Author's Note: I remember this part taking me a while to write. I don't think the supermarket agreed with my creative mind all too much, so I do apologize if this section seems clumsy. I really did look at it for a while before uploading it. Then again, I do tend to get paranoid over my work and I have had people tell me that this section is fine, but by all means, let me know if anyone has any issues ^_^
She was disgusted with herself, having thought that she would eventually get used to the vile smell that had been plastered to the air. For a while, it seemed as if she had, taking little notice to the smell of decay that followed every gust of wind. However, the blood that coated her clothing and stained her skin carried with it the pungent odor of death. The filth wound its way around her being, seeping into her very flesh. Despite her shower the night before, the feel of the city's damned embrace never fully dissipated and Veronica wondered if she would ever be able to forget how it felt.
Travel had slowed considerably following the event in the alley. As the three survivors approached their destination in search of some supplies, the streets became more congested with clutter. However, inanimate objects proved to be the least of their concern, as on several occasions, the group had to go out of their way in order to avoid blundering into a pack of roaming zombies. Dog barks echoed through the stale air every now and then, setting them on edge for minutes afterwards, all expecting to have another pack of feral, bloodthirsty dogs come running around the nearest corner. The exhaustion that Veronica had felt earlier in the morning had been completely obliterated as her nerves worked overtime in order to keep her from crumbling beneath the oppression of the city.
Silence was on the lips of all three survivors. Every once in a while, when the group seemed as if they were a safe enough distance from imminent danger, Kyle would make a random, usually inappropriate comment. Veronica imagined that he was simply attempting to lighten the mood, but still paid little attention to his words. Rage continued to burn inside her because Kathy had almost shot her and Kyle had done nothing about it, almost as if her close call with death due to blondie's stupidity meant nothing to him. It was impossible for her not to imagine what would have happened if Kathy had managed to kill her. Would Kyle have merely shrugged his shoulders, made some dumbass comment like, "So much for that threesome," and continued on his way to the store with Kathy? Just thinking about how little he seemed to care caused Veronica to squeeze her hands closed, half-imagining that she was strangling the bastard.
Of course, Kathy hadn't uttered a single word since the alley. After having two close calls with Veronica's unbridled fury already, she was probably terrified of angering her any more. Part of Veronica thought that was a good thing, that maybe the blonde princess would take more care with her actions. If Kyle didn't plan to do anything to keep Kathy from messing up, then perhaps she'd have to take matters in to her own hands. Veronica understood Kathy's place as a liability to the group and while she would never truly wish the young girl to perish, she knew that Kathy's presence put them all at risk.
Veronica found no solace in turning her thoughts away from her companions. Even when she tried to stop thinking of Kyle's annoying, uncaring presence and Kathy's uselessness, her mind managed to focus on other, almost equally distressing concerns. As the group got ever closer to the supermarket, she imagined that it would be swarmed with undead, if only to add one more obstacle, one more annoyance, to her already troubled life. She could barely remember how it felt to walk down these very streets to this store back before the incident occurred. Everything seemed so simple then and yet she had never taken the time to enjoy that simplicity. Going to the store had always been a chore and as she walked past a small group of zombies, she wished that it were still that annoying, weekly chore and not a matter of survival.
While the parking lot in front of the store did boast its fair amount of mindless, wandering bodies, Veronica felt relieved to find not nearly the numbers she had imagined. Still, she knew that they couldn't linger in the store for long, knowing that it'd only be a matter of time before all the nearby undead began to swarm the place. The supermarket was even less of a secure location than the precinct, boasting of large, easily breakable front windows.
Making their way through the parking lot, doing well enough to avoid confrontation, the three survivors approached the front doors. As luck would have it, the automatic doors didn't open, and with several of the undead beginning to notice their presence, the three survivors needed to act quickly. Veronica would have smashed through the nearby window, except that Kyle beat her to it. With a few failed attempts at slamming his axe through the window, no doubt a testament to the extent of his manliness, he eventually managed to shatter the glass.
"Brings me back to my younger days," Kyle grinned clearing out most of the glass that remained stuck to the window. "Breaking into stores in order to avoid being mauled by undead cannibals. Ah, to be fourteen again."
After they all climbed through the window, neither Veronica nor Kathy making much notice of Kyle's attempt at humor, it didn't take long at all for them to realize that they weren't alone. What once had been busy with the workings of various people running about to pick up groceries had become abandoned and desolate. The mish-mash of various conversations in the air and the constant beeping of cash registers checking out shoppers were replaced by the soft, lifeless moans of several scattered monsters throughout the store. It was surreal to imagine that the place had ever been anything else besides a home for the damned and a graveyard for the dead.
