As me and my sister walked down the long hallway towards the hospital cafeteria I heard the loud sound of my shoes hitting the hard tile. We reached the heavy doors and pushed them open. " I will get Zachariah, Hannah, and Aaron's food."
" I will get Matthew, Gretchen, and oscars." I responded. I grabbed 4 Cokes, 2 yogurts, 4 peices cake, and silverware. I dumped the groceries into the Walmart bag we brought, and stood by the door. Tabbytha soon. Met me by the doors and we started our 5 flight journey back to floor 6.this was the closest we have gotten to grocery shopping since the thing happened. That's what we call it " the thing". It happened 5 months and 28 days ago. On January 1, 2017 Miah, my older sister, and my mother disappeared. Out of thin air. We where at the hospital visiting my great aunt, tabbytha, Miah, my mother, and I when they all disappeared. It was normal. Everything was. I was just any average 14 year old. Tabbytha was just an average 15 year old before. Now everything is different. We have adapted. We go on shifts, taking care of Zachariah. Everything in the hospital is still working, the wifi, the vending machines, everything. A small group of teens and kids where at the hospital when it happened. I still remember hearing the ear piercing shrieks of a small child, Zachariah, when it happened. I didn't have time to think before I was running to his aid. He is only 3. His birthday was last month. It was hard at first. I was holding Zachariah and walking down a flight of stairs with my sister when we met Hannah, Aaron, and Matthew . They where looking for others. Later we found Gretchen and Oscar at the nurses station. That brings you up to date. It's hard at times, but we manage. I handed out the food for the night. Most of the time we all go down to eat together. But Matthew is sick and Zachariah was being a fuss so Tabbytha and I volunteered to go fetch dinner. I sat and ate my yogurt. Tonight was simple. Other nights we venture outside and wander. We visit the mall across the street frequently. Sometimes we Hotwire cars and just drive. I went into my room around 10. The rooms where depressing before we made them our own, after a can of hot pink paint and a lot of visits to ikea, it finally felt like a real room of a real 14 year old in a normal world. I moved out all the machines that gave me anxiety and kept the 30 inch TV. I grabbed my laptop from my top drawer at my desk. I visited a couple of sites when Oscar walked in." What's up beautiful?"
" not much. What's cookin' good lookin'?" I responded. Oscar was very handsome. He was tall, black hair, brown eyes. He played football before. He sat down at the end of my bed. It was 1:24. " wow, I have been on tumblr way to long."
"Let's go." Oscar blurted.
" where?"
" I don't know, we will be back by morning"
" I don't know babe."
" I hot wired that blue mustang" he bribed.
I walked to my desk and sat my laptop down. And walked into the bathroom rubbing my eyes." I look like shit," I said loudly. I didn't have to worry about volume considering we each got our own floor. " babe you look amazing." He said while walking into the bathroom." You always do."
" thanks" I said sarcastically. I removed my make up, I still value my appearance in a post apocalyptic world, pathetic. I put on my black leggings, my black nikes, and a hoodie from my old school. I could be wearing prada. The thought amused me. " am running out of mascara"
" we can go to Walmart later."
With my hair in a messy bun I exited my room and locked it. We always took the stairs. Elevators are horrifying. I walked out the main entrance. The air was crisp. I opened the passenger Door and say in the car. " where to?" Oscar asked.
" surprise me."
The cars engine roared to life then calmed. We went out of the parking lot and onto the highway with abandoned vehicles randomly placed. We went north and pulled into a chucks cheese parking lot. " yes!" I said with excitement.
" I knew you would love it."
" you know me so well." I planted a kiss on his cheek.
To my surprise the door was unlocked. I entered and saw the lights flicker on. I ran to a random game and smiled. " now where is the radio?" I asked myself.
As if on cue music blasted through the speakers. I turned and saw Oscar inside the area preserved for employees. I ran up to the desk. " may I have some tokens please?" I asked as if he was an employee.
He dumped a harmful of tokens into a bar and handed to jar to me. " thank you-" I was interrupted by a girl who looked to be 9.
" what is going on?" She asked.
A boy who looked 16 followed along with a girl who likes my age.
" oh my god, you guys have to come with us. We have a group of people, well teens and a 3 year old. We are at the hospital off I-35!" I replied with excitement.
" we aren't going with you." Said the strange boy." You could be a murderer."
" promise we aren't."
" that's what a murderer would say."
" were serious. It's legit." Oscar said.
" why are you coming to a casino for kids at 2 in the morning then?" The girl asked.
