Girls Never Die || TripleS

11 - Cooperation

The car was quiet as Kaede drove down the road. She found the silence odd, then realized there was no sound of chewing. They had just successfully gotten away with taking some food, so she wondered why Shion wasn't eating.

Kaede looked behind her, confirming her suspicions. Shion looked at the floor, unmoving. In front of her was a bag full of dried and canned foods, and in her hand was an unopened bag of chocolates.

Kaede turned her eyes back onto the road. "Aren't you going to eat?"

Shion perked up and looked at her with downcast eyes. A moment later, she laid her gaze back down with a shake of her head.

"You earned it," Kaede said. "You worked for it."

"We took it from someone else," Shion mumbled out an argument.

Kaede sighed under her breath. "They won't be running out for a couple of days. They also have all their weapons."

Only the sound of wheels rolling against the asphalt vibrated in Kaede's ears.

She heard Shion sigh. "Why can't we just get our own supplies? Like everyone else? We don't have to steal," she tried to reason.

"Stealing is what I've known to do all my life," Kaede admitted, and Shion went quiet. She glanced at the girl through the rearview mirror, watching as she glumly traced her thumb over the package, the bag crinkling under the light pressure.

Kaede huffed and looked away from the depressing scene. Something about it upset her.

She drew in a breath. "We have both seen first-hand how terrifying those infected are; we were there when it all started. There's a reason why you chose to stay with me instead of going out on your own."

Shion looked down and gulped. Kaede was right. She didn't have her tied up anymore, which was something she had done in the first two weeks. Before Shion realized it, she had gotten used to just sitting in the back of the car and going with whatever Kaede said.

With a heavy sigh, Shion gently tore open the pack of chocolates and put a piece into mouth. She held back a hum as she slowly chewed on the treat, her guilt overriding any sense of fulfillment.

Silence once again overwhelmed the vehicle.

Kaede's brows furrowed as she noticed something odd on the road ahead of her. As she drove closer, she realized the asphalt stopped, leaving a gravel path in front of them. Sucking in a breath, she slowed the car down to a stop.

Shion jerked forward as the jeep trembled over the gravel. She looked up curiously. "What's going on?"

Kaede shut the engine off. "Wait here." She clicked the door open and stepped out. Shion watched the girl as she observed their surroundings. Thick foliage and uneven grounds circled the two girls. Kaede walked around the car, peeking her head out to search for anything remarkable, but other than the gravel path, everything was the same.

"Where are we?" Shion asked as Kaede peeked into the jeep. The thief pressed her lips together then sighed. She opened the glove compartment in the passenger's seat and pulled out a map. She brought it close to her face, scrutinizing the guide, and did a once-over of their entourage again.

She did not recognize anything.

With a grunt, Kaede threw the map back into the box and closed it. She then reignited the engine and settled into her seat.

Kaede stared at the steering wheel for a few seconds before cursing under her breath.

Shion peered over the back seats. A feeling of unease crawled up her neck. "What is it?"