Shelter

Making her way into the showers Lorey chose the furthest left stall, the stall was about the size of a toilet stall with a shower. It contained both body wash and shampoo attached to the wall, an alcove for clothes, and a drying device instead of towels. Luckily Shem brought a change of clothes for both of them giving her something to change out of. 

Turning on the shower, she felt the cool embrace of the water racing down her back. Choosing to first thoroughly scrub her blood-caked hands Lorey realised this was her first time truly alone and left to her own thoughts since she woke up. 

Introspecting upon herself Lorey began slowly tearing up, the salty lukewarm liquid converging with the shower runoff. The shower transformed into something a bit more frigid and less comforting. 

Letting out a low wail of frustration and grief she kneeled on the numbingly cold tarped ground, the previously slow stream of tears turning into a raging river. Her face twisted in anguish, her shoulders trembled as if subjected to an invisible weight.

Lorey was in despair. 

"Why, why, why, why."

"fuck."

She sobbed under the icy touch of the shower for what felt like an eternity. Finally getting up she turned off the shower, her eyes red and puffy, cheeks stained, and lip still quivering she slowly dried herself off, the blood long washed away. 

Once done changing Lorey exited the stall, glad she chose the leftmost one as water from either end meandered towards the centre stall (presumably where the drain was) carrying blood and other waste.

Making her way out of the shower tent she recognised Shem's back as he sat looking away from the tent entrance and towards the growing line of people waiting to enter the centre tent. 

Mustering up a smile to mask her grieving and gloomy expression Lorey quietly stepped towards Shem and patted his back.

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(Shem POV)

'There are not a lot of people coming to this camp, only about five-hundred people in that line.'

Feeling a light tap on the shoulder Shem turned around and saw Lorey. She displayed a small smile that did not reach her heavy, haunted eyes that were a testament to the macabre scene previously witnessed. 

'She's been crying …'

Feeling a sense of distress well up inside him, Shem's demeanour turned sorrowful, face frowned and eyes turned in a downcast. This time he was the one to initiate the hug, hugging her tightly he lightly patted her back in a reassuring manner.

"It's ok, we have each other. Please don't cry alone. It hurts me to see you like this."

Looking at Lorey's face, her eyes were tear lined and glassed over. Watching her wipe the just formed tears away Shem did nothing but release his grip on Lorey slowly. His face slowly shifted into a soft empathetic look as he knew she did not have time to cry like him, his voice soft and tender. 

"The military set up a temporary shelter near Ash park, we should go there before all the spots are taken." 

Without saying anything Lorey nodded in agreement then gestured for him to lead the way, one hand still wiping away yet-to-form tears. Shem intertwined his hand with her free one and steadily led the way towards said shelter. 

Once they arrived Lorey had successfully rid herself of tears and now bore a stoic mask. A soldier greeted them at the entrance to a large circus-like tent located in the centre of the park. Wearing forest camo cargo pants and a black shirt the soldier additionally sported a beige and maroon striped beret adorning her long dirty blonde hair and beautiful face. 

In a calm and practiced voice she stated, "We have established multiple tents that are numbered within the tent." Handing the siblings a small piece of paper the soldier declared, "That number is your tent, refrain from sleeping until deemed safe. Keep anything valuable on your person and after depositing your belongings in the tent proceed to the far end of the main tent, there you will have a task assigned."

"Washrooms are on the far left side of the main tent and an additional exit is on the far right side."

Giving their thanks the siblings made their way into the large tent, multiple lights hung from what could be called ceiling and the hum of a generator could distinctly be heard. Looking down at their paper both Shem and Lorey saw their tent number, 058. Excited but grief stricken they worked through the maze of tents, both lost in their own thoughts wondering what this new world would hold for them.