David couldn''t even acknowledge the screams around him. He was so shocked by his own hands that his brain went offline. After a short breath, he released all the mounting stress and moved on. Only one singular thought remained in his head.


    Without only this one thought, he scanned his immediate surroundings. He saw narrow alleyways with multiple bends, a gas station behind him, and a nature park with a large line of trees.


    He picked himself up with all the empty bravado he could muster and fled towards the park. If you are in a difficult situation and can''t assess your next course of action, flee my boy flee as if the Devil himself is chasing you; David remembered his Grandpa''s words to him.


    Neither did David look back toward the women, the wreck, or even towards the infant. His only thought was to flee, learn more about what was happening to his hands, and then reevaluate his next course of action.


    So he fled with speed that if he had paid any attention to it was exceedingly faster than any treadmill sprints he had ever done. He jumped over benches, bushes, and even newly planted saplings. David felt as if his only way out was to run further and further. As his heart beat louder and louder, his mind calmed down further and further.


    Heaving in exhaustion, he leaned against a tree at least a mile away from the gym to organize his thoughts. So many impossible things were happening all at once that he only picked them up subconsciously. Now, with the distance between him and any other person, David felt comfortable unpacking the things he was concerned with.


    Mentally he went through a checklist of sorts in matters of importance. David tackle one thing at a time, there ain''t no need to overload yourself with anything more than you can control; his thoughts drifted to another of his Grandpa''s sayings.


    The power is out, which might mean an EMP went off and fried all electronics or worse the green ball of light changed the way Physics worked.


    His hands turned into something else. Almost as if he could use his eyes as a microscope the deep ice blue eyes of his zeroed in on his hands. An ashy kind of gray covered his palms halfway to his wrists. He turned his hands around forming them into claws. Nails longer, sharper, and most likely more durable; David mused to himself. He brought two of his fingers together and was actively trying to pinch his fingernail off with no success. He steadily increased the pressure while trying to break the fingernail, but to no avail.


    Something clicked in his brain and he circled back to point 1. Without electricity, there is no power. Without power, all fridges and freezers will be out. Meaning he had to act on this fast. Either acquire more food that has long shelf lives, Canned goods, Ramen, and all the nutritional powder he could find or he could go deeper into the woods and start back on his old hunting trails.


    David was torn as he argued within his mind of the merits of either option hunker down or option hunter''s life. Once again he glanced at his hands as fear started to take hold of him, how would this affect his dexterity, could he even shoot guns, would guns even still work, were all thoughts filtering through his mind at a quick pace.


    He shook his head dispelling those thoughts and releasing the fear. Your thoughts don''t control you, you control your thoughts Daniel spoke within his mind. He repeated this sequence over and over again as if it were a truth of the Universe. Another trick he had learned through the sessions with his therapist.


    As David finished his mantra a determined look crossed his face. Get to his work and grab as many cans as he can. Get home and hunker down. Test as many things as possible.


    With his priorities set and a new conviction acquired, David retraced his steps. He had things to do and a possible Apocalypse to survive. David chuckled at the thought of an apocalypse. In some corner of his mind, he hoped that he was being an idiot. Preparing all these things, making assumptions about his shifted worldview through all the books he had read. Or maybe even his fears of the unknown were playing tricks on him, blowing everything out of proportion. But David had a short-term goal right now. Get non-perishables and then hunker down.


    His mind was set, and as per David''s usual pattern focused on single-minded pursuit. He arrived at the edge of the park. The yellow car was still burning, but not a soul in sight. With relief, David ran to the parking lot and peeked into the gym windows. No one in here either, David muttered to himself.


    Cautiously David approached the doors and took a detailed sweep of the insides. Still no one in sight.


    " Is anyone in here?" he shouted into the gym. Some echoes of his words drifted back to him but nothing else. With relief, David walked in and headed for the locker rooms. First, he checked the water and after opening one of the taps nothing came out. Then he opened as many lockers as he could. In total, he found 6 abandoned duffel bags and 2 backpacks as well as some toiletries and an abandoned shirt. He shoved most of the duffels into a singular one and left the 2nd backpack behind. The toiletries went into the backpack he took. The shirt was ripped in 2 and tied around his hands. He was in no mood to have to explain his hands to anyone or get shot, if guns still worked, on sight.


    With enough carrying capacity, he left the gym. Another sweep told him of his immediate vicinity. It was only a quarter mile to his job, and then a 2 mile track back to his apartment. With nothing else pressing in his surroundings, David took off.


    Stolen story; please report.


    As he approached closer to his job, he noticed some people running towards the store as well. The doors were shut. David chastised himself as he recalled they were automatic so of course they would be shut.


    David saw the throng of people and was barely able to make out the figure of Craig over their heads. Craig was positioned behind the glass and was furiously yelling at the potential customers.


    " I think there''s an open door with a Magnetic lock on the other side. The magnet doesn''t work anymore y''all." David shouted towards the masses gathered close to the doors. As one everyone headed towards the side of the building.


    David gently knocked on the glass and Craig immediately recognized him. With a swift turn of his key, Craig unlocked the door and ushered David inside. David was barely through the doors when he heard the mechanical click of the deadbolt fall back into place.


