Seeds

Making their way back to Lorey's motorcycle, the thought of stealing sickened Shem.

'Do we have to steal the seeds?

It's only seeds but still …'

Walking down the streets many people were headed towards the tent, all shared a similar darkness in their eyes. 

'With their heads down like that they look like zombies.' Shem mused, wondering if that is how he looked at the start of the day, the foreign concept that his parents actually died still not actualised in his mind. 

'Even Lorey has the same gloomy appearance as them

Though she is suppressing it with that forced smile.'

'Still trying to protect me huh. Don't worry Lorey, I'm not a little kid anymore!' 

Shem, unbeknownst to himself, was traumatised, so traumatised in fact that his brain would not let the trauma come forth in his mind. If it did, he would be destroyed. It wasn't that Shem did not feel negative emotions or that his parents' deaths did not impact him, rather it was the opposite, he was completely wrecked by their deaths.

His trauma was so extreme that Shem's brain had to adapt in the moment, protecting him from what happened. Although the brain could not cope with the entire experience it managed the best it could, currently it was wholly withholding the information from Shem, reducing some of the details. It was like a dam holding back a raging river from a serene village. If the dam broke, nothing would survive. 

However Shem did not know this. No one did. So it bothered no one. 

Once arrived at the motorcycle Lorey again forced a helmet on him before they rode towards the nearest 24/7 grocery store, only a few kilometers away.

The drive was peaceful and calm, the streets were empty with everybody walking, a melancholic tone filled the air. 

Reaching the store Lorey parked the motorcycle near the entrance before turning to Shem, her deep mahogany eyes gazing deeply into his similarly brown ones hidden by the helmet.

Her long black hair was a bit fluffed and frizzled by the ride and her olive skin glistening. Then again everyone had olive skin tone, that was just the world. 

"Shem, let's grab bags to carry the water and food. The seeds won't take up much space, but still get one backpack each, got it?"

"Sounds good." Shem answered, a small smile playing on his lips while Lorey stayed serious, seemingly stressed by their current predicament. 

" "

An awkward silence ensued, Lorey still staring at Shem whose eyes' features were barely visible under the tinted visor from the helmet.

Worry graced her face, forehead creased, she didn't know why Shem was smiling. 

Not minding or understanding this unusual attention, Shem brushed past her while taking off his helmet, the small gentle smile never leaving his face. 

After entering the store, which luckily still had power split off, Lorey told Shem she would grab essentials and extra clothes while he should get the seeds and food/water for themselves. 

"Okay, let's meet by the cashiers, after all that's the only way out."

Nodding in agreement Lorey left Shem alone to navigate the empty grocery store, no employees showed up and no one else was in the store. Weaving through the aisles Shem stumbled upon the party isle, noticing the silly string containers on the wall he considered Lorey and her frowzy aura. 

'She's always trying to look after me, it must be stressful. Maybe I'll cheer her up with this later, It'll be fun!

Picking up the metal can that was cold to the touch Shem placed it in the backpacks on sale the siblings found at the entrance of the store before continuing on their shopping excursion. Everything was going splendidly.

After gathering four liters of water along with some purifying packs, matches, two water bottles, and some non-perishable foods, Shem made his way to the cashiers to meet up with Lorey, the silly string safely stowed at the bottom of his bag. 

Lorey was waiting for him by the entrance to all the cashier areas by the bread section, instantly seeing him she gave him a light wave in greeting.

After reciprocating it, the siblings walked together towards the furthest cashier which would be closest to the exit. 

A few cashier stations down the smell assaulted their nose, a coppery scent wafted through the air. Exchanging looks the siblings marched forwards, uncertain about the sight to come.

Turning into the aisle they saw him, a high-school student working a late-night job for money. He was in a position that displayed how he fell asleep on the job, probably from lack of customers. Now he was no longer sleeping.

His nametag that read "Duma" was laid in the now soup-bowl that is his skull. His skull was cut in half, this included the brain and the other half was placed underneath the scanner as if it could carry a price. Duma's arms still cushioned his face as one did when sleeping. 

The half with the nametag had Duma's brain hollowed out like a habitat tree, the brain matter smushed all over the conveyor belt. The sight so grotesque and horrid would churn the stomach of even the most hardened onlooker, leaving them frozen in a mix of revulsion and disbelief.

When Shem saw that the barrier his brain placed cracked a little, a twinge of madness seeped into his eyes which quickly disappeared. After all the crack was not big enough, yet.