Fall in San Diego

7. the only way

I handed a flashlight to each of them and watched as Michelle opened the door to the shed. I exchanged glances with Peter as we heard the creaking sound the door made as it swung open.

"Come on in." She strolled in, leaving the rest of us standing outside nervously.
"Do you want a place to stay for the night or not?"

We murmured and walked into the shed. The door was so low, I had to bend. Luckily, the roof was high enough to be just a few centimetres above me.

We shone our torches around. The place was a little stuffy and smelt slightly of rotting wood but it wasn't that bad. There was a sleeping bag rolled out on the floor by a corner. At another corner there was a bunch of stuff. Lots of useful things like bars of soap, a pile of clothes, several unopened toothbrushes, a tub of toothpaste, an empty jug, a knife, some ropes, balls of string and most importantly cans of food were placed on a low table.

I reached over and picked up a can of beans.

"Aren't those things like expired?" Tanya asked.

I searched for the expiry date on the can.

"Not until a few months," Michelle said from behind us. She was already nestled in her sleeping bag.

"She's right," I said pointing my light to the imprint on the bottom of the can. "Expires next year February."

"There's a lot of these," Peter commented as I dropped the can back in the pile.

"There's a camping tent over here," Tanya said, "and some sleeping bags."

"It feels so weird to be here. Feels like I'm breaking into someone's home," I said as I sat on a rickety, wooden stool.

Peter chuckled, still looking around cautiously. "Yeah but what choice do we have? Our best choice is to stay here till the morning."

"Anyone want me to get some sleeping bags for them?" Tanya asked tiredly as she grabbed one.

"Yeah...I just realised it would be better than sleeping on the floor," I murmured.

***

I was awoken for the second time that night in the exact same way.

"Larry," someone whispered as they shook me slightly. "Larry, wake up."

When my eyes snapped open, I saw Peter staring down at me with his index finger placed on his lips. When he was sure I got the message, he gestured for me to follow him out of the shed.

“Get a flashlight quick,” he added and stood waiting for me. My anxiety levels rose high at his words but I willed myself to calm down.

I groped for the flashlight that I placed next to my sleeping bag and as I crawled stealthily out of the tarp, I glanced briefly at the direction the girls lay. We sneaked out of the shed as quietly as we could, hoping we wouldn't wake them up.

When we were both out, I glared at Peter and mouthed a what at him.

“Don't turn the light on yet,” he said and then gestured to the right, walking away immediately.

I sighed and tried to wake myself up properly as I walked behind him.

When we'd gotten some distance away from the shed, he stopped walking immediately and spoke up.

“You can turn it on now.”

I flicked the switch. The beam pointed directly at his face.

He shielded it immediately and looked away.

“Don't do that–”

“Why are we here?” I asked, pointing the beam on the floor.

“Because I found it.” He couldn't stay at a place. He was fidgeting and that made me feel a bit concerned.