Broken World

CHAPTER 4

Start of the search

I'd like to say the sunshine peeks above the horizon, giving off a warm, golden glow to the room, but in reality, it's cold, dark, and stuffy when I wake up. I stretch and yawn silently as I get out of bed, not wanting to wake Cameron. He snores silently and I watch as his chest falls and drops with each breath. I tiptoe to the washroom, brush out my hair, and wash my face, then I walk to the kitchen. The wooden floor adds to the coldness and un-coziness of the hideout but I've gotten used to it from the week that I've been here. Turning on the gas stove, and grabbing a frying pan as quietly as I can must not of been quiet enough because before long, Cameron slowly walks out of our room, face washed and hair brushed.

"Scrambled eggs?" I ask him, "fresh, off the farm." I add in a country accent. He smiles and laughs,

"Sure" he answers, then says in a country accent back, "look at'em pearls, they'll make a tasty breakfast they will"

"I'm sure they will" I say back, "y'all better grab a seat at the table now." We both laugh for a few seconds and Cameron takes a seat at the table. I crack two eggs and scramble them in the frying pan, they turn from white and yellow to just yellow and as I scramble them the smell of scrambled eggs wafts through the hideout.

"Add salt and garlic salt" says Cameron, "it'll give them more flavour."

"Thanks" I say "you cook?"

"My dad taught me a few things" answers Cameron.

"Your dad's cool" I reply.

"Was cool" corrects Cameron. We remain silent for a few moments while the eggs sizzle in the pan. I add garlic salt and salt I find in a cupboard just above the stove. I then mix it in.

"Anyways" Cameron breaks the silence, "I think we should get ready."

"For what?" I ask.

"Aren't we gunna find your parents?" Cameron replies, "or at least get some more food just incase we ever run out?"

Cameron always thinks ahead.

"Ok, so what do we have to do?" I ask.

"A lot" answers Cameron.

At 10:34 we have a pack of first aids, a bag of food, a few extra clothes thrown in somewhere, and an assortment of weapons ready. I gravitate more towards the gun or the bow and arrows because it means not having to get close to anything or anyone to kill it. If I had to stab someone close up I don't think I could do it. I would be able to see the person better and know where, exactly where, I injured them. I would feel too bad.

"Ready?" Cameron asks.

"Ready" I answer.

We put our bags on our backs and we start to climb the ladder. As we reach the top I start to smell the musky, damp odour of the shed. Cameron slides off the piece of wood on top of the hole and we climb out. It's still light outside and I hear birds chirping their morning music. It's quite peaceful actually. A faint morning breeze blows through holes in the shed's walls and windows, and it makes me feel refreshed.

"Ok let's see how bad it is outside today" Cameron breaks the calming silence. We peek outside the shed door and see a clear view of trees, green grass, and the sun shining brightly in the clear blue sky. There's some movement in some bushes far away and we see a creature walk carelessly through the tall grass.

"You know there not that bad" I say, "as long as they're not hungry they don't seem to be as scary."

"Yea I guess," Cameron agrees sarcastically, "they're just like hairless, naked, people that eat other living humans, not to scary"

"Well they're kinda like animals now" I hesitate on the word 'animals'.

"Yea" Cameron agrees.

We take a step onto the grass and dirt. The softness of the ground comforts me like an old friend. There are no soft floors in the hideout. All hardwood. We check to make sure nothing is around when we start to walk in the direction of the houses.

Creatures pass us but only stare as we hold our weapons up towards them. They sure are smart for being dead. Leaves crunch under our feet and trees blow in the wind as we walk further and further away from the comfort of the hideout. A caterpillar slowly wriggles up the bark of a tree and I stop to observe it. It's slightly furry, and it's little black feet move one after the other to get to the top of the tree. It's yellowish brown colour makes it hard to see on the brown bark but I still watch as it climbs higher and higher on the tree. Cameron watches behind me. The caterpillar stops for a moment, but then moves again. All of a sudden a screech fills the air and a black bird comes out of nowhere. It's takes the helpless caterpillar in its jaws and flys away. I stare at the once occupied bark. Tears well up in my eyes. Cameron takes my hand and steers me away from the tree but I resist. I kneel down and put face in my hands.

It was such a small thing, but it reminded me of what a messed up world were beginning to live in.

•END OF CHAPTER 4•

Hey :) I hope you liked this short chapter. I'll try to publish a longer one on Monday.

Comment if you have any questions, ideas or thoughts and remember to vote if you like it!

-Riley