The Next World

Chapter 35

"We're clear," I said.

Denise started to gag when the door closed.

"You okay?" I asked.

"We gonna find out what you had for breakfast?" Daryl asked.

"I'm good. And oatmeal. Just so you know," Denise said.

I chuckled. We looked around. The place looked to be untouched.

"Hey," Rosita called.

She'd found the pharmacy. Daryl went and opened up the shutter.

"You want me to hold your bags or...?" Denise said sarcastically.

Daryl and Rosita ignored her.

"You're not our bellhop, Denise. You aren't," I said reassuringly.

She nodded my way. The meds were all still intact. The three of us made our way over the counter.

"If you set them on the counter, I can tell you which," Denise said.

"No, we're gonna take it all," Daryl said.

"Are you sure? Because..." Denise started.

"No, it's fine," Rosita said.

"It gives us a better variety," I said.

The three of us began putting the bottles into our bags. There was suddenly some thudding that was coming from somewhere in the store. We leaned over to see that there was a door to the far right.

"It's just one," Rosita said.

"It sounds like it's stuck," Daryl said.

"Wouldn't worry about it," I said.

We went back to filling our bags. The shelf I was raiding was almost empty when there was a loud crash. I quickly made my way to the counter and leaned over it.

"Denise?" I called.

She had knocked over some glass bowls.

"What the hell are you doing?" Rosita asked harshly.

"Nothing," Denise replied.

She then made her way outside.

"I've got her," I said zipping up my backpack and hopping over the counter.

I went out the door and looked to my right. She was sitting down when I reached her.

"What happened?" I asked taking a seat next to her.

"Nothing," she said softly.

"Come on. Talk to me," I said.

"I saw something," she said.

"Was it a walker?" I asked.

"Yeah. And..." she trailed off.

Tears had started to build.

"It was something awful, wasn't it?" I asked.

She nodded looking away from me.

"I'm assuming you've never seen anything like that before?" I said.

She shook her head.

"I'm sorry. This world...it's an ugly one. Even more so. Sometimes you struggle with surviving. But regardless of how shitty this world is, you keep finding a way to keep fighting and keep surviving because that's what living looks like now. You haven't been outside the walls. You haven't seen what the modern world is like. But in time, you will. Because I know that you are stronger than you or anyone else gives you credit for. You understand me?" I said.