date: august 2023, 3:45 am location: inside the hardware store availability: @briennedufort
There wasn't much for Micah to do while the others broke camp, so after he'd stuffed all his earthly belongings into his pack, he headed back towards the hardware store. He was careful to move as quietly as he could in the early morning darkness, knowing full well that where there was one stalker there was always the probability of more-- the ones shambling their way towards the group notwithstanding.
The back door to the hardware store opened with a soft, muted creak that welcomed Micah into the near pitch darkness that lay inside. Immediately, he wished he'd thought to ask one of the others for their flashlight.
As Micah's eyes adjusted he could see two forms sprawled out on the floor, still and smothered in shadows. They'd be indistinguishable if it wasn't for the smell. One was rotting, rancid, like meat left out in the sun, and the other he knew was Elise. He stepped over the body of the stalker, and crouched down before her, turning the dead weight until she lay flat on her back.
When he heard the door open again, he'd already closed her unseeing eyes and his fingertips were tacky with blood.