there!”

The crowd was growing rowdier. It sent a chill down Rob’s back.

This was more intense than at the movie theatre.

Anger was starting to appear in their eyes.

These were, or had been, normal people.

All it took was one stressor, one minor crisis, and people started to lose their cool.

Rob knew he was going to have to do something. He reached behind him, hit the automatic door lock, and slammed closed the passenger side door.

Jim had the keys. This way the crowd wouldn’t be able to do anything to the car.

Rob was a big guy.

He made his move, pushing his way through, moving suddenly and swiftly.

For a tense moment, it seemed like they weren’t going to let him through. A hand grasped his arm.

But he made it, and he didn’t waste any time. He ran across the flat yard, straight to the door.

He swung the storm door open wildly and reached for the door handle.

He turned it, but it was locked.

With a closed fist, he pounded on the door.

“Jim!” he called out. “Open up! We’ve got trouble.”

He didn’t dare turn around. Somehow, it was easier not knowing whether the crowd was coming after him. Or whether they were doing something to the car.

“Jim!” he called out, pounding on the door as loud as he could.