*Pant*
*Pant*
I had to get out of here.
At all costs.
I was searching for a place I could take refuge in where the infected rats couldn't reach me. Trying to be as still and quiet as possible, I bumped into the entrance of a convenience store. Looking around, I could tell there was a sign in front as a disclaimer before shopping:
"Take moderately. Three packets of each item max."
"Perfect!" I exclaimed mentally, "I took the right bag too!"
Checking if the coast was clear, I proceeded to the instant food isle. Taking three packets of ramen, energy drinks and water, I was about to make my exit when I saw an infected rat in front of me - ready to leap out. Having our own staring contest, the door was swung open a few minutes later.
"Oi, let's get the basics, and out."
"On it."
The rat - sparing me - headed to where the sound was coming from. I saw a boy's shadow about to make a turn to my isle when I shouted at the person to look out for the animal.
Luckily seeing it on time, he then quickly placed a catcher and it fell for its trap.
"Nice and swe-"
He then saw me. Nothing to say, we simply stared at each other and before we knew it, we looked away as soon as the other boys came along.
"There has been someone all along?" the blue-haired boy asked.
"So you were the one who saved Sam," said the black-haired boy.
As for the one I 'saved', he had red hair. With a serious demeanor and attitude, he seemed more determined not to let anyone or anything get in the way of his survival. Zipping my bag and about to walk away, the black-haired boy spoke again.
"Weren't you going to ask him to thank you?" he asked, pointing at his friend.
"Not at all," I said, "That's his decision. I simply tried to be of assistance in that moment. That's all."
"Don't have to be modest."
Turning to face the red-haired boy, he walked towards me with his arms folded, "Too modest of you to say."
"It's called honesty," I replied. "Good bye."
I was now heading for the door when he spoke again.
"Hey, girl!"
I quickly turned my neck to face him, giving him a look of horror.
"I don't know your name, so..."
"Backpack girl would have been fine thanks."
"Anyway, where are you headed?"
It was until he asked that question did I start to question myself...
Where was I headed?
"Wherever the road takes me," I replied, with the thought I sounded cool.
"Foolish girl," I heard him mutter the words as he shook his head.
"Okay sir, do you have a better idea of where you are headed?" I asked, folding my arms, with a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment.
"Yes. To the safe zone," he said with a glint in his eyes, he even smirked.
"Safe zone?" I asked, blank at his words, "Is there even one?"
"Of course," the black-haired boy jumped into the conversation, "We are headed there."
"It's even close to the border," blue-haired added.
I simply stared at them, unsure of what to say. A part of me tells me to ask them to take me in while my other, introverted self tells me to 'fake it till we make it'.
"Staring is rude, you know?" red-haired asked.
"Sorry," I said, when I realized I had zoned out. "Safe zone near the border you say?"
"Yeah?"
"In that case-"
"We could take you there too."
I looked at red-haired. He seemed serious and his offer sounded like a 'while-it-still-stands' type.
"In that case," I said, "I will come with you."
"Let's go," he said, heading out.
I followed behind him, and the boys too. It would have been a struggle for me to walk all the way... I would have been dead in a day! I sat in the front while blue and black-haired took the back seats. We were silent in the car - there was nothing much you could talk about with a stranger you found.
"Do you like the radio?" red-haired asked.
"Yes, please," I replied, putting on a smile on my face.
Turning back on the road, he put the radio on and we listened to news reporters talking about the NecroF virus, the number of deaths and although they could touch on safety measures, they never spoke about where or how to get to the safe zone.
"Isn't it weird?" I suddenly blurted out.
The two boys were already asleep and red-haired was left.
"Do you usually blurt out things like that?" he asked.
"No - It's my first time in decades. Anyway, as I was saying-"
"Sighs..."
"I am trying to drop pieces of lore here!" I protested.
"Fine, what were you saying?" he asked begrudgingly.
"Isn't it weird how the news always tell us how many people have died but refuse to tell us where the safe zone is?"
"..."
He then looked at me for a minute before taking his eyes back to the road, "It's an inside job. They infect people, citizens die and the population is reduced."
"Ouch," I said, placing my hand on my heart, "Don't be a sadist."
"I'm being realistic-"
"You are simply being optimistic."
"Real-istic."
"Opt-imistic."
"I won't argue with a child," he muttered, his hands tightly gripping on the steering wheel.
I am no child!
Deciding to close the topic, I kept my eyes on the side of the window. All the abandoned houses, shops, no sight of people on the road... thinking about his words,
"It's an inside job. They infect people, citizens die and the population is reduced."
Could it really be the case?
But my stubborn heart refused to believe. Not everything bad has to be an inside job. Real viruses occur - such as NecroF. I refused to accept the idea that a person could be that bad to the point of creating a virus to reduce the population.
***
My stomach was hurting really badly. I tried my best to hide it from red-haired but he was somehow ahead of me.
"We can make a quick stop if you want," he said, a hint of concern in his voice.
"No, I am-"
Just then, everything overwhelmed me at once, causing me to vomit instead.
"Hey!" he shouted, causing the other boys to wake up.
We took some time to take a breather while I tried to calm myself down - especially my stomach. I never thought I would be car sick.Red-haired gave me a ginger drink."It helps with nausea."Smiling, I took it from him, "Thanks."I drank it and immediately felt better afterwards. I was about to get up and he offered me a hand."Don't fall. There are no hospitals nearby.""Thanks again," I said as I took his hand and went to the car.As soon as I got into the car, I was met with two more concerned boys."Are you okay?" Black-haired asked."Thanks, I am good," I replied happily, "All thanks to him."I pointed at Red-haired. He put on a serious