This is from Ivan's Perspective
The sheriff wasn't joking when he said I should follow my nose to find food. The closer I got to the source of the tantalizing aroma, the stronger it became, filling my nostrils with the mouth-watering scent of grilling meat. My stomach responded with a growl that sounded like a bear waking up from hibernation. I found myself swallowing down mouthfuls of saliva.
My legs had a mind of their own and were in cahoots with my stomach. They moved with a purpose, carrying me towards the smell, seemingly oblivious to the aches and pains that had been plaguing me just moments earlier. The bags I was carrying felt lighter, as if they, too, were eager to get to the food. Everything around me seemed to brighten, the world coming into sharper focus.
As I approached the source of the smell, I saw a chalkboard sign propped up outside a small, rustic-looking burger joint. The sign read, "Today's special, $10 for burgers, fries, and a warm bear." I chuckled at the misspelling, imagining a furry bear being part of the meal deal. I'm guessing the person didn't have spell check to make sure it was right.
I wasn't much of a drinker, and the thought of a warm beer wasn't exactly appealing. But the promise of a juicy burger and crispy fries was too good to resist.
As I pushed my bike through the door of the burger joint, I was immediately enveloped by the warm, inviting atmosphere of the place. The soft, flickering light of two gas lanterns hanging from the ceiling illuminated the room, casting long, dancing shadows on the walls. I had never been to this particular establishment before, and I found myself pleasantly surprised by its charms.
The walls were covered with posters of rock bands from the 70s, 80s, and 90s and glossy images of vintage muscle cars. In the far corner, a silent jukebox. A group of three men sat at a table near the bar, their meals laid out before them as they engaged in a heated debate about something I couldn't quite make out.
A young woman, presumably a waitress, approached me as I stood by the door, my bike leaning against my side. Her apron was smeared with various stains, and her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail, but she had a friendly smile on her face. "Are you interested in the special?" she asked, her voice soft and tiered.
I found myself momentarily speechless, my mouth filled with saliva at the view of the burgers and fries. I swallowed hard, trying to get my mouth to cooperate, but all I could manage was a nod. Yes, I was definitely interested in the special. I raised 3 fingers, pulled out 40$, and handed it to her.
The young woman's smile was warmth for the spirit in the dimly lit room, her voice a soothing melody against the backdrop of the ongoing debate from the table nearby. "Sit anywhere you like; we're not exactly swamped," she called over her shoulder as she disappeared into the kitchen.
Guiding my bike through the maze of tables, I chose a spot a couple of tables away from the trio engaged in a heated discussion. I unloaded my bags onto the chair opposite me and propped my bike against the edge of the table. The weight of the day made me clumsy, and I could feel my body screaming for rest.
As I sank into the chair, a sudden silence fell over the room. I glanced over to see the trio had swiveled around in their seats, their attention now focused on me. I felt a flush creep up my neck under their scrutiny.
Raising a shaky hand, I managed a weak wave and a quiet "Hello." My nerves dragged up my accent to the surface in the quiet room, echoing around us.
For a moment, they just stared at me, their faces blank. Then, as if a switch had been flipped, they burst into laughter. The tension in the room dissipated, replaced by the comforting sound of their mirth.
One of them, a burly man with a thick beard, raised his hand in a half-wave, half-salute. "Sorry, man," he called out, his voice still laced with laughter. "We're just screwing around."
I forced a laugh and settled into my seat. The animated conversation from the group at the neighboring table started up again. One of them fervently argued, "I'm telling you, it's an EMP attack. A few strategically placed nukes in high orbit, way out of range of anti-air, could easily blanket the entire country in darkness. And that's not even considering..."
His words became blurry as the waitress reappeared, her arms laden with a tray carrying three plates. Each plate was a feast for the eyes - a juicy, mouth-watering burger and a shimmered pile of fries. The bear was there, too, but I wasn't even tempted. The sight was so tantalizing that I found myself swallowing repeatedly, my mouth filling with saliva in anticipation.
"Oh no, your party is not here yet? Or are your friends standing you up?" she asked, her eyes scanning the empty chairs around me.
I shook my head, my gaze fixed on the culinary delight in front of me. "No, this is all for me," I managed to croak out as I fought the urge to snatch up a burger and start eating right then and there.