" I was surprising my girlfriend." Oscar told her.
" you need to leave, now." Said the boy.
" but-" I tried.
"NOW!" He yelled.
Oscar started to say something but I stopped him and went out to the car. We drove for a solid 5 minutes in silence. " why does everyone we meet not believe us?" I asked.
" I honestly don't know." He responded while grabbing my hand. " where to now?"
" we could go to the mall, I like it best at night. It feels scandalous."
" the mall it is."
We enter the south doors. I walked into the full darkness and yelled " catch me if you can!"
I know the mall better than I know the hospital that I live in. I took a left and darted up the stairs. I could hear Oscar laugh and run to follow me as my eyes dilated. I ran past hot topic and into the food court. I jumped over the counter into the poorly lit Taco Bell desk. I crouched down and tried to steady my breathing. He looked around and I ducked my head down. I looked at the empty kitchen when I felt warm hands grab me and pull me up to the counter. " gotcha!" Oscar said while trying to catch his breath.
I turned around to face him and asked " what time is it?"
" 2:21."
I hopped off the counter and sat at a booth in the dark. Oscar sat across from me. " want to go on the carousel? I call dibs on the unicorn." Oscar asked.
" no I call dibs on the unicorn."
" we'll have to share it then, won't we?"
" there isn't enough room." I said in a flirty tone.
" you can sit on my lap." He said.
I could imagine the wink I knew he was doing in the darkness.
" or you could sit on my lap."
" we will figure something out."
I stood up and walked around a large tree that I named Olathe. Before walking up the stars to the carousel I entered a small room labeled 'employees only'. I turned the lights on. I exited the room and the whole mall was eliminated. I walked up the stairs to se Oscar turning on the ride. I walked up to him, put my hands over his eyes and said " guess who?"
"SANTA?!?!"
" ho, ho, ho!"
I took my hands off and walked to the ride now moving slowly. I stepped up onto the platform and searched for the oh-so-famous unicorn. I found a horse with a purple mane. The paint was chipping and it was not in its prime. I sat on the unicorn when Oscar sat behind me. I underestimated the power of the old unicorn. The ride was entertaining the first time. After the ride went around a couple of times I lost interest and slid off the one horned horse. I hopped off. " we should probably get back." Oscar said following me and turning off the machine.
" probably, I have to watch Zachariah in the morning." I said. " can we stay a little while longer?" I said in my kindest tone.
" why not?"
I skipped down the steps of the shopping mall past Barnes and nobles. I explored the lower level for the hundredth time. I walked past the Victoria's Secret and into an empty Clare's. I grabbed a pair of earrings and walked back out. When we got back to the hospital I headed for my room on the 14th floor, while Oscar headed for floor 7. When I got to my room I unlocked the door, slipped off my shoes, and got in the shower. I noticed we had gto visit Walmart soon, I was running low on shampoo. It was about 4 when I finally went to bed. I woke up at 7:15 to the sound of someone knocking on my door. I opened it a crack to see tabbytha about to have a stroke. " we are leaving." She said.
" what?"
" we are going home."
" tabbytha, this is our home. Our old house is useless." I told her while remembering all the good times.
"DEBORA BRYANNE ERYN CHASE! We are going home. I am your older sister and we are leaving now."
" why? How will we drive that far?"
" don't ask questions. I found a Durango in the parking lot. Get your stuff and meet me on the 1st floor"
" ok. Where is Zachariah?"
" he is with Hannah, he is not coming with us."
With those words she shut the door and walked down the hall. I grabbed my Nike bag and shoved my iPad, some clothes, my laptop, and some shoes in. I put on my black joggers an under armor hoodie and my slides and walked out the door with my phone and all my chargers in my pocket. I quickly walked down the stairs to the 3rd floor. I knocked on hannahs door. She opened it while holding Zachariah. The small child shouted with joy after seeing me. " Hannah, tabbytha said we have to leave. I need to bring Zachariah. Where is his diaper bag?"
" Debora, are you ok? His diaper bag is over here." She said while handing me a navy blue bag.
" I will explain later when I find out."
Text me?"
" will."
I grabbed Zachariah from her arms and headed towards the stairs. I made it to the main entrance and walked out the doors." NO DEBORA. Go give Zachariah back to Hannah. We can't bring him." Tabbytha said in a stern voice.
" he is coming."
I stepped into the Durango with Zachariah on my lap. Tabbytha reluctantly started the car. We headed east. Oscar texted me " where are you?🤔"
" I'm going home."
