God Abandoned Us

Chapter 2

They needed supplies. Food, water—anything to keep them going. They hadn’t had time to think about it earlier, with the adrenaline of escape pumping through their veins, but now the harsh reality was setting in. They couldn’t outrun whatever was chasing them if they were starving or dehydrated.

Eve slowed the bike, glancing over her shoulder at Jessica, who was still holding on tight.

The girl’s knuckles were white against her jacket, her breath heavy, but she managed a small nod when Eve asked, “Do you know where the nearest supermarket is?”

"Yeah," Jessica muttered, her voice shaky but steady. "There’s one not far from here. It’s open 24/7. We should be able to get what we need."

Eve nodded, her thoughts already racing. They’d be quick. In and out. Grab whatever they could carry, and keep moving.

The last thing they needed was to linger out in the open, vulnerable to whatever was out there.

The supermarket came into view not long after—its neon sign flickering in the night like a beacon, a promise of safety that felt too good to be true.

Eve’s stomach twisted as they pulled into the parking lot. It was almost completely empty, save for a few abandoned cars, their windows fogged with condensation. No movement. No people.

The hair on the back of her neck stood on end.

"Stay close," Eve whispered as she killed the engine and swung her leg over the bike. Her boots hit the pavement with a dull thud, the only sound in the oppressive silence. Jessica climbed off after her, sticking close as they approached the entrance.

Inside, it was worse.

The automatic doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a brightly lit store that should have felt welcoming but instead radiated an unnatural sense of emptiness.

Shelves were fully stocked, checkout registers were open, and yet there was no one in sight. No employees. No shoppers. Nothing but the soft hum of fluorescent lights and the distant buzz of the refrigeration units.

Eve’s pulse quickened. Something wasn’t right.

“Grab what you can,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she handed Jessica a basket. “We don’t stay long.”

Jessica nodded, her wide eyes betraying the fear she was trying to keep in check. They split up, each moving down an aisle, throwing whatever looked useful into their baskets.

Eve’s hands moved on autopilot—cans, bottled water, snacks—but her mind was elsewhere, ears straining for any sound, any hint that they weren’t alone.

And then she heard it.

A low, wet sound—almost like chewing, but deeper. More guttural. Followed by a heavy, dragging noise that scraped against the tiled floor.

Eve froze, her heart hammering in her chest. The sound was coming from the back of the store. From the storage area.

The sound from the back of the supermarket grew louder, more insistent, reverberating through the aisles like a pulse, a living heartbeat of something dark.

Eve’s breath hitched, her legs stiffening beneath her as she weighed the impossible options: run and hope whatever was in the shadows didn’t follow, or stay and confront the unknown lurking beyond the storeroom door.

But the way Jessica stood there, frozen, wide-eyed and pale, it was clear running wasn’t on her mind anymore.

Whatever courage she’d had evaporated, leaving her rooted to the spot, unable to tear her gaze away from the door that now stood ajar, revealing nothing but the oppressive blackness beyond.