Crash
I never thought breaking into store would become normal to me. I do it everyday now.
I'm good at it.
I wish I wasn't.
The town has been abandoned.
It's been quiet.
It's weird.
I now carry 6 guns. All stolen. 8 knives. Most of them also stolen. 2 of them used to hang on a wall in my room. During a simpler time.
A time when I used to sit in my room reading comic books.
Now...
I steal to survive.
I turn the corner and bump into someone.
I move without thinking. My gun in my hand. A gun is pointed right back in my face.
"Chris?"
"Micheal?"
Micheal. One of Liz old friends. I can't believe HE survived.
Standing at a 5'9" inches shorter then me but stands like he is taller and stronger then me. In his military uniform. Like he's something important in this world.
Ridiculous.
"Chris?"
Another voice.
Lawrence. Maria's brother. My friend. If you can call him that. We used to be friends in high school. But like many friendships after high school we went our separate ways.
He doesn't point his gun at me.
The douche still has his gun in my face.
"Lower your gun"
"You first"
We stare each other down.
"Hey hey! Stop! What are you two doing?"
Lawrence steps between us. We both immediately lower our guns.
Me out of respect for our past friendship.
Micheal out of some weird possessiveness he has for Maria.
Idiot.
"Micheal walk away."
With one final glare Michael disappears around the corner.
I hate that guy.
Lawrence pats my back. "It's good to see you, man"
"You too.
Lawrence smiles at me and begins to tell me about this MAGICAL safe place. I barely listen just nod.
I wonder if Maria is alive. I want to ask. She was my sister's best friend.
Liz. My sister is dead.
"...and you can stay with us. We will make room for you."
"What?"
I look back at him. He looks confused.
"You can come back with us...to the boat."
"No."
"What?"
"I said no. I'm not hiding from these things. I'm fighting them"
"What?" He looks shocked. "Chris, but-"
"-Maria. Is she alive?"
The shock continues. "Yes. She's on the boat. She-"
"Good. Keep her there. And don't tell her you found me."
"But-"
"Fine." Micheal has returned. I nod to him and begin walking away.
"Chris wait-" I ignore him. Lawrence wouldn't understand. He has a family. I don't. My mom, my dad, my sister, the girl I thought I was going to marry, all gone.
I keep walking.
I don't look back.
I grab a couple of can goods on my out.
I'm just surviving. I'm just living.