I turned off my phone after sending the text to Oscar.
" did you bring the CDs or aux cord?"
Tabbytha Handed me a CD case.
I inserted a CD and the song victorious by panic at the disco came on. " we need to go get a car seat." I said to my sister.
" fine, we will go to Walmart."
We pulled off the high way and went to Walmart. I didn't grab shampoo because if I remember correctly we still have a half empty bottle of Pantene at our house. I gave Zachariah to tabby and headed to the clothing section first. I grabbed some sports bras and leggings. I turned my phone back on while walking to the section that has crafts. I had 7 texts 6 from Oscar and one from Hannah. I put my phone back in my pocket not wanting to deal with it. I grabbed a coloring book for Zachariah, and some crayons. I grabbed a few more books, a coloring book, and color pencils for myself. I knew the trip was going to be boring. I finally made it back to the toddler stuff. I grabbed a blue car seat.
I put my phone back in my pocket and turned it off. There was still 6 hours until we made it home. I turned the CD back on and changed the song to emperors new clothes. I grabbed my notebook and started doodling. I fell asleep soon after. I woke up to Zachariah screaming. "tabbytha?" I said in a sleepy tone.
" yeah?"
" we need to stop and get food."
"Ok."
I leaned to see into the back to calm Zachariah. We stopped at the beer eat Walmart and grabbed some junk food. I gave Zachariah a little Debbie. We got back in the car. " how much more time do we have?" I asked tabbytha.
" half an hour."
I put on my headphones and started drawing. I drew a tall man next to a small child helping her in some way. I like to give the images that I draw a background story. Time flew by. I was pulled back to reality by my sister brutally pulling out my left headphone. " we are here." She said.
I got out of the car and got Zachariah out of the back seat. I had gotten a text from Hannah " hey, did you find out why tabby made you guys leave?" She asked.
" she has some crazy theory that Miah is at our house, we are here now." As if on wye tabbytha shouted while walking in the front door " IM NOT CRAZY!"
I walked to the front door while holding Zachariah. Tabby had unlocked the door with my key that I had kept. I gave Zachariah to tabbytha and ran upstairs to my bedroom. I opened my door and my room was exactly as I left it. A pile of dirty laundry in the basket, my rolling chair was slightly pulled out, and my closet door was open exposing my clothes. I sat on my grey blanket. I looked out of my window. If almost felt like old times. I saw my neighbors old house. I wonder how Thomas, our old neighbor, is. Thomas went to school with me. We had four classes together. I tried texting her, she never answered. I am worried about her. She could barely function without me and her mom when there where still people. I had to assume the worst. "Debora!" Tabbytha yelled from down stairs. I followed the sound of her voice. I saw tabby sitting in the kitchen with her face in her hands. " I don't know why she isn't here!" She said angrily. " tabby, face it. She isn't here." I said back. " DEBORA. You aren't listening. I know she should be here." " TABBY, SHES NOT!" I walked away to Zachariah who was sitting on the couch with something he found on the ground. " what do you have there?" I asked. " doggy!" He said cheerfully. " there is no doggy here. Our dog rosco ran away." I told him. The truth was I didn't know what happened to rosco. When we left he was here. He was in my mothers room. "Doggy!" He said again with more excitement. I looked up and saw him pointing. I followed where his small finger led. I turned around and saw Rosco standing outside of miahs room with his head cocked to the side. I slowly got up and said " tabby?"
" what do you want Debora? We need to go back."
" come hear tabby"
" Debora, we don't have time for this the group is going to be pissed that we left. Go put Zachariah in the Durango."
TABBY. Come. Here." I said in a louder tone. Tabbytha walked into the living room with a look of annoyance and gazed down the hall. We looked at each other and slowly walked down the hall and rosco darted into miahs room as if urging us to follow. Tabby walked into the room first I heard her gasp and step back in horror. Tabbytha
Fell into my arms. She had passed out. I set her on the ground and walked into the room. Miah was rarely there she was away at college. I saw rosco sitting on the ground. I looked over to the corner of her room that used to be empty. The sight mad me sick to my stomach. I saw my sister but she didn't see me. She couldn't. She was in a dentist type chair. Her arm had a lot of tubes and patches hooked up to her body, she was knocked out. There where complex machines and words on a language I didn't recognize. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a person that didn't Look exactly like a person. It had the same features and basic out line of a person but not quit the same. The being saw me and I ran out of the room and grabbed Zachariah from the couch. I ran to the Durango and turned on the ignition. I put Zachariah in the car seat in the back seat.
