Zuflucht

2

Two day.

Just two days left...

I thought as I cautiously made my way through the empty streets of Colorado. Sweat was trickling down my back and pooling into my t-shirt from the amount of weight I was carrying on me along with the blazing sun. I passed by rows and rows of empty cars and it seemed only torture that I couldn't use any of them. The air was questionably calm and quiet which was different compared to the gunshots I've gotten used to hearing often.
I couldn't help but think about Shawnty and how much I would be willing to go through and more for her. She's the reason I am probably still alive, she is worth fighting for, and I sure as hell am not gonna leave her vulnerable without someone to protect her.
I sighed and wiped my face of the sweat that continuously collected on my dark skin and continued tracking through the empty Colorodo streets. It seemed that everytime I go out to look for supplies it takes longer and longer to find something. I can't keep leaving Shawnty unsupervised especially with what the world is going through right now. She's a smart girl, she knows how to defend herself but being seven her defending herself will only go so far. Funny, I say that like I'm not in the same predicament.

Once I got farther into the town I picked a small gas station that was unrecognizable and made my way to the double glass doors. Once I got close I looked between the advertisements on the glass and deemed it empty when I noticed no movement or noise. Still though, I cautiously pushed the doors open and made my way inside.
As expected a musty stench filled the air as the hot sun was just about boiling the inside of the store. I couldn't help but notice the uninviting discoloration from human excrements on the floor that had been sitting and staining the marble tiles for a while. I swiftly pulled my baseball bat out of my backpack, trying my best to remain aware of my surroundings. Something about this place gave me an uncomfortable feeling and I couldn't help but be on guard as best as I could be. I had to do for Shawnty no matter how tiring always being paranoid and stressed is.

I made my way behind the cashier counter and opened any drawers I noticed first. I learned this from finding hidden stashes which sometimes contained a small gun which are plenty resourceful when the times right. Of course with my luck I find nothing and with a huff begin looking around for food to bring back home.
It's when I begin walking down the small aisle that I noticed the black and red substance mixed together pooling out from the aisle next to me. I immediately halted and put my guard up anymore than I could have in the first place. I gripped my bat and brought it close to my chest, making sure to get my attack position ready just in case all else fails. Standing still for a few seconds to prepare myself, I quickly forced myself to round the corner as fast as possible and bring that bat up ready in case of an attack. I recoiled in disgust as an infected was dead and rotting on top of a pile of mutilated guts he seemed to be enjoying before he was shot a few times in the head and back.

"For fucks sake!" Right I uttered those words the sound of items falling off of a rack caught my attention and made my breath hitch in my throat. That all too familiar cricket noise mixed with disturbing wails and croaks became coherent and my instincts kicked in telling me to get away.
Fear krept into my soul as the sounds were just coming from the other side of the ails I was on. I made sure to bend down considering the racks containing old products weren't very tall in the slightest and made my way back for the door. I knew it couldn't smell me, but it could hear me and it will know when that door is being opened. I was sweating bullets as I pushed myself close against the cashier counter and looked at the direction of the petrifying noise to find an infected enjoying the remains on an old woman. Bile rose to my throat as it snapped a certain piece of stretchy flesh from her neck and I had to close my eyes and look away before I was gonna sell myself out from vomiting.

With a shakey exhale I made my way over to the doors and as carefully as possible pushed one open trying my hardest not to make a sound. As soon as my body left the simmering store I bolted and didn't look back not caring the slightest if I was heard or not. Unsurprisingly, I heard the wails and calls of an unhappy infected as it tried making it's way towards me, but because they are unable to see it didn't follow for long. My main fear was if the noise alerted anymore that could be hidden putting me in danger even more than I already was. Thankfully, I didn't notice any more but that didn't stop me from putting as much distance between me and the encounter as much as possible.
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Once dark arrived I found safety in an old basement that was empty for a commerical home. With a tiring sigh I dropped the heavy bag filled with goods onto a random wooden chair and about collapsed on the other one that barely looked sustainable to use. Compared to the beautiful home the basement smelled of mildew and everything looked to be rotting or already has. If it weren't for my stomach complaining I would have fallen asleep on the spot, instead I opted for a can of potatoes making sure to save the big can of whole canned chicken for Shawnty.

As small as it may be I could already imagine the sparkle in her eyes once she got to eat something that reminded her of home; when everything was alright.

A small gunshot could be heard in the distance but I knew it was too far for me to have to worry about. I was physically and mentally tired and sleep sounded like the only thing that would bring me momentary bliss. 
Tommorow, I would have to look extra hard for supplies and food. I can't stay gone any longer than three days and be sane enough to know that she'll be okay on her own.
After pushing the can aside, I got comfortable on the cool basement floor and wrapped myself as best I could with the dingy cover I had to offer. I couldn't help but think as I was turning the lantern off slowly, that this was life, this is real, and this is forever.

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This is inspiration for your beloved main character Fiona!!