Displaced

Chapter One

Two of the Towers young residents were changing the bulletin board behind the receptionists
desk in the lobby when Nathan jogged by. He slowed when he saw the new numbers, and
jogged in place as he talked to them. Hard to believe its been that long, he said as the tallest,
a girl named Heather, carefully lined up the 1 with the 2 before securing it to the wall. The
stapler made a loud pop-pop sound when she slammed her fist against it.
Are you still going to the store this morning? Her companion, Charles, asked. Heather caught
his attention with a dirty look, and he abruptly handed her a large yellow flower from the box of
decorations the two had found inside a storage closet.
Right after we double check the cameras, Nathan answered. Did you want to come?
Sure, Said Charles.
Awww, I wanted to come too, Heather said.
You can. Well take the van. By now the two kids had smiles that were stretched from ear-to-
ear. He definitely wouldnt have been able to fit everyone inside the van, and nobody else was
old enough to drive, but it was always good to bring extra help, especially when they went on a
supply run.
Meet me in front of the laundry room at 9 oclock, Nathan said. He resumed his jog, taking a
slight right down the hallway into the Carey Hall lobby. It was only seven thirty, and already a
number of kids were hanging out in the lobby. Nathan waved to them as he jogged passed, then
stepped through the doorway into the stairway. Without pausing, he began jogging up the eight
flight of stairs towards the top of Carey Hall.
After he reached the top of the stairs, he continued his jog down the hall towards the study
room. Untouched since before Nathan and his group of young survivors had taken residency, a
large portion of the residence halls which made up CMUs Southwest Quad remained the same
as it had been the day that almost everyone on campus had vanished. Most of the doors on the
eighth floor of Carey were closed, but some had been left opened, and Nathan couldnt help but
wonder about those last few minutes before everything changed. He could hear the low
shushing sound of static coming from one of the rooms. No doubt that a television had been left
on. He paused, then tried the doorknob. It turned easily, and he swung the door open.
The room he walked into was mostly dark except for the light that came from the unattended
forty inch flatscreen TV that sat on top of a medium sized entertainment center. Nathan could
tell instantly that the occupants had been home the day that everyone had disappeared: four
distinct piles of clothes were scattered around the room, as if the people had blinked out of
existence where they stood, leaving behind their shorts, shirts, and unmentionables. Three of
the outfits consisted of mens clothing, but the fourth included a blouse. Perhaps one of the
students girl friends.
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Nathan reached down, felt along the bottom edge of the TV until he found the off button. He
pressed it lightly, and the TV blinked off, casting the room in total darkness.
He completed his jog in the study room at the end of the hallway. With nobody else around, the
view towards the north end of campus resembled a static picture more than a window view.
Nobody traveled the sidewalks, and any cars that were on the road were motionless. The
campus was a ghost town.
* * *
At a quarter past eight oclock, Nathan had showered, dressed, and made his way down to the
noisy cafeteria where his neighbors had gathered for breakfast. Eleven-year-old Zachary Miller
was standing between the rows of tables and a chalkboard reviewing the newest theories to be
added to the nearly month old list.
Okay, so Tracy, you said aliens. Zachary said.
Tracy always says its aliens, one of the boy shouted from the back of the room. This drew
laughter from around the room. Tracy blushed a little.
Okay, Zachary continued. Some new theories: Everybody melted, and everybody was hit by a
shrink ray.
Thats a good one, Nathan chuckled. Like Honey, I shrunk the Kids. When several kids gave
him a puzzled look, he added, You know, with Rick Moranis? And the ants?
Well, keep the theories coming in, Zachary added quickly, then sat down.
Nathan stepped in front of the chalkboard. Today Im going to take a small group around
campus to run some maintenance on the webcams, and then were going to make a grocery run
to Walmart. Then, later, if theres time, Im hoping to give everyone a chance to get outside.
The room was filled with excited murmurs. It wont be too far; we havent seen any dogs lately,
but we cant be too careful. Todays Saturday, so before we do anything else I want everyone to
take time to clean their rooms, and bring down any dirty laundry for washing. Thanks.
He grabbed an apple, a single-serving sized box of Frosted Flakes, and a carton of milk, then
headed towards the lobby.
Next to the common room in the garden level of the Southwest Quad, there was a breakout
room which Nathan had converted into a makeshift office. There was a desk he had pilfered
from an office in Anspach, and a conference table on which he had set up a series of computer
monitors. He ate his cereal as he skimmed through the dozen sheets of paper which were
sprawled across the desk. During the last two weeks, he had devoted any spare time he had
towards trying to figure out the reason behind everyones disappearance. So far, none of his
theories had been any better than Tracys. Stranger yet, was the fact that he had been immune
from the force that had taken everyone else. What made him so special? Or...un-special?
