After The End Of The World

7. (C)

Cath seemed distressed.

She grabbed my hand and followed a small path in the forest. It was lined with Mushrooms, which gave it a magical feel.
We walked for a while. The forest was silent, apart from some birds. I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

I remembered when I had to leave my house to hide. I lived in a big city, and the military were there to evacuate us. I could not take my pet bird with me, so I had a choice. Leave him there in his cage to die of hunger and dehydration, or set him free so he would at least have a chance. With all the pain in my heart I picked up my best friend and walked to the balcony. It took all the strength I had to open my hands. My bird just sat there, whistling and looking at me, while I cried my eyes out. Finally, he flew away, and I could not bear to watch as he flew into the city. I stayed on the balcony until I could not hear him whistling anymore, and cried until I could not cry anymore.

'Hey Chels, why are you crying?' Cath stopped walking, and put her hands on my shoulders.

I didnt even realize that I was crying. I wiped away my tears with my sleeve, careful not to touch my eyes.

'N-noyhing. I just got nostalgia about my home. God I wish this never happened.'

'Let's go home. I'll make us a meal, I think you deserve it.'

I smiled trough my tears.

'Yeah. That sounds good.'

-

'So what's for dinner?' I striked a match over the matchbox and lit a stump of candle on the table.

'Be careful with the candle, or you might set the house ablaze.'

I laughed.

Cath came in, holding a damping pot.

'I didnt have much ingredients and I am not the best cook but here is what I have. Its potato stew with some carrots and corn.'

My mouth was watering as I heard it. I hadn't really eaten a proper meal in weeks, maybe months.

Cath put the hot meal on the table and handed me a spoon.

'I dont have much cutlery so this is what you have to do with.'

She was right. She had 2 plates, one missing a corner, and a few spoons. She had to use my pocket knife (after boiling it to sterilize) to cut the vegetables, and refused to let me look at what she was making, so I made the table and folded some of her clothes. Her closet was a mess.

I bit into the potato's. They weren't fully cooked but as the dutch say

Hunger makes raw beans sweet

so I ate it anyway. Since I hadn't eaten all day, this tasted like a bliss.

'Gosh this is great!'

Cath smiled and put another spoon of stew on my plate.

'Eat up, there is more then enough.'

I did. Gosh, that was the best I've ate in a while.

After we finished, i helped clean the plates and pan in the nearby river. The clean water cane right from the forest, but Cath warned me not to drink it immediately, but cook it, so the bacteria died.

'I haven't eaten this good in a while. Thank you!'

'No problem! I always had to cook for my brother as my parents left.' Her face turned bitter for a second, but she shook it off.

'Its getting dark. We should go in. Its easier for walkers to get you at night.'

She went inside and I followed.

'May I ask you, where did you live before all of this? I used to live in Amsterdam but the military evacuated me and my family to the UK, since it was safer here.'

'Pretty much the same. I lived in Lisbon, but right after it started we were brought here with a helicopter. It was truly spectacular. My brother loved it. God. That little guy has to grow up in this mess. I wonder where he is...'

She shut the door and claimed trough the window again.

She shoved the crate back, as usual, and climbed back inside.

'I'm dead tired, so I'll call it a night.'  I yawned, and Cath smiled.

'Me too. If you need anything, you can bother me anytime.'

I grabbed the blanket and later down on the couch. A bunch of thoughts rushed trough my head.

What happened to her parents?

Who is that friend she keeps talking about?

Why is she so calm about everything when the world is ending?

I layed there for a while. The fresh air filled my lungs, and I took a deep breath. It was quite a chilly evening.

The chilly evening turned cold.

Really cold.

I was shivering, and my teeth clammed together. The blanket wasn't exactly warm.

I couldnt take this anymore. I stood up and paced to Cath's room.

I opened the creaky wooden door.

'Cath?'

'What?'

'Its cold'

'Of course it is, you have no window.'

'Can I sleep here?'

'Fuck outta here with that gay shit'

'Please?'

'I swear to god-'

'PLEASEEEE'

'Fine, as long as you shut up, I don't want all the nearby walkers here.'

'Thank you!'

I grabbed my blanket and layed down next to her.

'Tomorrow you're sleeping on the couch again.' She mumbled before falling asleep again.

I pulled my blanket over my nose and turned around, facing the walls.

I couldn't sleep. Outside, you could hear the groaning of walkers, and it freaked me out.

Suddenly, a loud BANG echoed from the forest. Cath shot up and rubbed her eyes.

'Fuck! Get in the basement, now!'

I trew the blanket on the floor, and ran to the living room. I grabbed my backpack on the way.

I dove into the basement, hitting my head at the bottom.

That wasn't smart.

Cath rummaged through some drawers and went into the basement. With one hand she grabbed the carpet and tree it over the trapdoor, then she closed it.

'Don't say a word or they might find you!'

She hissed.

I shut my lips together.

-

I wanna introduce a new character. The reason I dont is because I'm all about character development and I want to develop these 2 their friendship.