“If this is really all the vegan stuff they have, we’ve got a problem” Sarah broke in. I’m too old to give a rat’s ass, don’t you worry about me.” Melissa appeared irritated and murmured something about ungrateful this, internalized that. “Kiddo if I have somethin’ to say I’ll damn well say it. Why don’t we hear what Hugh has to say? He’s a person of color, their voices are too often marginalized.” Hugh looked at her like she had two heads. White ones, and I bet you’re both cisgendered too. “I just wanna say I noticed it’s mostly men talking. I also don’t see any commonalities that would explain why we were selected.” Andrew set about making a map of the PriceCo from memory on some graphing paper he’d found. “So whoever put us here didn’t just nab us in our sleep. Dunno about after that.” He joined the circle, watching intently as each member searched their most recent memories for clues. Had my A-liner set up out there, was hookin’ up the gas for heating. “When what?” She remained silent, cogitating.

I’d finished stacking the chairs when…” She stared into the distance, struggling to recall. I’m not to where I can afford to hire as many people as I really need, so a lot of it falls to me. It gets hazy after that.” Sarah brushed strands of her long, red hair out of her face and asked if Fran could remember anything unusual. We’d recently admitted a bulldog with a bladder infection. “Last thing I remember, I was at my practice doing paperwork. After that, introductions were made and the seven strangers began trying to piece together how they’d arrived here. Second order of business was to attempt a phone call. Worse than locked, they opened to reveal solid concrete. First order of business, once they were all awake and had accepted the apparent reality that they were inside of an abandoned PriceCo, was to try every door. Mark seemed keen to lead but as yet had no better idea of where to go than the rest. “We’ve got more important things to take care of first.” It sounded promising and authoritative, but trailed off without resolution. The ceiling simply bare metal sheeting held up by periodic support columns and horizontal beams with cris-crossing struts within, tube lighting suspended from there. Breaking up only as you approached the frozen goods. Row after row of identical steel shelving towers surrounded them. “When we find some way of cooking, I can make us all pizza!” Fran offered, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Anybody seen a microwave yet?” All shook their heads. Sarah, who’d gone with Andrew but split off in search of vegan foods, now appeared with an armload of frozen organic quiches. Melissa let out a disgusted sigh and went back to browsing her phone’s network options menu. “Well now, don’t let’s start pickin’ at each other already you kids” Hugh urged. So how’s that help us?” Melissa inquired with a weary inflection. “Based on the lengths of the walls, were it empty, this PriceCo would have an uninterrupted floor space of approximately 205,000 square feet. “I’ve returned.” Andrew stood at the edge of the group, white button down shirt moist with sweat under his arms. Jeffrey took a break from playing his handheld game system now and then to peer at her, swiftly averting his gaze whenever she noticed.

Melissa sat in a heap of her discarded layers, twiddling strands of her blue-green hair while trying to get a signal on her phone. “Some sort of Satanic deception though, certainly.”Īndrew was still busy exploring the place, measuring the perimeter in footsteps. “Or I wouldn’t be here.” He fingered a small silver crucifix pendant dangling from his neck. She and Hugh were first to awaken, but her wailing roused the rest in short order. “We’re in Hell! It has to be!” Fran cried as Hugh tried to console her.

Who wins the fight from amigo brothers