Chapter 5: Memories

When morning came we all were ready to make the last stretch of our journey. 

Almost everything was packed back into the trucks, I was looking around the shop for some tools, food, first aid, etc.

I ended up in the back office, I felt around on the wall for a switch and flipped it on. The light took a moment before lighting the place up. It had a desk, and computer, and looked to be some extra stock of various chips, candies, and other products they had. I grabbed a bin full of the various chips and put them by the door. I saw another door in the back of the office. 

Curious, I walked up and turned the handle. I don't know why, but I half expected something to jump out at me. But all I was met with were various coats, a filing cabinet, and a very large toolbox. 

'some of this could be useful' I thought as I grabbed the jackets.

Some were heavy puffer jackets, others were simple pullovers. They most likely used these when they had to restock the fridge. I remember my Mom doing the same when she worked at a 7-11 for a short time. 

I paused my movements at the thought.

Mom.

Growing up, she always worked in restaurants. From bartending to managing she did it all. I used to love wanting to help out, from restocking to even helping at the cash register. I always wanted her to be proud of me and thought that was the best way.

When she used to work at an Italian place in Keller, she would always ask if my brother and I wanted to come to the store and help out for a few hours on the weekends when we were with her. I remember we always went and had a blast doing the work without getting paid. I smiled at the memory but then my brain turned against me, and my chest started to feel empty. Knowing I wouldn't get to hug her or see her again made my brain go fuzzy as tears appeared in my eyes. I shook my head trying to get myself under control but I knew I had to pause. I sat on the office chair and took a few minutes to compose myself.

The memories were all now tainted by the fact she was gone now. 

As much as I needed to grieve, I needed to get to the lakehouse as soon as possible. I went back to the closet and pulled out the toolbox. 

I opened it and it had a good variety of screwdrivers, flatheads, a hammer, and lots of random things floating around the bottom. I need Zen, or Trey to help me get this to the truck. I walked out with the box of chips, and jackets I threw in. 

"Hey Zen," I called out, putting the box in the bed of the truck 

"Yeah?" he responds coming up next to me 

"In the office, I found a toolbox, it's too heavy for me to carry out, can you go grab it?" I ask as he nods 

"Yeah, no problem, make some room back there though we're running out of room." He says turning to go into the store. 

I shifted some of the bags and boxes we had picked up from the last stop. Just as I finished up Zen came up behind me

"Excuse me," He says dropping the box on the truck as it bounced a bit from the force

I looked around and saw Vegas and Trey sitting in their truck with the doors open, just chatting by the looks of it.

I walked to their truck and spotted Jaxon and Bella pointing at the sky behind the truck. 

I look up to see the blue sky full of clouds. Some of them took abstract shapes, others I could recognize such as the head of a dog. I smiled and looked back at the pair laughing. I turned my attention back to Vegas and Trey as they noticed me approaching. 

"All good?" Trey asks me as I nod 

"Yeah I found some things in the office I figured would be useful, so I just wanted to check to see how y'all are doing," I say putting half my hands in my back pockets. 

"Well, Trey and I were discussing the lakehouse and the property it's on. With the number of lakehouses that are out there, we think it might be good to establish certain places as storage, bunkers, you know planning" Vegas explains 

"Yeah like that random little house by the loading dock, we could make that a repair station or something" Jocelyn chimes in from the back seat holding a dark blue pillow against her chest.

"It's not a bad idea. We need to make sure all those houses are clear before we settle anything. If something is too infected we should burn it or something. I don't want to risk turning into one of those creatures" I say as they all agreed

I looked up and saw we were making good time 

"Well let's get going. The faster we get there faster we can prepare the house for those things," I say as I turn back to Bella and Jaxon

"Bella! Time to go!" I called out as she came running up to me and we all loaded up and started to make our way through the old city. 

On a familiar pothole-infested road I looked up to see the famous haunted building we pass every time we come out. 

It's said to have been a mental asylum and many souls are trapped in its walls. Many locals claimed to see faces or figures in the windows of the building. Some say they witnessed the windows breaking from the inside out like something was trying to escape. Gives me chills to think about it.

We eventually started to see fewer buildings and more flat lands covered in tall grass guarded by barbed wire fences with mesquite trees littering the landscape. I rolled the window down and took a long deep breath of the country air. It reminded me of my childhood. Coming out here to hang with the family during the long summers, and just enjoy getting outdoors. It was bittersweet.

While I enjoyed the fresh air and nostalgia, I could only think about my dad. Him in his final words to tell us to go out here. To survive. I delved back into my memories.

My father and I were like twins, we enjoyed many similar things and acted the same way too. I got my love of music and singing from him, and I remember us together on the porch of the lake house, right as it started to get dark with the fireflies starting to appear. We would sing songs together, harmonizing. He would play the guitar and I would follow with the lyrics. My heart ached thinking about it. Knowing I would never get to sing again with my dad, let alone see him. 

It broke me. I was looking out the window as I started to hum a tune we had made up when I was little. My eyes started to water as I started to quietly sing the lyrics.

"Driving down Highway 10, got myself a big ol' grin because it's Friday. Friday again" I began as my brother joined in, knowing the tune 

"Goin' fishin' with my kids, just like, me and my daddy did, on Friday" he sang as the tears began to run down is cheeks.

"Friday~ Again" I sang holding the last note before letting my tears run down my face, Zen rubbed my back as Bella came between us and held our hands as we hummed the tune.