“Here,” he said, holding out a spade. “Let’s get this done.”
Chapter Four
The Mom and Pop
The Mom and Pop Grocery Store
Raven
It was just past noon and they drove through the hills, approaching the Mom and Pop. Raven and Henry had decided that their best chance would be at midday. Henry assured her that the zombies were less likely to emerge when the sun was high. At least, he said, most of the movies depicted it that way so they had an even shot of it being true. She didn’t point out that since it was raining again — had it ever stopped? — the noon sun was practically invisible through the clouds.
Raven remained alert, a state that she imagined she would feel for the rest of her life or at least the duration of the apocalypse.
“There it is,” Henry said, pointing.
They crested a small hill, covered in green foliage and delicate purple flowers. The landscape changed, dropping them into a dell and the road flattened out. Trees lined it on either side, leaves ranging in color from deep red to vibrant orange. A shingled roof was visible in the distance. Raven couldn’t tell how far away it was.
She nodded and stared out of the window at the passing trees. The racing trunks zoomed by in varying shades of brown and she let her eyes blur until everything was just splashes of color.
“You okay?” Henry asked after the silence had stretched on a while.
“Yeah,” Raven answered, pulling her gaze from the passing scenery. She looked at her brother. “Just thinking.”
Henry squinted at her. “Okay,” he said, drawing out the word skeptically. “Just put your game face on. We’re almost there.”
Raven glared at him. “I’m not the one who dropped the knife,” she ribbed.
Henry looked embarrassed. “That won’t happen again,” he assured, frowning.
“And I won’t aim for the stomach,” Raven said. “Head shot or nothing. I guess taking a leg or an arm would be helpful but I don’t want to have to do that with an axe as my only weapon.”
Henry chuckled, probably laughing at her babbling. “The front of the store is made of glass and there’s a door through the back that leads into a store room. I think it would be best to come at it from there. If anyone or anything is inside they won’t be able to see us coming.”
“They’ll hear us,” Raven added, for the first time thinking that this awesome truck was a little too loud.
Henry shrugged. “Some things can’t be helped,” he answered. “We can’t park too far away. Then we’d be carrying supplies and shit across open ground.”
“Yeah,” Raven agreed. “I don’t want to be caught with my hands full.”
The night before she and Henry had compiled a list of the most important things to get. Food, medicine, toiletries, and other amenities like soap and dog food were at the top of her list. Raven was sure there would be other items that they could use but as long as they got those main staples they’d do for a while.
“I hope Rocky’s all right,” she murmured, picturing him sitting by the door as they left. She’d told him they’d be back and he stared at her sadly. Raven had filled a bowl with the rest of his dog kibble and one with water just in case they were overlong.
“It would’ve been more dangerous to bring him,” Henry reassured, turning onto a small access road. The pavement gave way to gravel and they bounced across it.
They’d talked it out last night. Raven had been hesitant to leave her dog behind but Henry pointed out that he would be in a lot more danger from the dead than sitting in the cabin alone. Not to mention that her attention would be divided between fighting for her life and protecting her dog. That could get them both killed. She’d agreed but couldn’t shake the thought that if something happened to them he’d slowly starve to death. She shivered.
“I know,” Raven said and told her brother about her fears.
Henry smiled. “I left the upper window over the balcony open. It’s kind of high up but I bet rocky could jump from there if he had to.”
“Oh, good,” Raven answered, relieved. “Thanks,” she returned her brother’s grin.
They turned a corner and the back of the store was before them. It was wooden and looked like it had been built in the early 1900’s. Big, boxy and painted blue, the store was two stories of well-maintained building. It would’ve been really cute under different circumstances. It had windows trimmed with white and Raven could see roses in a glass vase sitting on a table upstairs. A figure shambled within, casting a shadow across the flowers.
“Uh-oh,” Henry said. “You ready?” he asked, turning to Raven.
“As ever,” she answered, pulling the cover off her axe and adjusting the fit of her long leather coat.
Henry nodded, unsheathing his knife.
They got out of the truck.
Rain pattered on the ground, wetting the asphalt in the parking lot. Raven loved the scent of rain; it smelled fresh and clean; innocent. Though right now the happiness it usually brought was taking a backseat to the unease that churned in her stomach. She’d hoped that the store was going to be deserted, but that passing shadow said otherwise. They approached a back door of darkly stained wood and all was quiet. Henry pressed his ear against it and listened. Raven turned so her back was to the wall and she kept her eyes peeled for movement in the woods. The rain fell harder and she buttoned her coat. It was made of lambskin and though it fit her snugly the leather was supple and she could move in it easily. That hadn’t seemed as
