Note: I have rewritten the first three chapters. I didn't make any significant changes and there is no need to reread, unless you would like to. Also I would appreciate if you could give me any feedback, negative or positive, I am trying to improve my writing and it would mean a lot to me. Thank you!
Chapter 1
Before this apocalypse, hunger was a trick of the mind. If even the slightest murmur or growl, you would find yourself standing in front of the refrigerator, ready to chow down. Before the Z's Hazel, like many, could eat anything her heart desired. Pizza, hot dogs, Mac n' cheese, those chocolate things with peanut butter in the middle, and gooey butter cake.
"Oh, Gooey butter cake! I miss you soooo much!" Hazel cried and her fellow survivor, old man Lee, elbowed her in the ribs.
"You know the rules hazelnut! Don't speak of food, unless you have food"- The old man moseyed behind her .- "Do you have food?" He gave her a playful Look, his blue eyes sparkled in the sun and despite the hunger pains she let out a lighthearted laugh.
"Negative, sir." She threw her arms up.
"Well those buildings up ahead," -He pointed just down the road.- "Should be Steelville and if we are lucky we won't succumb to starvation before we get there." The old man gave a sly smile, "But, I don't think there will be cake."
"It's OK, I'll be delighted if there's any food." Hazel rolled her eyes and the odd pair continued their steady pace into the forgotten town. The main street was jam-packed with abandon cars and almost all of the window were broken on the shops.
"Lets start there" Lee pointed to the nearby drug store. The sign above the door reads 'Sam's Conner'. It was hand painted, in blue and yellow and most of the windows were still intact.
"It looks promising." She agreed and they approach the glass front store. The words 'family owned' was written on the door in navy blue. At one point in her life, breaking into a home or businesses rubbed Hazel the wrong way, but that was years ago. She no longer thought of the people who use to own this business, instead she worried about her next meal and safety.
With a tight grip on her ax, Hazel entered through the door first, followed by Lee. He tossed a kitchen timer, his gun ready at his side. The loud beeping echoed throughout the empty store, but nothing moved, moan or groan.
"What now?" She loosened her grip on the ax.
"The lack of Z's is suspicious, but I'm too hungry to care. So, guess we will run the risk." Lee stepped forward, his gun now in hand. - "You start with aisles. I'll check behind the corner and then we will check the back of the store together." Hazel nodded and began her search for food. The first aisle was a bust, only a box of tissues, some trash. She was at the end of the second aisle when Lee called her name.
"What is it?" She ran up to the cash register and throw down her backpack. He held up a can from behind the corner.
"Sardines!" He said with a huge smile. She took the can from his hand and returned the smile.- "That's not all. Two cans of sardines!" He haled the second can higher than the first.
"It's amazing..." Tears began to well up in her eyes and she used the edge of her sleeve to wipe them away.
"Don't be such a nut, Hazel!" He pulled out the can opener. "I told you everything would work out. We just need to get where we are going." He handed her the open can of sardines. She accepted it with both hands.
"And where is that again?" She jumped up and sat on the edge of the corner.
"You know where. I've told you a million times." The man opened the second can of sardines and pop the first one into his mouth.
"Tell me Again!" She urged him. "One more time. Please?"
"Alright! It located near the border of South Dakota and Wyoming. Not too far from the town of Deadwood."- He popped another sardine into his mouth.- "They call it The Last Sanctuary and Rumor is, they have food all year round, ruining water, and bingo on Friday nights. Just to be clear, Friday night will be date night, so don't wait up!" He gave a cheesy grin - "and last, but not least, we are only about a thousand miles from it. " He ate another sardines.
"Hmm... ruining water... I can shower."- She put another tiny fish in her mouth.
The idea of The Last Sanctuary, gave her chills. It was like a light at the end of the tunnel and it had been a long time since she could see the light in anything, yet here she was.-"A thousand miles..." She whispered.
"Yep, in a thousand miles you will be able to take your first real showers in years... Kid, you will shine so bight the boys won't be able to take their eyes off you!" Lee gave her a nudge and a wink.
"No way!" She put the last one in her mouth and licked all ten fingers.
"Oh come on! Are you tell'n me you don't think about boys? Every eighteen year old is interested in that sort of thing."- He then emptied the remaining liquid from the can into his mouth. She shrugged and Lee shook his head.- "I'm going to have a look at the back room, you should finish checking the aisle." He took a step back.
"Ok" She set the empty can down and began to check the aisle, as Lee disappeared through the back. The last four aisles were just as bare as the first. There was nothing but empty boxes and left over candy wrappers. After she was done, she returned to the front.
"Hey, Lee?" She shouted into the dark back room, there was no answer.-"How's it going back there?" She tried again but, their was no answers. She began to fear the worst when the back door slowly open. She let out a sight of relief as Lee appeared in the doorway.
"Didn't you hear me call you. Rule two, answered when called." She crosses her arm's in disapproval, but as he entered the room it became clear he was not alone. An older man with a long gray beard, dressed in all black, followed closely behind him.
"There's your friend." The bearded man lifted his gun so Hazel could see it and he smiled.- "Put your hands up." He said in a low tone and She did what she was told. The man with the gun, ran his free hand across his beard. Lee watched his every move from the corner of his eye.- "Stand by the freezers, hands up" He pushed Lee away and he stumbled a bit, but recovered quickly.
"It's safe!" The men Shouted.
A younger man emerged from the back door. He was also dressed in all black, had dirty blond hair and dark brown eyes.
"So what do you think? is the girl worth anything?" The old man looked towards his accomplice.
The next moment was a blur. In a smooth motion, Lee took the gun he had hiding in his waistband and aimed at the two men. He pulled the trigger and the sound of the gun causes Hazel's heart to stop. The bullet ripped through the bearded mans shoulder and the young men, with his own smooth motion took the gun from his side and he pulled the trigger. She hared the bullet whiz past her face. An awful sound escaped Lee's lips and in slow motion she watched him collapsed beside her.
"LEE!" Hazel's legs gave way and she dropped next to him. He held both of his hands over his stomach, crimson blood began to flow passed his fingers and down to the floor. "This can't happen!" She placed her hands over his, attempting to stop the blood.
"They can't..."- He struggle to lift his head. A distant look in his eyes- " They can't touch you..." His head dropped to the floor and he let out a gasp.
"There's no time for this!" A deep voice came from behind and a shadow drifted across her. When she turned to confront them, she was greeted by the back of a pistol and then darkness.