Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Mrs Vanessa comes out the next morning a little hesitant. Kayla stays in the office, refusing to leave even when her mother tries to prompt her. So Vanessa settles next to the girls, smiling as the two offer toys to invite her to play.
"If it's okay, I would like to go search for supplies," I offer hesitantly as Mrs Vanessa studiously avoids looking at me. "There are homes behind us as well as more buildings on this road that I havent checked and I thought..."
She glances over then, her lips thinned in displeasure. "If you find others...?"
I frown back, "The dead are literally eating people. If I find Survivors! then I will bring them back here, where it's SAFE."
She flinches, then nods with an apologetic, "I could cook us up something... if you want."
I accept the olive branch for what it is. I point out the neat stacks of cans and the still standing shelves of food. There is a small tabletop grill and some strange cans that can be lit that while I noticed, I haven't bothered with yet.
The next few days pass awkwardly. Mrs Vanessa relaxes more as each day passes. She bonds well with the girls, cuddling and playing with them more each day. The twins warm easily to her which I will admit that it makes me a bit jealous but I'm just glad they have someone who knows how to look after them properly. Its not that I think I did a bad job, per say, but I was never sure if I was doing it right and they deserve better. It doesn't stop the sting of rejection when they move into the office with her.
Kayla is a quiet one, so much so that I sometimes forget that she is here. I understand, in a way, that she doesn't feel safe here. She doesn't trust me and she doesn't feel comfortable out in the pharmacy. I'm trying to give her space because I do understand.
I hope for Mrs. Vanessa's sake that Kayla is able to heal from this. She was hurt, they both were, and she needs time to heal. For Vanessa, the twins laughter and singing them to sleep is helping her become stronger. For Kayla, only solitude seems to work.
I found a couple dogs in one house, both are large and heavily muscled with dark, slick fur but gentle tempered. There were other animals wondering the roads; a small grey yippy dog, a golden poodle like dog with very thick curly fur, and a slow moving chow that actually has gray in its fur. I've seen several cats as well but they tend to run away if I approach.
The twins adore the golden poodle and the yippy dog. The old chow curled up on a blanket behind the register and barely moves, not injured, simply weak. The poor dear only lasts one day before passing away but I would like to think it felt better having a safe place to rest.
Kayla actually came out when I brought in the two strong dogs. She offered them her hand, gave them some snacks, and kept them close ever since. Now she will only step outside if both dogs stay within reach which they thankfully do.
More dead have wondered down the street and even clustered around our fence. A few sharpened wooden poles now wait at various intervals to make dealing with the dead easier. I've avoided using magic, both because I don't want to stress them more and because the spell is far too messy. This has led Mrs Vanessa to believe that I am hiding weapons from them. She's not exactly wrong but they're not ready for the whole magic reveal. It helps that I already had the fences up before they got here.
It's not like it's difficult, I've spent longer living as a muggle than I have as a wizard. Lets be honest, I dont even know many useful spells. Hogwarts wasnt a very good school, regardless of what they claim. Some spells are good during a battle, and transfiguring helps well enough but really magic isn't necessary to stay alive. Its not like making a tapdancing pineapple will stop the dead. It's also good practice, not using my wand, that way I'm less likely to be caught casting.
I have been able to search a few more stores along the main road. There isn't as much to be scavenged as you would think but I do take as much as I can, shrinking some things if they're too big to keep on hand. It's how I've saved several delivery trucks and trailers.
The neighborhood that opens up behind us, separated by a deep ditch and a few chainlinked fences, is where I'm focused now. I've searched only a couple so far, getting bedding and more food. I was able to bring back clothes and bath supplies for Mrs. Vanessa and Kayla but without running water, I'm not sure what good it will do.
I found a couple older teen girls hiding out in one of the homes. Erica, the shorter of the two is draped in layers of clothes even as the weather is too warm. Savannah is tall and strong while a bit awkward with her size, reminding me a bit of madame Maxine if truth be told. They followed me back to the pharmacy, relaxing more when they met Mrs Vanessa but never really suspicious. They set up their bedding behind the register.
Another outing along the street has me run into a family who's van stalled, getting them surrounded by the dead. I used spells on several just to clear out some of the crowd, before switching to the sharpened javelin. I don't think they saw my wand and I can always use the excuse that I used a weapon that ran out of ammo.
The mother of the family is a dark skinned woman with short hair in coarse twists. Her husband is a wide-shouldered, strong man with a scruffy beard and missing both legs below the knee. The two sons are dark skinned like their mother, all elbows and knees and wide eyes.
They hesitate, at first, but I get them to agree to at least see where we are staying. The sons both walk behind their father's wheelchair although his strong arms are pushing the wheels without any difficulty. The woman walks beside me as I lead them back, a baseball held tight in her hands and a dangerous glint in her eyes as she looks around for threats.
"Mrs. Vanessa and her daughter stay in the office room with the twins," I explain as we walk. "There is Erica and Savannah, they're nice, and we have a few dogs that I've found."
"Who else?" The woman snaps, her gaze still flitting around us for dangers so I don't take offense to the tone.
"That's it, just them and me but I'm hoping to find more."
Savanah opens the gate when we approach. I introduce her to the family, as well as Erica who comes around the building from the back. Erica shows them inside, throwing a questioning glance at me as she mentions finding them a place to settle.
"Behind the pharmacy counter," I offer up readily. "They need the large space more than I do anyways."
"Are you sure...?"
"They can have it. It's too big for me now that the twins stay with Mrs. Vanessa," I reassure her, trying not to sound upset about it.
I don't have a right to be upset, they weren't my kids. I was just taking care of them until someone else could. At least we have more people now. That's a good thing with how dangerous it all is out there.