iWhat Happened?
Chapter Six: iDiscover what Happened
Spencer pushed open the double doors; the group left the Bushwell Plaza and walked out onto the street. As they walked out, they were met with a strange almost surreal view.
Abandoned cars parked by the roadside were covered in leaves and twigs, the windows were becoming foggy. A stray cat lay on the windowsill of a ransacked grocery shop. A flock of birds flew off the roof of a van. Dogs barked in the distance and several car alarms were blaring; it was like they were in a different world.
"Oh my god…" Carly said, echoing the group's thoughts. "Come on we should get going." Mrs Benson sighed and they slowly began walking down the street. As they walked they passed two houses with broken windows where leaves and dust had blown into rooms and a driveway holding two parked cars.
"It's changed so much." Sam said and Freddie nodded solemnly. "I'm hungry, anyone got any food?" Gibby asked suddenly. Everyone looked at him "What? Yeah the city's changed and there are loads of escaped animals, doesn't mean I should starve because of it." Freddie rolled his eyes "Sure I got some." Spencer said, he reached into his bag and pulled out a sandwich. He handed it to Gibby and he dug into it "Thanks man."
"You know I'm hungry too." Sam said and Carly sighed "I'll go find a food shop." She looked down the road and spotted a takeaway shop, Sam grinned "Perfect." She ran down the street, Freddie ran after her "Sam, be careful!" "Cool it Fredbag, there aren't cars anymore!" Smiling, the others followed the pair. "They're so cute together." Carly said, feeling happy for her two best friends and Gibby nodded, but Mrs Benson merely wrinkled her nose.
But as they approached the shop, they were met with a foul smell. "Ohh uggh, gross!" Freddie cried, holding his nose. Everyone coughed. "What IS that smell?" Mrs Benson cried, stepping back "Freddie stay away!" Sam looked through the glass window "It's the meat; it's all rotting and crawling with flies! Oh and rats"
Mrs Benson screamed and yanked Freddie back "Fredward Benson you stay away from that gastronomic nightmare!" He turned and gave his mother an odd look "Gastronomic?" He said. "What? It's a word!" She exclaimed. "Here let me look." Spencer said. He peered through the window and grimaced.
The chicken was covered in green fungus and covered with squirming maggots. On the counter behind, huge lumps of raw meat were swarming with hundreds of flies buzzing around. Rats scurried across the floor. A pizza lying on the floor had turned green and a rat was gnawing on it.
He stepped back and cringed "Yeah we can't eat in there." Sam sighed "Don't worry we'll just go to another shop or something." He said. "Guys that may not be possible." Brad said. Everyone turned to face him. "What do you mean Brad?" Sam asked. "Well if the electricity and the cooling systems are off in this takeaway shop, it's gonna be off in every single shop, supermarket and restaurant in Seattle and I'll bet by now, almost every food that needs refrigeration has rotted away."
"That means milk, cheese, yoghurts, meat, fruits, fish, vegetables and any food that has those foods." "But, but that's like everything!" Sam exclaimed and he nodded solemnly "Exactly." "So what are you saying?" Carly asked looking fearful. "He means there might be no edible food left in Seattle." Freddie said quietly.
Sam screamed and everyone covered their ears. "If I don't get food soon, I'll eat the dogs!" Sam exclaimed, Gibby gasped and pulled his dog close. "NO!" Carly sighed "Gibby don't worry she's joking. Get up." He sighed and stood up. "But seriously we need to find some food soon mama's hungry." "Well there's still bread, chocolate, beans, buns, rice, pasta, spaghetti, water, and a bunch of other stuff." Spencer said and Sam sighed in relief.
"Alright first we find a place to stay, and then we go get food." Carly said and everyone nodded. "Let's go." At last after walking for almost an hour the group came across an apartment building similar to their own.
They pushed open the doors and stepped into the lobby. "Hello?" Freddie called out. "Nub." Sam whispered and Freddie took her hand "Love you too Samantha" he said and the two kissed. Suddenly Titan began barking loudly. As if set off by the other dog, Sir LicksALot began twitching and wagging his tail "What is it guys?" Gibby asked.
Just then a furry racoon jumped onto the front desk. Spotting them, it chittered in surprise, blinked its eyes and ran off. Both dogs bounded after it, barking wildly. "No, stay, heel!" Carly called "Hey don't worry they'll come back. Let's go set up our rooms." Spencer said and she nodded.
They walked upstairs to the fifth floor where there were three apartments on either side of the hallway. "Ok me, Carly and Sam will take this one, Mrs Benson you, Gibby and Freddie take the one across from us. Gibby's grandpa, Guppy and John can take the one down there. Brad you can have your own apartment if you want?" "Ok cool that sounds awesome." Everyone nodded. Suddenly Mrs Benson turned to Gibby's grandpa "Excuse me but if you don't mind I think I'd like to take John."
He nodded "Yeah, yeah whatever take him." He thrust the baby into her arms and wandered off down the hallway, lugging a heavy suitcase. "Come on Guppy." The boy smiled and followed. "See you little dude." Gibby said. Just then, John giggled, everyone smiled at the cooing infant. He smiled and waved his arms "Come on little one, time for your nap." Mrs Benson carried the boy into the apartment. Gibby grabbed the bags and whistled.
Just then, the two dogs bounded up the stairs barking. Sir LicksALot trotted into their apartment and Gibby nodded "See you guys later." "Hey Gib, mind taking my bag?" Freddie asked. "Sure thing." He replied "Thanks." Spencer turned to the four.
"Well looks like you guys are helping me set up the apartment. They all nodded "Cool." "Sure thing Spence." Whatever." They walked into the apartment and were immediately met by a foul stench. "Gross what is that?" Sam cried "It must be the rotting food in the fridge!" "We have to get rid of it!" Carly exclaimed. Titan ran over to the fridge and barked at it.
Freddie pulled open the door and the group grimaced at the foul mess inside. Luckily there were some rubber gloves lying on the table, everyone grabbed a pair and got to work removing food and throwing it down the rubbish chute.
At last with that job done, everyone picked their rooms. Spencer picked the room next to the living room. Carly picked the one upstairs and Sam picked the one next to her. With rooms picked, everyone went into their rooms to unpack, Frothy followed Sam and Titan followed Spencer.
Carly headed into her room and sighed. There was double bed up against the wall with plain blue covers and pillows a cupboard full of teenage boy clothes which she'd give to Freddie. There was a box full of various toys under the bed and an empty bird cage.
It was clear the bird once kept inside had escaped through the open window. Her room was big, clean and had a great view, it was a nice apartment but it just didn't feel like home. She'd left behind so much of her stuff and she missed it. She began to unpack.
Sam meanwhile was fairly impressed with her room. It had a nice bed with green pillows and striped covers, a cupboard full of clothes that would fit her and even a dog basket with a blanket where Frothy could sleep. The cat seemed impressed; he was already sleeping in it. Sure it wasn't home heck it was better than her old house, she loved this place. She happily began to unpack.
Spencer liked his new room. It had a huge bed with brown pillows and striped covers, a cupboard with shirts and clothes that he could wear in a few years and a stand to put his small sculptures. He liked his room, it was bigger and more airy than his last one the place didn't seem right without all his old sculptures like Bottle Bot, if he ever got the chance, he'd go back and get them.
Titan loved the room; the Labrador had already jumped all over his bed and now gazed happily up at him. He smiled; he'd grown to love the dog. "Yeah we'll stay!" Titan barked and bounded away, barking. Sure it wasn't home but it would do.
