Hope is out there

She shrieked and frantically kicked her legs out, panicking as her shoes squeaked as they slid along the frost unable to pick herself up. The scufflebutt charged forward, a disturbing low grunt stemming from its awkward lumpy head. Her eyes grew twice their size as she witnessed its stump expand like flower petals released a hidden stem inside. Squeezing her eyes, she grabbed hold of the handle and pulled the freezer door open just as the creatures paws began to slip along the icy surface. Its claws scraped along the frost, it whined just as the scufflebutt trapped inside the freezer turned around before crashing together. She kicked the door shut with both feet, gasping and hyperventilating, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

A low growl reminded her that the monster was not alone, she had its two friends waiting for their turn. One glance and she realized they were staring at her with a drooling hunger inside. The meat on the floor was gone, shredded to messy bits leaving drips of blood as proof of their recent meal. No, the chunk of meat served more like an appetizer to them. Turning around, she finally felt her feet find their grip before hurrying to the counter side where the meat would be chopped and sold. The scufflebutts ran to her, jumping to bite at her feet with those flower petal-like mandibles. She yelped and carefully ran down the countertop, being careful to avoid stepping on any maggot-filled meat sacks on her path. Thankfully, the safety glass on tbe opposite end where customers could stand and watch kept her safe from any bites or scratches for now.

One of the dogs grew wise and stepped back, pressing it's awkward head over the ground before slipping to the side away from view. She glanced around as she reached the other side where the wall served as a dead end for her. No where to go, just empty or messy gondola shelves nearby. She jumped back as the scufflebutt nearly nipped at her fingers from jumping along the glass. Grabbing her hand, she turned around when she could hear something panting and coming closer. It was the other dog now running along the countertop toward her, mouth open wide and salivating.

Her hand found a blood-stained plastic tray, slamming it across its head expecting it to stammer and fall. It didn't, merely shaking its head as if the blow was more of an annoyance to it. Feeling cornered, she placed her foot atop the safety glass and lept forward as her hands caught the top of the nearby gondola, pressing her feet along the shelf to climb over. The scufflebutts lept and snapped their mouths in the air, whining and screeching as they failed to catch her again. Looking around, she grabbed a few bags of chips from the shelves before standing up. Her head hit a metal pipe near the ceiling, she flinched and rubbed her sore spot when an idea came to mind. Holding the two bags of chips with her teeth, she grabbed onto the pipe with her hands and crossed feet, easing along the shaft to manage from one end of the store to the other near the exit. The scufflebutts were still clawing and jumping in the same spot as before when she softly landed on the ground, grabbing her backpack and hurrying out the store. As soon as she began to run, they heard her and she could hear their tiny paws scurrying to her position. She ran out of the store towards daylight when she felt a weight land on her and pin her down. She could feel it biting and tugging at her bag as she slipped her arms from its straps to get away. As soon as she spun around, the other dog pounced on her from the front this time.

They both fell out on the road just barely out from the shade and into the light. The dog immediately began to whine and whimper, twitching and swinging its head and paws violently. She pushed it away as it lay on its side, its putrid flesh sizzling from the sun's rays before boils began to form and burst. The dog collapsed and a snake-like creature lept from its mouth in its final effort to survive, crawling several inches forward before drying up on the hot pavement.

She jumped back as the remaining dog slammed her bag down and screeched loudly to her, baring it's deformed teeth before rearing its head away. It dared not to step out from the shadows that covered the store front. She sighed and fell back, her hand on her chest feeling her heart race several hundred hearbeats a minute. Miraculously, she survived.

She waited until the scufflebutt had slipped away before reaching out for her bag. She was careful in inspecting it over, fortunately nothing but saliva stuck to it. Checking inside made her heart sink as she realized her phone was left back in the store. Damn, no music for today. Further inspection showed that her late night snack was gone too, along with whatever food rations she carried for that day. She gasped as a gondola shelf fell forward and smashed the window. Several scufflebutts were inside the store, sniffing her scent. Damn it, that's another market they claimed over her. She growled back and tossed her torn backpack away, kicking at the ground and stomping off while staying in the light.

