This is where Tatum keeps the generator that powers the store. If the generator's green, it's working. If it's red, well, you get the picture.
Currently, the generator is red.
Currently, the generator is red.
It was just as the girl feared. The generator was completely drained. She sighed, realizing that they'd have to make a trip tonight to get a new one. Katie left to tell Tatum the bad news.
Tatum walked outside with every intent of disassembling the broken generator. He approached the heap of junk and gave it a massive kick that only made him cry out in pain.
"Aagh, you stupid piece of shit!"
He clutched his throbbing foot and hopped in agony before calming himself down. Memories of his wife flashed before his eyes but these were different. They felt...real. He clawed at his head until he felt that those memories dissipated. He panted heavily before remembering his objective.
Generator....generator.....
Tears flowed down his face as his hands gripped one of the massive power plugs that connected to the building. He gripped the plug with both hand and began pulling with all his might.
"AAAAAAAH," the plug gave away and sent the man to the ground. Tatum let out a monstrous growl and went on the offensive. Plug after plug brutally ripped from their sockets until Tatum reached the final one. His ferociousness attracted a stray white rabbit that stared at him curiously. Animals were a rarity out in the outskirts, but Tatum didn't care at this point. He shot it an angry glare.
"Beat it," he barked, using his arm for emphasis. The rabbit stared at him for another moment before obeying, disappearing from sight. With the wild animal gone, Tatum turned his focus to the last plug for the generator. His face turned into waterworks at this point.
Maria......Maria......Maria.......Maria......Maria......
The name ran through his mind like a tape recorder that never stopped replaying. No matter how hard he tried to think of something else, his mind only registered that one word. As if he wasn't bawling already, a fresh new wave of tears ran down his face.
"Stop it," he shouted to nobody. "STOP IT! Leave me alone!"
Maria......Maria......Maria.......Maria......Maria......
Tatum was losing it. He was losing himself. His vision became too blurry to even focus on unplugging the last thing that connected the generator to the shop. His hands trembled as he released them from the weak grip they had on the cord. They fumbled inside of Tatum's coat until he finally found the small flask that he placed well out of anyone's sight.
Maria......Maria......Maria.......Maria......Maria......
Those words began destroying any bit of sanity he had left in his brain. Tatum quickly popped open the whiskey-filled container and dumped the contents inside. Like he hoped, the words began drowning from the power of the alcohol until they were washed away from his mind completely. Though he obtained a massive headache, he retained his mentality.
"Okay....okay..."
He put the flask back in his coat and once again gripped the final plug. Tatum pulled with all his might until the cord disconnected from the outlet.
"Done," Tatum announced to himself. "Now I have to load it on the truck."
Gripping both sides of the electricity provider, he strained himself to move the heavy contraption. The massive object was eventually placed on the back of the pickup, allowing Tatum to take a few deep breaths from all his effort. He knew that he needed to gather everyone inside the shop for a meeting next, but he didn't know if he had the strength for it. He rose to his feet and did the best he could to enter the shop once again. When he got close to the doors, he fixed his posture as best he could and walked normally to avoid having his daughter worry.
"Aagh, you stupid piece of shit!"
He clutched his throbbing foot and hopped in agony before calming himself down. Memories of his wife flashed before his eyes but these were different. They felt...real. He clawed at his head until he felt that those memories dissipated. He panted heavily before remembering his objective.
Generator....generator.....
Tears flowed down his face as his hands gripped one of the massive power plugs that connected to the building. He gripped the plug with both hand and began pulling with all his might.
"AAAAAAAH," the plug gave away and sent the man to the ground. Tatum let out a monstrous growl and went on the offensive. Plug after plug brutally ripped from their sockets until Tatum reached the final one. His ferociousness attracted a stray white rabbit that stared at him curiously. Animals were a rarity out in the outskirts, but Tatum didn't care at this point. He shot it an angry glare.
"Beat it," he barked, using his arm for emphasis. The rabbit stared at him for another moment before obeying, disappearing from sight. With the wild animal gone, Tatum turned his focus to the last plug for the generator. His face turned into waterworks at this point.
Maria......Maria......Maria.......Maria......Maria......
The name ran through his mind like a tape recorder that never stopped replaying. No matter how hard he tried to think of something else, his mind only registered that one word. As if he wasn't bawling already, a fresh new wave of tears ran down his face.
"Stop it," he shouted to nobody. "STOP IT! Leave me alone!"
Maria......Maria......Maria.......Maria......Maria......
Tatum was losing it. He was losing himself. His vision became too blurry to even focus on unplugging the last thing that connected the generator to the shop. His hands trembled as he released them from the weak grip they had on the cord. They fumbled inside of Tatum's coat until he finally found the small flask that he placed well out of anyone's sight.
Maria......Maria......Maria.......Maria......Maria......
Those words began destroying any bit of sanity he had left in his brain. Tatum quickly popped open the whiskey-filled container and dumped the contents inside. Like he hoped, the words began drowning from the power of the alcohol until they were washed away from his mind completely. Though he obtained a massive headache, he retained his mentality.
"Okay....okay..."
He put the flask back in his coat and once again gripped the final plug. Tatum pulled with all his might until the cord disconnected from the outlet.
"Done," Tatum announced to himself. "Now I have to load it on the truck."
Gripping both sides of the electricity provider, he strained himself to move the heavy contraption. The massive object was eventually placed on the back of the pickup, allowing Tatum to take a few deep breaths from all his effort. He knew that he needed to gather everyone inside the shop for a meeting next, but he didn't know if he had the strength for it. He rose to his feet and did the best he could to enter the shop once again. When he got close to the doors, he fixed his posture as best he could and walked normally to avoid having his daughter worry.
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