Still breathing | Original story

Chapter Twenty: Cookies

Word count: 3183

"I'm going out," I told Archie the next morning. I was up bright and early, ready for whatever the world threw at me. "...I'm gonna test out your comic book theory," I continued as Archie hadn't said anything.
I was really hoping he was right about the cold, the snow was heavily coating the earth outside and it seemed to be a good time to get some supplies. It was Caleb's birthday, I only knew because he came into my room that morning and wouldn't shut up about it. I wanted it to be a bit special, I wanted his birthday to be a real birthday. He was only a kid and I didn't want his life to change so much so fast. I couldn't do anything about the apocalypse but I could do something about his birthday.
"I'm coming with you," Archie stated and began to get up.
"Someone needs to look after Caleb," I told him hurriedly. I wanted to be alone. "I'll be fine," I reassured him but he didn't look convinced.
"Where are you planning on going?" He crossed his arms firmly across his body and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him, he was just worried. I'd only properly woken up from a freaking concussion the other day so he was bound to be.
"It's Caleb's birthday," I whispered, "I wanted to get him something... anywhere around here that's not picked clean?" I asked him and he rubbed the non-existent beard on his chin. He looked slightly afraid of what he was going to say, but it didn't stop him from saying it.
"There's a supermarket down the road from here," he finally said. That wasn't too far, there must be some sort of catch.
"Okay," I spoke hesitantly. "What's wrong it?"
"Nothing like that it's just... it's silly." He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Go on Arch," I urged, knocking his shoulder slightly. "You can tell me."
"Promise you won't laugh?"
I stopped myself short of making a joke, Archie looked serious, "What's up with the place?"
"It's just..." He shook his head. "It always seemed dangerous. A massive building full of darkness and a hidden back room, so I never checked it out. I stayed away."
I didn't laugh. It seemed sensible. If he didn't have all that food stocked up I'd call him mad, but he found a way around the problem.
"Do you mean to tell me you would prefer to travel god knows how far to get food when there's literally a supermarket around the corner?"
"Yeah," Archie told me a little sheepishly and I smiled at him.
"Looks like you made the right choice in the long run," I said. "Speaking of runs, I need to go make mine," Archie smiled at, what I thought was, my amazing choice of words.
He drew me out a quick map of the area and I studied it for a second, it seemed pretty straight forward.
"It's just over half a mile and it'll take about fifteen minutes to get there," Archie told me. He then explained what streets he had already highlighted me to go down on the sketched map. " You can't miss it." I put on a smile and nodded softly.
"Awesome," I replied and slipped the map into my pocket. "Um, if I'm not back and it's been well over an hour.." I started grimly.
"I'll look for you," he finished for me. I smiled at him gratefully and turned to leave. "You can't go like that," he called after me. I turned my head to look at him confused and my body soon joined as he reached down and came back with my hatchet.
"I thought I'd lost that!" I grinned and jumped towards him excited, who would've thought a weapon could feel like a friend? I felt the cold touch of the metal first and then the familiar weight of the object. I lifted it slightly up and down and it felt the same as it did last time I had it.
"Thanks," I smiled, still looking at the weapon.
"Also," he went into the hallway and I looked up from my hatchet to see what he was doing. I followed after him.
He produced my backpack and a large jacket. He apologised about the size as I shrugged it on. It covered my bare arms and ran past my hands due to the length. I slung the backpack on my shoulders and I walked towards the door again, wanting the fresh air to engulf me but once again Archie called me back. I tried hard not to sigh or roll my eyes because I just wanted to leave but Archie didn't like that idea very much.
He looked me firmly in the eyes. "If you can't find anything don't be too disheartened I'm sure I can whip something up... and if the place looks too dangerous, come back, don't go in."
I left after that. Archie's words ran through my head, but I knew that I wouldn't leave that shop without at least something for Caleb.