A scowl grew on Rob’s face as he eyed the naked counter. His eyes must have deceived him. It was the only explanation.

“I’m telling you, we had more food last ni-“

He slammed his hands on the laminate surface to drown out her grating voice. She was at it again, blaming Gunnar for everything. Rob just needed a moment to process the current situation. The food and water they had stocked from the widow’s house and nearby shops was gone. Hastily blaming Gun was not something he could do. Shadows knew loyalty. They drank it for breakfast like KeyStone.

“Our food was taken and we’ll hunt down the bastards who took it. That’s probably where Gun went.”

“He just left. There was just one guy and we finally pissed him off enough that he took off,” Vita spoke with a softer tone. She tried to make eye contact, but he wouldn’t have it. His eyes narrowed on the broken clock on the stove as he drew in a deep breath. He’d been raised to never hit a woman, but maybe thoughts like that didn’t apply post-apocalyptically. 

You’ll scare the bitch off. You need her.

 “We got no proof. I’m not blaming nobody till we get some.”

As the day wore on, a small smile grew on Vita’s face, as if she took some sick satisfaction from Gunnar’s absence. Rob knew better. The kid would be back; no matter how many times he thought he’d get out of this life, deep down he was meant for it. Once a Shadow, always a Shadow. Rob had a feeling about that kid the moment he set eyes on his two years ago.

A quick case of the joint showed one elderly guy sitting behind a desk at the entrance in charge of greeting people, probably doubling as security. Two exit doors had been rigged with what looked like sensors but were probably just for show. Child’s play. Rob chuckled to himself as he strolled over to the aisle with all the health products. A kid standing at the CD rack caught his eye. Was he really planning to risk being caught over that outdated crap? He watched a moment longer and saw his head turn in a few directions before he tucked it in his hoodie pocket. The woman to his left huffed as she watched the scene. Her heels clacked with intent as she approached the teen.

“Don’t worry m’am. I can handle this,” Rob said and she stopped dead in her tracks. “It is my job after all.”

Her eyes widened as she took in his appearance. The clean jeans and preppy collared shirt led most people to think he might be respectable, particularly his parents who had wasted their money in the first place. Although, when he thought about it invested could fit better as they helped him pull off dozens of small thefts looking like a regular upstanding citizens.

“Good, customers shouldn’t have to pay for the crimes of lowlifes,” the woman said and shook her head.

“Of course, have a good evening.”

Rob walked up to Gunnar who clearly had balls based on the fact that he would attempt to shoplift so close to the register. He clearly had no experience which led to his self incriminating actions, but Rob could work with that. The holes in his sneakers and jeans led Rob to believe he hadn’t had much of a choice tonight. A perfect candidate.      

“Put it back, kid.”

The teen whipped around with a glower sketched on his pale face. Blue eyes narrowed with intensity Rob only encountered on the streets in opposing gangs lately. The Shadows needed that on their side to even the odds.

“Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?” he spat.

The irony had been lost on the kid, but Rob couldn’t help but laugh all the same. He would make sure this kid walked out with something decent. “I’m the guy who’s saving your ass from ending up in there.” Rob tilted his head towards a manager’s office that probably wouldn’t see any action until tomorrow morning. Still, if Gunnar had low experience stealing it could scare him. “CDs have labels that set off the security system. Don’t be stupid, kid. No one even listens to CDs anymore.”

Gunnar pulled out the CD and sighed as he slowly placed it back on the rack. God, that kid must have it bad. Didn’t he know how to pirate music like the rest of his generation?

“And you’re going to have to buy something. There’s no way a kid like you is going to make it out of here without getting searched.” It was probably true as he doubted that nosy woman would allow it. At least he had cleared himself in her books should things go south with this situation.

“A kid like me,” the boy replied with the malice his early glare held. So angry for nothing. Rob had to squash the urge to laugh.

“It’s a compliment kid. Just buy a bag of chips or something and you’ll be fine.”

The boy looked at the floor as he shoved his hands in his empty sweatshirt pocket. Oh shit.  He mumbled a phrase that ended with ‘money’ only to confirm what Rob had suspected.

“You what?”

“I don’t have the money,” he said, only a little louder. There it was, Rob’s in.

