"Let's start with electronics, we don't want to run out of batteries for the flashlights," says Iñaki.
Iñaki's footsteps raise dust particles that the flashlight illuminates at his feet. After a few seconds, he finds the corridor he is looking for and enters it. Mike follows behind.
"I've got the batteries," Mike says suddenly.
"Ok," Iñaki replies as he grabs two more flashlights in case they were needed.
"Let's go back."
"Let's go to the pharmacy now."
"Ok."
Iñaki and Mike navigate the corridors like two more shadows. The lantern and the axe are already part of the bones of Iñaki's hand.
"Did you hear something?" asks Mike behind Iñaki's back.
Iñaki stops and looks in all directions.
"No, you?"
"Forget it."
"Ok."
Iñaki follows the direction of the arrow as if it were the only possible way.
"It is here."
"What?"
"Here," Iñaki repeats as he lights up a row of vitamin supplements.
Mike nods and after a few seconds, he begins to stuff antibiotics into his pockets.
"I'm going to get the gauze and alcohol," says Iñaki.
The beam of light guides Iñaki's feet and continues into the hallway. The sound Mike makes as he puts the medicine away exasperates him. Another step. The flashlight illuminates a boot. Iñaki is wearing slippers.
Iñaki bends his knees and prepares for the attack. The light beam keeps going up and finds the end of the boot, but not the beginning of a leg. It's just that; a boot.
"Iñaki?"
Iñaki turns around.
"Everything okay?"
Iñaki nods.
"Gauze and alcohol?"
Iñaki lights up the shelf to his right.
"Here they are," says Iñaki as he fills the backpack. "Let's go."
Iñaki takes one last look at the boot and meets up with Mike.
"Where are we looking now?"
"Let's go to the pet section, it's the closest."
"Great Idea, let's go!"
Iñaki follows the direction of the arrow and enters the labyrinth of products. The wind blows outside and Iñaki hears the glass debris from the entrance being scattered.
"I think it's here."
Mike stops and turns left into a hallway. Iñaki follows him. Iñaki feels the exhibitors at his side, but his eyes do not distinguish the products.
Mike lights up the shelf and grabs the bag with more pounds and the photo of the happiest dog.
"Let's go."
They turn around and now it is Iñaki who guides the way. The feed bag creaks in the gringo's arms. Iñaki stops. " Was that a groan?">
"Did you hear something?"
"No."
"Ok, let's go"
They reach the checkouts again and Mike deposits the bag in the cart while Iñaki acts as the bell. Iñaki's flashlight disturbs the darkness in all directions.
"Well, what are we looking for now?"
"I think it's going to be better if we search separately, we're going to go faster," Iñaki says. "I'll get the food and drink, you look for what we need in the cleaning section."
"Ok."
After a few minutes, Mike and Iñaki meet again at the boxes, depositing the rest of the loot in the cart.
Iñaki looks at the list of things they needed.
"It's all here," says Iñaki, lighting up the cart.
Mike waves his flashlight through the groceries and nods.
"Ok, let's go"
Iñaki pushes the cart forward, and the wheels squeak.
CRIIC An echo expands around him and dies at the end of the store. Iñaki freezes. Mike looks at him just as motionless. "Was that a growl?">
The seconds pass and no sound vibrates in the air again.
"Okay, let's go."
Iñaki moves the cart a little faster and the sound disappears. Mike walks ahead, his light looking for the exit door. Iñaki's eyes go back to the car. He sees a small opening in the back. A can of food rolls in its direction...
Iñaki stretches out his hand. Tries to grab the can. His fingers brush the metal. The can falls and rolls on the ground. Another can falls through the hole. Iñaki covers it up.
Iñaki hears the two cans rolling away from him.
CLAC CLAC CLAC Sounds like they're falling down a ladder. Mike lights up in that direction. A blue "P" parking spot glows in the store. The cans keep going down.
…They stop. Silence. Iñaki sharpens his ear and looks up at the stairs leading to the supermarket's underground parking lot.
An infernal groan comes up the steps. And then another and another and another… The store fills with dying wails. He can hear hundreds of steps coming up from the underworld. Growls rip through the night air. The ladder vomits its smell of death.
Iñaki looks at Mike and then at the exit. The first head appears on the steps. The army of corpses has arrived.
"Iñaki!"
Four zombies, like horsemen of the apocalypse, then appear dragging their feet at the exit door.
Iñaki looks at Mike and the darkness of the store. The gringo nods and they go into the shadows.
The growls do not allow Iñaki to hear his thoughts. The ground vibrates and the air becomes heavy. Flashlights shoot figures in all directions. Iñaki feels a hand pulling on his green sweatshirt. Mike continues moving forward.
Iñaki turns around, raises the axe, and strikes…Iñaki's hand goes numb…something splashes on his face…the hand lets go.
"Mike!"
"Here!"
Mike's flashlight glows on a shelf to his left. Iñaki's flashlight lies destroyed on the ground. To his right is a piece of furniture closer to climb on.
"Iñaki!" Mike's voice is barely heard over the hymn of the dead.
A warm breath freezes Iñaki's skin. He secures the axe in his belt and climbs the furniture. Dozens of products fall after him. Iñaki looks down. A white-eyed ocean hides the ground.
"Mike!"
The beam of light flickers and Iñaki finds his friend on the display stand in front of him. A sea of hungry sharks separates them. The piece of furniture rocks under Iñaki's feet. Mike's movement confirms he's in the same situation.
Hundreds of hands are born from the darkness. Iñaki looks at Mike. Mike looks at him. The growls continue to increase.
"So, what can we do now!?"