The Beginning of the End

5) Home Sweet Home

"Lauren, hurry!" I hear mom say through all the ruckus coming from everywhere.
Nate's with mom in the front trying to keep up.
I'm in the back with my weapon at hand trying as hard as possible to get next to mom. It's really hard because people keep on trampling through us. I don't know how we got separated, but we did.

BOOOOM *car alarm* AHHHhhhHh

"Lauren! Over here!"
I stop in my tracks holding on to a car mirror so I don't get pushed away with the current.
"Psssst." I hear it again. Wait, MOM. NATE. THEY'RE PROBABLY WAY AHEAD NOW. omg...what have I done, what have I done-
"LAUREN ELIZABETH MENDIETA ESCOBAR."
I quickly turn to find mom and Nate hiding behind a few bushes.
Oops.
Running to them, I start tearing up at the thought of losing my mom. And even Nate.
Yep I went there. Nate.
"What's wrong, what's wrong...sweetie what's wrong?" Mom says trying to calm me down as I bury my head against her chest.
"It's- it's just- I- I th-thought y-I l-ost -love- y-you"
"Honey. As long as I am here, nothing will ever happen to you. Or Nate." Nate comes over and joins the group hug.
"Now come on, we only have a few more hours of sunlight, better get going." My mother says as she takes both of our hands and drags us to through the forest.
"M-mom where are we g-going." I manage to get out while tripping over rocks and avoiding to make noise.
"I found a cave a few miles west while looking at the geographic map earlier. We might be able to reach it before sundown if we hurry."
"Mom," Nate suddenly squeaks.
"Honey, hold on." Mom says.
"But mom, th-"
"Nate, be quiet. We can't make noise."
"MOM." Nate stops in his tracks dragging his heels into the dirt.
Mom and I turn to find a Nate looking up at us.
"What? Nate, this is no time for st-" Before Mom could finish her sentence Nate pulls us both down so we are crouching.
Nate points to a figure in the distance. Its walking, but slowly, and you can hear the faint groans and screeching coming from it.
I stare. I can't move.
Oh no. oh no oh no oh no.
He's walking towards us.
Ah fuck, he sees us.
"Um, M-Mom," Trembling as I whisper. "m-mom?" I turn to find Nate trying to pull out Moms leg out from two over lapped rocks.
Shit.
"Uh, honey. it's ok, you've done this before. Remember? With dad and I? We would go hunting?"
Sadly, I knew what she was asking me to do.
Sure, I've done it with fake animals and bulls eye shit, but never have I ever intentionally shot at a human. Nor do I plan to.
"Bug, you got this. Just pretend it's just another Bulls eye... "
The thing is getting closer.
"Just hurry it up a bit..."
Mom looks worried.
Nate is just staring. not even trying to get moms leg out.
Umph. I walk to a bush.
1...2...3...
"Ah-" hesitation takes over.
The thing looks my way and attacks me.
Trying my hardest to get the thing off me, I see my mom frantically attempting to pull her leg out.
Ugh, this guys breath smells like ass.
"Muchacho. Get yo hands. off. the. GOODS."
I say as I struggle to push the heavy shitface off me.
He lands on the ground.
"LAUREN RUN." I turn back, and the thing jump scares me into tripping over a stick.
It grabs my foot and I start yanking it as hard as I can.
Before I can do anything more, an object flies across my head and hits the shit faces forehead.
What the fucking fuck.
I quickly turn around and see Nate standing straight and with a frightened look on his face as if he just saw a ghost.
"Nate..." he looks rather pale.
"Let's go." Nate says with a stern face as he walks off.
Mom and I share a glance as we get up and run after Nate.
Finally we find Nate peeking around a gas station stand thing out of the dense forest.
"Nate, what are we doing here we have to go. come on, LETS G-"
"Lauren shhh, Nate might have a good point here if he's thinking what I'm thinking." Mom waits for Nate's response.
"Look." He points to the food station. Like the one's they always have at gas stations.
"Ok two things. one, we are never getting past that boarded up door without making noise and because we don't have any equipment. two, do you see what I'm seeing because I'm seeing an overrun gas station with blood saying not to go in there." I should say more, but I don't want to pass precious time.
"Remember that day when Dad took us to Auntie Jordan's gas station," he pauses to look around to make sure no "thing" was in sight. "well, while Lauren was helping her out at the desk, I snooped through the back looking for pennies. and while I searched for pennies I saw this small like door with a cheap finger nail lock on it in the storage space. Being the creep that I am, I kneeled down, unlocked it with a penny and looked in. It was like a mini room with tools and pillows. Surprising enough there was a sign that said "storage 2" and-"
"Ok listen Nate, we don't have time, just get to your point already" Flushed, my mom glares at Nate.
"Ok ok, so at the end of this room there was a door, and it opened to the parking lot. I'm saying that if maybe all gas stations are like this and they have 2 storage units, then maybe, we have a place to stay for the night because look, it's getting dark and Lauren can pick a lock. Who knows maybe we'll find some pretty useful stuff in there."
I glance at Mom. Mom glances at Nate. Nate glances at me.
"Ok fine. But we are taking a big risk here."
I look at Mom for one last ok glance.
There it is.
"Ok um Nate, where is that door of yours."
"It should be behind the back of the building.
I look ahead. Motioning Mom and Nate to follow me, I creep towards this empty car. peeking over its headlights, I point my bow to the back of the building.
Clear.
As Mom and I swiftly run to the wall, thinking Nate's behind us, we search for the door.
No where to be found.
"Nate, I guess your wr-"
"Psst, Mom, I found it."
Mom and I run to Nate apparently on the other side of this big ass truck.
There it is, "Storage 2"
"Lauren, hurry!" Nate says and before he can say anymore shit, I grab my bobby pin and start picking the lock.
Click
the lock opens.
I look back to make sure they are ready for me to open the door. Mom gives me a nod.
Ok.
I give the hand motions of 3...2...1...
I gently open the door stepping neck with my weapon in the ready.
The room is dark but the sunset is giving us the light to see the connecting locked door and bags of rice, beer and towels.
I feel a push and suddenly all of us are in the room.
"Sorry, you were taking too long." Nate says then I give him an annoyed look.
Out of the corner of my eye I see a flashlight and lantern.
Bingo.
Grabbing the lantern I tell Nate to slowly close the door.
Damn pitch black af.
I then turn on the lantern and hang it on a nail on the wall.

"Home sweet home"

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(A/N): OK I KNOW I KNOW, THIS CHAPTER IS SHIT AND SHORT BUT I DONT HAVE TIME TO WRITE AS MUCH ANYMORE 😫
SORRY
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~Italy 💖