Zuflucht

10

Welcome to Kansas! Please enjoy your stay!

We were now officially in Kansas right now and Ashanti has been sleeping the whole time since the whole ordeal. Every now and then I could hear a shuffle or movement in the back but shortly after her light snores would fill the car again. Already knowing what would happen, I turned on the radio and tried to listen to any and everything that could come in. Sadly, only static could be heard and I turned it back off shortly after.
After about an hour I pulled into a grocery store parking lot that noticably looked ransacked. Multiples grocery baskets were all over the lot and some even filled the road. Once we were parked I sprayed myself with some of the pheromone spray and checked on Ash to make sure she was still sleeping.
After I made sure all the doors were locked, I got out and lightly closed the door and made my way inside. It was almost completely dark, so I made sure to grab the lantern we used often at the shelter so I could see my way around. Obviously, a foul stench made its way into my nostrils once I had walked a few more steps inside. I made sure to listen closely for crickets, but I heard no trace of them.
Like usual, I made my way over to the can section to see a few sparse ones on the ground and some that looked like someone tried to hide them till they could come back. I moved the boxes of hamburger helper away and grabbed as many of the cans as possible and put them in the bag growing heavier and heavier.

How could you let that happen...

My thoughts trailed as I continued doing my task.

"Mama, why do they hurt us? What have we done?"

I made my way around the store and continued looking around...

"I don't know baby. What I do know for sure is you don't deserve any of this. That's why you will make it to safety and you will survive this."

As I made it to the boxed goods section, I noticed something small and pale on the ground. Furrowing my brows, I made my way over to it and held my lantern out so I could see better. Once I got closer, I noticed it was a decaying newborn That was wrapped carelessly and almost hidden around the large two liters that were around it. I placed my hand over my mouth to stop the bile that wanted to rise and felt now is the time to leave this place.  As quick as possible, I made my way outside to a grumpy Ashanti who had woken up while I was gone and had gotten worried.

"Come with me." I spoke softly as I finished spraying her down. Despite her being seven, I still picked her up and enjoyed carrying my baby inside the abandoned toy shop. About sixty miles out from the grocery store I noticed a toy store and immediately thought of Ash. Although we mainly bring what we have to, a small toy wouldn't hurt anyone right?

I carried her as gently as possible to the front doors and used my free hand not wrapped around her to open them. If it wasn't for the apocalypse this place would have been a child's dream. Inside the walls were brightly rainbow colored and had clouds and stars painted all around. On one side action figure and more plastic like toys were placed, and on the other were stuffed animals and more plush items. Everything caught Ashanti's attention and seeing her smile brough one to my face as well.

"Pick any one you like." I spoke as I placed her down. She winced as I slightly grazed her arm and I apologized before standing up and examining the place. Luckily this place didn't look as rough as everything else. A few toys looked out of place but nonetheless nothing looked ransacked and broken into.
Ash looked around before she smiled and ran over to the plush toy section. She ran her hands along the soft material before it stopped on a particular item. Grabbing it, she pulled out the fluffy, plush, medium sized rott wierler stuffed animal and hugged it almost immediately.

"Are you sure thats what you want?" I asked as I walked over and bent down to her level and examined it. She nodded her head happily and placed it between her and as she held it close to her chest.

"Are you gonna name it?" I asked once we were on the road again. She was in the front seat eating a can of sliced peaches while trying not to spill any of the syrup on her new plush.

"I haven't thought of one yet..." She mused in thought while trying to think of one. After a minute she groaned in frustration and rambled about how finding the perfect name was nearly impossible. I could help but chuckle at her antics and listen to the clank of the can as she took another bite.

"Don't stress yourself out too much; there's plenty of names out there."

It was quiet for a minute before Ash perked up at the sight of a flock of birds flying in a 'V' shape. She 'oohed' and 'ahhed' at the shape and it's moments like this where I feel like I'm doing right during times like these. She gripped her stuffed animals in excitement before she brought it itself up towards the window so it could 'see' too.

"Sometimes I wish I could be a bird." She spoke softly as they flew behind the tree line out if sight. Her expression was unreadable as she leaned her head back onto the seat.

"I feel like they are they only thing that's truly free here..." I couldn't help but think about her words and how much I felt the same.

Sometimes I feel she's too smart for her age...