Chapter 1217: Story 1217: Rations and Regret
INT. ABANDONED SUPERMARKET – NIGHT
The flickering “EZ-Mart” sign barely lit the shattered parking lot. Inside, the silence was stifling, broken only by dripping water and the hum of old freezers. Lena led the group in carefully—Briggs still bandaged, Ward scanning aisles with his rifle, and the Girl lingering in the rear.
WARD:
“Scavenge quickly. No noise. These places attract the starved.”
LENA:
“You an zombies?”
WARD (flat):
“No. I an people.”
INT. MARKET – CANNED GOODS AISLE
Lena found a small stash of dented cans and protein bars. She tucked them into her pack and paused, staring at an old photo on the floor—two kids smiling in matching uniforms.
FLASHBACK: INT. LENA’S CHILDHOOD KITCHEN
Her father setting two dinner plates down.
FATHER:
“It’s not about what we have, Lena. It’s about sharing what we’ve got.”
Back in the aisle, Lena closed her eyes. Then she grabbed a few extra cans and moved on.
INT. MARKET – PHARMACY SECTION
Briggs checked the shelves with shaking hands. The infection in his arm was worsening.
THE GIRL (softly):
“You’re getting slower.”
BRIGGS:
“You’re getting mouthier.”
She handed him a bottle of antibiotics.
THE GIRL:
“It’s expired. Still better than nothing.”
He looked at her—sothing between gratitude and sha. He took the bottle.
INT. MARKET – CHECKOUT AREA
They gathered their finds. Enough food for a few days, so water filters, and basic ds. Then: a sound. A cough. A shadow moved behind an overturned checkout stand.
LENA (drawing her knife):
“Co out slow.”
A gaunt man stepped out, hands up, eyes hollow. Behind him—a young boy, no older than ten, clutching a teddy bear.
MAN:
“We’ve been hiding. Just… don’t take our food. Please.”
The team froze. Ward looked at Lena. Her hand trembled.
THE BOY (to Lena):
“Are you the good kind?”
Lena knelt, handed him a protein bar.
LENA:
“Depends who you ask.”
EXT. SUPERMARKET – LOADING DOCK – LATER
They left quietly, leaving behind half their rations. Ward muttered under his breath.
WARD:
“Pity feeds corpses.”
LENA:
“We weren’t feeding pity. We were feeding a kid.”
BRIGGS:
“She’s right. The world’s rotting. Doesn’t an we have to.”
Ward didn’t respond. The Girl handed Lena a candy bar.
THE GIRL:
“You didn’t take one for yourself.”
Lena smiled faintly.
LENA:
“I’m not hungry for food.”
EXT. ROOFTOP CAMP – THAT NIGHT
They camped under stars barely visible through the smog. Briggs took the antibiotics. The Girl slept next to her blade. Ward stood watch, quiet.
Lena stared at the remaining cans in their bag.
LENA (to herself):
“Survival’s not just about what you keep. It’s about what you give up.”
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