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2128 Words
“I’m surprised the parking lot is empty. It isn’t curfew time yet,” related Amber.
“Hopefully, luck is on our side, and it isn’t locked,” stated Joseph.
“We’ll leave the SUV by the sidewalk. Ray and the girl will stay here,” commanded Amber.
A smile played across Amber’s lips and said, “Try to keep the zombie love down.”
After they checked the doors, Amber remarked, “We should try the movie theater.”
“Looks like we got lucky,” said Joseph.
“I’m glad,” verbalized Amber.
“We should watch out. It’s dark in here,” reported Joseph as they walked further inside the building.
“I didn’t think there would so much here. Pop, candy, chips, cheese, and popcorn. We’ll take all of it and popcorn machine,” informed Amber.
“Mmmm. Popcorn,” commented Joseph.
While they walked around the silent mall, Joseph said, “I’m glad this is quiet.”
“I’m glad no zombies,” responded Amber.
“I agree,” remarked Joseph.
“We need a dolly for the popcorn machine,” indicated Amber.
“We’ll do that after we get the clothes and weapons,” related Joseph.
“We’ll hit the rest of the stores after we get done,” declared Amber as they walked toward the leather shop.
“This will get us a lot of supplies,” expressed Joseph.
“Grab clothes and change into them. You should make them loose enough for combat,” ordered Amber.
“Freeballing,” remarked Davis in a musical tone with an underscore of comedy.
“No, Davis. You keep your underwear on,” retorted Amber, then gave him a half-grin.
“Man. Take away all my fun,” commented Davis with a childish tone, then stuck his bottom lip out.
Amber turned toward her son, “I have an idea, Joe.”
Without hesitation, Amber looked at Derrick, and Davis then ordered, “You two come with me.”
They walked inside a drug store, and Amber grabbed a couple boxes of garbage bags. As Amber strolled down the aisles, she acquired potato chips and pop.
When Amber noticed Derrick watching her, she asked, “What?”
“Hungry?” questioned Derrick.
“I worked up an appetite fighting the zombies. Got to feed the beast,” responded Amber, then she gave him a smile and winked.
“Enjoy,” expressed Derrick.
“I will. Want some?” asked Amber as she held out the bag.
“Don’t feed the animals. They’ll follow you home,” acknowledged Davis.
“I’m not a stray,” muttered Derrick.
“Don’t worry,” said Amber.
Amber rubbed Derrick’s head and continued, “You’re our stray.”
“Thank you, Amber,” whispered Derrick.
“Do you want to get anything else?” asked Davis.
“Later,” answered Amber.
“We’ll have to double back,” stated Derrick.
“I know. Let’s get back,” related Amber while she grabbed a cupcake.
“Welcome back,” expressed Joseph as the corners of his mouth rose ever so slightly.
“Thank you,” replied Amber.
“We need a way to carry these heavy bags,” declared Joseph.
“True. Alex, come with me. You guys keep packing,” ordered Amber.
Immediately they strolled from the store. When they were outside the store, they stopped and glanced around the mall.
“We should find carts in that store,” said Amber as she pointed.
“Let’s do this,” said Alexandria.
“We’ll grab six carts each,” conveyed Amber.
“I can grab a few more,” acknowledged Alexandria.
When they had their carts together, they headed for the exit. They marched back toward the leather shop.
“Load the carts with the bags,” commanded Amber.
“What now, mom?” questioned Joseph after the carts were filled with their merchandise.
“Let’s clear the stores out one by one,” responded Amber.
“I don’t think we can get much from the card shop,” commented Joseph.
“Candy, gifts for people, and stuffed toys,” remarked Alexandria.
“We can do that,” said Amber.
When Amber and Alexandria finished, they stood and stared at the pharmacist countertop.
“Davis. Derrick. Jump over the counter,” ordered Amber.
“Hold the bags open,” commanded Davis.
“Better yet. Here,” remarked Amber as she gave them baskets.
“Should we get the oxy medicines and other pain medicines like it?” questioned Joseph.
“We could use them later as trade,” responded Amber.
“Alright. We should keep them separate,” conveyed Joseph.
“Good idea. I’ll get a different-colored trash bag and put the meds in them,” expressed Amber.
“I’m surprised the parking lot is empty. It isn’t curfew time yet,” related Amber.
“Hopefully, luck is on our side, and it isn’t locked,” stated Joseph.
“We’ll leave the SUV by the sidewalk. Ray and the girl will stay here,” commanded Amber.
A smile played across Amber’s lips and said, “Try to keep the zombie love down.”
After they checked the doors, Amber remarked, “We should try the movie theatre.”
“Looks like we got lucky,” said Joseph.
“I’m glad,” verbalized Amber.
“We should watch out. It’s dark in here,” reported Joseph as they walked further inside the building.
“I didn’t think there would so much here. Pop, candy, chips, cheese, and popcorn. We’ll take all of it and popcorn machine,” informed Amber.
“Mmmm. Popcorn,” commented Joseph.
While they walked around the silent mall, Joseph said, “I’m glad this is quiet.”
“I’m glad no zombies,” responded Amber.
“I agree,” remarked Joseph.
“We need a dolly for the popcorn machine,” indicated Amber.
