Reminiscent Hearts

Chapter 2

While Garu drove, Sara had fallen asleep within a few minutes of them leaving the house. Garu couldn't help but feel guilt, as though he should've been there to help them. His grip on the wheel tightened as he only got more paranoid the longer time went and the further they went without seeing any other person or sign of life.

He cursed to himself as he noticed how empty the roads were,'How did I survive? I basically slept through the riots in my neighborhood.' He glanced over at Sara and smiled and pushed a little bit of hair out of her face,'How did she survive? She lives in the next town over, and with the riots breaking out like she said..how did she make it over? There wasn't a car nearby, maybe she walked? But it's too long of a walk to get there in one day..' 

He pulled up to a gas station and stopped the car. He let out a frustrated sigh as he stepped out, and rounded the back of the car as he went and filled up the tank. He was surprised that there was anything in the pump, that and the fact that his card was still able to work. He went to grab his pistol from under his seat once he had finished just to notice that Sara had woken up and was watching him reach under the seat.

"Well good morning Sunshine, how did you sleep?" Garu's voice help a teasing tone to it as her hair was in a frizzy state.

Sara rubbed her eyes as the sleeves of the jackets hung past her hands,"Decent enough..Where are you going?" she motioned at him reaching for the pistol.

Garu pulled it out and cocked the pistol so that there was a bullet ready in the chamber,"I'm just going to go check around inside, see if there's anything we can use that might help us." he tucked the weapon into a holster that he strapped through his belt,"There's a .45 in the glove box for you if you need it, or you're welcome to come inside with me."

She popped the glove box open and saw the weapon. She took it into her hands as she pulled the top back to load the chamber,"I'm coming, I don't want to be alone."

She stepped out as she followed behind him into the little store of the gas station. When they entered, the place was completely trashed. Garu went and collected some food knowing that what he had wouldn't last past the day. Sara in turn, grabbed a bag and filled it with bottles of water, amazed that the people prior to them hadn't thought that clean water would be a necessity. She grabbed a few root beers and Dr. Peppers as well before Garu took the bag from her and went to place it into the car.

Sara walked around a bit and noticed a few first aid kits laying on the ground. She went to pick it up before she heard some groaning noises coming from further down the hall where the staff room was,"H-hello?"

She pulled the .45 out from her pocket as she crept towards the source of the noise. The noise got louder and it sounded as though something was ramming against the door as multiple thudding noises could be heard from inside the room. The noise stopped for a second as Sara stopped in her tracks and watched the door. Garu walked back in and noticed her down the hall, he walked over to her with a confused and curious expression on his face. The door had scratch marks on their side that dug deep into the weak wood of the old painted door.

Garu was about to ask Sara what she was doing until the door crashed down and a person crashed through. Garu was about to help the person up but stopped immediately when he smelt the scent of death and saw the bloodied clothing the person wore,"Sara get back!"

He managed to shove her behind him as the creature leapt to its feet and lunged towards them. Garu pulled out his combat knife and stuck it into the creatures chest as it was just inches away from taking a chunk out of his face. Using the knife to keep it far enough back, he pulled his pistol out and shot a bullet into the creature's head.

He shoved the now lifeless corpse off of him and ripped the knife from its chest as it fell to the ground. He took heavy breathes as they both glanced at the creature before them. He turned to Sara and he pushed his hair out of his face,"You okay?"

She nodded her head as she was shaking slightly,"Yeah..Are you-?"

"I'm fine." He didn't mean to sound gruff with her, but they needed to move. If there were more they'd be coming,"Come on, we gotta move. I'm not gonna risk staying longer and putting you in danger."

Sara nodded her head as she grabbed the few first aid kits that were there and quickly followed him out. He opened her door and closed it as he took a quick glance around. After seeing nothing he climbed in and started the car. He put the pistol under the seat again, and he felt the bag of cash from the register under there as well. 

He glanced at her as they got back on the road,"Why don't you try to sleep some more? We won't be stopping anytime soon. You'll be safe, I promise." 

Sara's gaze met his as she nodded her head. She curled up in the seat while he stroked the top of her head in a comforting manner. He pulled his hand away as he focused on the road,"I'll protect her..I promise." He glanced at the sky for a moment as the clouds grumbled. He smirked before plugging his mp3 into the auxiliary and started to play some music.