Chapter 10: Road to Ruin – Part 2
The morning sun cast a golden hue across the cracked asphalt as the trio stepped out of the van. The air was dry and strangely quiet, with only the distant rustle of leaves and the flutter of wings overhead. A flock of black crows perched ominously on the rusted rooftop of the nearby gas station, their eyes following every movement.
Ethan wore a plain t-shirt and dusty jeans, a backpack slung over his shoulder and his weapon strapped at his side. Lira stood beside him, dressed in fitted jeans and a rugged shirt, her pistol at the ready. Nolan, the youngest, wore a half-pant and a faded shirt, gripping his sword tightly, trying to look brave.
They approached the station building cautiously. As they reached the front door, Nolan frowned.
"Bro, Sis... the door's locked," he said, pointing to the chained handle.
While Nolan inspected the entrance, Ethan and Lira took in their surroundings—abandoned vehicles, shattered glass, and dust dancing in the sunlight. The place had clearly been deserted for a while.
Ethan stepped forward and tugged the door. "He's right. It's locked from the inside."
Lira raised her pistol. "Step aside. I'll take care of it."
But Ethan quickly stopped her, his hand gently lowering her gun. "Lira, don't. Firing the gun will draw attention—we don't know what's out there. And every bullet counts."
Lira rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Oh really? Then let's see how you plan to open it."
With a smirk, Ethan adjusted his stance and kicked the door near the latch. The old wood gave way with a loud crack, and the door swung open. Lira blinked, half-impressed and half-embarrassed that she hadn't thought of that.
Nolan stared wide-eyed. "Whoa, bro! You're stronger than you look."
Ethan laughed. "I might look like a nerd, but I've got some hidden talents."
"Enough chit-chat," Lira said sharply. "We're not here for sightseeing. Grab what's useful, then we move."
They stepped inside. The building was dim, windows covered with grime and all doors sealed. A thick stench hung in the air—pungent and suffocating.
"Smells like something died in here…" Lira muttered, covering her nose. "Let's crack the windows a bit. Just enough for air and light—not too wide. We don't want any uninvited guests."
They cautiously unlatched a few windows. Thin beams of light filtered in, casting eerie shadows across the dusty shelves.
Lira turned to Nolan. "Stay close to either me or Ethan. Don't wander—monsters could be hiding even here."
Nolan nodded quickly. "Okay, sis."
They split up to scavenge, moving through the shelves filled with expired snacks and half-crushed drink cans. The silence was heavy—until Lira spoke again, her voice softer this time.
"Ethan... don't you miss your parents?"
Still focused on stuffing canned goods into his bag, Ethan replied flatly, "My father died when I was three. I don't remember him. Mom... she died a few years ago."
Lira hesitated. "I'm sorry… but don't you miss them?"
Ethan paused for a moment. Then, with the same emotionless tone, he added, "Not really. I never knew my father. I do wish I had met him… just to know what kind of man he was. As for my mom…" His voice lowered, bitter. "She spent the money my father left me clubbing every night. The same money meant for my education. I hated her for that. Still managed to finish school... barely."
Lira's expression fell. "I'm sorry for asking…"
Ethan looked over, shrugging. "Don't be. What about you? Your parents?"
Lira let out a sigh. "We were abandoned. I was five when our parents left me and Nolan at an orphanage. Caretakers raised us."
Ethan frowned. "Damn... Sorry."
Before she could respond, a scream pierced through the silence.
"NOLAN!" Lira shouted, eyes wide.
"That came from that room!" Ethan pointed and sprinted ahead.
They found Nolan curled up in a corner of a back room, his small frame trembling, sword lying on the floor. He had both arms over his head and was crying uncontrollably.
Lira rushed to him, kneeling and wrapping her arms around him. "It's okay, you're safe now. No one can hurt you."
Ethan scanned the room—and then saw it.
A nearly decayed corpse slumped against the wall, reeking of death. Its face was unrecognizable, and in one hand, it held a rusted pistol.
Ethan exhaled grimly. "So this is where that smell came from…"
Lira turned and stared at the body. "Suicide?" she whispered.
"Probably," Ethan said. "He must've been the owner. Locked himself in. When the world fell apart, maybe he couldn't handle the loneliness…"
Lira gently helped Nolan to his feet. "Let's get out of here. Ethan, close the door."
As they exited, Ethan noticed a small metal box near the corpse. He quickly grabbed it before shutting the door.
Back in the main hall, Nolan had calmed down, though his eyes were red.
Lira crossed her arms. "Nolan, I told you not to wander off! What were you thinking?"
Nolan looked down. "Sorry…" he muttered.
Seeing his regret, Lira's voice softened. She knelt beside him and hugged him again. "Just don't scare me like that again, okay?"
Suddenly, Ethan entered with a grin and his hands behind his back. "Guess what I found!"
He dramatically pulled out two dusty bottles of wine, holding them up like trophies.
Lira stared blankly. "You're kidding, right? This is what you're excited about?"
Ethan shrugged. "Come on, we survived a month in hell. I always wanted to try drinking."
Nolan's eyes lit up. "Can I try a bit too?!"
"Nope!" Lira snatched both bottles and shoved them into the bag. "You're not drinking until you're 18! And you—" she glared at Ethan "—this isn't a party!"
Ethan sighed. "Fine, fine. Buzzkill…"
They continued collecting supplies. Once they had what they needed, they stepped outside into the sunlit lot.
"Let's fill up the van," Ethan said, pointing toward the fuel pump. "Lira, grab some containers too. We don't know when we'll find more."
Lira nodded and went back inside. Ethan and Nolan began refueling.
"Bro," Nolan said, watching the tank fill. "We need clean water too... and maybe a bath."
Ethan looked around, then spotted something. "Yeah… where can we even find clean—"
"There!" Nolan pointed to a cylindrical metal tank behind the station. "Maybe there's water inside."
They exchanged a glance, then nodded and headed toward it.
To be continued…
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[Let me know if something can be improved]