Madman's Break

Caught

It's finally nightfall and I'm ready to go. Demetrius walks out to the courtyard to meet me. He nods at me to ask if I'm ready. I let out a deep breath and nod back it's time. Demetrius pulls out a map then draws the route with his finger. It's almost s straight shot there.

I check my bag one last time then we head out. Buddha comes to see us for a farewell. Waddling with the biggest smile he comes and sits at our feet for some attentions. We give in then pet him for a minute before we leave. On the way we talk about more than the run ahead. " do you ever think about life before all of this" I ask. He responds " I try not to, I like to leave the past in the past". He asks " what did you do before all of this?" " I worked in construction, before that I was in the military" I respond. " did you have a family?" Demetrius replies " a wife and one daughter". " where are they?" Demetrius answers " in Australia, they were on vacation when everything happened". "I've always wanted a kid of my own. what was it like raising one?" A little eagerness enters my voice. He starts rambling " fantastic but sometimes a head ache. She wanted to try out for cheerleading the same year everything happened. Try outs were after the vacation". I notice a change in his demeanor. He had a sad tone when he spoke and began walking with his head down.

"Turn here" Demetrius tells me we're close now. I can see the buildings in the distance in a haze of gas. We put on the gas mask before we get to close. We make eye contact " it's life or death now. Keep your eyes sharp and your head down. Stay quite and look for supplies. Most important, stick to the route don't stray away". I can tell this is a warning I nod and follow. He points to an alley that we will use as an entrance.

We make our way towards the entrance when we hear people talking. We duck down behind a building trying to hear were they are. It sounds like there inside? We duck down and stay lower then the windows making it to the alley. I get my first look at the city. A huge rush of sadness and despair washes through me. Bodies lined the streets men, woman, even children. Buildings painted with blood stains and the city is lifeless. It becomes clear this was no "incident" it was a slaughter. They took the lives of the innocent, children, the mothers of those children, and the fathers that tried to protect them all. Only for there own agenda.

As I step over bodies into stains of blood I can't help but apologize to each one for their suffering. The cold has slightly preserved the bodies. People with half of their skull showing, some with a little hair on their heads, others still having flesh but mostly decomposed. I can't help but wonder why or how anyone could do this.

   I get back on track still horrified at what I'm witnessing. We reach our first destination a warehouse in a small shopping center. Demetrius signals for me to enter a convenience shop on the edge of the parking lot. He hands me a flash light then I nod and we head our separate ways covering as much ground in as little time as possible.

   I notice a broken window I can climb through to get in. I wrap some cloth around my wrist and clear the glass out then climb in. I pull out my flash light and begin surveying  the shelves. It's what you'd expect a gas station to have. I grab a few bottles of water for camp and a juice for me. The glass crunches underneath my feet as I walk around. The shop is fairly intact considering the condition of everything around it. It appears to be more abandoned then destroyed.

   I make my way behind the counter to grab a pack of smokes and a lighter. I grab every lighter I can fit into the small pocket of my backpack. There's a few canned goods I can also pack up for the camp. It's so quite in here almost creepily silent. I can't help but feel like I'm being watched the whole time I'm in the store. Behind the counter is a chair I sit on and light myself a cigarette. After a few drags off of my smoke I can hear the sound of glass crunching. I quickly put it out and hide below the counter. The aroma of smoke still pollutes the air it's obvious someone is in here. The steps begin to get closer and slower in pace my heart began to beat faster. The noise stops just on the other side of the countertop someone is there.