Rob dug in his pocket as he fingered through the handful of bills. “I’ll lend you five, but you’re paying it back. I’ll make sure you do. Now let’s hit up a section where we can really do some damage.” The boy’s eyes lit up like Christmas with that last phrase. Here he probably thought he’d be walking away empty-handed. Not tonight. Rob needed a decent lure and this one was right up his alley. The payoff of a bringing in a new recruit beat the bit of cash he could get from pawning off non-prescription meds any day.

The gray sky faded to black and Gunnar still hadn’t returned. Vita sat on the bed and watched the light from the candle flicker. She clung to light even if it came from ridiculously large scented candles. Would this be it then, just the two of them? No, Gunnar probably needed a hide out for the night and would return in the morning. He knew the repercussions of turning his back on one of the Shadows.   

He got up out of the dirty bed and dug around his jeans pocket for his stash. The thieves might not have left him much, but they didn’t take what really counted. Rob took it as a sign of respect. He ripped a paper off the notebook that had a few messy phone numbers. He poured out a decent amount of green laced with an extra kick, shook it even, and placed the roach.

“What are you doing?” Vita asked from the bed. Her hair was sticking up in all directions, tangled from one too many nights with Rob.

“Just a little something to relax. Keep sleeping Vita.” He slowly rolled up the paper and hoped she’d just mind her own business. This stash was too good to share unless he had something new to offer him. This apocalypse had forced monogamy upon him just by lack of other options.

“You’re smoking up, again.”

His hand fumbled with the paper and a bit of the weed fluttered to the ground. Stupid girl. “Shit, who are you, my father?”

“Did we get any food?”

He kneeled down to pick up his losses. A decision to wait until he’d finished rolling the joint to reply would likely be a wise one. “What would you do with food other than throw it back up?”

Vita scoffed and rolled over on the bed so she no longer faced him. He chuckled at her effort to snub him when, in fact, he found her ass far more captivating than her face lately. “God, you’re as much of a nightmare as Gunnar.”

Rob cursed at the lighter as he glanced at the little fuel remaining. Maybe he’d use that ridiculous candle of hers. “Gunnar is a solid guy.”

“He’s an asshole.”

“He’s my buddy. Watch your mouth!”  

“If he was really your buddy, wouldn’t he have come back already?” Vita asked at the same moment Rob got the flame to light the end up.

He walked off ignoring her last statement and went for the balcony. Maybe Gunnar would be on his way back now and he could enjoy some of his more colourful opinions of her nature. His hand shook slightly as he took his next hit.

Vita woke up to extreme warmth brought on by more than the fever which had lulled her into slumber after her argument with Rob. She began coughing and sputtering as the air had a thicker texture than usual. Her throat was scratched and clogged with the dense air. She groaned, wishing her health could change if only a little for the better. That was until she realized the rich smell hit her and her eyes shot open in fear.

Thick gray smoke clouded the room and obscured even the wall on the opposite side. Maybe four feet from the floor, a clearer section with oxygen remained. Rob stood with her back to her, starring at orange flames that licked the wooden panelling on the walls. Her eyes grew wide only to be stung by the harsh claws of the smoke.

“Shit!” she yelled. She pulled away the covers and made her way towards the door in that low patch with less smoke. “What the hell are you doing?”

Rob spoke without turning away from the flames, “I’m making a statement.” The calm in his voice terrified her. Why wasn’t he panicking?

“I’m getting the hell out of here,” Vita said, grabbing the few things she had managed to keep since the incident, stashed away in her purse.

Rob turned to her, eyes red as blood even through the smoke. “He’ll come back. You’ll see. I’m sending him a message.”

Vita was at a loss for words as she pried the door open. A rush of air flowed into the room and caused the room to darken with more smoke.   

“Are you coming?” Vita asked on her way out.

Rob’s bloodshot eyes shone through a thin patch of smoke and a small smile grew on his twisted lips. “He’s coming back to me.”

She ran out the door before the smoke engulfed the room. A chill overtook her body as her stomach jumped to her throat on the way down the stairs. She didn’t want to stop, but she had to lean over the balcony and vomit once more. She hadn’t eaten or drank in over twelve hours. This was getting ridiculous.

Her bag was light, only holding items that now had no use. She had to find a store soon, before she passed out from exhaustion, dehydration and hunger. All she saw for miles down the street were townhouses identical to the others. The world spun, and she found herself on the ground in front of a metal trash bin. A pair of black boots grew closer to her field of vision.