Where It Lies

Chapter 3;

"Fuck, dial tone again." I slam my phone onto the desk in the staff break room, having been the third time I've tried to get through.

"Clara, the lines must be down." I hear as a locker door closes, frustration taking over me as I lean against the desk. Gripping the edge of the desk, my eyes close as I breath in and out deeply.

"I need to know he's okay Jasper." I say, gritting my teeth through the frustration.

This can't be happening.

"Well, let's go get him."

Swallowing away the fear of it being the end, I look over to Jasper just a few feet from me.

"Let's go." Without hesitation I grab my phone and step over to my locker, unlocking it to retrieve my belongs.

Closing it behind me, we walk out of the break room. Making our way back down the small hallway and into the open area of our store. The bodies of the customers and employees we once worked with still in their place on the floor. I want to look away but, everywhere I look there are bodies.

"Oh no, Eunice.." I say softly, running over to her limp body on the floor in front of the dessert display.

"No.. No.." Shaking my head, I close my eyes as I lay a hand on her shoulder. She still felt warm to the touch.

"Clara, we've got to go." I feel a hand on my shoulder, turning my head only slightly to see Jasper beside me.

"Yeah, okay." Nodding, I stand. "Have mercy on your soul." I whisper just above a breath, turning away from her body as we walk to the entrance of the store.

It fails to register as the tear slides down my cheek, my heart aching for so much to make sense.

"What's the plan?"

"We'll take my car. If you need to take yours to your house, I'll follow you." I say as I walk next to Jasper just outside the entrance doors, the sight of bodies and cars scattered throughout the small parking lot.

"Works for me. Put it somewhere safe." Jasper nods over to me as I retrieve my keys from my apron, our cars only spaces from one another. Glancing over, I see the ruins of the crashed plane on the street.

"Stay behind me. Don't stop for anything." He tells me as I open my door, giving him a light nod in return.

"Will do." Sliding the key into the ignition, my small Honda roars to life. His car doing the same as my doors closes. Within seconds we are pulling out of the small parking lot, taking the street opposite of the wreckage.

I take the moments alone to collect myself. The things I know as of now; Everyone is dead.
I can not get in contact with my son.
I'm going to lose my shit.

I can feel the tears beginning to well up as I drive behind Jasper, trying our best to avoid the trail of cars on the highway. The journey to his apartment from our work is only five miles, but felt like fifty by the time we pull into the parking lot.

My headlights hitting the fallen bodies on the sidewalk as I drive to the far end of the complex, parking just behind Jasper as he parks. Turning off my car, I open the door and step out, keys in hand.

"I'm going to get a few things. You can come inside if you'd like." Jasper says as he walks over to me.

"Sure."

I follow Jasper to the sidewalk, avoiding the few bodies that lay in our way. Taking the stairs up the second floor, we take a left to a door labeled '27'. I watch as Jasper slides the key inside, turning the knob and pushing it open.