Bab 4: Chapter 4 (Edited)
**Vroom! Vroom!**
I jolted awake at the sound of numerous vehicles rumbling outside. Peering through the gaps in my makeshift shelter made from sticks and leaves, I saw nothing but the forest.
"Nothing," I whispered to myself.
I wondered what had drawn their attention. Was it the flame from the RV? If so, why hadn't they come yesterday? Why now? After contemplating various possibilities, I arrived at a conclusion.
"I guess we have to go."
I glanced at Hope, who was awake but only startled by the noise, not crying.
"You're one strong baby, aren't you?" I said, and she responded with a groan followed by a foul smell.
"Ugh, I don't know how moms handle this," I grumbled as she gave me a stink eye. I then adapted to the smell and began the usual routine: cleaning her up, changing her clothes and diaper, feeding her, and entertaining her with a sock puppet.
Once Hope was satisfied and asleep, I stepped outside and dug a two-foot hole to dispose of the used diaper. Afterward, I ate, changed my clothes, and packed up our supplies. I picked up Hope and continued heading east.
I left the shelter intact in case someone stumbled upon it and needed refuge. I erased any sign of the campfire to avoid attracting the Last Men, making it seem as if the shelter had been abandoned for a long time.
Eventually, I came across a cabin in the woods. I approached cautiously and noticed a tripwire trap, which I skillfully avoided, noting its potential use for later.
Upon entering the cabin, I found it surprisingly clean, with furniture covered in white sheets. The bathroom was near the front door to the left, while the living room, kitchen, and dining area were combined. There was also a small bedroom and an even smaller room, likely for storage.
'It's not dusty,' I thought, puzzled by the lack of grime.
I removed the sheets from the living room sofa and set Hope and our backpacks down before cleaning the cabin. I designated the small bedroom for Hope, though she'd have to sleep with me for now. I made the living room my sleeping area for quick access to all rooms.
After another feeding session for Hope, I unpacked supplies from my backpack.
"This amount should last about three or four days for me," I assessed, "but for Hope, it might not last until tomorrow. She eats a lot, and I don't even know where it all goes."
I placed the canned foods and bottled water into the unplugged fridge, leaving it open to avoid any potential odors. The books, pictures, and camera went on the living room shelf, while the rest of the supplies were stored in the kitchen cabinet.
I stumbled over a hole in the floor but managed to catch myself and covered it with a carpet.
"I'll fix that later," I said, feeling exhausted. I collapsed on the sofa, with Hope sleeping beside me.
"Ahhhh! Mom, Dad, where are you..." I lamented, laying my head back against the sofa's headrest. "I'm so tired. But I have to do this for Hope. Guess I'll have to go on a supply run tomorrow," I murmured as sleep claimed me.
---
The next morning, I attended to Hope's needs and then my own. With our essentials packed, I picked up an empty backpack and headed to town.
"Oh, wait. The switchblade," I remembered and grabbed it before setting out. The town was not far, and the third sense, or whatever it was, guided me towards it.
As I walked, I mused, "The townsfolk probably left months ago when The Sick started. They must be gone by now."
Hope's demands for attention interrupted my thoughts. I spoke to her to exercise her vocal cords.
"Hope, say 'Big brother,'"
Giggle*
"Come on, Hope, say 'Big Brother'..."
"Buh."
"Meh, close enough," I shrugged, patting her head as she squealed in delight.
As I approached the town, I saw abandoned cars, motorcycles, and bicycles littering the streets. Though curious about what might be inside, I ignored them and focused on reaching the town. I would investigate the vehicles on a future trip.
The town was in disarray: houses were destroyed, stores were looted, and chaos reigned. I entered a store that seemed relatively intact and found it stocked with supplies.
"Yes! This is a goldmine," I exclaimed, filling my bag with canned foods, baby supplies, water bottles, toys for Hope, and hygiene necessities. With the bag packed, I closed it and decided to explore the town a bit more, as it was only noon.
I gave Hope a bottle and ate some canned peas. As we wandered, I felt a sense of calm amidst the remnants of chaos, listening to the sounds of nature.
I pondered Hope's situation. "She's a hybrid, but she has more human traits. Her human side seems stronger. If anyone saw us, she'd pass as human. Her hybrid traits-like her clinginess and abnormal strength-might suggest some ape-like origin, perhaps gorilla or something similar."
As the sun began to set, I made my way back to the cabin. Inside, I organized the supplies I'd gathered, fed Hope, and prepared myself for bed. The cabin had a solar panel, providing light during the night.
With Hope asleep, I settled down for some much-needed rest.
---
I was jolted awake by a knock on the door. My mind raced as I grabbed my switchblade and prepared for the worst.
"Mike! Is that you?" came the voice of a stranger.
'Mike? Is this the cabin's owner?' I wondered, teeth clenched. I cautiously unlocked the door, revealing a black man and a white woman.
Their eyes widened in surprise as they saw me. I remained on guard, ready to act if necessary.
"A kid?" the woman murmured, covering her mouth.
"Hey! Kid, what are you doing here?" demanded the black man.
"I found this place," I replied, gripping my switchblade firmly.
The woman attempted to move closer, but I raised the switchblade as a warning. She stopped and spoke calmly.
"Hey, it's okay. We mean no harm. I'm Max, and this is Lucas," she said, gesturing to the man.
Lucas looked frustrated. "Why are you giving him our names?"
Max shot him a look. "To build trust. He's clearly nervous."
Lucas grudgingly quieted down as Max turned back to me. "So, what's your name?"
I hesitated before replying, "J-Jess."
Max smiled warmly. "Jess, that's a beautiful name."
Lucas muttered something I didn't catch, but Max gave him a reprimanding look.
"Can we come in? It's cold and dark out here," Max requested.
I agreed but insisted on one condition. "Fine, you can stay. But promise me you won't hurt us."
Max and Lucas raised their pinkies in agreement. I let them enter and closed the door behind them to keep out the cold.
"Us?" Max asked, noticing the baby.
"My baby sister," I said firmly.
Max gasped in surprise. "You have a sister?"
Lucas inquired, "She's not one of those hybrids, right?"
I hesitated, unsure of their reaction.
Max defended hybrids. "Hey! Hybrids are a gift from Mother Nature."
Lucas, somewhat subdued, agreed. "Sure, sure, honey."
Relieved by Max's support, I relaxed and put down the switchblade. I retrieved Hope, who was sleeping peacefully.
Max's face lit up as she held Hope. "She's so cute!" she cooed.
Lucas turned to me. "Where are your parents?"
"I... don't know. They just vanished," I said quietly.
Lucas nodded, shifting topics. "How old are you?"
"I'm turning eleven on December 14," I answered.
I then asked, "Why are you two here?"
Lucas replied, "We were searching for our friends. One of mine, Will, died before all of this began."
'Will? That Will?' I thought, though I couldn't be sure.
"I'm sorry for your loss," I said sincerely, and Lucas nodded in appreciation.
"You should get some sleep, kid like you need it." Said Max as she kept rocking Hope till she fell to sleep.
"Right, I'm quite tired of our journey before all this." I yawned as I grabbed Hope from Max and headed into the bedroom that I planned for Hope to have and slept there. Though I still kept one of my eye open, I am still unsure of whether they are friendly or not, even if they are the characters from my mothers story.
TO BE CONTINUED!
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Gamer_Gamin
Gamer_Gamin The next chapter might be released 2 weeks or so.
Word count 1,913
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone