Chapter 4: Thriving in the City of the Dead

We continued to walk through the streets of what used to be our province. They did not wait another second to kick us out, as soon as sunrise hits we were left to fend for ourselves. To my surprise Carmen seemed to have adapted to the fact that we were practically invisible to the dead.

Ash! There's a store I really want to go, Pretty Please~ She whined pointing to another road that had wanderers point blank roaming the streets.

Okay, Okay, Stop whining. We can go after we get a few more supplies. It's not like their going to be sold out anytime soon. She pouted but still proceeded to enter what used to be a mini store. Carmen went to check the back room and brought out a backpack.

"They could have at least given us a bag and a bottle of water before they left us for dead "I grumbled taking packed rice and carbs from the freezing racks while I hear Carmen from the other side of the store.

"It would be nice if we could camp here, there's a generator too at the back but I feel like other survivors might pillage this place too" She explains while zipping up her bag. I walked behind the counter and found a dead body, I felt myself freeze as I take in the image of the poor victim. The cashier's face is torn by he left cheek and my ribs popping out the body. In her poor hands was an emergency axe. I creeped carefully prying the old metal from her fingers until it let's go.

"That's disgusting. Oh take the box of lighters too and I found an extra bag in the back, Do you think we can-" My ears suddenly picks up the sound of broken glass. I pulled her down and covered her mouth ,she stops struggling while we wait but nothing happened.

"Why did you pull me? Did you-" I covered her mouth again when I heard a group walking getting louder talking amongst themselves. She immediately stops again and crouches properly beside me. I took a look at the glass from the shelves, a group of adults in gas masks and heavy guns.

The military? Are they looking for survivors? I looked at Carmen who seems to think that we're safe but still looks at me for confirmation. I was about to stand up when one of them brought a guy wearing civilian clothes before releasing him.

My eyes widened when they got him and any nearby wandering zombies in the area. My heart was beating loudly in my chest. One of them looked towards the shelves and I frantically looked at the lower cabinets ,quietly opening one and signing Carmen to get in, she shuffles carefully as they starts to enter the store. I manage to get in just before one of them could spot me.

"Jackpot! We're having sushi tonight" One of them cheerfully exclaimed , I looked up on the glass shelves and didn't see anyone of them nearby so I try to quietly close the cabinet where we were hiding. Carmen moves just enough for both of us to stretch our legs a little.

I placed my index finger on my mouth to sign her to be quiet and she nods while taking a peek in a small hole of our hidden confinement. We could hear groaning of wanderers and cursing, whimpering when one of them started to shoot.

"Shit! Here they come!" We heard them scream while we covered out mouths and hoped for the best that they don't hit us. The sounds of loud groups of groaning tells us that more zombies are attracted to the sounds of gunshots.

"Argh~Fucking little shit nearly tore my arm" one of them curses loudly.

"Everyone through the back door" Gunshots and bullets continously drop to the ground, My eyes dilate while I cover my ears as they felt like bursting, my eyes starts to tear up.

My body felt like stone and my hands felt sweaty and cold. Their exchanges starts to get more and more violent.

"Fuck wait, Don't leave me" mixtures of groaning pain vibrates through the small cracks, the screams is drowned by loud shots

"He's dead already man, Shoot him" The last loud bullet echoes through, as more of the dead pushes through following the men out the other door while some of the wanderers stray within the small shop. We took a few moments until the shouts and shooting were away from us as far as possible. Carmen was the first to get out to check before pulling me out my feet wobbly from being cramped and sore.

She found the fresh body being devoured by the neck. "How did you hear them coming this way? I swear I didn't hear any of them until they started shooting" She asked picking up a gun from the body.

My breath still hasn't evened out "I just did", I started to salvage on the same body's pockets taking it's gun holder from it's thighs and four extra bullet.

"We should move as soon as possible" I said taking the box of lighter Carmen mentioned. I looked up and Carmen was missing.

"Cars?..... Cars?" I tried to whisper for her when she suddenly appeared by the entrance. "What? I was outside already" I rubbed my eyes, I swore she was just inside.