Armageddon

Eight: Trust

The sun has risen in Zolis. Mira shakes her bottled water before drinking it all. She only had three hours of sleep at most. She was anxious all night because she couldn't wait to meet Kimberly and Anthony.

Mira finished the last bite of her food and cleaned her hands. She grabbed her bag, which was full of necessities, and peered through the windows. The lurkers had already gone away, but Mira was still careful. Even the slightest mistake could cost her life.

Mira readied the metal rod she found in the employee's room and slowly removed all of the things barricaded at the door. She walked out of the store and looked around. Mira ran far from Kimberly and Anthony's house yesterday. It was risky to go back because lurkers were roaming around, but she had to. This was her sole purpose when she got back: to protect Kimberly and the people close to her.

"Sh*t," she muttered as she spotted a lurker. Mira immediately raised her metal rod and attacked the lurker, stabbing the metal rod on his head without making a loud sound. She flinched when the lurker tried to grab her. The lurker dropped to the ground, along with the metal rod stuck to his head. When the lurker's insides splattered, Mira pulled it out and looked away.

If she could, she wanted to drive the cars lying on the road, but it was not ideal to use them. The sound she makes makes it easy for lurkers to spot her, and if she ever finds herself trapped in the horde, there's no chance of escape.

"Wait for me," she whispered. Mira went and turned a narrow way to take a short route back to the house, but when she saw the horde of lurkers, her eyes widened in shock. She immediately hid behind the wall and covered her mouth. The road was of no use to her now that it was occupied. Mira hastily walked while gripping the metal rod tightly.

Kimberly woke up with a light tap she felt on her shoulder. Anthony slept beside her. She rubbed her tired eyes and slowly opened them.

"Lexie?" she said.

"Sshh!" Lexie motioned to stop her. Kimberly nodded her head and glanced at Anthony, who was sleeping peacefully.

"When will that friend of yours come back?" Lexie asked anxiously. She fidgeted and was sweating, although it wasn't that hot outside. It seemed like Lexie wasn't able to get asleep.

"Truthfully, I don't know. I just hope she came when Mike decided to chase us out," she whispered.

"What!? You don't know!? Then what will happen!?" Lexie whispered back angrily.

"Calm down, Lexie. Please," Kimberly said, trying to approach her, yet she couldn't calm herself down. She needs to get away from Mike as soon as possible. Staying with him feels like hell.

"Please, I don't want to stay here anymore," Lexie confessed, covering her mouth while she sobbed.

"I know," Kimberly said. "Mira will come back, but before that, I want you to do something," she added. Lexie wiped the tears off of her face and looked at Kimberly intently.

"What is it?" Lexie asked.

"Make Mike delay what he was planning with us," Kimberly said. "If you could do that, it will greatly help Mira and us," she added. Lexie stared at her intently.

"Why do you trust that woman so much?" Lexie asked. She just couldn't understand Kimberly. How could she blindly trust Mira when she has a low probability of returning?

"She's my sister. It wasn't by blood, but I know she will come back for us," Kimberly softly said while brushing Anthony's hair away from his face. "Mira... She was selfless and kind and would do everything without thinking that it might also harm her," she added, chuckling. Mira sacrificed everything for her. Even when she said that she got back in time, all she ever did when the Apocalypse started was to protect Kimberly. That's why she trusts Mira.

"Okay," Lexie replied. "I will do what I can," she added, as she doesn't know what to say anymore.

"Lexie!" Mike called. Lexie immediately stood up. She glanced at Kimberly one more time before leaving the room.

"You b*tch! What are you doing there!? Are you helping them escape?" Mike inquired, grabbing Lexie by the arm.

"N-No! I was just checking them." Lexie defended. Mike looked her in the eyes and pushed her, causing her to lose her balance and lean against the wall.

"You better be telling the f*cking truth," Mike said. Lexie gulped and nodded her head. "Cook something for me and bring it to my office," he added. As she watched him enter his office, Lexie glared holes in his back. She went to the kitchen to cook food. Mike always scolds him about the food, but he wasted it by consuming it extravagantly. Lexie stared at the knife she was holding. She wished she had the courage to retaliate against Mike.

Mira was huffing. She wiped the sweat off her face and breathed deeply. She was already exhausted. The amount of running she did was extremely high, yet she couldn't see the house where Kimberly and Anthony were. Mira was frustrated. Every minute that passes by matters to her. Mike was a dangerous guy when she first saw him. He was the type of person who only thought about himself.

Mira took the water bottle from her bag's side pocket and drank it in one go. She fixed her hair tie and swung her metal rod. It wasn't like the katana she had, but it would suffice as a weapon to fend off the lurkers. She turned around on another street again, and she couldn't contain her happiness when she saw the familiar house.

"Kimberly, Anthony, I'm here now," Mira whispered while smiling widely. Now, her primary worry and greatest challenge was how to approach the house, encircled by the nearby lurkers.