Horror Days- Chapter 9
Day 6 (Petrin)
Tom, Phil, Riken, and Wen had been traveling together towards the relief center for a day and a half. Tom and Phil together, though, had been traveling for three and a half. It was obvious to Tom that the center was very very far away and he was beginning to wonder if Phil knew if they were going the right way. Tom had been carrying Wen since her leg was still broken and Phil still had Riken on his shoulders while he carried the food and drinks in his arms.
The water had lowered to a little above Tom's knees and right at Phil's waist. The streets were deserted and there were barely any signs of life or that there had been life before the storm. No bodies were lying around, just debris floating in the water.
"Odd." Wen remarked.
"What?" Tom asked.
"There are no bodies." Wen replied.
"I saw one several days ago, but that was just one." Phil said.
"We haven't even seen anyone but you two since we woke up several days ago." Tom added.
"I haven't either." Wen answered. "It's like they all disappeared."
"Odd." Tom repeated Wen's comment.
Just then, there was a sound behind them. Tom turned around and saw a boat-like structure coming towards them. Tom moved to the side to get Wen out of the way, but nodded for Phil to stay there hoping the boat would stop if they saw a little boy. The boat stopped once it realized that Phil wouldn't budge and the boat couldn't maneuver around in the narrow streets.
"What do you want?" A man said. There were several people in the boat.
"We want a ride." Tom replied coming back to stand next to Phil. "Where are you going?"
"The relief center, where else?" The man answered. "But you have nothing to offer me in return."
"So you wouldn't give four people including a little boy and elderly lady a ride out of the kindness of your heart?" Tom asked.
"You have food." The man replied.
"Yes." Phil answered.
"If you give us some food, we'll take two people because that's all I can fit." The man said.
Tom looked at Phil. Then looked back up at the man. "Deal." Tom said.
Phil gave some of the food they had taken from Wen's home to the man on the boat. Then Tom placed Wen on the boat. Phil also placed Riken in the boat next to Wen.
"Tom, what are you doing?" Wen asked.
"You're going with them." Tom answered making sure her splint was going to stay.
"What about you two?" She questioned.
"We'll be fine. We'll get to the center soon; you guys will just beat us by a day or two." Tom replied. There was a pause.
"Tom, you and Phil are great, noble men. I will see you again." Wen said. She hugged Tom then Phil. Riken himself leaped to Tom and Wen had to pry him off.
Riken had taken to Tom as a sort of older brother. Riken believed Tom was an amazing person and one of the funnier men around. The boat pulled away after Phil and Tom moved to the side of the street. Both men were waving at the boat until it was out of sight.
"You don't mind, do you?" Tom asked as they continued their way to the relief center.
"About Wen and Riken taking the two spots over us? No way." Phil answered. Tom smiled and took some of the food Phil was carrying.
Voyager
"Did you do what I asked?" Janeway asked Harry while at his station.
"Yes, Captain, I've sent Tom's description and picture to every frequency I could find on the planet." Harry answered.
"Good. That gets more people involved." Janeway said.
"We'll find him, Captain." Harry answered.
"I know, Harry." Janeway replied.
"Then you should get some sleep. You've been on the bridge or in your Ready Room for almost one day. You need sleep." Harry said.
"And so do you." Janeway answered. She rubbed her forehead trying to get rid of a current headache. "Let's say we both go to sleep, we're no good to Tom like this."