Fighting to Survive (As the World Dies #2)(36)

Because of Jenni’s leg being twisted, she was reduced to sitting in the elevator scrubbing up what little blood had been in there. Juan supervised the finishing of the walling off of the doors and windows. Jenni was convinced he had her stuck in the elevator just so he could keep an eye on her.

Katie knew this was exactly the case. Jenni’s determination to keep going had resulted in her sprain being worse. Juan was too frazzled by the wounds on her face and her body to let her out of his sight for too long. Katie thought it was sweet.

Travis came through the kitchen a few times. He was helping lug bodies down from the higher floors. They exchanged awkward glances. An unspoken promise had passed between them, Katie still was unsure if she would fulfill it.

A sense of relief permeated the atmosphere of the hotel. With so many people working, things were taken care of rather quickly. All the doors into the hotel were double-checked to make sure they were secure. Any windows close to street level were blocked off. Katie knew that a few crews would be working deep into the night bricking up all street level doorways. Only the loading dock was going to be left operational, but only because the doors were thick metal and very secure.

As the sun set, the hotel came alive with lights. People that weren’t directly involved in the cleanup, such as the sick, disabled, elderly and the children, were brought into the hotel. The smell of bleach had wiped out the reek of death and the up stairs windows were letting in cool, fresh evening air.

Manny and Peggy took up a place at the front desk with a clipboard and a map of the hotel interior. Katie, feeling lightheaded from all the bleach fumes, walked into the lobby to join the growing number of people gathered there.

“Okay. What we’re going to do is call out names. You will come up and get your room assignment and key,” Peggy announced to the group assembled.

Katie favored her bruised arm as she leaned against a pillar and listened to the names being shouted out. She felt very tired. Her hands were bright red, despite the gloves she had worn during clean up. They reeked of bleach. She couldn't wait to take a shower and get rid of that smell.

Jenni was curled up with Juan on a sofa. Juan had his arms wrapped protectively around her. Jenni glowed with pleasure. Katie noted that Jason and Shelley were hanging out together with Shelley’s kid brother. It seemed to be the night for pairing up.

There was a soft nudge of her hand and she looked down to see Jack giving her a wide, toothy doggy grin. She smiled and stroked his ears, making him a happy boy.

Things were moving along smoothly with the room assignments until Steven Mann and his wife went up to the desk. It didn’t take long for there to be raised voices. Mr. Mann had been the man around town as the primary investor in the hotel. He had been rescued from his very swanky mansion only two weeks before with his wife. Katie had heard stories of how the rescuers had staunchly refused to carry out massive trunks of clothes and shoes for them. Finally, the Manns had come with one suitcase each, but were very bitter about the situation. They both refused to do much work around the site. Resentment against them was growing.

“We are used to a certain quality of life and we have been forced to rough it here. I demand that we be placed in the finest suite. That is what we are used to and based on our former lifestyle, it is only right,” Steven said.

Katie shook her head.

“The bigger suites are for families that are still together. We have you on the fourth floor in a very nice room with a king size bed. It’s all about fitting the needs of the people,” Peggy answered firmly, and held out the key.

“Well,” said his wife, “if we are forced to live this way I demand room service now that there is an actual working kitchen and hotel.”

That brought outright guffaws from those gathered around.

Peggy looked up and said shortly, “You’ll get room service if you get off your ass and come down to the kitchen and help out.”

“Steven, speak to the woman. I do not converse with the help,” the woman, Blanche―Katie thought that was the woman’s name―said to her husband.

“I demand a larger room more suited to our previous lifestyle,” Steven repeated. He looked adamant and quite fierce.

“So those of us who lived in trailers should just get the shit rooms?” someone asked.

Manny looked at the list. The Manns had heavily funded his last campaign and he was often seen talking to them. Old habits die hard. “Peggy, maybe we could…”

“No, it was agreed upon.” Peggy held out the keys to Steven Mann with a insistent look on her face. “By vote. Rooms are granted according to need. A married couple only needs a king-sized bed, unless maybe the married couple would rather have two beds?” Peggy smiled sweetly, but her eyes were poisonous.

“Well, I do have a rather bad ba―“ Blanche started to say.

“Just what are you insinuating?” Steven looked ready to blow his temper.

Travis appeared out of the crowd looking tired and annoyed. “Steven, take your keys and go to your room. The world that you loved so much is gone now. You’re now just one of us. A survivor. You hardly carry your weight so I think you’re damn lucky we don’t just make you sleep on a cot in the hallway.”

There were murmurs of agreement.

Steven grabbed the key and fastened his gaze on the Mayor. “I will remember this.”

“You do realize,” Peggy said with a snarky smile, “there are no more elections to fund anymore.”