"We need to grab what we can and get out of here as soon as possible," Veronica said aloud to her companions in an attempt to assure herself that they realized how little time they could spare. The prospect of having a mass of rotten corpses blocking off the front of the store didn't appeal too much to her.
Kyle sounded off behind her, "Aye-aye captain. Kathy and I will go see if we can't find some sort of backpack to carry food in."
"Sure, whatever." Veronica began to walk away from them, throwing an uncaring wave in the air. It probably should have bothered her more that Kyle insisted she go off on her own while he continued to cling to Kathy's side, but she had no objections to splitting up, preferring to rid herself of their company, if only for a while. At the very least, she wouldn't have to worry about being shot.
"Hey Ronnie!" Kyle called after her. "Don't get yourself eaten. I heard that sucks."
His attempt at faint concern masked by poor humor was lost on Veronica. She wanted to be left alone and didn't give much of a damn what those two decided to do. Her mind craved some sort of momentary reprieve from the oppression her companions somehow managed constantly to lay on her. More so, her body screamed for some nourishment, namely anything to keep it from shutting down as her overworked nerves and adrenaline were running thin.
The store itself was in no better condition than the streets outside. Various food products littered the floor and aisles. Most of what hadn't been picked clean by other survivors had been left in complete chaotic ruin. Veronica imagined the place must have fared better towards the beginning of the disaster, but by the time she had arrived, it had become just another location for the dead to lurk. The city had claimed another building and aside from a few supplies, it would offer nothing to anyone ever again.
Veronica made her way towards the produce section of the store, doing well to note the various bodies that littered the floors along with all the random clutter. It was impossible for her to imagine how lively and active the store had been not even a week prior, but where shoppers once sought to replenish their fridges, only lost, soulless monsters roamed. Knowing that it was pointless to linger in the past, she cautiously walked past each aisle, listening for the now all too familiar groans of nearby undead. After assuring herself that any threats within the store were a safe distance away or trapped within the confines of a cluttered aisle, she managed to reach the produce section, hoping to find something relatively fresh and revitalizing to eat. Of course, despite having slipped by several other undead within the story, she managed to capture the attention of a rather obese creature on her way to one of the produce stands.
It was impossible for Veronica not to be intimidated by this particular subject of massive, rotting flesh. What, in a previous existence, used to be a large woman wearing one of the ugliest, bright green sweaters that Veronica had ever laid eyes on, stared at the lone survivor with lifeless, yet all too hungry eyes. A large piece of bloodied flesh dangled from her mouth since apparently, the desire to shovel food down her throat hadn't died off with the rest of her. It was almost comical how she waddled towards Veronica, arms outstretched, almost unable to bear the full weight of her body.
Realizing that, unlike the hallow husks of creatures that had grabbed her before, if this massive, zombified woman took her to the ground, Veronica would be unable to free herself and would probably end up being crushed to death even before the mindless creature managed to take a chunk out of her. As such, it didn't come as much of a surprise when she found herself backing away from the creature, not sure as to how to handle the situation. On the one hand, she could have run away, feeling fairly confident that she could outrun her pursuer, but she wanted to search the produce section for some food. Understanding that if she wanted to have any hope of finding some fruit to eat, she needed to rid herself of this massive, undead creature, Veronica stopped retreating. Watching the animate blob of slightly grey flesh-jello slowly waddle its way towards her, Veronica pulled her knife from its sheath and braced herself. As soon as the creature lunged at her, she took a swift step back and watched as the large mass of flesh fell to the ground. Wasting little time, she brought her heel down on the back of its skull and with a sickening crack, removed it from the world.
It came as odd how easily that entire reaction seemed to flow from within her. Veronica hadn't even taken the time to consider how she would eliminate the large zombie. Instead, it was almost as if her body had taken over, pushing any conscious thought to the wayside. She hadn't even considered how brutal and disgusting it was to feel a person's (or what used to be a person's) skull crumble beneath her foot. Only after the act had been done did she feel nausea begin to well inside her stomach. The stench of decay that had exploded along with the skull did little to help the situation. As soon as she began to gag, not even wanting to venture into thoughts of how long the large woman's skull matter would be stuck to her shoe, Veronica knew that she couldn't stay in that spot, lest she risk some of the recently re-deceased woman's undead brethren start honing in on her corpse. Quite unsurprisingly, she didn't feel the slightest bit hungry any more.
