• Here I sit comfortably, watching a reality show re-run in my favorite pajamas, while I was munching on popcorn. When the dogs next door started their ritual chorus of annoying barks to alert me that there was a car approaching. I peeked outside. I saw a taxi cab rolling into the drive way. It was Tony, my boyfriend coming home. He had been out drinking with the guys. Tony started to shout “is there anybody home?” I sent him a wave and said “just me.” He says “Ashley get your butt out here! We need to start trying to find some place safe to hide out.” Shocked, I looked at him and asked “what on earth are you talking about?” He dropped his voice to a scheming tone of secrecy and whispered “the APOCALYPSE.”
    Silently, Ashley smiled and gave a little laugh and began to ponder. What was he on? Had I missed something? Was there some kind of massive destruction taking place that I was unaware of? Is he freaking serious or was it the tequila talking? His intensity was growing. My mind was now racing trying to paint some mental image of what is going on? So I asked him; was there an insane accident? Did you see a giant plume of fire melt into the sky? What’s up did the keg run dry? Tell me Tony what’s gotten into your head tonight? Ha into my head? It doesn’t matter Ashley, just move your legs and get a bag of supplies together now! We are going to my mom and dad’s old bomb shelter out in Montana. What Ashley exclaimed? Are you crazy? I’m not going to Montana! Why no one’s been out to the old place in what 12 years or so now? You must’ve lost your mind. I’m serious said Tony, baby just listen to me, trust me, and go now. I love you. Ashley said, “Ok, I love you too”.
    Well I figured what did I have to lose? I’ll humor him, I have the next three days off, and it does sound good to get away. I ran up stairs to grab a few things. Just the essentials, I got one out fit for dinner, and some leisure clothes, my book, my make up, and my hair dryer. I ran down stairs and shouted from the door Tony, I’m all ready. Tony said “meet me in the car I’ll be out in a minute.” So Ashley threw her bag, and her purse into the trunk and lounged out into the passenger seat and turned the key over to warm up the engine. Soon out came Tony with a rifle, and a duffle bag, which he tossed into the back seat of their Subaru Outback. He kissed her before setting out for the long drive from Portland Oregon, to Butte Montana.
    As they rode in the car Ashley could tell Tony was seriously tripping out. She realized that this was no joke, and it wasn’t going to be some romantic little weekend getaway. They were seriously going up to his parents’ old, abandoned farm house. He is offically freaking me out now. Tony, tell me baby what’s really going on? Listen Ash, all the signs are among us. It’s just seven days before 2012, and people are dying all over, masses are rioting in the streets. They came and straight torched the Porter House tonight. Every one’s going mad! As Ashley looked out into the night sky from the window she could see little glowing areas she hadn’t noticed before, and asked Tony, “do you think that light is from fires? Tony replied, “I think so hun.” Look Ash Tony said, get some sleep while you can, and just know we will be safe for awhile out at moms. I remember we had that old bomb shelter installed when I was four, and mom and dad had that place stocked with everything they would need for two years. I’m sure it’s still hiding out there, untouched. Ashley lowered the seat and stared out the window lost in thought, thinking about what if they had to stay locked in together for two years? No way she thought and drifted off to sleep.
    When they arrived to the farm, there was an eerie silence. Tony blocked his eyes from the sunlit sky, and asked Ashley, “Hey have you seen any birds?” Ashley looked up out into the sky, and said “you know now that I think of it I can’t remember seeing any animals, at all. Have you?” No Tony said. Come on let’s get the bags and get undercover. Tony popped the trunk and said what’s this? As he held up Ashley’s bag, and make up caboodle. She said, “It’s my stuff I packed for the trip.” Tony started digging around in the bag then he dumped it out. Hey! Ashley said, that’s my best dress watch it! You’re worried about a dress?! It’s the end of the ******** world and you’re worried about a dress! Tony roared. I told you to get supplies Ashley, not crap like this! What are we going to do with makeup and panty hose? Seriously? A hair dryer? What were you thinking? Close to tears Ashley said, I thought I would just humor you, and thought you might’ve been planning a secret weekend getaway. I had no idea you were serious baby come on, you reeked like alcohol! He grabbed the rifle and his bag and roughly said get your s**t, let’s go.
    The shelter was about a mile off onto the property. They walked briskly and was soon there. When they came to a stop, Ashley said where is it? Tony pointed toward a small wooden shack looking building and said it’s in there. There is a security door inside that once you enter the enable code, it will automatically seal us in there for two years. What Ashley said? We will be locked inside? Ya Tony said, but don’t worry, it will be completely dark inside for just a few minutes, then I’ll start the generator and we will be safe and sound. But Tony we will be locked inside! How will we now if it all just settles down in a few days, after New Year’s? Look you saw the chaos right Ashley? Tony said. I saw it she said. Well then you can plainly see that it’s not getting better it’s getting worse, and they’ll be using nuclear weapons, and I wanna live! I want you to live now come on, are you with me?
    As they enter the shack, Ashley realized that the wooden structure hid a iron door and a panel of electronic buttons. He entered the code 0718212 beep beep clunk the system opened the heavy door, and they began to descend the ladder, and before they had even touched the floor the door slammed shut, and they could hear the massive bolts locks locking into place. There was no returning from here. Just about fifteen seconds later Tony said stay here I’ll get the flash light and start the generator. Ok, please hurry, I’m tripping out, it’s creepy down here. Quickly Tony found the flash light and a bright beam lit sections of the room. Tony flashed the light around and quickly realized things weren’t how he remembered them, there was nothing down here. The rooms were empty. The only thing there was was the generator, but there was no fuel supply that he could see. He heard Ashley start to cry, he knew she had seen that there was nothing down here, but them. He rushed over to the generator to see if there was any gas in the tank, and thankfully there was. He started it, and went back over to Ashley who had now crossed the room, and was peering into the empty storage room, where she announced, we’re ********.