I Feel Better

By the time Gray got back, the convenience store was a mess. Chips-packets, cans, and all kinds of other store items were scattered across the floor.

"Come on, man. It's the end of the world and you're still trying to keep your job?" Joshua asked in between laughs, as the employee wrestled with him for a can of soup.

"You-you can't do this," the employee replied, tears rolling down his cheeks. He was trembling.

"You're back," Joshua announced, noticing Gray's arrival. Right then, the employee tackled him into the shelf, sending even more cans tumbling to the ground.

"I couldn't save her," Gray replied, staring at his hands.

Joshua let out a grunt, before pushing the employee back. 

"Couldn't save who? And why does that even matter?" he said, holding the employee back with one hand while holding the can in the other.

"Jane," Gray replied. He felt hopeless.

"Aw, she was kind of—" Joshua smacked the soup can on the side of the employee's head. "She was kind of cute. Anyway, I have most of the essentials already covered. You can add some snacks, I already added mine," he continued. The employee fell to the ground, grasping his head as he muttered something.

"That's all? She was kind cute? Didn't you guys used to hang out together?" Gray shouted. He felt like something was gnawing at his heart.

"Yeah, kind of? But not really. And even if we did, everyone's got to die someday."

Gray's head pounded, his heartbeat bouncing back and forth inside it. His breathing had become ragged; his jaws clenched.

"Why are you acting like this is a game? People are dying, people you know. People I know," he shouted, about to get to his feet.

But he stopped himself. "Yet even with these powers..."

Joshua laughed; it wasn't the usual crazy one he had been using earlier. This one was softer. "You have a hero complex or something? I don't care what powers they gave you, there's no way you were going to save everyone," he added.

Gray knew he was right, but knowing and feeling were two different things. He'd seen too much death today for him to just 'switch' off his feelings because it 'wasn't his fault.'

~Well, I guess I'll have enough time to beat myself up about this when I get to safety,~  he thought to himself before standing up.

"You-You can't do this!!" the employee shouted. He was on his feet and huffing at Gray like a madman.

"Huh?"

 The employee ran towards him, screaming like he was about to go to war. However, after only a few steps, he stumbled over one of the many cans that littered the floor, slamming into Gray's right side.

"Get off me!" Gray shouted. Everything came crashing down on him all at once; every bit of anger, sadness, and fear he'd been holding back. His face felt wet and warm, and his vision blurred.

He wanted to hit something; he wanted to cry; he wanted to sleep; he wanted to eat.

『Warning 70% of evacuees have been killed. More deaths will result in lower rewards. A death rate of greater than 90% will result in a penalty.』

"Why do you keep fucking with me, huh!" he shouted. His voice came out rougher than he'd expected.

"Why!" he shouted again.

"Why!"

"Why!"

"Hey, have mercy on the guy. It's not his fault he's an NPC, man," Joshua called out from a few isles over.

Gray rubbed the tears out of his eyes; and saw the employee lying on the ground, trembling under his feet. He hadn't even realized he'd been hitting the guy.

"Y-You can't do this," the employee whispered, trying to crawl away.

"That's all the guy's been saying since I walked in here. I think he's broken. Anyway, I have to tell you something. It's better I say it right now before you find out on your own," Joshua added, tossing a can towards Gray.

He caught it without thinking. It was a can of beetroot.

"I have a few dietary requirements. Sorry for not being upfront about it. Though I promise I won't slow you down," Joshua shouted.

"Beetroot?"

"Yeah, I'm diabetic. But that's going to change soon," Joshua replied. "You wanted to get to the stadium right? They sent out another alert; the gates will be closing in 20 minutes."

Gray pulled out his phone.

[WEA Alert Message:

Alert: Evacuation Point Closure

Instructions: Due to increased monster attacks, the Superdome stadium will be closed off in 20 minutes, evacuate immediately. All civilians unable to evacuate before the time limit will have to wait for additional instructions. Stay tuned.]

"It's a 15-minute drive there, and that's without traffic," Gray replied, clearing his throat.

"There's a motorcycle out back, probably his. But he doesn't look like he'll mind," Joshua replied, walking back with several plastic bags filled with supplies. He handed half of them to Gray.

There were mostly beetroots, chocolate bars, water, and lots of painkillers.

"You feel better?" Joshua asked, looking at Gray for a moment.

Gray felt somewhat embarrassed that he had blown up in front of him; but he had to admit, he felt… calmer.

"Yeah, anyway we gotta go," Joshua said, before heading towards the back exit.

Once he was gone, Gray kneeled over next to the employee.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to go off on you like that," he said. The employee was still crawling around, muttering 'you can't do this'.

"This'll help," Gray added, offering the guy a bottle of painkillers, and water.

He quickly ran down the aisle to replace them, before adding a few Pepper Steak pies.

"Hurry up!" Joshua shouted from outside.

"You should get to the Superdome Stadium… or stay in here, if you want. If you lock it up, and cover the doors, the birds won't get you," Gray shouted towards the clerk. He was at the door now.

Just as he was about to leave; he paused.

"Though, I'd be more afraid of other people. In these situations, they're usually worse than the monsters," he added, before closing the door behind him.

『18 minutes remaining…』