Levi's POV
I sat in the car for hours contemplating the phone call I had with my dad. The sun and the moon greeted each other as one set to sleep and one rose for work. Screams from afar jolt me while I hide from wild animals appearing nearby from time to time. I can't go home. I just can't.
Taking off my seat belt, I peeked at the store across the street on my right. The door is wide open and the lights spark on and off now and then. Aisles of products are located in a parallel line in front of the door. All I need to do is sneak in, just like in the movies.
I slowly unlocked the door checking my left and right for enemies. Being in an uncrowded place in the city, the noise of some trash blown by the wind is the only thing you can hear at the moment. The door swung open and I ran as fast as I could towards the store. Animals were visible a few blocks down the road, some chased people who were trying to do their businesses, like me.
My eye caught a glimpse of tiny glowing marbles at the corner of the street so I stopped to get a proper look at it. The lack of lighting in that area made it harder and to my surprise, I see a wolf, staring right back at me. A beat of drums echoed through my head synchronizing with my heartbeat. I want to run, I need to run. I'm gonna die. My heart was beating faster than ever and my lungs began to suffocate. The wolf carefully approaches my direction, growling as it prepares to lunge right at me in case I try to run. I feel light-headed. I opened my mouth to scream for help but no words were coming out.
It's my time to die. The wolf lunged forward, running at me. I stared at it and stepped back in surprise. Suddenly, stiff arms wrapped around me. I spun around and knocked on what felt like strong metal. Clanks, thumps, and clattering noises were audible, and before I knew it, I was already sitting on the floor with an old lady wearing a green uniform, locking the door in front of us. The wolf growled and left defeated.
The short white-haired lady helped me stood up. She groaned as she lifted my weight off the ground. I held my head, dizzy. "Oh, dear. I hope you're alright?" Her sweet voice helped calm me down for a bit. She reminds me of my grandmother. I nodded. "Thank you… so much."
"What were you thinking? Standing out there on your own. If I didn't hear your footsteps, I wouldn't have left under my desk and you would have been dead meat." I looked at the mess I made. "Sorry, about that. I didn't know what happened."
"Come sit, your legs are shaking." She guided me to one of the chairs near the cashier. "Your white slacks, there's blood." I breathed.
"Oh," She searched her legs for wounds and didn't find any, so she asked if I'm hurting and scanned my body. "Look, you cut yourself on your right arm, dear. Let me get you a first aid kit." She said in a sing-songy voice. I gave her a gracious smile and nodded.
"So what's your name?" She asked, picking items for cleaning my wound. Alcohol and stuff.
"Levi."
"Levi?" She turned to look at me for a bit and went back to her business.
"Levine Zimmerman," I said, staring at the floor.
"By any means… Do you-"
"Have a connection with the President? I get asked that question a lot. And no. I don't." I looked her in the eye. How did I become so good at lying?
She shrugged and approached me with the items in her hand. "I'm Bernice. But you can call me Nan." She smiled at me. How can someone look so peaceful and content in a situation like this?
"You're too old." I blurted out. "I- I mean, to work. You're too old to work."
She chuckled while she cleans my wound. Ouch. I hissed. It stings.
"Well, I have to work because healthy foods are expensive, assuming you don't know that. My doctor advised me to stop eating meat if I want to live longer, and I have no one to support my needs but myself."
"Where's your family?"
"Reagan City. They're too busy with their lives." She sighed. I stare at her. How can children abandon their parents? Then, it reminded me of my relationship with my dad. It's not like it's something I can be proud of either. I shook my head.
"Are you okay, dear?" She asked.
"Yes."
"AND you're done. You can fly now, bird." She chuckled.
Speaking of fly, I have to go back to my apartment. "Thank you," I said, shyly.
" Where did you come from, dear? Why were you alone outside?" She took a bottle of water and drank.
"I needed to get groceries, then it happened." I took a shopping basket and went from one aisle to another to get some canned foods, snacks, drinks, medicines, tampons, and some toiletries. And Beer, yes, please. Just one. " Uh, do I still have to pay for these?" I yelled from across the room, and the door beside me banged. Son of a-
"Shh." Bernice put her finger on her lips and mouthed, "Come here."
"What was that, Berni- Uh- Nan?" Resting my hand on my chest, I went to her.
"It's a vicious goat." The banging continued. "It followed a woman inside when things were chaotic. I tried to help, but when I got in, it was already feasting on her. I had no choice but to slam the door shut." She looked disappointed. Feeling a sudden urge to comfort her, I lightly pat her back.
A few moments later, she broke the silence. "So, you're gonna leave, dear?" She turned to look at me.
"I have to."
"Well… Okay then. But be careful. And come back if you have nowhere else to go."
"How about you, Nan?"
"I think I'm going to have to stay… with these knees? I won't last out there." She chuckled.
"I have a car. I can take you anywhere." I want to return the favor for saving my life. That's the least I can do.
"Maybe someday, if you plan on going to Reagan City. For now, I would rather stay. Let me put those in a bag for you." She took the basket off my grip and walked to the cashier. "You need not pay." She said in a sing-songy voice.
I looked back at the staff room door, noticing that the goat finally gave up ramming its head at it. "I locked myself in my apartment for so long then when I got out, there were already animals walking among humans in the city."
"Yes, the police officers had to hunt wolves because the animals are attracting predators into the city."
"Wolves are close to extinction, aren't they?" I leaned on the counter, raising an eyebrow.
"Mr. Reagan had saved a few animals from extinction. Do you not watch the news? What do you do?" Her brows furrowed, handing me the groceries. "I play games and watch some movies, read books and the sort." She nodded and smiled sweetly. She walked me to the entrance and unlocked it for me. I lent my hand for a handshake to scan my card on her bracelet since I know she will refuse payment.
Beep.
"I told you there's no need to-"
"Keep safe, Nan," I butt in, as I snuck out to my car, checking my left and right from time to time for safety. I'm going to find out what's happening.