"Isn't this stealing?" Says Holly from inside a vending machine. Someone broke a hole in the bottom and looted all they could but no one could reach to the top. But Holly could fit right through the hole.
"Don't worry about that Holly just be careful" I say as I hold her up by the legs through the hole. Ashley stands off to the side keeping guard with her sniper rifle.
Plunk Plunk Plunk "I got them!" Holly says in an exited manner. I pull her out of the hole and 6 or so cans of soda follow her.
"Great job kiddo!"
"Put them in here" Ashley shows me her backpack. I stuff 5 of the cans in the pack but keep one. Orange flavour. I hand it to Holly. She begins to try and open it but struggles. "Here hand it over" I take the can and open it for her.
Holly takes a sip and her eyes light up. She brings the can up towards me.
"You have some"
"Oh no I-I cant drink it"
Ashley chimes in "When was the last time you ate or drank?"
"Uh. About 2 days"
"Jesus Dave. I mean you look like the pounds are just falling off you. Was that shirt always too big?"
I look at the cuff of my shirt. Its no longer tight around my wrist but instead sags with space between.
"Ok Ill have some" I take the can and bring it to my lips. I take a sip as my entire body tells me to stop. I struggle to swallow and give it back to Holly.
"Its good but you have the rest"
We continue walking until Ashley stops us.
"We're here" She says pointing to the clothes store.
"Alright lets go then" I try to open the door. Its locked.
Ashley pushes past me and unlocks it with a key.
"Where did you get that?"
"I'll tell you later"
We walk into the clothes store and see that the shelves are pact with racks of clothing. I walk past the racks with Holly.
"Are you cold yet Holly?"
She nods. Her clothes are pretty thin.
I look for some warmer clothes she can wear. I pull out a Red sweater. It feels thick. I hold it up to Holly to see if it fits. "What do you think?" I ask.
"I like it"
"Ok then we'll take that one" I walk over the where the gloves are. And see a colourful selection.
"Hey Holly what's your favourite colour?"
"Purple"
I grab a pair of purple wool gloves.
"Here keep these gloves in your pocket and wear them when your hands start to get cold ok?"
"Ok"
"Ashley you ready to go?" I turn to Ashley who is standing behind the counter.
"Yeah you guys wait outside I just need to do something real quick"
"What? Why? Its not safe to-
"Dave! I need to do something that I don't think Holly should see. Go wait for her outside please" She looks at me with wide eyes.
"...Ok"
Me and Holly walk outside.
"What is she doing?" Holly asks confused.
"Don't know kiddo. Did you see a bathroom in there?"
"No"
"Pleeeease. COUGH. HELP!"
I spin around to see a man clutching his stomach. Its covered in blood.
"Holly get back. What happened to you man?" I walk closer to him.
"Ohh they got me. They got me good-" The man stands up straight near instantly and points a gun at my face.
"FUCK! WHAT!?!" I say in shock.
"Hehehe. You gonna wanna empty your pockets boy"
"I don't have anything"
"You got a machete on your side"
"Fuck off man this is all I got"
"You think I'm joki- POP The man stumbles a few feet before falling down. I look to holly who holds her pistol in both hands. The barrel smokes lightly. The gun shakes from her trembling grip.
"Is he dead?"
I grab the gun from the dead mans grip.
"And then some kiddo good job!" I ruffle her hair. "Here. And when you're done with it you flip the safety on like this"
"But. I...I"
"Hey don't feel upset. He was bad. What you did to him? He could have done to me. Don't ever feel bad about defending yourself. There's a lot of bad people in this world. And we're not that right?" I hold both of her hands and hold them together. "Right?"
She grins slightly. "Right"
"FUCK!!!"
We hear come from inside the store.
"Ashley?" We run into the store. I see that a door labelled employees only is now open.
"Wait here Holly" I run inside and see Ashley on her knees facing away from me. In her hand she holds a bloody hatchet. In front of her is the body of a female. Likely infected. Ashley breaths heavily while trembling.
"Ashley?" She doesn't respond. "Ashley"
"DAVE! Fuck, off"
6 minutes later
"Grapes don't have seeds?" Holly says as we sit on the curb
"Some do" I respond "My dad grew his own vines. Had all the grapes you could ever want if you were willing to spit the seeds out"
"How do they make ones with no seeds if it comes from a seed"
"I don't know I think its like genetically altered stuff"
"What's that?"
"Uhhh. Its like when you make something different"
"So like when I get a haircut?"
"No its like uhhh" I snap my fingers trying to think. I pick up a pebble
"See how this rock is round?"
"Uh huh"
"Well if it was alive like a fruit? And I were a scientist. And people wanted the rock to be square. I would make it square"
"What?-
I drop the pebble "Look I don't know Holly I'm not-
The door to the colthes store swings open and Ashley walks out.
I walk up to her. "You ok Ashley?"
"Yeah lets just go" I see her slip something into her pocket but I don't question her on it.
"What the hell happened here?" Ashely points to the dead body that Holly shot.
"Kids a deadeye that's what's what!"
Ashley looks at me with a mixture of shock and confusion.
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