Page 45 of Depths of Destruction
Lightning streaks through the sky, and she jumps in my arms.
Shelter. I need to find some shelter.
But we need to keep moving.
The forest is so thick, we wouldn't get far. I stay at the edge of the tree line, but it doesn't matter. The rain pounds down. Naomi shakes in my arms.
I try to hold her tighter, but cold water has soaked her shorts and T-shirt. Her bare legs and arms have no protection.
Time passes, and the rain doesn't let up. Nighttime approaches, and the light of the day turns into foggy darkness.
At first, I wonder if I'm seeing things, but my eyes don't fail me. A cabin sits on the edge of the woods. An older model truck is parked next to the house, but all the lights are out.
Weeds as high as the top of the tires surround the truck.
No one has been here for a long time.
We get to the door. I set Naomi down and try the knob, but it's locked, so I rummage in my bag and pull my pocketknife out.
Within a minute, we're standing inside the cabin. There's a small kitchen against the wall, a couch, queen-sized bed, and a bathroom area. It even has a small porta-potty. The smell of dust fills my nose, and it's clear no one has been here in ages.
There's a fireplace with wood next to it. I wish I could light it but it’s too big of a risk someone will know we are here. I turn to Naomi.
"Take your wet clothes off."
She smiles. "Well, aren't you forward."
I kiss her and slap her ass then go to the cupboards and practically do a happy dance. It's stocked full of canned goods and other pre-packaged items.
"I've got your five-star dinner."
"Ohhh. What did you find?" She pulls her shirt over her head and hangs it on the hook next to the fireplace.
"Fruit, sardines, and crackers."
She pumps her fist in the air then sneezes.
"Get those clothes off so you don't get sick."
She gives me a little salute and finishes undressing.
I open a cabinet and find blankets. I wrap one around her then remove my clothes and take one for myself.
Naomi grabs two plates from the cabinet.
"They have water, too!" She pulls a package out from the bottom cabinet.
"Perfect. We should fill the canteen up before we leave."
We sit at the two-person table, and I open the contents of the food I found. Naomi uncaps the water bottles.
I put a sardine on a cracker and hold it up to her mouth.
She wrinkles her nose. "They smell so gross."
"Agreed, but it's protein. You should eat it."
She sighs and eats it.
