Waveland

Chapter 26

Blackness covered the night sky. Rose was lost in her thoughts. Going over everything that happened. Calculating all of the variables that lead to Christian being taken and the probability of his survival. If he would have just left her behind like everyone else the chance he would have escaped, but he stayed and so did the silent broody boy in front of her. 

"I think we should stop here, rest and then walk the rest of the way," Tyler spoke for the first time in hours. He glanced over his shoulder at her. They traveled in silence. No sounds of aliens, no sound of people. David and his men probably already arrived safely back at camp. Rose's cheeks flushed with anger thinking about the lies he was spiraling. He would never attempt to his people that they encounter aliens, it would just freak the civilians out. Their sweet little bubble popping with reality. 

Tyler stopped moving waiting for Rose to catch up. In front of them was an abandoned small rusted square building. Peering through the dirty glass windows there was no sign of movement. Some pieces of wood were still poorly nailed in front of the windows. A failed attempt to stay hidden. The building was falling apart at the seams. Rose walked closer, running her fingers over the rough old wood. glancing between the holes in the boards, the space was stacked with metal high shelves. An abandoned convenience store.

"Scared of the dark?"

"Glad to see you are still talking to me." Tyler's voice was rough, he didn't even smile at Rose's attempt at a joke.

"Always so serious." Rose planted her maroon combat boot on the door kicking on the double doors shattering the hinges and flying open. A couple of birds panicked at the sound, and immediately flew outside. Rose didn't flinch at the movement but behind her Tyler ducked down like the birds were going to attack him. In all reality it was more likely something else would find them as easy prey, devouring their feathery flesh.

"You could you be any louder?" Tyler grumbled walking to the back of the store, his pitiful face gone.

"I don't like surprises. I prefer them to come out then for one to be hiding in a dark corner. Loud sounds will draw them out." She never said she was intelligent but she was not a coward. 

"Always the badass, princess." Tyler crouched down in a corner, shuffling through his bag. He didn't shiver underneath her dark stare, of course he never does. 

Reluctantly Rose walked past the empty aisles, scarce cardboard boxes lay scattered on the shelves, nothing left from the beginning when every place was ransacked through. People despite to feed their families, awful humans eager to do anything selfish enough to stay alive. She traced her fingers against the cold steel. Dust particles imprinting on her skin. 

Tyler was digging through his backpack, as she squatted down parallel from him. "Let me see your wound." He didn't look up as he began tearing the thin athletic tape against his teeth. His jaw clenching from the pressure, his upper muscles breaking through the thin piece of fabric he calls a T-shirt. Everyday Tyler wore the same white T-shirt, but Rose noticed during training if never lasted long before the heat was too unbearable he needed to show everyone in the camp his pure muscles. 

"I'm fine, it's not that bad." She shrugged her shoulders. Her brain was too focused on what happened to Christian to care about her own injuries. Pain didn't faze her anyway. If it wasn't life threatening there was no point of fussing over it. 

"I can see the blood seeping through your jeans." Tyler pushed the bag against the wall, inching toward her. 

"I have dealt with worse." Their eyes met. She didn't break his stare. A small smile broke through Tyler's face. Grinning with the white tape still wrapped around his fingers.