The Fall - Ch 7

         They woke up early the next morning Amanda came quietly into the room while Mike was still asleep. Tasisure’s head came up and he whined slightly as she passed. Her hand came down on its own and she brushed them lightly across the wolf’s head and down onto his neck, ruffling the fur slightly. He chuffed lightly and that was enough to bring Mike out of his sleep.

         “Morning Mandy. Guess we need to find you something to eat, huh?”

         “Yes, please, Mr. Mike.”

         “Mandy, please call me Mike. I know your parents wouldn’t have approved, but its just us now, ok. Mr. Mike makes me feel old.”

         “Ok, Mist…I mean, Mike”, Amanda said, her face looking like she wanted to ask another question.

         “What’s wrong Amanda? You can ask me whatever it is.”

         “Well, I heard the guns firing after they took my parents, so I figure they are gone, but… well… I heard you digging last night, so I figure that you saw them and I wanted to know… well…” she started to stutter, and Mike saw her eyes fill with tears and reached out to hug her. “I just wondered if it hurt them at all. Do you think they hurt at all?” she finished, squeezing Mike tight.

         “No sweetheart. They didn’t feel anything at all, and now they are looking down and helping to keep you safe. I promise you sweetheart.” Mike said. There were tears in his eyes now. He just wanted to make sure that Amanda didn’t see them.

         Mike blinked back the tears and sat back and looked down into the dark hazel eyes and saw the dark the dark brown hair that framed her face. He realized again how much she looked like Zoe. Mike got up and pulled his shirt on and strapped the drop down holster to his leg. He picked up the Eagle and slid out the clip, replacing the one round he had fired the day before. He then slid the clip back into the handgun and slid it gently into the holster.

         When he turned around Mike realized that Amanda’s eyes were locked onto the gun.

         “I need something” she said to him.

         “What something, sweetheart?” he asked, not getting her meaning.

         “What if someone comes again?” she said, with Mike finally catching on. How the hell could he say no? Then again, how the hell could he say yes? Mike knew she was right, but giving a gun to a thirteen year old went against everything he had ever thought.

         “We will look after breakfast. Deal?”


         Mike, Amanda, and Tasisure walked into the grocery store and headed back to the still stocked freezers in the back. Thankfully, they were generator fed and those hadn’t run out of gas yet, so all the frozen food was still good. Amanda picked a pack of Jimmie Dean Sausage Croissants, Mike grabbed 2 boxes of Hot Pockets, and Tasisure went over to the case of meat that was still cold, but probably going to spoil soon.

         There was no place that still had electricity, so they walked over to the General Store that also had a hardware section. They found a grill that was still hooked up to a propane tank there.

         “I guess I’m not as ingenious as I thought” Mike said, getting a laugh from Amanda. She was exceptionally bright for a teenager, and Mike wondered for a second what she would have become in the time before the Fall. Those types of thoughts were dangerous, since they could easily lead him down the road to despair for everything that was lost, at least temporarily.

         He fired up the grill turned the heat way down. They put their food on the grate and he closed the lid. There were already chairs there, so they both had a seat. Mike turned to look slowly around, and made a quick decision.

         “Keep an eye on the food, I’m going over to the sporting goods aisle. I will be back with you in a second.” Mike told Amanda. “No matter what, stay here.”

         “I will Mike. Be safe”


         He walked into the sporting goods area and the first thing he noticed was that all the gun cases were open, but not empty. Same with the ammo racks. Mike walked behind the counter, and bent down to look at what was in the case. He pulled out a Beretta 9MM. This would give her something that would make her feel better, but would make sure that the kick of the weapon wouldn’t hurt her.

         He turned to the ammo racks behind him and pulled down 3 boxes of 9MM ammo and two clips. He figured that those two, plus the one in the gun would be more than enough for Amanda. His goal was to make sure that she never had to pull the gun out, but he knew that given this strange new world that was unlikely.

         As he turned to go back to Amanda, Mike noticed there was another 2 boxes of Hydro-Shok rounds for his Desert Eagle. He grabbed these and set them on the counter next to the Beretta and the 9MM rounds. Mike then walked over to the rack that had the frame backpacks. He selected one of the smaller models that looked like it would work for Amanda’s smaller frame. He took this back to the counter and slid the boxes of ammo into it and threw one strap over a shoulder. Then he picked up the Beretta and looked around for a holster for her. He found one that was similar to the one that police used. This would keep her from accidentally having the gun discharge and hit her, while still letting her feel more secure.


         Amanda’s head came up as Mike walked back into the area. She was sitting with 2 of her sandwiches on a Styrofoam plate on her lap. She pointed towards the closed lid of the grill.

         “I left yours in there to stay warm. Everything is off for it though” she told Mike.

         “Thanks sweetheart. I found something for you. I hope you won’t have to use it” he said, handing her the holster and the Beretta. He eyes lit up in a way that he didn’t really like, but he kept his peace for now.

         “Thank you Mike” she said quietly, “I’m glad you trust me enough for this”

         “Well, it does slow us down some, because we are going to stay here today while I teach you how to use that.”

         “No problem. I’m sorry to slow you down, but thank you for not leaving me behind.”

         “I will never leave you behind Mandy, I promise.”