Her moment of recovery was cut short when Kyle's scream for help echoed through the store. Immediately, Veronica found herself wiping her arm across her mouth and dashing off towards the direction of the cry. She took little concern to the wandering undead, doing well enough to out maneuver them. The sickening feeling remained churning in her stomach, but she paid little attention to it. In fact, Veronica never even considered her dislike for both Kyle and Kathy as she ran to their aid. Perhaps she couldn't bear the thought of being truly on her own, the simplicity of only having to look out for herself being overshadowed by the lack of security and sheer loneliness. She had spent most of her life alone, but this incident was larger than anything she had faced before and part of her feared having to face it alone, especially if there were more horrid things than zombies lurking in the shadows.
It took a moment for Veronica to find Kyle and Kathy, but as soon as she did, the nausea in her stomach was replaced by anger burning in her chest. Kyle smiled and waved to her, his other hand holding his axe, which dripped with blood. "Ronnie!" He offered an all too friendly laugh. "I kind of thought you wouldn't come."
A few lifeless bodies laid on the floor of the frozen foods section. Apparently, Kyle and Kathy had come into some opposition, but both were fine. In fact, they seemed better than fine, as Kathy had a bag slung over her back, obviously full of various supplies. Even though Veronica was angry at Kyle for calling out for help when he didn't really need it, she managed to note that Kathy had, finally, become somewhat useful. She was a pack mule.
"What the hell is your problem?" Veronica yelled out as she approached Kyle, slipping her knife away.
The man shrugged. "Ah, c'mon. We were going to come find you anyways, I just figured yelling for help would be faster."
"You…" Veronica shook her head, ready to explode with rage. "You jackass! You can't just call for help like that! I mean-" She cut herself off with a loud, frustrated groan. "God! You know!?"
As Veronica turned her back to Kyle, unable to look at him any longer lest she accidently slip and begin stabbing him, Kathy offered an attempt to make up for Kyle's hideously poor judgment. "We found this bag… and gathered some cans and bottles of water."
Some of the undead from further down the store took notice to the three survivors and began to move. Veronica watched them rise from the floor and fumble around the random clutter. She half-heartedly replied, "Remember a can opener?" It was really all she could do to force away her intense anger at Kyle. She made a mental note that the next time he called for help, she'd 'conveniently' trip on the way to his rescue.
"Ah, damn," Kyle muttered, slinging his axe over his shoulder. "I knew I forgot something." He glanced down the store and watched as five lifeless bodies began to approach them. "Why don't you start heading out while I go do some last minute shopping?"
As much as Veronica was delighted at the prospect of Kyle doing something other than sending her off so that he could be alone with Kathy, the sound of glass breaking from across the store put a dent into his idea. Immediately, more undead moans filled the air and Kathy gave a concerned look over to Kyle, then towards the front of the store as if she was just waiting to have a monster walk around the corner.
"Well, that's not good," Kyle uttered, rolling his neck around his shoulders in preparation for whatever might come. "Which one of you invited the horde of zombies? I said, no more than five friends, ten tops."
"Can we…" Kathy stuttered, taking a step back to Veronica's side. "Can we please get out of here?"
Their words fell upon Veronica's ears, but she was more concerned with the small group of undead approaching from further down the aisle. Running back to the front of the store was out of the question, as she really had no interest in finding out just how many of those creatures had broken into the place. If they waited much longer, she knew that they'd be sandwiched in that aisle.
As soon as Veronica was about to suggest that they break their way through the small mob up ahead and head out the back, Kyle spoke up. "Think you can make your way to the back of the store?"
Veronica nodded, drawing her knife. She wasn't confident that she could kill five zombies on her own, but she was certain that she, at least with some luck, could break through them.
"All righty. Then I'll meet you two out back in a second."
"You can't," Kathy pleaded, clutching onto the necklace that hung around her neck. While Veronica wasn't too happy at the prospect of having to babysit the blonde, she had no intentions of staying in that store any longer. If Kyle wanted to risk his life for a can opener, then so be it. "It's not worth it…"
"We need to move. Now." There was little time for Kyle and Kathy to share some heartfelt, deep goodbye. The approaching group was far too close for comfort and it would only be a matter of time before many more of the roaming undead had their sights upon the survivors.