    " Good thinking with your lie there David we both know there is no side door. I am so glad you are here." His boss rambled off clearly in fear of this whole ordeal " Everyone outside keeps coming in, and the power is out. What will we do with all the meat, produce, and dairy? There isn''t even anything in the disaster handbook about green balls of energy. Like what am I supposed to do here?"


    Craig continuously wrung his hands and occasionally stopped to scratch his neck. The sweat stains on his shirts told David many things but the pupils on him gave David pause. Craig had blue eyes but currently, they were pitch black. He was under the influence of something. David had to be careful of this situation now. Two clear paths were laid before David. Paranoia or good-natured.


    " Hey Craig, yeah I''ve seen that. How long have we got before this all spoils bossman?" David started in a light tone.


    " Maybe another hour or so. I was out for a while there, and then the banging started. I haven''t let anyone in, but all the other employees went home. They wanted to check in on their families. I want to do that too you know. But I can''t let anyone in, you know. What are we gonna do about this, there is nothing in the manual about this, you know. "


    " So we got to come up with something Bossman. Remember a while ago you told me if anything ever spoils cover it in a tarp or empty boxes and use duct tape to cover the cracks. That was a brilliant idea of you. I was impressed. " Flattery always worked wonders with his boss, high or not so David wanted to work this angle.


    " Why don''t you head home, check on the kids and the Missus, and come right back? You know I got this. I''ll cover everything for you and won''t let anyone in. You''ve always said I''m the most reliable one right Bossman?"


    " Of course, I almost forgot about that. You''re right that was a great idea of me. We''ll do just that. I''ll go home and bring the Family here, that way we can all work together, that''s a brilliant idea of mine." His boss said and repeated similar phrases twice more.


    " Oh yeah Bossman, you might even get a Promotion for handling all this so well."


    " Yeah, and I deserve it too, you know? They''ve been letting me rot in this crappy town for years now, you know? Lock the doors tight behind me and don''t forget; No one comes in, alright?"


    With a determined nod, David did just that. He watched as Craig took off and sighed loudly. To make sure he wouldn''t be coming back anytime soon, David waited a short while at the doors.


    While he hated to make use of a high man''s ability to clearly assess situations, this was for the benefit of the whole town; David tried to console himself with these thoughts.


    Some of the people had returned and were banging on the door, but David turned around and strode down the aisles with purpose. He went to the charcoal and took one of the long lighters out of the box. He pressed down on the electrical igniter and nothing happened. Irritated David flung the lighter away. He reached over and grabbed as many wood or block-type firestarters as he could. The liquid ones were excessively bulky for his limited space.


    Next, he strode to the backroom. As many cans as he could carry in 2 of the duffel bags disappeared efficiently. Peas, corn, carrots and peas, but also many spam and chicken as well as tuna cans were his priority target.  The other two duffels he carried were filled with as much Jerky as he could scrounge up. He took everything from the backroom and had to walk back to the sales floor and emptied the rest of the shelves.


    High-calorie-dense foods, with enough protein in them to sustain him for the short term was his goal and he had accomplished that in short order.


    He glanced at the meat department in his store and battled with himself for a split second. ''A cooking fire would attract unwanted attention, especially as he was trying to hide himself from outside influences for now, but would be passing up more food be worth it'' David argued. With confidence, he strode down the short walk, and all the steaks disappeared into his backpack.


    As he passed the water aisles he shook his head, for now, there was no need for that. He had to grill the steaks, plus there was a stream close to his apartment. With already having to prepare the steaks he could boil water.


    The last duffel was filled with as much of the nutritional powders as he could find. Not Protein powders as they were low in calories. There was a small amount of room left so he shoved some twinkies in for good measure. These were his one weak spot and they always would be.


    With all the duffles tightly secured and the backpack slung across his shoulders, David looked like he was ready for war. While he wished he could confidently stride up to the entrance, a feeling of guilt and fear assaulted him.


    Fearful of the repercussions his essential stealing might have, but also guilt as he would be robbing someone else of the opportunity to supply themselves or potentially their families with much-needed food.


    David warred with himself and shoved those emotions deep down as he confidently strode towards the exit. '' Fake it till you make it'' was David''s motto in the current situation.


    He saw the dozens of people gathered as they tried to open the doors. But with the deadbolt in place and bullet proof glass, they wouldn''t be getting anywhere.


    As he approached all activity ceased outside and people begun to beg to let them in. David continued his stride with masked confidence and simply unlocked the doors.


    " No fighting over Food, there''s enough for everyone but don''t be greedy." David intoned in a stern voice, " Don''t take too many perishables and leave some for others. The stuff will go bad quickly. The same goes for Frozen food."


    While he said this he had already moved to the side. Everyone pushed in at once and the first few got stuck on each other. They took off running and disappeared quickly.


    After the door was clear of any stragglers David walked out. He rounded a few corners and then heaved a sigh of relief. He shook out his shoulders already weighed down from all the food he carried.


    A new look of determination flashed across his eyes and he set out back to his home, already planning his next steps.