Story 1217: Rations and Regret

INT. ABANDONED SUPERMARKET – NIGHT

The flickering "EZ-Mart" sign barely lit the shattered parking lot. Inside, the silence was stifling, broken only by dripping water and the hum of old freezers. Lena led the group in carefully—Briggs still bandaged, Ward scanning aisles with his rifle, and the Girl lingering in the rear.

WARD:

“Scavenge quickly. No noise. These places attract the starved.”

LENA:

“You mean zombies?”

WARD (flat):

“No. I mean people.”

INT. MARKET – CANNED GOODS AISLE

Lena found a small stash of dented cans and protein bars. She tucked them into her pack and paused, staring at an old photo on the floor—two kids smiling in matching uniforms.

FLASHBACK: INT. LENA’S CHILDHOOD KITCHEN

Her father setting two dinner plates down.

FATHER:

“It’s not about what we have, Lena. It’s about sharing what we’ve got.”

Back in the aisle, Lena closed her eyes. Then she grabbed a few extra cans and moved on.

INT. MARKET – PHARMACY SECTION