Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
I give him a nod before we part ways. Slowly, I creep down the first aisle where I’d seen the PopTarts. Rather than tearing into them, famished beyond belief, I pick up the box, ready to use it as a weapon if I need to. If anyone’s hiding in here, I’ll throw it at their head to give myself a chance to escape.
Nothing, aside from the food, grabs me from the first aisle. I make my way around the next aisle and look down toward the register for anything lurking.
Sleeping bags line the space. My heart thuds violently.
The next aisle is full of car items from motor oil to air fresheners. Once it’s clear, I’ll inspect this aisle more closely for anything I can use for a proper weapon. The next aisle has feminine hygiene products, diapers, and condoms. At the end of it are a small supply of medical items like little packages of ibuprofen, hydrogen peroxide, bandages, and gauze. I nearly cheer with delight.
On the final aisle, I discover more sleeping bags, but no people. This place will definitely do. We can grab our group and take refuge in this place. Before I can get comfortable, Kellen bursts from the back room, a panicked expression on his face. He grabs for some plastic bags at the register and then hands a wad over to me.
“Grab what you can. We need to go.”
I frown at him. “What? Why? It’s safe here.”
He shakes his head. “We need to grab some stuff and go.”
Gaping at him, I try to figure out what spooked him. Did he see someone? A dead body?
“I said move, dammit,” Kellen growls, stalking past me toward the first aisle.
My heart lurches with unease as I sense the anxiety emanating from him. I rush over to the medical supplies area and begin grabbing everything I might need, managing to fill one of the plastic sacks with everything that’ll fit.
“We need to go,” Kellen barks out. “Help me get some water bottles.”
The two of us meet at the coolers. When I open the door to one, I get a whiff of spoiled milk and it makes me gag. Kellen snatches several bottles of water lined up and fills a sack for each of us.
“Let’s go.” He nudges me out of the way, letting the door close behind him. “We need to get out of here.”
I frown at the thought of leaving the rest of our loot. We could really use this stuff. As we make our way out, I snatch up a sleeping bag, zip it up, and then toss my bags inside. Kellen frowns at me but says nothing. Then the two of us slip out of the store. When he takes off running back toward our group, I feel panic rising up inside me.
What did he see?
Why are we running?
Our group is all waiting nervously as we trudge their way, splashing through fat puddles and making all kinds of racket. By the time we reach the others, we’re both panting and out of breath.
“What is it?” Aaron asks. “Were there people?”
“No,” I say, but Kellen cuts me off.
“I saw some kids hiding out in the back. Little kids. Whoever left them there is coming back.”
My blood runs cold.
There were kids inside?
“Are they alone?” Hope asks, voice slightly quavering. “Should we go get them?”
We can barely help ourselves and now she wants to rescue more people?
“One of the older kids whispered to a toddler to stay quiet because their daddies would be back soon.” Kellen hangs his head. “We need to get out of here before that happens.”
I blink at him in shock. Why didn’t he say anything back there?
“You robbed a family?” Hailey asks, tone filled with horror. “Did you hurt them?”
Kellen scoffs, clearly disgusted at her question. “No, we didn’t hurt them. We just took what we needed. Nothing more. There’s still plenty left for them. I just don’t want to be around when the parents come back.”
Nausea makes my gut churn.
I took their PopTarts. I took food from little kids.
“Should we take this stuff back?” My words are hoarse and shaky. “Kell…”
I can see the indecision warring in his eyes, softness transforming his handsome features. My growling stomach seems to make a decision for him. His gaze hardens and he shakes his head.
“They’ll be fine,” he grunts. “We leave now.”
With those words, we gather our stolen treasure and our broken people, heading away from the scene of our crime.
Kellen
Guilt doesn’t just nag at me. It wrings its spindly fingers around my throat and digs in, making it hard for me to breathe.
What we did—what I did—was wrong.
I swallow down my unease and cast my eyes over each person in our group. Though somber and quiet, I can tell the supplies have brought forth a little hope in an otherwise dour situation.