Chapter 2
"Everything…burnt…" my mom, Leah, cried. "It's all gone…! Even Jason, he's…Oh! No, God, no…" She fell to the black ground in her new blue nightgown. Her hands covered her eyes as if they could stop the crying. I felt like I could cheer her up, so I started singing a bit.
"The sun'll come out…tomorrow!" I tried so hard to keep a straight face while doing this. "Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow….there'll be sun!"
"Then I can kiss that dollar good-bye," Leah cried. "The sun's never going to come back. Never!"
"Mom, this is so weird," I said, trying to sound a bit funny. "Aren't you the one who tells me to never say never and to not give up?" She didn't answer. "Hello!"
"Zikya, be quiet!" she screamed. I flinched at it. My mom had never been so loud before! She lifted her head up, showing all the tears she produced. I could hardly tell her eye color through them. "I need some time alone. Please." Her head went back into her hands. I sighed, wondering what to do next. Maybe the bomb spared a couple of markets in the city.
"Mom, I'm gonna high-jack the car and go see if there's any food left," I said. "Is that okay?" Again, she didn't answer. I walked over to her and tried to get her to stand up. Her legs wobbled as she stood and I put my arm around her. "Go inside. Bagheera's probably still lurking around here somewhere."
Leah nodded and walked slowly back inside. As for me, I grabbed the keys that were in my PJ pants pocket and went out to the garage. Thankfully, the metal sliding door was still closed and protected the car. I opened it up to find a shining, red, Tesla Roadster. I squealed and put my arms across the hood like I was hugging it.
"My baby!" I sighed. "My sweet little Road Ripper!" That was my name for my little, expensive, sweet sixteen birthday gift. "It's okay, Mama's here. We're gonna go do some shopping, okay?" I slid back off the hood and walked around to the driver's seat. I got in and turned on the engine, happy to hear it running. "That's my boy! Keep purring."
I zoomed out to the street but realized I had to go a bit slower. There was still some debris around. Damn it, the one chance I get to go from 0 to 100 in five and I can't even have it!
I drove around the outskirts of Tranquility to see the same thing over and over and over and over again; dead trees, dead bodies, dead houses, dead yards. Nothing surprised me. Yet, when I got to the city, it was a bit interesting. It was like a scene from I Am Legend, except the sky was red and black still and there was no grass coming from the roads. And forget the lions and deers that were in the picture! Those probably won't be around. The bomb may have burnt up the zoo like it was a steak-out. The buildings kept giving off some dust and ash, letting it fall on top of my clean Road Ripper. I tried to get over it; to remember that everything was dead and this would keep happening, but it was just an instinct since day one of having this beautiful car.
I turned a couple of corners to find a surviving Wal-Mart or even a Mc Donald's somewhere in sight. Nothing. Sucks. I turned on the radio, only to receive a static signal. I turned it off.
"Duh," I muttered. I reached for my iPod in the passenger seat. I hooked it up to the radio and scrolled to look for a song. Eventually I ended up to a song I hadn't heard in a long time: Who Let The Dogs Out?. It was the Eiffel 65 remix. Wasn't a bad beat and it perked me up a bit! I was cruising in the city, bobbing my head to the beat, and looking for a burnt up grocery store. I pulled out the ponytail holder from my hair and let it fall down. My mom didn't like how I died it. It was originally brown, but I died it white with a couple of blue and blonde stripes in there. That's called fashion, honey, and there's nothing you can do.
I peeked over a corner and found a Winn Dixie merged with a hair salon and a Blockbuster store. I parked my little Road Ripper where I could and ran inside. The place was saved! Nothing was burnt. Even the electricity worked here! I grabbed a cart and ran forward. I did what most kids around seven would do and stepped onto the lowest bar while it sped forward.
"Whoo hoo!" I cheered. "This is so much cooler than Vegas!" And most people disagree with me. Isn't that strange?
I turned a sharp corner over to the produce aisle and picked up some stuff as I scooted the cart along, still on top of it. I grabbed some bananas, tomatoes, celery, carrots, and Granny Smith apples. Those were the best! Red ones are too sweet for me. Blech!
I kept skipping through aisles. My thing was this: pick it, in the cart, repeat. Simple, easy to remember, easy to go by. I eventually wanted to stop surfing around on the thing before my weight became too much. I breathed for a bit after trying to focus and pushing the cart. I held my breath for a bit, which allowed me to hear something coming from the dairy section. Someone kept scooping things up and maybe throwing them back onto the ground. I left the cart where it was to play detective and tip-toed over to the dairies. I peered so only my head was poking out form a wall and saw the freakiest, most awesome thing ever; two robots digging through the food!
"These humans are so weak!" said the red one. He grabbed a handful of Trix yogurt, inspected it, then threw it behind his back to pick some more. What a waste of food!
"Well, why do you think we don't see 'em anymore!" said the blue one. "They can't survive fire as much as we can. We rule!" He picked up a gallon of milk and held it above his head as he was looking at it. He held it upside-down. "Wonder what this is." He unscrewed the cap and the thick, white liquid poured down on him like a waterfall. His red partner laughed hysterically. The blue one, however, was not the least bit amused and looked at his friend with his eyes half open.
"Where's the scanner when ya need it!" the red one burst out. He fell backwards on the floor, kicking his legs out and holding his stomach. The blue one wiped the milk off his face and glared at his buddy.
"That's not funny!" he shouted. I couldn't help but laugh myself! Unfortunately, I had a loud laugh and they spotted me.
"Rumble?" the red one asked. "What's that?" He pointed to me.
"It's a human, Frenzy!" the blue one screamed. "Get it!" He helped his brother up and ran towards me. I was smart enough to run before he even took a step. Looks like those years running track paid off!
"I'm a girl, dolt brain!" I shouted to them. "I'm not an it!" I found the cart after running by a few aisles. I grabbed whatever food was not held in a box and threw it at the robots. A cantaloupe exploded on Frenzy's face and another gallon of milk busted on Rumble's. That blue one did not look happy!
"Twice in less than three breems," Frenzy grumbled. "That's such a shame."
I thought I could see it, I wasn't sure, but Rumble's face turned red with anger and I literally heard steam coming from him. This guy was pissed. I took a couple of steps back. I took an imaginary hat from my head and bowed to the two.
"Thank you, you're a beautiful audience," I said in my best Elvis impersonation. I took a turn and darted down the aisle next to me.
"GET HER!" Rumble screeched.
"Hey! You got it right!" I said back to him. He didn't find my outside comment funny and darted after me at the speed of a goddamn cheetah! Frenzy was slowly running behind. Rumble caught up to me and held me from behind in a chokehold.
"Who's laughing now!" he threatened.
/Rumble, Frenzy, return./ Wasn't that the voice who told that metal Bagheera the same thing?
"Aw, come on!" Rumble whine, letting go of me. I fell to the floor and rubbed my neck, choking away the pain. That guy was strong! "But we just-!"
/Immediately./
"But we were just-" Frenzy started. The voice cut him off as well.
/Immediately!/
The two groaned as I crawled away. I turned the corner and had my back against the side of the aisle wall. I heard the them bickering to each other about who let me get away, but they left all the same. I peeked my head around to check and heard the bell ring from the door, saying they were gone. I let go of the breath I was holding for who knows how long and slumped my shoulders.
"Freaked out girl on aisle three," I said softly.
xXx
Author's Note: Well...nothing to say, really! But if no one gets the Bagheera joke, start watching some of the good, old Disney movies! (psst! For that ones that don't know, it's Jungle Book...duh...)