On one of the most recently filled out pages, Nathan had written Biblical?
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He was pulled away from his thoughts by a knock on the door. Come in, he called.
The door opened, and twelve-year-old Timothy leaned into the room. Were ready, he said.
Okay. Nathan scooped up the last spoonful of cereal, then moved his dirty bowl and spoon to
a tray that awaited at the end of his desk. I meet everyone in the lobby.
On his way back from the cafeteria, Nathan was surprised to see the group of faces which had
assembled by the receptionists desk. He had expected Timothy, and he had invited both
Heather and Charles that morning, but he hadnt expected to see Heathers younger sister,
Harriet.
I never said anything about you coming, Nathan said sternly. The seven-year-old pouted.
Thats what I told her, Timothy said. We dont need little girls.
Hey, watch it bub, Heather said, raising a fist. Thats my sister. And, were as tough as you.
Yeah, Harriet echoed.
You can come, Nathan said, but youre staying in the van. He walked behind the desk, pulled
out a key, and unlock one of the cabinets that were under the desk. The cabinet contained a
collection of pistols that fired pellets. He slipped a gun into the holster on his belt, then offered
another one to Timothy. Next, he grabbed a fistful of clips and a switchblade.
The van they had selected for their missions was a grey Windstar. Everyone except Timothy
piled into the back. Nathan started the engine, and maneuvered around the abandoned cars
towards Broomfield. We want to check the webcams first, then well do Walmart last., he told
Timothy.
Nathan and some of the older kids had positioned cameras all along the edge of campus to help
them to watch for other survivors, as well as predators. So far, the feral dogs which roamed the
area had been the biggest threat they faced. So far, the pellet guns had been enough to scare
them off. Nathan was hesitant to use real guns, but wondered how long before they would need
them.
Sometimes a laptop would just need to be rebooted before its webcam would begin transmitting
again. But, the computers they checked in the University Center were all nonresponsive.
Ive got another one dead in the Registrars office. The group had split up to survey the
building faster. Timothy and Charles had taken the basement level, and Nathan remained on
the first floor with the girls. Timothy had contacted Nathan via cellphone.
Any signs of damage? Nathan asked. The netbook they had hidden in the lobby had been
sitting upside down on the floor when they found it.
None that I can see.
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Grab the hard drive, Nathan suggested. We can check it later. Well have to replace the dead
computers. He didnt want to worry the kids, but all of this seemed a little odd. Well meet you
by the van in fifteen minutes.
* * *
I wish youd hurry up, Charles said again, for about the sixteenth time. Timothy only stopped
what he was doing long enough to physically lift up the flashlight that Charles was holding in his
hand.
This would go a lot faster if you would hold the light steady, Timothy said. He peered closely at
the side of the laptop again, and carefully lined up the end of his screwdriver with the notch on
the hard drive.
Its just that its pretty creepy down here, Charles said.
You could have stayed with Nathan and the girls, Timothy teased.
No way Im hanging around them. Theyre stinky.
I thought you liked Heather.
Charles punched Timothy twice in the arm. Shut up! Thrown off balance, Timothy struggled to
hold onto the laptop, but managed to drop the screw driver. They heard it clatter to the floor
somewhere underneath the table.
Great! Now look what you made me do, Timothy said.
Not my fault.
Give me the flashlight. Timothy crouched on his hands and knees, and began scanning the
floor underneath the desk. After a search that seemed to take forever, he finally spotted the tool.
It had rolled into the cubicle across from them. Timothy stood up. I found it. Stay here.
He picked up the screwdriver, slid the pair of nylons and dress that had been left on the office
chair, and then settled in to work on removing the hard drive again.
Im sorry, it was an accident.
Thats okay, Timothy answered, absentmindedly. I almost have it. I just need more light.
Suddenly, their corner of the room was flooded with light. Timothy saw exactly where he needed
to press with the screwdriver, and jammed it in. Thats perfect.
Timothy, Charles said, his voice was suddenly soft.
Got it. Timothy lifted the hard drive up victoriously.
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Then the light was gone. Timothy switched his flashlight back on. What happened? Well, lets
get out of here. Im sure Nathan will be worried. He started towards the door, stopped, then
looked back. Charles?
He pointed the flashlight beam towards the cubicle where Charles had been sitting, but he
wasnt there. All that remained were his clothes.