I looked shocked for a moment but then a large smile appeared on my face,
"R-Really?!"
"Don't get excited, we still haven't found any boats in a drivable condition so we have to keep in mind that the boat isn't here until we found one."
"But, you're sure that those are boat keys, right?" Andrew asked, feeling hopeful. He couldn't help but doubting the possibility that it isn't one so he asked again.
"There's a chance that they're not..." He trailed off and Linda said confidently.
"I'm sure of it."
A short silence persisted as we all wondered what happen to the owner of the shop. Linda seemed to notice the mood worsened, trying to divert the conversation.
"Anyway, no need to think about it too much. There are still things we need to gather like a grill, coal or propane to cook the fish with so we'll have to look into that as well. Hopefully in the same condition as with these poles."
"Ah, you're right."
"Ah, don't forget a change of clothes. I'd love to stay with you all but we're all stink."
Linda covered her nose as to indicate how worse our conditions were. We noticed a moment too late because of how preoccupied we were the past few days.
She led us out the store and the roads by the docks were bloodied and remains of corpses as we walked to the next store in hopes of finding any usable tools and supplies. She'd stop us every once in a while to check the inside of a store before going in but nothing useful was there for us and the next store we went to finally show the results of our hardwork.
It was a store that sold things for outdoor usage such as grills, gardening gears and anything that could be considered useful for us. It was thrilling like having found a bunch of treasure in the middle of harsh journey, but this is even more than that.
"Grab everything we needed for our travel and make sure canned foods and water your first priority." Linda shouted. I nodded along with the two boys.
The store was not in a best condition than the last one but the tools and everything inside are not in a mess, almost like knocked over aside because of the people hurried on outside.
Linda and Andrew were wandering around in the cooking utensil section, looking at the messed up area with several of the knocked over grills and inspecting them whether they were fine or not.
As far as Linda could tell, they were in good condition. She asked Andrew if it worked and he stated that as long they had propane tanks it will worked.
"We should stock up with as many of them as we can carry," She told him. "We should also consider getting some heating appliances as well as solar charge to use it in the boats later."
"Living in the boats..." Andrew mumbled. "You make it sound like we will live forever in the ocean."
Linda glared at him and argued.
"Once we found a safe place we can be sure to be fine but it's not. Everywhere is nothing but undead and looters waiting around for us to be caught in their places like predators to a prey."
Andrew stared at her as she still continued.
"And I sure as hell won't be their dinner even if the world was going to end."
Linda huffed as she released her inner desire to survive to Andrew. He gets it but somehow feeling guilty, provoking the girl without as much of a solution to survive.
A rise boiled up in his throat as he apologized.
"Sorry."
Andrew looked away and bring the grills into the new bag, taking few of the propane and anything they needed for their travels. Linda put her hand on his shoulder as she received his apology and continued her search.
On the other hand, Tyler and I still looked through the clothes and gardening section, found some seeds to grow a small garden. But troubled to pick a clothes for us since we have different size and taste.
Who would possibly thought that we will still having a hard time choosing clothes in the midst of the crisis. There were clothes scattered around but none of them were clean nor in a good condition besides a few pieces here and there.
"I guess we'll bring a decent one like a jacket or blanket warm enough to protect us from the cold." I muttered and I glanced over at the others and thought how lucky they are to find something useful quick enough than us.
Bark!
"What is it, Buddy?"
I could see the dog out of my peripheral vision, bringing stuffed toy to Tyler.
"Do you want to play?"
Bark!
"Ah, we probably need something easy to carry to get a little fun on the boat." I wondered aloud and Tyler brightened up. I can sense what he's thinking in this short distance.
"No more than two toys for the dog."
He pouted, which was the first time for me seeing him like this. I faltered before giving in.
"Fine. Three and that's it." He put his hand in the air, looking proud along with the dog's bark, no-- our dog. I guess since we will bring him on our journey, why not try to get closer? Well, sacrificing my dislike towards dog with Tyler's happiness was worth enough, at least that's what dad will say.
Dad... I never thought about dad once ever since we made it out of the house.
I gripped a watch tighter than before since I snatched it off the counter, trying to distract myself. Still didn't work but worth a try.
I looked down, seeing the watch in a good condition, reminded how I snatched it because it could give signal loud enough to alert the undead and allowing us to run away.
Then a hand shook my shoulder.
"Are you okay, Rere?"
I raised my head and stared at him. Yeah this is fine. When we found our safe place, we both can remember dad together.
I smiled weakly as I replied to Tyler, "I'm all right. Let's go get the others."
For now, I need to get myself together. I can't get distracted anymore. Our lives are at stake. Just like what dad always said, be responsible, and that's what I will do.
Comments (0)
See all