A flicker of surprise passed over her face, but she quickly replaced it with a professional smile. "Well, enjoy your meal!" she said, placing the tray before me. Tucked neatly under one of the plates was a crisp ten-dollar bill. "If you need anything else, just let us know."
I nodded, my eyes already zeroing in on the feast laid out before me. The aroma wafting from the food was hypnotic. I said a quick thank you for the food and dug in, my ears ringing and my stomach turning as the greasy, starchy, meaty goodness went into my bite by bite.
The next few moments were a blur. One moment, I was staring at three plates heaped with food, and the next, I was staring at empty plates, save for a few lonely fries. I blinked in surprise, my stomach pleasantly full and my taste buds singing in delight. I let out a deep sigh of satisfaction, leaning back in my chair as the ringing in my ears slowly subsided.
As my senses returned to normal, I became aware of the ongoing conversation at the neighboring table. The trio was still engrossed in their debate, their voices rising and falling in heated discussion. "...it's far more widespread than any EMP could cause," one of them was saying. "Even devices that were switched off got fried. No EMP on Earth is powerful enough to do that. Cars, household appliances, and even flashlights stopped working. This has to be a solar flare, like the Carrington Event. Back then, telegraphs burst into flames. Now, we have far more electronics than just telegraphs."
I listened to their conversation with half an ear, my attention more focused on the last of my fries. I popped them into my mouth one by one, savoring the salty crunch. As I finished the last fry, I leaned back in my chair, listening.
The conversation at the neighboring table seemed to reach a stalemate, with one of the men sighing heavily. "Well, if we get invaded soon, we'll know for sure who's right. Can't exactly look at the sun to find out, can we?"
Feeling a sense of camaraderie with these strangers, I decided to share my untouched beers with them. I stood up, my legs feeling surprisingly sturdy, and picked up the three bottles. I walked over to their table with a grin. I said, "I'm not going to drink these, and it sounds like your conversation could use some lubrication."
The trio burst into laughter, their faces lighting up with amusement. They started singing a boisterous rendition of '99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall', substituting the number ninety-nine with three. Their laughter was infectious, and I found myself joining in, my own laughter echoing around the room. "Enjoy!"
Just as I was packing up, the waitress returned, a giggle escaping her lips as she glanced at the trio being stupid. "How was everything?" she asked, her eyes wide with surprise as she took in the empty plates. "I'm a bit surprised you managed to finish it all!"
I smiled at her, reaching for my wallet. "It was amazing, thank you very much." I pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it to her. "This is for you."
Her face lit up with a sweet smile as she accepted the money, tucking it into her pocket with a grateful nod. "Thank you!" she said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.
The moment I stepped out of the bar, the weight of the day crashed back down on me again. My back protested with each step, and my legs felt like they were made of lead again. I pushed my bike across the street towards the hotel the sheriff had recommended, the setting sun casting long shadows on the ground.
As I pushed open the hotel door, before I could even approach the counter, the receptionist called out, "No turn-down service, no water, no power, but we still have a few clean beds. No change. Fifty dollars."
I managed a weak smile, leaning heavily against my bike for support. "Hello," I greeted. "The sheriff recommended this place. I'll take a room." I fumbled with my wallet, pulling out a fifty-dollar bill and handing it to the receptionist. In return, she handed me a physical key.
"First floor, at the end of the corridor on the right," she instructed, pointing in the general direction. "The room number is on the key."
I nodded my thanks, tucked the key into my pocket, and walked to the room.
Once inside, I dropped my bags onto the floor with a sigh of relief, the weight of them finally off my shoulders. I leaned my bike against the wall, its metal frame clinking softly against the plaster. Digging through my bag, I found the pill bottles the pharmacist had given me earlier.
With a groan, I sank down onto the edge of the bed, the mattress creaking under my weight. I unscrewed the caps of the bottles, shaking out one pill from each. I chased them down with the last of the water from my bottles.
I closed and set the bottles aside and lay back on the bed, my body sinking into the mattress. I stared up at the ceiling, waiting for the painkillers to take effect. I knew I should get undressed, but my body felt heavy, my limbs uncooperative.
As I lay there, a sense of disbelief washed over me. I had made it. Despite everything - the breakdown, the long journey, the pain - I had made it here in one day. The thought was both comforting and overwhelming.
With that thought echoing in my mind, I felt my eyelids growing heavy. The last thing I remember was the dim light of the setting sun filtering through the window, casting long shadows across the room.