Ready Set Go

8. Bread Crumbs

Buttercup wanted to go home. She awoke with some weird bugs crossing her stomach on their way to god only knows where. Some of them didn't make it. Her stomach grumbled and at the point she didn't care if they would kill her.

They knew where everything was in their neighborhood. Sure, they were running low on food and the garden they did have was failing. But there had to be more stores they could raid.

She grimaced because that was the reason why her parents left. Tulsa was like many large cities, having more grocery stores than necessary packed full of things that wouldn't spoil.

She stayed under the branches under a young tree. She assumed this was where her sister pulled her to because she fell asleep on concrete. But she could feel her feet so she was grateful.

Awan quietly rolled her blanket watching Buttercup. Her hair was long in a long braid. Their father was the one to keep up with their hair. Their mother kept her short and didn't want to deal with that kind of nonsense. Awan's hair was thick and heavy, complete contrast to Buttercup's hair wiry and everywhere. Well, since she hadn't bothered to deal with it recently.

Maybe she'll fix my hair when we can stop longer than to rest. For whatever reason this idea brighten things up for her. She asked Awan if she would braid her hair when they get to Deon.

"Yes! I would love to do that!" Awan struggled to keep her emotions in, hugging the blanket at the idea of doing it. Buttercup resisted giving attitude but smiled instead. At least she hoped it looked like a smile.

When it was time to leave the bridge she fought against the idea of leaving it. It was now in its own way, a home.

"Gideon is waiting on us." Awan said firmly. It sounded weird her saying their brothers complete name. They started calling him Deon when she showed up because it was hard for her to say it completely.

"Are you dropping rocks?" Buttercup asked. Awan nodded. She dropped them in places that was easy to find to show them where they were going. Just their J-cross hybrid. She stopped to leave a couple Bibles for anyone who may be passing through.

Who has time to read? Buttercup wondered but she still carried hers just in case there came time.

A few more hours on the trail Awan pointed toward a sign. It was rusting and partially collapsed.

"I've never heard of this place." Buttercup stated watching for any signs of people. It looked far older than the two of them.

"It was shut down and abandoned.  Grandma told me about it -- it eventually got too costly to indulge in it. They tried to spruce it up but it failed in the end." Awan shrugged, "Mom doesn't remember it."