boris at the wheel

“No, no, no, no, no”. Dr Arif Tendu murmured, agitated as he packed his things. The things he would need. The hammer lay by the big screen, gleaming, inviting him. It had been in his room since the start, in case he would need to use it. Outside, people sat waiting, a baby crying, the walls covered in shadows of people.

“No, no, no, no, no, NO.” he shouted that last word. A few people jumped outside, others assumed it was someone not mentally stable. A therapist did practice out of this place. The smell of roses wafted through the air, perhaps to hide the more sterile scent of cleaners. He packed his belongings. He had sent Boris outside to get something, something he needed urgently. He hoped they wouldn’t come during this time. Shit, he should have asked Boris for his gun. His eyes fell on the hammer. This would have to do. And what if it didn’t work? He didn’t want to think about it. But he could do nothing but think about it. And his thoughts were spiralling deeper and deeper into a pit from whence he might not come back. He packed two vials of the virus. It made one of them stronger, it had no effect on another. He checked his two phones, felt the secret one in the lining of his bag, and put the other in his pocket. A few heavy gasps, as if breathing in oxygen for the first time. He pulled out his day to day phone, and put on music via bluetooth, heavy metal. He hated the stuff. He grabbed the hungry hammer and smashed his CPU and monitor to pieces. He turned it off and walked outside. A few people still had fingers in their ears. He smiled weakly at them. And began to pace in the hallway where Boris usually stood. Where was he?

He checked his watch. Two minutes past four. Boris was never late. Shit. Shit, shit, shit. What would he do now? He decided to wait another three, no, two now. Two minutes, and then he would leave. Which car had Boris taken. There were two that he had parked here. One was for emergencies, but he had never suspected that there would be an emergency of this nature, and the other was for his daily use. He had the keys for the backup car. Ok, good. This was good. One minute. He walked out.

It was blindingly sunny. The air was stale and smelled bad. The elements were drowsy. It was the best he could have hoped for. No, he could have hoped for better. But if this was what he was going to get, he would work with it. He flipped open his phone, and sent a message. MEET ME AT THE SPOT. Hopefully Boris would get it. Yeah, he may look like a complete goon, but he had a phd in physics. He was fairly smart. The man was a walking contradiction to people’s opinions. He walked over, and Boris was there. They got in the car, Boris at the wheel.