The Risks

May: Chapter 3

The front doors of the supermarket were locked. I thought about just breaking the glass, but I thought against it. I didn't want to draw attention to myself. So I made my way around the building in search of another entrance. The cement walls outside were dingy and dark. There were sprouts growing in the dirt along the building where it met the ground and birds had made their homes in the giant letters of the store's name. When I made it to the back, I found another door that was, luckily, unlocked.

I stepped inside and was immediately submerged in darkness. I slid my back pack from my shoulders, absently rubbing out the sore spots, and fished around for my flashlight, then switched it on. I was inside the pharmacy section of the store. I decided to look for food and water first, then stop in the automotive area to look for some gasoline, then double back here to get some medical supplies. Hopefully I wouldn't need to use it, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

The water was right where it was meant to be. I tore open the plastic encasement on one twenty four pack and started piling as many bottles as I could into my bag. Then I stopped by the canned foods. There wasn't much to choose from, but I managed to find a few things.

My bag was nearly overflowing now, the zipper struggling to close- so I moved on to the automotive area. I doubted that I'd find any gasoline here, but I had to look. I paced the aisles impatiently. My bag was heavy and my shoulders had already begun to ache long before I'd even made it to this store. I tried to redistribute the weight, but I couldn't seem to find a comfortable position. Oh well. 

I was coming up empty handed, so I decided to give up on my search for gasoline in this store. Time to grab some medical supplies and bounce. If I couldn't find gas somewhere tomorrow, then I'd just have to siphon it from other vehicles. 

I grimaced at the thought. That was sure to be a fun learning experience. 

Back in the pharmacy, I quickly filed through the cabinets. What should I take? I didn't know what most of these words meant, how would I know what to use them for? Maybe I should just grab things like bandages and ointments...

My head suddenly snapped toward the front doors when I heard them rattling. They opened and I could hear men's loud voices talking in jittery voices, noticing that someone had been here, making threats on the intruder's life.

Fuck. Well talking to them was out of the picture. Sounded like they weren't going to give me a chance to explain myself. And what was I supposed to say anyway? Hey, sorry I took your food, please don't kill me? I couldn't imagine that going over smoothly either. I'd just have to sneak out.

Their voices were suddenly right outside the pharmacy.

Oh god. Hide. 

In a near state of panic, I flipped off my flashlight and crouched down in a corner behind one of the counters. I took out my gun and it shook in my clammy hands. Shadows came near the doorway and I found myself thankful that it was so dark back here. I just hoped it would be dark enough to give me cover until I could escape.

Surely they could hear my pounding heart -it seemed to be the only thing I could hear. I focused on my breathing; long quiet breaths in and out through my nose. When they came into the room, I could see that there were three of them. They looked middle aged, probably in their late thirties to early forties. It didn't take long for them to realize that someone had been rummaging around in here as well. Their aggravation grew.

Maybe I should just dump the stuff and apologize. I didn't know this stuff was claimed. No foul no harm, right? But I didn't think that would work either. I didn't have to think about if these men were dangerous or not, they obviously were. They didn't look like the type of men who would just take my stuff, but the type who would kill for it.