“I need to go look for food and supplies. I’ll come back and check on you.” Raine placed a soft hand on his skin, checking for a fever. The feel of his skin sent a heat wave through her, as if she had been shocked by an electric surge.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll hurry.”
Or at least I will try. She added the last part to herself.
Earth was no longer a place where certainties could be counted on. Instead, uncertainty ruled every moment while you wait for the next batch of aliens to arrive.
Earth’s downfall must be the new hot topic in outer space. She wished she knew their method so she could figure out which ones were carnivores.
Milly, the customer service representative at the bank, who was the most hated employee even before the bombings, liked to torment her by saying you could tell which aliens ate humans by their size. Milly never offered to go with anyone except her to search for supplies, rudely saying she would be safe accompanying her because the aliens wouldn’t waste time chasing after an appetizer when they could feed their army with her.
She really detested Milly and would always lose her right away, afraid the witch would deliberately draw the aliens’ attention to her just so she would be eaten.
Pushing the nasty thought aside that she wouldn’t be upset if one of the aliens found Milly and ate her, she patted the man comfortingly, promising to protect him.
“Don’t worry; I’ll won’t let them eat you.”
Chapter 2
Raine
Crawling to the side of the building, she poked her head out to make sure no one was around before taking off at a run to the building across the street from the one they were in.
She entered the building, and as she surveyed the gloomy interior, she became afraid it would crumble down around her at any moment. Taking out a small pocket flashlight, Raine began searching the rooms. It appeared to have been an office building. She wanted to cry when all she found was a box of K-cups. This building had already been picked over.
Biting her lip, she debated going up a flight of stairs she had discovered. She flashed the beam of light up the metal stairway, which had a good deal of debris on it, and started to climb over the mound of rocks. It took several attempts before reaching the top. At least going down would be much easier.
A metal door had two rocks propped up against it, blocking it from opening. With raising hopes that no one had searched this part of the building, she started trying to shift the rocks.
It took all her strength just to open the door wide enough for her to squeeze through. The only good thing about having nuclear bombs detonated and being invaded by aliens meant that it was a surefire method of losing weight.
She had no idea how much weight she had lost, but her size-twenty pants were barely hanging on. Why couldn’t a clothing store or homes have been close by where she worked? If she didn’t find some clothes to fit her soon, she would be flashing everyone in the vault every time she moved.
Gaping at what she found on the other side of the door, it took all her willpower not to fall on her knees and cry. The floor was a lunchroom and cafeteria.
Other survivors must have been too afraid to go past the first floor, in fear of the aliens. She wouldn’t have chanced it either if they didn’t desperately need the food.
Biting back a scream when rats started fleeing from her flashlight scanning the area, she gathered her courage and started searching for any items they could use.
She couldn’t hold back her tears at the number of canned foods she found in the kitchen area and the walk-in. However, there was no way she could carry it all back by herself. The cans were huge and were meant to serve several portions. Guilt ate at her for losing Milly. Not only could she have helped carry the food but the unconscious man.
She chose a large can of peaches and baked beans; it hurt her soul to leave the over twenty cans sitting on the shelves.
Leaving the walk-in, she opened a door to the side and saw it was a locker room. Setting the heavy canvas bag down, she started opening employee lockers. In one, she found a jacket. She tied the tight jacket around her waist rather than carrying it and opened the next locker. By the time she reached the end of the row, she had managed to find another jacket and a pair of sneakers that was too large for her. Disappointment turned to joy when she noticed the backpack hanging inside. She would be able to fit another can of food in the backpack. Unzipping it, she saw a pair of jeans and a computer.