War of Peace

Chapter Twenty One

Gianna

Camden and I have been sitting in the parking lot of the market for at least ten minutes after we filled up on gas. I'm getting worried and as I start thinking about going inside, I see the four of them walk out, wait no! Five of them? There's a bald man walking among them. They're holding supplies in their arms and Kyle is carrying a grocery basket full of food. Alex has two jumbo packs of bottled water stacked on his arms. When they reach the car, I notice a pin on the bald man's jacket. It stands out because the pin is white against a thin black zipped jacket. It has the letters DLHP on them. Camden unlocks the car and Kyle opens the back door.

"What the hell you guys! Get him away from our car!" I holler, jumping in front of my sister in protection.

The man is far from intimidating, but the pin takes care of that job.

"Gianna, this is Dr. Hernandez. Dr. Hernandez, Gianna. He's here to help us. He was threatened by the head of the lab to have his family killed if he would not work for them. He's going to help us put an end to this all," Kyle informs. His sickness must be a lot better because he's no longer wincing and groaning.

I'm still hesitant, but I step back from Hayley. Camden presses a button that pops the trunk open. I watch as everyone puts the items in the trunk. I glare at the bald man. I still don't trust him, but I trust the others, so I must give him a chance.

Alex comes back around to the car door and hands me a few bottles of water.

"Thank you so much!" I say quickly grabbing them and opening one. "Slowly sip on this Hayley," I say, handing her one of them. I open one of the others and begin chugging it. Everyone else returns with their own bottled water and gets secured in the car.

"We should sleep," Silas suggests, yawning.

"Let's go back to my house for the night. We can eat there and change out of these filthy clothes," I say quietly, keeping my eyes on the bald man.

It feels like no time has passed by the time we get back to my house. I guide Hayley out of the car after everyone else gets out. It's probably no later than seven because it gets dark earlier this time of year and we couldn't have been at the market for more than an hour.

Everyone else is unpacking food. I don't have much of an appetite because the only food we're going to be eating is dry processed foods because everything else would've been spoiled by now. We don't even have working microwaves or ovens.

I walk back into my house with Hayley by my side. The house is different when it's completely dark and trashed. I almost don't want to return inside, but I'd rather sleep indoors tonight.

I wait in the kitchen, setting all the chairs upright around the table as everyone else brings in the bundles of food. It's weird inviting a middle-aged bald man into my kitchen, let alone my house. He notices me staring, but it doesn't stop me from doing it. He should know that I don't trust him.

There were lots of canned foods placed on the table. I immediately grab the peaches and go to the drawer that has a can opener. Thankfully it's still here. I quickly open the can and begin slurping up the peaches from the can. Everyone's staring at me and I stand flustered. I set the can of peaches down and hand over the can opener, looking at the ground. I really hate being the center of attention. I turn my back and continue eating my peaches. Kyle walks and leans against the kitchen counter in front of me, interrupting me from my moment alone.

"So does that embarrass you?" He asks, breaking the silence. He holds a jar of peanut butter with a spoon sticking out of it. He's eating straight peanut butter. He smiles and scoops a large spoonful and licks it clean.