As we stand there awkwardly, looking over their shoulder, I can see the school bustling with people. How, I wondered, had they blocked the doors? Apparently they had, because when the two teens lead me out of the janitor's closet, I examine various students and teachers blocking up the doors and windows with wooden planks and other things, like chairs and tables. I notice that not one person even bats an eye when I walk out of the room. They just keep working, out of fear, I guessed. I don't blame them.
Once the school is done being fortified, everyone starts setting up classrooms as a sort of dorm system. As I make my way through the crowd of people in front of the bulletin boards, I scan the lists for my name. Finally, I found my name on a paper headed, "room 103", right next to two other names.
"Well would you look at that." The names, Sadaf and Dabby, were the names of the teens who had found me in the janitor's closet that day. I assumed that they did that on purpose. After all, they were the ones in charge. I head to room 103, an old English classroom, and see desks pushed together with blankets draped on top of them. In the corner of the room next to the boarded up windows, stand Sadaf and Dabby. They notice me, and smile at me, a small gesture of acknowledgement. I place my bag next to one of the desk-beds, and hop up onto it. I observe the room, not sure of what to do. Interrupting me, Sadaf taps my shoulder.
"Hey. So… we wanna know your thoughts on something."
"Okay. What do you need my thoughts on?" I responded.
"We want to start a job system. Like, we'll assign jobs based on skills, for example some people to go out for food, some more to clean, and a few people to perform a wellness check of sorts. But we're just not sure what they'll think."
"I think they'll understand. I mean, we obviously need some order around here." It was true, over the past few days the school had gotten quite chaotic, fights had broken out, trash was everywhere, and food was running out already.
"True." Says sadaf. He looks to Dabby, asking for approval. Dabby nods, and he says, "We'll make an announcement on the intercom, and people will sign up for jobs on the bulletin board."
"Alright."
"Say, would you want to be like… an officer of sorts?"
"What do you mean?" I questioned.
"I mean- we want someone to keep order around here, you know, break up fights and stuff. You just seem like you would be perfect for the job."
"Oh!" I say, surprised. "I mean- sure."