She raised her head as something caught her attention. She raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sun, squinting at the billboard two blocks away. The sign advertised some perfume with a pretty woman spraying her neck with its contents and the logo 'Love is out there' displayed with large letters. Maybe she was starting to be forgetful, but the word Love was crossed out with a word painted above it saying Hope. That's weird, maybe... no, she shook her head and continued walking along the road filled with abandoned and ruined vehicles and trash.

The idea of looking for someone crossed her mind several dozen times before. It may seem safe now, but everywhere she looked stood building after building, house next to house, and in every location she had to assume the worst. Those things are out there, surrounding her for all she knew. She shivered and hugged herself as she picked up the pace, feeling like something was stalking her. Hours passed by and she began to get frustrated, inspecting one corner store after the next. It took a while before she felt the least bit safe, even longer for her to find any decent food. Only a bag of chips to salvage, all the beverages were spoiled and the water bottles were emptied long ago. Her stomach began to ache, she rubbed her hand along her ribs and felt her body quiver. She used to look different, now she was thankful that there weren't any full body mirrors around. Her feet were beginning to hurt, her left shoe began to tear around the side and now her foot would get wet when stepping on puddles.

Lifting her head, she could see the sun was going down. With a pained huff, she retraced her steps and hurried back to her refuge. Nothing, nothing but one bag of chips for today. Nothing but a near **** experience with smelly rotting dog monsters. Nothing to show for today, nothing to eat. She scarmbled to climb onto the truck at her building before rushing through the window and running up the fire escape. The howls and screams outside only pushed her body to move faster. She ran and ran until her thighs and calves burned, she didn't stop until she found the bank vault and hurriedly pulled herself inside, closing the door behind her. Once she heard that familiar metal click, she slid along the cold wall and fell to her butt with plenty of dollar bills falling around her. Her tummy hurt, her legs burned, her heart was exhausted, and she found herself breathing hard as the sounds outside terrified her. Tears began to stream down her face like waterfalls, her teeth grinded hard and her fingers grabbed fists full of dollars before throwing them around aimlessly. Just a flurry of mindless movement, thrashing and kicking, banging on the floor, kicking the wall, wanting to scream as loud as she can yet refusing to let go. Is this my life, is this how I will live until the day I die? Does nobody care to save me, not mom not dad? Was I a bad person, did I deserve this? I'm so so sorry!

She curled up in a ball, crying softly to herself hoping to ignore the pain and forget. Her foot tapped something hard, something round. She snapped and scrambled backwards, heart racing, back against the wall. It was pitch black, her eyes couldn't make out any shape or size of what that was. Was it a parasite, was she dead? Is this how it ends? With a trembling hand, she reached out for it. Maybe, maybe this is a good thing. Maybe this is how I was supposed to go. Maybe this will help me feel better...

She gasped as her fingers wrapped around the object. That felt hard, not fleshy. Her thumb felt a switch on it and flicked it, turning the flashlight on, her flashlight. She had left it behind at the store, and now she could see that her phone was duct taped on the wall next to an opened safety deposit box. She reached for her phone and took the sticky note stuck to it.

I like your music :)

Dropping the note, she reached into the deposit box to find a cardboard box. It shook with something inside, her stomach howled once her nose caught the delicious scent from it. She was shocked to find two neatly sliced sandwiches in a plastic baggy, along with an apple, a plastic box of apple juice, and a small bag of oatmeal cookies. Inside the lid was another note.

Sorry about the store, enjoy your dinner. I made sure it's clean, stay strong. - Hope

Hope? Hope did this, someone out there has been watching her for how long? She couldn't tell whether to be excited or terrified, how long has it been since she met someone else? Inspecting the sandwich, she took a bite and the contents melted in her mouth as she groaned happily at the taste. Ham and cheese, she hadn't had this since back home. Where did Hope find this? Is Hope nearby, how did she know where she lived? So many questions yet so little bites to take to savor this rich delicious meal. Sticking the tiny straw in her juic box, she sipped it fast and felt a mini damce party taking place on her tongue. Her tummy was happy for once, she sat back and smiled feeling like she was home again. Hope, whoever you are, thank you so much for this.

She giggled and took another bite. Just like the sign said, Hope is out there.