The Apocalypse: Shelter

Chapter 6

Nick's POV

I slowly open my eyes. The darkness from last night has turned to light. It streams into my eyes and blinds me as I open them. My eyes finally adjust and I open them wider and look around the quiet room. Riely, Mickey, and Lauren are all still sound asleep. I get up and stretch, feeling the muscles in my body relax. I hear a low groan from one of the couches. I look and see Mickey roll over and open her eyes slightly.

"Morning." I say.

She smiles and stretches, "Good morning."

She gets up and walks up to me. She seems so peaceful. How she remains the way she is in this world amazes me.

"I was thinking we should head out after everyone wakes up and gets situated," I say.

"Ugh, do we really have to leave that early?" She says with a pout on her face.

"Don't you want to find people; friends, family?" I say calmly, but a bit aggravated. We can't just stay here for the rest of the apocalypse as the rest of the world goes on without us.

"Okay, okay! I'm just so... tired." she says yawning.

"I'm sorry," I say, "I just think we could find better shelter."

"I know you want to find your family," she says sympathetically, "I do too, but we can't only look for them. We have to find good shelter and this house just seemed... safe."

I nod in agreement. I still think there is better shelter. Maybe we could find those people Lauren was talking about.

"Hey guys," Lauren says getting up from the couch, "Good morning."

"Morning." we say in almost unison.

"How are you guys already up?" Lauren asks, bewildered by the fact that we got up that early.

"I don't know... we just didn't want to sleep in," I say, "We haven't been up that long."

"Oh okay," Lauren says, "So what's the plan for today?"

"Well we're gonna pack up and try to find a more reliable place to stay." I say.

"Why can't we just stay here?" Lauren asks.

"That is exactly what I said!" Mickey exclaims.

"Because we have to find people," I say even more frustrated, "We promised the other group that we would find them! What don't you guys understand! Don't you want to find anybody instead of just sitting here and waiting for the world to begin again!? We would go crazy! We need to find somewhere else to actually live."

Lauren and Mickey look at me in shock. They stand there, as still as statues just staring at me. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see Riely shift on the couch. She gets up.

"Good morning." she says staring at us in confusion.

"Good morning." we say in low voices as we look down at the ground. It's going to be a long day.

We start to gather things for the road. I mostly grab food since I already have a lot of supplies. The rest look upstairs, downstairs, in the kitchen, bedrooms, and anywhere else that would have some supplies. I sit down on the couch and Riely's dogs crowd around me all wanting attention. I pat the couch and her first dog, Harry, jumps up. One of the puppies, Emmy, also jumps up and snuggles next to me. I pet them both while giving the two on the ground attention too. Gracie rolls on her stomach and I scratch it as her leg shakes rapidly from the pleasure. Riely, Mickey, and Lauren then walk into the living room.

"I think we're all ready." Riely says.

"Do you still think it's better to go on the road and find somewhere else to stay?" Mickey asks still uncertain and not wanting to go.