Rise of the undead

Before they could leave the shop, they had to push the mattress away from the front door. Once they managed to clear the path, Ava slowly cracked the door open and peeked outside, scanning for any signs of the creatures. They were still out there—she could hear them.

With Abby's small hand gripped tightly in hers, Ava glanced back at the girl. "Stay with me at all times," she whispered.

Abby gave a small nod, her wide eyes filled with fear.

Ava's heart pounded as they rushed out of the store, darting behind the first car parked by the sidewalk. Pressing her back against the cool metal, she took a quick, shaky breath and carefully peeked over the hood to scan the area.

They needed food and water—fast.

A few yards down the street, she spotted a café with a green door. Turning to Abby, she whispered, "There's a shop, but we have to move carefully. We'll hide behind the cars and stay as quiet as possible, okay?"

Abby nodded again, her lips trembling. Ava gave her a reassuring squeeze before checking their surroundings. Seeing an opening, she pulled Abby with her as they hurried to the next car, crouching behind it. Their hearts raced in sync as they waited, listening.

Two zombies shuffled past in the distance, their movements slow but unsettling.

Ava held her breath, waiting until they were far enough before she gestured for Abby to move again. They dashed to the blue car ahead, pressing themselves low against it.

Then came the real challenge—they had to cross the street to reach the café.

Ava swallowed hard, her throat dry. She turned to Abby. "We have to cross now."

Abby's eyes filled with worry. "Is it possible?" she whispered. Ava exhaled sharply, forcing herself to stay calm. "I don't know, but we have to try."

Taking deep breaths, they steeled themselves. Then, without another second to waste, they ran.

As soon as their feet hit the pavement, Ava heard the creatures screech behind them. Panic surged through her, but she pushed forward, running faster, gripping Abby's hand tighter. The monstrous sounds grew closer.

 The green door loomed ahead. Reaching out, Ava stretched for the handle. Just as the screeches became deafening, her fingers found the knob. She twisted it desperately, yanked the door open, and shoved Abby inside before scrambling in after her.

Slamming the door shut, Ava locked it, her hands trembling.

Leaning back against the wall, she tried to steady her breathing, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Only then did she dare to take in the scene before her.

After a few minutes, Ava's mind finally cleared, and her eyes fell on the scene before her. There it was—delicious food, still untouched, displayed behind a glass counter. Her stomach rumbled at the sight of the fresh bread, cupcakes, and muffins lined up neatly. Without wasting another second, she rushed toward the counter, but just as she did—

"Don't you dare take another step forward."

She froze in place, and so did Abby. The hunger gnawed at her so intensely that she could almost taste the food in her mouth, but now, she was stuck.

"We don't mean any harm," Ava called out, her voice trembling as cold sweat ran down her spine.

"Who are you?" a woman's voice demanded, followed by the unmistakable click of a gun being readied to fire.

Taking a deep breath, Ava slowly turned around to face the person holding them at gunpoint. To her surprise, it was a girl around her own age.

She had golden-brown hair, soft brown eyes framed by long lashes, and wore a checkered shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, paired with jeans and sturdy boots. In her hands, she held a long shotgun, pointing it directly at them while standing atop a table.

"My name is Ava," she began cautiously. "And this is Abby. We just want a little food, and then we'll be on our way."

Ava swallowed hard, her eyes locked on the girl. She had no idea who she was, but she prayed in her heart that she would find some kindness within her to share a bit of food.

"Please, we've come a long way. We haven't eaten in days, and we're starving," Ava pleaded.

The girl studied them carefully before climbing down from the table. She examined them one by one before finally speaking. "My name is Briar," she said, her voice serious and devoid of warmth.

She paced around them, assessing them closely. "You don't look like the kind of people who cause harm," she muttered, though her grip on the shotgun remained firm.

Ava felt Abby move closer to her, and she instinctively took her hand, squeezing it for reassurance.

"I suppose I could let you eat something," Briar finally said, stopping in front of Ava.

Ava held her breath as Briar locked eyes with her. "Just so you know," Briar warned, raising the shotgun slightly, "my daddy taught me well how to use this, and if you try anything funny, I won't hesitate to end you."

Her words were harsh, but Ava swallowed hard and stood her ground. "We don't mean any harm. We just want to eat," she reassured, matching Briar's gaze with unwavering determination.

A tense silence hung in the air until Briar finally smirked. "Then what are you waiting for? Get yourselves something to eat."

Relief flooded Ava, and she felt Abby let go of her hand. Though still wary, she watched as Abby rushed to the glass display, grabbing a sandwich and taking a huge bite.

Keeping an eye on Briar, Ava moved behind the counter and grabbed a sandwich of her own. It might have been a day old, but she didn't care. Her hands weren't the cleanest, but her hunger overpowered any concern for hygiene. She took a big bite of the turkey sandwich, the taste overwhelming her senses. The mixture of mustard, mayonnaise, tomatoes, and crisp lettuce was heavenly. Before she knew it, tears rolled down her cheeks as she ate.

The pregnancy hormones were taking a toll on her emotions, she realized, as she finished one sandwich in minutes and reached for another.

"Boy, you two were starving," Briar observed.

Ava didn't care. She stuffed another bite into her mouth, wiping her tears away with her free hand. Soft moans of satisfaction escaped her as she chewed.

Next to her, Abby sat down on a small round chair, eating her sandwich in silence. Then, Ava heard the clinking of glass as Briar set something down on the counter. Ava froze when she saw two large glasses filled with pink milkshakes.

Abby eagerly grabbed hers and took a big sip. "Thank you," she said gratefully, her voice filled with relief as she drank through the straw.

More tears welled in Ava's eyes as she looked at Briar, who now took a seat of her own. "Thank you," Ava said, her voice thick with gratitude. "You're too kind to us."

Briar's expression softened slightly. "I'm not that harsh," she admitted. "I can tell when someone's truly starving. I figured a milkshake would do you both some good."

Ava took the glass in her hands and sipped the cold, creamy milkshake. It was heaven. Her chest tightened with emotion—she might never get a chance like this again. She savored every sip, every bite, relishing the rare moment of peace.

She spotted a chair and sat down, finishing her sandwich along with the milkshake. She was surprised to see that Abby had already finished hers. The poor girl must have been starving, Ava thought.

With ease, she continued eating, cherishing every bite, knowing that moments like this—kindness from a stranger, a full stomach, and a moment of respite—were rare in their world now.