Chapter 37 The savor of small Freedom

I think this will be ok.
I pointed to Jayson at an old gasoline station, and he maneuvered the car there and slowly parked the car beside it. It's a very lucky circumstance that we found a gasoline station when our car has a gasoline-type engine. I wonder who has a guardian angel among us but I am really grateful that somehow, things go well no matter how dreadful things get as time passes the Creepers" population gets higher and higher. Good thing that this gasoline station stands in the middle of nowhere.
And to add to this lucky day is a wide convenience store behind the station! I wish there were still lots of goods in there that we could use. We didn't bring any food or any hygiene stuff with us because we thought that our way towards Zone twenty-three is smooth and safe since we were accompanied by soldiers and a high-rank military official but
We got out of the car, all silent and no one wanted to say a word. We are still grieving for Col. Morgan. Still, shocked by the fact that we, five, have survived that incredible plane crash, those Creepers, and yet those four soldiers with us are all dead within just a night!
Jayson took all the weapons from the car and Li walked straight to the gas station to check if it was still working.
He ran back to us, grimacing from the light the morning sun was emitting. His face was already sweating. "Hey, I have good news and bad news." He declared to us panting.
"Good news first. I'm too exhausted to think of anything bad anymore because I don't think there's something good happening to us now." Timothy sarcastically answered, his face looking grumpy again just like when we were on the top of the building before. I held his hand and his face softened.
"The good news is, the gasoline station still works..."
Jayson and I's faces are about to smile widely and cheer but Li stopped us by raising his hand, his face looked scared and said. "Don't celebrate yet because the bad news is, there are four Creepers trapped inside the convenience store..."
"What??" Jayson got worried and we all narrowed our eyes to look inside the glass window of the convenience store. There, we all saw the Creepers walking languidly inside. Inside my head, I could hear their moans and grunts, looking for a victim to pass the virus in their bodies.
Mona made a hand sign and Li translated it. "She said what are we going to do then?"
"We should take them down silently if you all want to occupy the place and take a rest in there. We are not sure if there are any Creepers around here." Jayson suggested and took his combat knife from the car.
"Let me help you." I stopped Jayson by pulling his shoulder for the second time. I don't want to just stand here waiting while he always risks his life for us. I never want to be in debt because I know I can fight and despite my fear, I believe in my own capabilities and judgment of how I can overcome any situation. Jayson doesn't have to face all of this alone because I can do it too and I'll never let him think of me as a damsel in distress.
Jayson looked at me for three minutes as if he was thinking if he'll allow me but screw it! I'll go with whatever he thinks about it. I took the rifle from him and he got puzzled, his brows formed into a furrow.
"I said we'll attack them silently." He repeated his words, a little fret about my stubbornness.
"I saw you got a suppressor from Col. Morgan's stuff. Maybe you can hand me a pistol and I'll give this rifle back to you."
"Hey, you two! get a room." Jested Li while strapping his bag on his shoulders.
I wish I didn't blush in front of Jayson because he got amused when I lowered my face from him. I saw Timothy looking in the opposite direction. He is kicking small rocks sitting in front of him looking annoyed.
Both of us walked calmly towards the establishment. Jayson grips the blade tightly on his hand while I'm attaching the suppressor on the gun.
"I'll have you use the pistol with the suppressor. But be sure you'll not make any ruckus, understand?"
I sneered at him. "Wow, why are you suddenly so bossy now?" I asked him cocking the gun in my hand and preparing myself for our attack.
"I just don't want anything bad to happen to you..." He murmured, not looking at me.
Seeing his embarrassed face, I chuckled because I find him cute when he"s sheepish like that. It's ridiculous because we're going to face those horrible Creepers yet, here we are, flirting at each other.
"I'll go first and then you come next. Make sure not to shoot me in the head, ok?" he joked and snickered.
We reached the side of the convenience store and we saw the four Creepers inside. The three are wearing a uniform with the name of the store printed on them and another one wearing casual clothing. This one must be the carrier before and attack the poor employees. I feel sad because one of them is just about my age. I wonder what kind of teenager he had before he got infected.
Funny that the cashier woman looks like she's stuck on her station. She's still holding a price scanner while walking back and forth in her small space. Good thing. Now we just have to deal with the three.
Jayson signaled me by nodding his head. I grip the gun tight on my hand as I ready myself for the attack.
Jayson is fast. He pushed the slightly opened glass door and stepped inside of the store, waiting for who among the three would reach him first.
It was the teenage Creeper who leaped first on Jayson. His bloody face was full of rage and hunger but before it landed in front of his, I already shot it on its forehead. It fell on the floor. Another one, the bearded guy, who carried the virus in this place, ran towards him. And before Jayson even lays his blade on its neck, I already gave it another headshot. The janitor one was far from us so I gave it another shot on the forehead, not giving Jayson a chance to attack any of them. The last one, I decided to end the suffering of the cashier Creeper and blew her head with the gun.
Jayson looked at me incredulously, both his hands raised on his side, couldn't believe that I ended all those four in just a few minutes.
"That's four for me and zero for you." I winked at him and he just shook his head helplessly, smiling like his cheeks were going to tear apart.
We called the others so that it was finally safe to enter the store. We covered the corpse and Li noticed that all of them have bullets on the forehead.
"Wow, Harriet. You didn't give Jayson a chance to prove himself to you. Such a pity." Li bantered as he shook his head, trying to make fun of Jayson. I laughed at them and gave Mona a gentle nudge on her shoulder and told her we should gather supplies that are still good in this store.
It's crazy that this establishment has plenty of stock of everything we need. From T-shirts with ridiculous prints, food, drinks, hygiene, and kitchen stuff! It means we are able to cook food here!
Mona and I gathered all the things that we missed eating. We grabbed all the chocolates we could get, the chips, sodas, and beer. When we got back from the corner where the boys set up a tent, they were all surprised to see the large trolley Mona and I were pushing towards them.
Li inspected the stuff we stacked inside, pursing his lips." Alright, guys! We won't die being devoured by Creepers but we'll die of kidney problems and diabetes. How on earth will you survive with just choosing chips and chocolates? Aren't there any better than these?"
"Fine. Go and look for anything you like, Li." I said to him and he just shook his head helplessly.
"Looks like you're going to have a chip party tonight," Timothy asked, his face a little sad.
"I just want to have something tasty... I miss eating these kinds of things. My dad doesn't allow me to eat this kind of stuff so..."
"Ha! Taking advantage of your freedom huh?" Tim answered, taking a pack of chips from the trolley and opening one."
"Yeah..." I looked at the chips and I suddenly felt sad, thinking about my father...