Past The Static: A Survival Audio Drama (Scene 2)
- Niomi Dylan Sass
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Written by Niomi Dylan Sass
Scene 2: The Interview
Static. He checks to see what station this person responded to— 88.8.
91.1
Wait! Hello? Uh-mhm, Ha, I was kind of just venting there. I actually didn’t think someone would be on the line.
88.8
On the emergency channels?
91.1
I guess I just forgot my finger was on the button. How much did you hear?
88.8
Something about cigarettes, taking an unscheduled break. Enough to know not to invite you into my group. You take care of yourself.
91.1
Wait, please! Miss, uh...
88.8
You just refer to me by my station number.
91.1
Please, 88.8, just hear me out.
88.8
I’ll give you one minute to try to change my mind.
91.1
I’m a pretty solid dude. Before the shit hit the fan, I taught kindergartners during the week. During the weekend, I—
88.8
I’m just going to stop you right there. Whatever you did before the planet went to shit doesn’t matter anymore.
91.1
It should.
88.8
What matters is how you’ve adapted and the things you’ve done to keep yourself alive. Like, leaving your friends for dead. There still could have been a way to help them.
91.1
Only one of them was my friend. I never trusted the other people. We kind of just stuck with them because it was safer than being alone… And he sounded pretty dead to me.
88.8
But did you see him die?
91.1
I couldn’t bring myself to look at him.
88.8
How long were you with that group?
91.1
Maybe, a week. They weren’t the first group we had. When everything first started, me and Sammie went to the high school where the evacuation buses were being held. As the final bus was getting ready to leave, someone on board turned. I don’t even know how the son of a bitch got past clearance. Luckily, since we were in the back, we were able to get out of the emergency exit. It was more chaotic outside the bus. We ran inside the school to try to find a place to hide. Our neighbors, the Solorios, found us inside and took us up to the roof, where others were hiding. It was four of them: a grandma, dad, and two older boys.
88.8
The military just let everyone stay at the high school?
91.1
Nah, they dipped, man. It looked like they shot up the final bus to try and keep the virus contained, then cleared out. There were like almost 30 of us left inside the school. We stayed for a few days until the tensions got too high. A group of greedy tits got scared they would run out of supplies and started killing off the old people because “they didn’t have anything left to live for.” Just executed 4 people right in front of us. One of them was Lizzie Solorio, our neighbor. The old folks didn’t even have time to plead for their lives. Everything escalated quickly.
88.8
And what did you guys do to them?
91.1
I didn’t do anything, man.
88.8
What did the Solorios do?
91.1
Killed them… It turned to shit real fast. All three of Solorio’s started shooting, and they started shooting back. It went from 30 people in that high school to 18 in a matter of minutes. Me and Sammie packed up a bag and left. We were walking around the town for a few days when we ran into the last group.
88.8
Where did you end up staying after the high school?
91.1
They said it was safer to keep it moving and only set up camps for a few nights at a time.
88.8
Less hurt that way. If you don’t get attached to where you’re staying, then it makes it easier to leave, I guess. Once you have a place that feels like home, you’ll do anything to protect it. They sound kind of smart to me. Why didn’t you trust them?
91.1
Killing people already felt like second nature to them. Sammie was a doctor, which is the only reason they were more keen on us. We saw it as an opportunity for—
88.8
Somebody else to do the dirty work for you.
91.1
What else were we supposed to do?
88.8
I guess a rule book was never really written for times like these. Beat So, so if Sammie was the brains, what good are you for?
91.1
I’ve become a pretty skilled shot against the dead dudes. And I’m fast and quiet, like really fast. My agility has proved pretty handy for—
88.8
Running away. Yeah, I know.
91.1
Yeah.
88.8
You know, it’s not really up to me who gets to come to our camp. I just run the radio to see if there are any nearby traders. We’re not really looking to bring people in at this time.
91.1
Please.
Static.
PLEASE!
(END OF SCENE)
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