章 73: [73] Cochrane
The road carried us around urban Calgary, bypassing the heart of the city with its looming skyscrapers and desolate streets. We finally found ourselves in Cochrane, a breath of relief escaping us at the sight of a semblance of civilization. Our stomachs were empty, our ammunition depleted, and our spirits needed replenishing. In front of us, nestled amidst small buildings and wide, open fields, was a local tavern, seemingly untouched by the chaos that had overrun our world.
Our entrance into the tavern was an odd symphony of creaking wood and the silence that swallowed the chatter within. All eyes fell upon us as we walked through the door, looking every bit the motley crew of survivors that we were. Cassidy, still in her sports bra and underwear, stuck out like a beacon, a fact that she seemed to be relishing as her grin widened. Hazuki held herself with a silent dignity, while Kaya remained unreadable. And there I was, looking every bit the ragged leader of this band.
I strolled up to the bar, tossing a crumpled bundle of notes onto the polished wood. The bartender, a burly man with a grizzled beard and a shrewd gaze, regarded the money before looking back up at me. "Cash?" he grunted, eyebrow raised. His gaze was piercing, assessing us and our situation in a glance.
"Yes," I responded, keeping my voice steady. "Do you accept it?"
His laugh was a harsh bark that echoed throughout the silent tavern. "Cash?" he repeated incredulously, turning to share a look with a group of patrons at the bar. "No, buddy, we ain't accepting that useless paper no more. We're operating on a barter system now."
Barter system. I should've guessed it, really. In a world where the established order had collapsed, old ways of life had returned. I turned to look at the girls, meeting their questioning gazes.
"Alright then," I said, turning back to the bartender. "We'll have to see what we can offer."
The reality of our situation began to sink in, a feeling of helplessness blooming in the pit of our stomachs. We had nothing to offer, no resources left to barter with. As the weight of that realization settled on us, we turned to make our exit, empty-handed and even emptier-stomached. But fate, it seemed, had a different plan for us.
A rumble of laughter echoed through the tavern as five burly men sauntered over, their smiles smug and full of confidence. They were gruff and imposing, the kind of men who would make most people step aside. Muscles strained against their rough shirts and their eyes held a look that was both calculating and predatory.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" the tallest one drawled, his gaze wandering over our group.
Without a word, the men took seats next to the girls, openly hitting on them with an audacity that would have been laughable under different circumstances. I saw Cassidy's hand twitch and knew that she was only a breath away from decking one of them. The muscles in my body coiled, ready to intervene, but then a different idea sparked in my mind.
I leaned over to Cassidy, whispering in her ear. "Play along," I said, meeting her incredulous gaze with a steady one of my own. "Trust me."
There was a moment of hesitation in her eyes, then a glimmer of understanding. Her gaze flickered towards the other girls, a silent communication passing between them.
"Fine," she sighed dramatically, turning towards the men with a flirtatious smile. "A round of drinks sounds wonderful, don't you think, girls?"
Q: Would you let a stranger buy you a drink?
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