4 months earlier…
It was a Friday night, and the patrons of the bar were more rowdy than usual. Along with the re-run sports games which were on every flat screen in the bar, everyone had an eye on one flat screen which showed the horror unveil itself on the east coast. There was some sort of pink elephant in the room; no one was talking about. Jessie and Riley included, most people were partying like it was the end of the world. Jessie thought to herself, “I guess it’s the end of the world in a way.”
It was hard to start up your own massage therapy business, so when Jessie was short on cash, Mac, the bar owner always let her work for tips. It never inconvenienced Mac since she worked under the table and it seemed to help him out. Although Jessie wasn’t working that night, she tried to help him by picking up empty mugs and dropping them off to be washed. Jessie had cut herself off several hours ago, so she was able to drive herself and Riley home to her parent’s home. All of a sudden the emergency broadcast system blared across all the flat screens to take shelter as the first signs of MEDS had hit, Spokane, Seattle, and Portland. The broadcast also stated it was now in smaller cities like Kennewick, Hood River, and Klamath Falls. It was all around them and most likely going to hit Bend soon. Jessie could tell everyone was nervous and didn’t know what to do or think. Most of the single women left, and even some couples left. The remaining people ended up turning off all the flat screens ignoring the warnings blaring and cranking up the music. In all honesty, where would they go? Men were everywhere. This was getting a little too jacked up for Jessie, so she asked Mac if there was anything she could do to help him out before she left.
Pointing to the corner of the bar, Mac said, “Could you see if the guy in the corner wants another beer.”
Jessie nodded. She saw a gentleman in the corner of the bar just staring at his beer. The guy looked to be in his early thirties, well-manicured and nicely dressed in a suit. Jessie slowly walked over to the table where the man sat. She asked him if he needed anything else and the man just continued to stare at his glass of beer. She asked him if he was okay and he slowly looked up at her with haunted eyes. He said nothing, he just stared at her or more like stared through her. Jessie started to back up when all of a sudden he lunged at Jessie knocking her flat on her back onto the bar floor. It had been several years since she had done mixed martial arts and although she stayed in shape, she was out of practice. This CEO looking man had his full weight on top of Jessie with his hands around her throat choking the life from her. Even if he stopped choking her, she still wouldn’t be able to breathe because of his weight on top of her chest.
Spots quickly danced across her vision followed by darkness closing in around her. In what seemed like forever, but was only a few seconds another man pulled Mr. CEO off her. The two men started to fight one another then others started in. Soon, it seemed the whole bar was in a brawl. Jessie was in shock about how quickly things escalated from a rowdy bunch of bar patrons to some people lying on the floor not moving.
Mac helped Jessie up, grabbed Riley and corralled them behind the bar. Mac looked at her with concern in his eyes and said; “Are you okay darling?” Jessie looked up at Mac still trying to catch her breath and just nodded. “Darling…it’s time.”
“What’s time? What’s going on? Are you okay Jessie?” Riley shouted.
Jessie ignored Riley and concentrated on what Mac was saying. She knew what Mac meant; she just didn’t want to believe it. Mac was almost like a big brother to her, always looking out for her. He was young for a bar owner. At only thirty years old, Mac wasn’t married and didn’t have any kids. He served as a navy seal and did several stints in Afghanistan. He was shot in his bicep with what someone called a through and through. Which meant the bullet went clean through the muscle and luckily didn’t touch the bone. Out of all things that could happen to a soldier, this would be the wound to receive in battle. The ironic thing was his wound became infected while recuperating, which was so bad he ended up losing some mobility in his left arm. Though not enough to debilitate him for the rest of his life, it was just enough the navy couldn’t keep him. Mac came home to Bend, bought the bar and has been here ever since.
Mac had spoken to Jessie earlier in the week about what he’d do if MEDS made it here. He’d make it as long as he could to help the women and children then take his own life. He was a protector, not a raping, torturing killer. Mac grabbed all the cash out of the register then dug his keys out of his pocket and handed it to Jessie. “Both of you listen to me. It’s happening. Whether you believe it or not it’s happening. I’ll get you two to the store room and help grab as much canned food as we can carry. We’ll load all of it in my truck in the back alley, and then I want you to drive straight to your parent’s house Jessie. Do not stop for any guy, not a cop, not anything! Do you understand me, Jessie?” Jessie again unable to speak just nodded.
In a crouching position Jessie, Riley, and Mac hurried quickly to the end of the bar. Mac grabbed both of their hands and started running for the door with the words employees only in big red letters on it. Halfway there a man grabbed Riley. Mac turned around and decked the guy, knocking him out cold. They continued to run and made it through the door where Mac was able to brace it closed with a latch. Mac took Riley and Jessie into the back room and grabbed any food he could. Since it was a bar, Mac didn’t have the best food in the world, but it was snack food which would last a while. After they both grabbed all the food they could carry, they made their way to the back exit. Mac checked to see if the coast was clear, then they all made their way to Mac’s truck.
Mac threw everything in the bed of the truck and then pulled Jessie into a big hug. Jessie was crying and shaking. She couldn’t believe this was happening. So many questions ran threw her head. When would Mac fall victim to MEDS? Why was this happening? Was her family safe? What about her friends? Is there a cure? If not, how long was she going to be able to protect Riley and herself?
Mac gave her a little shake to bring her out of her thoughts. He said, “Darling, remember what I said. You’ve got a full tank of fuel, so I want you to go straight to your parent’s house. Maybe it will miss your dad since they are so far up in the mountains. Don’t leave unless necessary. Protect your family at all costs. This means shooting someone if needed. You’ve been hunting plenty of times with your dad. This whole situation is like hunting, except this time you’re the prey. It’s kill or be killed, Jessie. Repeat what I just told you.” Jessie could hear Mac talking, but she was still in shock. Mac shook her again and said “Jessie! Tell me what I said.”
She shook her head and blurted out, “Kill or be killed.”
“That’s right Jessie. Kill or be killed.” Mac grabbed her head in between his hands, then kissed her forehead.
Jessie looked at Mac and said, “Come with us, Mac.”
Mac gave her a sad smile and gently brushed the back of his hand across her cheek and slowly brought his lips to hers. He kissed her ever so gently. When he broke away from the kiss, he said, “Jessie darling. You know I can’t come. I wish I had more time with you. I’ve grown very fond of you and would have loved to take you out on a date. I just never had the nerve to ask. Now I’m out of time.”
Jessie was a little shocked at his revelation. But now wasn’t the time to analyze her feelings for him.
Riley was in the passenger’s seat of Mac’s truck crying profusely but managed to grab her car keys out of her jeans and pass them to Mac. “It’s the Silver Outback in the front. It has a full tank. I don’t want you to be here, stranded. I’m sorry you can’t come with us, Mac. You’re a great man. Remember that.”
“Thanks, Riley. I want you two to look out for one another and Jessie’s parents. Hopefully, they’ll find a cure, and this whole thing will be a nightmare forgotten soon enough.” With that said Mac opened the driver’s side door and helped Jessie inside his truck. “Stick to the back roads; people will panic and try to flee town the quickest way they know how. Slow and steady wins the race. Okay?”
Jessie nodded and started the truck. “Thank you for everything. I-I….”
“I know Jessie. It’s okay. You need to get going.”
Jessie put the truck into gear and slowly took off, all the while glancing at Mac in the rearview mirror until she couldn’t see him any longer. Looking over at Riley, Jessie grabbed her hand and gave her a watery smile and said, “You and me, we’re going to make it.”