promises made, kept, and broken

Chapter 4: And Humans are assholes

When they finally find a service station about half an hour later it already started raining, and their clothes are soaked. Ranboo quickly searches for a safe room to spend the night and dry their wet clothes. They find a staff room close to the entrance, and after changing into dry clothes Ranboo secured the room. Then he hangs up the clothes and hopes they will dry until the next morning. Because he can't light a fire in this room. That would be counterproductive. Michael immediately takes the corner the furthest away from the door and unpacks his sleeping bag and mattress. Ranboo sits down opposite him and thinks about his next steps. He knows he needs to secure the place, but he's not sure if he can leave Michael alone. Sure he was alone for a while but thinking back - Michael said his parents said they would be back soon, and they didn't come back - it's probably not a good idea to leave him alone. He decides to just ask Michael what he thinks.

"Michael? Would it be okay if I go and quickly check the perimeter?"

Michael looks at him, the crossbow, and the door. Then back at Ranboo.

"But you come back?" he then asks.

"I will come back," he takes a deep breath, "I promise."

"I believe you," Michael says and quickly hugs Ranboo. "You're not like my parents. You're way better."

[ranboo.exe has stopped working]

"Thanks, Michael," Ranboo replies surprised.

Then he takes the crossbow and goes to the door.

"Keep it closed and just open it for me. Okay?"

Michael nods, and Ranboo leaves the room.

The service station is almost empty, with just a few zombies roaming outside. Ranboo takes quick care of them and goes back inside as he hears some voices. They are too far away to tell how many there are, but they are closing in on the service station.

He runs back to the staff room and asks Michael to let him back in. The kid immediately complies, and Ranboo barricades the doors again.

"What is going on?" Michael asks him, terrified.

"There are people there. And I don't know if they are evil or not," Ranboo explains. "But they are not going to find us. We're safe in here," Ranboo assures Michael and also himself.

Michael just nods and hugs Ranboo tightly.

After a short time, too short for Ranboos's liking, staps are coming closer. Ranboo still can't tell how many there are, but he is sure that there are more people than he could take on.

Then the door starts shaking, and Ranboo immediately hides Michael behind his legs.

"This door doesn't work. Probably blocked off or the door frame is warped," a voice outside says.

"Let me try," another says, and then it sounds like someone is trying to kick the door down. Michael lets out a faint scared whimper and clings onto Ranboos pants.

"It's going to be okay," Ranboo whispers reassuringly because by now his protector instincts had kicked in and pushed down the fear.

The people outside seem to have heard him talk because they tell him to come out.

"We won't come out of here. We were here first, and the place is big enough. Look for another place," Ranboo answers.

"This is the room closest to the road, and it's the safest."

'Well duh,' Ranboo thinks. 'That's why I chose it.' But the fact that these people are talking with him tells him that they aren't mercs. Because mercs already would've started shooting.

"We were here first, go and find another room," Ranboo tells them.

"You were talking to someone. Who is in there with you?" a female voice asks.

"A child, and you guys pretty much scared the crap out of him," Ranboo answers.

"The apocalypse is no place for a kid," one of the male voices answers.

"He's five. Do your math and back off. Because if you don't leave us alone I'll make you leave," Ranboo threatens.

"We are three people, and you are alone. You can't beat us up," the first voice scoffs.

"That's what you think. I am a recon for a large camp of survivors. and if I don't come back in one piece you'll have to deal with a group of full armed angry men. Do you really want that?" Ranboo lies. Because they don't know he isn't in a big camp. They don't know he is no recon. They don't know anything about him.

The people outside seem to be taken aback by his answer. It's quiet for a while. Then the female voice speaks up again. We'll leave if you tell us where the camp is."

"Back in the city. But I doubt they'll let you in," Ranboo answers.

Then the footsteps go away again, and the people seem to argue about something while walking away.

Ranboo carefully picks up Michael and lets him cling onto him while running a hand through his hair.

"It's okay now. We're safe. The people are gone," Ranboo murmurs.

"Really?" Michael asks, and Ranboo nods.

They are safe. For now, at least. No one knows what is going to happen the next day. It's not living when you are traveling. It's staying alive from day to day.