Kyle offered Kathy a smile and turned to head off in the opposite direction, towards the front of the store. "If I'm not out in five minutes, call the army." With that, he was gone.
Kathy watched the man run off for a moment before Veronica forcefully pulled her away from her concern about him. "Alright, listen." She took the young girl's arm and pulled her to her side. "When you see an opening, run. If one gets close to you, shoot it." Veronica closed her eyes and sighed. "Understand?"
The young girl vacantly nodded her head, looking down at the gun in her hand. She fell silent under Veronica's command and voiced no concern for her safety, unlike what she had done for Kyle. In the end, Veronica practically expected as much. She released her grasp of Kathy's arm and faced the approaching group of zombies. Setting her sights on the one in lead, she flipped her knife downward and began to run at it. She charged the group with intents of clearing a path, and all she hoped was that Kathy would have enough sense not to shoot her in the back.
Stopping mid-run, only a few feet from the lead zombie, Veronica braced herself. She pulled her arm across her chest, holding the knife above her left shoulder. Apparently having gained some experience from her most recent undead victim, she waited for the creature to lunge at her. When it missed, she unleashed her attack, plunging the knife into the side of its head and through sheer force, tore off its rotten skull. It slid from the blade and thudded against the floor like a small sack of rotten fruit. While Kathy had already taken to gagging over the sight, Veronica had very little time to feel ill. The remaining four creatures were closing in. It was difficult for her to keep track of all of their movements and she found herself backing away in hopes of buying herself a little time to figure how to act. Luckily enough, one of the remaining four tripped and fell to the ground.
Unluckily, Kathy yelled out, "Veronica!" and when she turned her attention behind her, she found that several undead creatures had made their way to the other end of the aisle.
"Shit!" Her immediate worry was cut off when a hand latched onto her shoulder. Cringing at the cold, slimy feel of the creature's hand, Veronica pulled away and then bashed her shoulder into her attacker, causing it to stumble back. As soon as she was free, she called out, "Run! Just run!"
Kathy, apparently capable enough to snap herself out of being overwhelmed by fear, took heed to Veronica's order and began to run down the aisle. She didn't look back as she ran by Veronica and the small group of undead, perhaps out of fear of the creatures or fear that if she did look back, she would see Veronica be mauled. In the end, it was all too difficult to watch the blonde princess run by without much apparent concern. Time seemed to slow as she fled to safety, leaving Veronica behind to deal with her own escape.
She would have run after Kathy except the floored zombie had grabbed onto her ankle, giving a second walking corpse ample time to take hold of her arm. Immediately, she wanted to scream, but found that her mouth wouldn't open. Part of her, a part that she thought had died a long time ago, wanted to cry, but she knew that she couldn't. She knew that to do so would be the exact same as giving up and she had no intentions of letting herself die.
With one forced exhale, Veronica shoved her knife into the skull of the creature that had taken her arm. Immediately after it lost its grasp, she tore her leg away from the other zombie and quickly began to run down the aisle after Kathy. The horrid moans of the undead seemed to chase after her as she ran past the remaining standing zombie, her mind dazed by the rush induced escape she had pulled off. Rounding the corner, she found Kathy waiting for her, wide eyed and breathing as if she were on the verge of suffocating.
There was no time for words. The two women shared a quick glance, each somehow acknowledging some sort of gratitude that the other was still standing. Shortly thereafter, they continued towards the back doors of the store, paying little attention to the signs that said 'for emergency use only.' Perhaps an alarm would have went off once the door was opened, but such a system, despite having little use in the realm of horror the city had been engulfed in, must have died with the rest of the building.
Upon leaving the dreaded cage of death that the supermarket had become, the city's air blissfully blew over Veronica's tense body, in a way reminding her that she was still alive. Everything that had transpired seemed to go by in a flash, and it was hard for her to believe that she had made it out in one piece. Still, the feeling of those creature's hands around her ankle and arm remained, continually haunting her like scars.
The two survivors stood near the back door, Kathy desperately attempting to recover from the sheer emotional strain of the situation. It took a while for her to gather the strength to speak, but when she did, she asked, "What… What about Kyle?"
Veronica closed her eyes and pressed her back against the wall. Going back inside would be suicide, but she didn't want to think about Kyle at that moment. She didn't want to feel obligated to go in to search for him or worry about his life. She didn't need that weight on her back when she already had enough trouble worrying about herself.
Kathy's last few words fell into the air and faded away against silence. "Should we… do something?"