Apocalyptic Culture (Camren/Norminah)

XXV

Listen while you read:
Hennie Bekker - Inner Peace

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Lauren's adrenaline was pumping as they were now in Miami. Her green eyes were glued out the window, in search for anything. The city of Miami did look barren as Camila said. Many of the homes looked to be empty. Windows were broken and doors looked to be kicked off their hinges. Some roofs weren't even present on the homes she once recognized. Lauren was getting an unsettling feeling in her stomach and sat back down with her eyes down in her lap.

Lauren played with her fingers nervously when she seen Camila reach over and grab her hand. Green eyes looked up into brown as they stared back full of sincerity. Lauren flashed a small smile as she intertwined their fingers.

In a matter of minutes they were parked outside Lauren's old home. Dinah sighed as she looked at the home then back at Lauren.

"You don't have to do this, Lo." Dinah said seeing how nervous Lauren looked.

"Yes, I do. I need this closure and I need to see this through." The veteran replied.

"Do you want us to come with you?" Ally asked taking Lauren's other hand.

She nodded her head, "I'll need someone to keep watch in case creos decide to show up."

With that everyone got out of the car to grab their weapons from the trunk, leaving only Camila and Lauren inside. All Lauren could do in that moment was stare at her home trying to prepare herself for what she would see.

"I'll go inside with you." Camila spoke up.

"No, if there is something in there I wouldn't want you to see it. You could wait outside with everyone else."

With that, Lauren took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. She ignored the concerned stares her friends were giving her and continued to walk towards her front door. As she stood in front of her door she swallowed the lump in her throat and grabbed the door handle. She slowly began to twist it and took out her Beretta 92FS pistol. It was then that she noticed it was locked. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and took a few steps back where she then kicked the door causing it to swing open.

She held her gun low as she took her first steps into the familiar home and was immediately hit with the many memories of when she was younger. She looked down at the empty bowl where they would put their car keys in and remembered the nights she would come home from hanging out with friends. Green eyes were searching in the living room as she stop the tears from forming in her eyes. The memory of her family spending nights together watching movies while her younger brother always burnt the popcorn actually brought a small smile to her face. Lauren walked into the kitchen only to find it empty, but filled with the days that her and Taylor would bake. Lauren began making her way to the rooms before she lingered too much in the memories. The first room was her parents and opened the the door with her pistol up, but seen it was empty. The next was her brothers room and found it exactly the same. Lauren simply poked her head into her room and slowly walked towards Taylor's.

She twisted the nob and Taylor's scent immediately hit her nose when she opened it. Lauren lowered her gun as she walked into the room. She looked around at Taylor's old belongings and went to her dresser where a picture laid of the three siblings. Lauren couldn't help the tears forming in her eyes as she looked at her sister's smiling face. A tear fell as she looked around the room and walked over to her bed where a shirt was. She noticed it was Taylor's favorite shirt and took it to hold it close. Lauren took a deep breath of her sisters scent and that was when she fell to her knees. Lauren held the shirt close as she began to cry.