Jacks Magic Beans Read Online Free

freezer. So who the fuck are you ?”
    “Marcel. And you just stay right there, man. Don’t make me hurt you. I’ll mess you up.”
    Shaking his head, Jack turned to Sammi. “What’s going on?”
    “They . . . the people . . . Mr. Brubaker . . . Jerry tried to . . .”
    She broke off, sobbing.
    “Somebody help me with this door,” the other woman said. “Is there a way to lock it?”
    “It’s a safety door,” Jack told her. “Can’t lock it from the inside, just so nobody accidentally gets trapped. You can lock it from the outside, but even then, somebody inside the freezer can still open it. But why do you need to lock it?”
    “Duh. So they don’t get in. Haven’t you been listening?”
    Jack took a deep breath. “Who? Who is they ? Where did all this blood come from? Who’s hurt?”
    Sammi wiped her nose on her apron. “A lot of people. Hurt or dead.”
    “Look . . .” Jack ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t understand this. What the hell is happening?”
    “First the door,” Marcel said. “Otherwise, we’re not going to be around long enough to tell you.”
    A quick search of the freezer turned up several lengths of plastic strapping bands that had been used to fasten boxes to skids. There was also a large roll of shrink-wrap. While the women held the door closed, Jack and Marcel tied it shut with the plastic bands and makeshift shrink-wrap rope—running them from the doorknob to a nearby shelf, thus making it hard for anyone outside to pull open the door. As they finished, someone else pounded on the door. Unintelligible moans and shrieks accompanied the blows. Fingernails screeched across steel. The four survivors stared at the door, not daring to speak, barely breathing. After a few minutes, the sounds faded.
    “Sounds like a zombie movie out there,” Jack said.
    “You don’t know the half of it,” Marcel replied.
    “Jesus,” the older woman panted. “I can’t believe this.”
    “Quiet,” Sammi whispered. “They might still be out there.”
    “You’re right. Sorry.”
    Sammi shrugged. “It’s okay. What’s your name?”
    “Angie. Angie Waller.” She winced, gently rubbing her side.
    “Are you okay?” Sammi asked.
    Angie nodded. “I’ll be fine. Some old lady kicked me in the ribs, but I don’t think they’re broken.”
    “I’m Sammi. This is Jack.” She turned to the black man. “And what did you say your name was?”
    “Marcel.” He moved past them and checked the door, fingering the bands and shrink-wrap ropes, making sure they were tight and secure. “Marcel Dupree.”
    “It’ll hold,” Jack said to Marcel. “I was in the Scouts. I know how to tie a knot.”
    Marcel didn’t answer. His attention remained focused on the door.
    “So,” Jack sighed. “Are you guys going to tell me what’s going on or not?”
    “How can you not know?” Angie asked.
    “I was taking a nap. What did I sleep through?”
    They told him.
    THREE
    They remained inside the freezer for the next hour, huddled together for warmth and whispering, careful not to attract attention. Occasionally, someone on the outside would try the door, but the makeshift bonds held. Eventually, the screams and cries subsided. Angie, Marcel, and Sammi all had cell phones with them, but when they tried to dial for help, none of them could get a signal since they were surrounded by steel walls.
    Shivering, Sammi clasped her arms around her shoulders. “It’s cold in here.”
    “It’s a freezer,” Jack said. “It’s supposed to be cold.”
    Their breath hung in the air like wisps of fog when they spoke. The compressor hummed softly on the other side of the wall.
    “Besides,” he continued, “it could be worse.”
    “How?” Sammi asked. “What could possibly be any worse than this?”
    “The lights could go out.”
    “Actually,” Marcel said, “that’s a good point. We know the power is still on. Otherwise the freezer wouldn’t be running. So if the electricity is still on,