Them

Betrayal

Chapter Sixteen:

Betrayal

Jessica

I'm about to give up on this walking thing. My wounded thigh wasn't making anything better. I am complaining a lot and I'm pretty sure Luis is going to give up on me any minute now. My stomach fluttered at the thought of him, but squirmed when a metal garbage can started to roll across the road we were walking on. A cat. A flipping cat was in the garbage can and meowed at the four of us. We stared at the cat and the cat stared at us. It amazed me that cats were still alive. This one was so skinny, you could see it's ribs from a mile away. "I say we eat it." Kal jokes and we keep walking down the road, forward, to the Z-Safety Zone.

I wonder what it will be like, the Z-Safety Zone. Will it be small, with few starving people; or will it be small, with crowded starving people. Either way, it will be fantastic to be with people I love... I'll consider Kal. Dad was chatting away with Kal about how we should keep saving food even if we're close to our destination; things could go bad. "What's it like?" I intrude. Dad answers but doesn't look at me, "What's what like?" Rolling my eyes, Luis specifies for me, "The Z- Safety Zone; what is it like there?"

Gregory smiles and absorbs the sunlight on his face, "It's home."

Home wasn't wonderful... from what I remember.

"Hey, look over there." I point to a building. Lewis Music Store. I love music stores- Even though I don't play any instrument. "A music store?" Kal wanders as he stares at the rusty store's sign. "Can I take a look in there?" I say with enthusiasm. Everyone one of us shares looks, questioning ones, confused ones and Kal wasn't even paying attention. Luis shrugs and shares a final look with Gregory. "Go ahead- But not by yourself." Dad states and playfully hits Kal's back, encouraging him to go with me. I face Luis and smile, "I'll be right back. I mean when was the last time I had fun?" He smiles right back and rubs my arm, "We'll be right out here. Yell if anything happens."

"Sure thing." Kal grins and the both of us walk into the store, while Luis and Gregory sit and wait on the curb.

It was such a very old store, not because it's been 5 years since someone's been here. It had an antique feeling, it's as if I couldn't touch anything because it seems so fragile. A grand piano was leaning on it's side against the wall, one of it's legs had been broken off. I touched a key, waiting for the beautiful 'ding' to sound but it was too old and too broken. There were dusty CD's in a stack next to a CD player. "Try Me!" The label on the CD player read. I looked through each CD, searching for something recognizable. The only one that looked familiar were the Christmas Songs. I inserted the CD in the CD player and waited for music to erupt... It didn't. I checked the back of the player. Batteries missing. "Hey Kal," My eyes search the room for him and they find him next to the cash register, "Got any batteries?" He furrows his brows and stands next to me, observing the battery compartment of the CD player.

"Only in my flashlight. I need them." He debates. "Just one song and you can put them back in your flashlight." It started to sound like I was begging. Do you know what it's like to not have listened to music in so many years that feels like an eternity? Kal starts to rummage through his bag for the flashlight and I keep walking around the store, looking for things that will be useful on our never ending journey. "Play song 6." I say when I hear the sound of batteries being placed in the CD player.

"Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul, with a corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal." The song echoes through the store and I bob my head to the music. Kal starts chuckling, "What a coincidence.. It's Christmas."

"You've kept track of the date?" I ask astonished.

"Of course," I hear him breathe in deeply and pause for a moment but then continue, "It's a perfect day."