“We’ll do that after we get the clothes and weapons,” related Joseph.
“We’ll hit the rest of the stores after we get done,” declared Amber as they walked toward the leather shop.
“This will get us a lot of supplies,” expressed Joseph.
“Grab clothes and change into them. You should make them loose enough for combat,” ordered Amber.
“Freeballing,” remarked Davis in a musical tone with an underscore of comedy.
“No, Davis. You keep your underwear on,” retorted Amber, then gave him a half-grin.
“Man. Take away all my fun,” commented Davis with a childish tone, then stuck his bottom lip out.
Amber turned toward her son, “I have an idea, Joe.”
Without hesitation, Amber looked at Derrick, and Davis then ordered, “You two come with me.”
They walked inside a drug store, and Amber grabbed a couple boxes of garbage bags. As Amber strolled down the aisles, she acquired potato chips and pop.
When Amber noticed Derrick watching her, she asked, “What?”
“Hungry?” questioned Derrick.
“I worked up an appetite fighting the zombies. Got to feed the beast,” responded Amber, then she gave him a smile and winked.
“Enjoy,” expressed Derrick.
“I will. Want some?” asked Amber as she held out the bag.
“Don’t feed the animals. They’ll follow you home,” acknowledged Davis.
“I’m not a stray,” muttered Derrick.
“Don’t worry,” said Amber.
Amber rubbed Derrick’s head and continued, “You’re our stray.”
“Thank you, Amber,” whispered Derrick.
“Do you want to get anything else?” asked Davis.
“Later,” answered Amber.
“We’ll have to double back,” stated Derrick.
“I know. Let’s get back,” related Amber while she grabbed a cupcake.
“Welcome back,” expressed Joseph as the corners of his mouth rose ever so slightly.
“Thank you,” replied Amber.
“We need a way to carry these heavy bags,” declared Joseph.
“True. Alex, come with me. You guys keep packing,” ordered Amber.
Immediately they strolled from the store. When they were outside the store, they stopped and glanced around the mall.
“We should find carts in that store,” said Amber as she pointed.
“Let’s do this,” said Alexandria.
“We’ll grab six carts each,” conveyed Amber.
“I can grab a few more,” acknowledged Alexandria.
When they had their carts together, they headed for the exit. They marched back toward the leather shop.
“Load the carts with the bags,” commanded Amber.
“What now, mom?” questioned Joseph after the carts were filled with their merchandise.
“Let’s clear the stores out one by one,” responded Amber.
“I don’t think we can get much from the card shop,” commented Joseph.
“Candy, gifts for people, and stuffed toys,” remarked Alexandria.
“We can do that,” said Amber.
When Amber and Alexandria finished, they stood and stared at the pharmacist countertop.
“Davis. Derrick. Jump over the counter,” ordered Amber.
“Hold the bags open,” commanded Davis.
“Better yet. Here,” remarked Amber as she gave them baskets.
“Should we get the oxy medicines and other pain medicines like it?” questioned Joseph.
“We could use them later as trade,” responded Amber.
“Alright. We should keep them separate,” conveyed Joseph.
“Good idea. I’ll get a different-colored trash bag and put the meds in them,” expressed Amber.
When Amber strolled back, she had a box of colored garbage bags.
“Let’s hit the sporting goods store,” stated Amber.
When they were inside the shop, Amber watched Derrick grab gloves, a few metal bars, short knives, and studs.
“What are you doing?” asked Amber.
“Fighting gloves. I’ll put the metal bar across the knuckles. The spikes on the back of the hand. The tiny blades will hang from the bars over my fingers,” answered Derrick.
“Nice. They sound badass,” responded Amber.
“We need keys for the gun cabinet,” stated Joseph.
“Search for the keys,” commanded Amber.
“I found them,” conveyed Joseph.
“Thank you,” requested Amber.
“It’s opened,” remarked Joseph.
They each grabbed guns and placed them inside the carts until all the guns were gone from the cabinets. They progressed to the ammo until they had it fully loaded inside the bags.
“All of you grab a helmet first if there’s any left, I’ll get one,” ordered Amber.
As Amber stood there and waited, she noticed the unique gigantic basket shelves that held the equipment.
“We can use these for the SUV,” informed Amber.
“Connect the baskets on the SUV’s rack then tie them together, so they are sturdier. Lastly, put the tarp over all of this,” declared Alexandria.
“You got it,” commented Amber.
“We should search the back for more equipment,” announced Joseph.
“We should get other carts for the rest of the stores. Alex and I will get them,” reported Amber.
Immediately Davis opened his arms toward the women as they readied to depart the sporting goods store.
“I love you, mommy and sissy,” remarked Davis in a goofy accent then ran against his mother as she laughed.
“My silly goose,” declared Amber, and she hugged him before they ventured forth for the carts.
When the women got back with the carts, the group cleaned out the other stores of what was usable then went for the theater’s exit. Amber and Joseph linked the carts together so they would be pulled in groups. With caution, Amber eyed the area for any signs of activity. When there was none, they exited the mall. They were about halfway between the building and the SUV with the carts filled with their rewards.
“Stop,” ordered Joseph, but it was too late.
- Writer
