Downfall Of The Living: An Anthology Series

Orphans of the Apocalypse: Chapter 3

III

Cynthia wakes up suddenly from her sleep. Andy wasn't at her side, but in front of her with Roger drinking coffee together. Andy sips from the cup as Roger makes two more cups at a makeshift portable stove. Andy sees Cynthia, thinking she barely woke up.

"Good morning, Cyn," Andy greeted her. "Coffee."

"Good morning, kiddo," Roger said as he handed Cynthia a cup of coffee.

The coffee warmed up Cynthia's hands and she began to drink from her cup. It had a bitter taste that woke her up immediately.

"We figured to let you sleep in a bit before today," Roger said. "I think there are animal crackers in the box you can have with your coffee."

Cynthia dug through the bin for a box of stale animal crackers. Paired with coffee, it was better than nothing. Handing the box over to Andy, he grabbed a big handful, smashed them in his hand, and mixed them into his coffee. Roger finished his cup of coffee and placed it in his wash bin for later.

"We should get ready in about ten minutes," Roger said as he tied his boots. "Get your gear together and we'll head out to the quarantine zone."

Roger grabs a corkboard that has a small map from a brochure of the neighborhood in the center, surrounded by paper drawings of the districts with crosses and circles on them indicating house units that have been searched and ones that need to be searched. One sticky note on the far corner of the brochure map of a square that represents the quarantine zone.

"The quarantine zone is about several blocks away from where we are," Roger said. "It's past the red houses in what used to be a community center. I have been avoiding that place for the longest and now can be a good opportunity to gather what supplies those dead things are sitting on."

"How do we go about it?" Cynthia asked. "Sneak in, shoot our way through."

"Sneak in," Roger replied. "We have a better chance if we keep our heads down and play it smart. I have some extra gear for us. Some rounds for that revolver of yours, maybe a knife for Andy if he gets in a jam."

Andy was a little excited to be given a knife for the first time. However, Cynthia was a little hesitant about letting him have one.

Roger cleared his throat. "Are we ready to go?"

The siblings nod their heads. Roger takes the brochure map before putting the board away. "Gear up, kids."

Roger prepares his bag with his essential gear. He loaded his rifle with the rounds he had in his trench coat pocket. His pistol was holstered on his belt, fastened around his coat, and a hatchet.

Roger had given some extra .357 Magnum rounds for Cynthia's revolver, and both she and Andy a pocketknife. Cynthia empties the spent rounds and replaces them with new rounds, all while Roger instructs Andy on how to defend himself with his new knife.

"All ready?" Roger asked. "I'll check and make sure the way ahead is clear."

Roger peeks out the door and exits the safe house. Andy promptly follows but is stopped by Cynthia.

"Andy," Cynthia said. "You stick close to me the whole way there, got it?"

"Okay," Andy nodded his head. "Are you okay?"

Cynthia rubs her eyes. "Yeah, it's just that I can't help but not trust Roger."

"Why not?" Andy said before Cynthia shushed him for being too loud. He then whispered. "Why not? He fed us and let us sleep in his home."

"That's why," Cynthia whispered. "When's the last time someone has let us in their home and given us food? Never. You can't be too trusting of people Andy. It can kill us. We need to be careful, that's all I'm trying to say."