Incubus Ascension-Chapter 21

Liam kept moving slowly through the empty mall, following the faint clinking sounds.

It was the noise of metal cans scraping against the floor, someone was definitely rummaging through the shelves in the food section.

His heart picked up a little. In this world, you never knew if it was just another scavenger or something worse.

He stayed low, sticking close to the broken storefronts and shattered display cases, until he reached the corner that opened into the canned goods aisle.

The clinking stopped for a second, then started again. Whoever it was, they hadn’t noticed him yet.

He took a breath, then lunged around the corner.

And froze.

It wasn’t some raider or mutant. It was a little girl. Maybe nine or ten years old.

Bright red hair tied up in twintails, a too-big jacket hanging off her small frame, and wide, startled eyes staring straight up at him.

She dropped the can she was holding. It rolled across the tiles with a hollow clang.

For a heartbeat they just looked at each other.

Then she squeaked out, voice shaking, "M-Mr... I’m sorry! I didn’t know this mall belonged to someone! I thought it was empty!"

He let his shoulders drop and raised both hands, palms out. "Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’m not gonna hurt you."

She still looked ready to bolt, so he stayed where he was and kept his voice soft. "What’s your name? And... why are you here?"

She swallowed hard, clutching the front of her jacket. "I’m Rem. I... I came for food. We don’t have any left at home."

Her face was so small and so serious. He felt the tension in his chest loosen a bit.

He gave her a small nod. "Alright, Rem. You can take what you need. No problem."

He stepped over to the shelves and started helping her pick out cans, beans, corn, peaches, whatever looked edible and wasn’t rusted through.

She watched him carefully at first, like she was waiting for the trick, but after a minute she started reaching for things too.

While they packed, he glanced at the growing pile in her little backpack. "That’s... kind of a lot for one kid. You carrying all this back by yourself?"

She nodded, cheeks going pink. "It’s not just for me. My family’s sick. They can’t go out and get food anymore.

So I have to do it." She puffed her chest out a little, trying to look brave. "Because I’m a magical girl."

He couldn’t help it, he smiled. "A magical girl, huh?"

"Yeah!" She nodded fast, eyes shining for the first time.

"Mom told me I am. She said magical girls don’t have to be scared of anyone, and they protect their family.

So I come out here and get food even when it’s scary."

He felt something warm settle in his chest. "Anyone at all?"

She laughed, but it came out awkward and small. "Well... maybe not everyone. The motorcycle gang still scares me a lot."

He looked down at her, this tiny kid carrying the weight of her whole family on her shoulders, and before he could think too hard about it, he crouched down and pulled her into a gentle hug.

She stiffened for half a second, then grabbed onto his sleeve with both hands like she was afraid he’d disappear.

A moment later he felt her start shaking, and then she was crying, quiet at first, then louder, face buried against his shirt.

He just held her, rubbing her back in slow circles. "It’s okay. You’re doing good, Rem. Really good."

After a while she calmed down enough that he could ease back. He wiped her cheeks with his sleeve and gave her a lopsided smile.

"Okay, listen. Take whatever you want, alright? But... don’t tell anyone I’m here. This place is kind of my secret spot."

She sniffed hard and nodded. "I promise. I won’t tell anybody. Cross my heart."

He ruffled her hair, careful, not too rough. "Good. Now take it easy going back, yeah? Watch your step."

She gave him a tiny, watery smile and started zipping up the backpack.

As she worked, he asked quietly, "Your family... what made them sick?"

Rem hesitated, fingers pausing on the zipper. Then she said in a small voice,

"Some weird disease. It started after they drank water from the river a few weeks ago.

Now they’re always tired. They can barely talk. Mom and my big sister... they just sleep all the time."

His stomach twisted. Fatigue, weakness, trouble speaking, those were the early signs he remembered from the plague back in his old life.

The one that tore through towns before anyone figured out what it really was.

He kept his voice steady. "If I saw them... I might be able to figure out what’s wrong. Maybe even help."

Rem looked up at him, eyes big and uncertain. "Mom said... never bring strangers home. No matter what."

He nodded right away. "That’s smart. Your mom’s right to tell you that. Forget I said anything.

Just take the food and go home safe. But if things get worse, if you need help, you can always come back here and ask for big brother, okay? I’ll be around."

Her face lit up like the sun coming out. "Really?"

"Really."

She threw her arms around his neck in a quick, fierce hug, then grabbed the backpack and ran toward the exit.

Then calling over her shoulder, "Alright, big brother! Thank you!"

He watched her disappear around the corner, then let out a long breath.

He turned to head back, and nearly jumped when he saw Olivia peeking out from behind one of the broken escalators.

She had this soft, amused look on her face. "That was really cute, you know. The whole big brother thing."

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling his ears heat up. "Shut up. She’s just a kid."

Olivia smiled wider but didn’t tease anymore. They walked back together in quiet, started getting the food ready for themselves.

Night came.

He was half-asleep on one of the old benches when the metal security door at the entrance slammed open so hard it echoed through the whole mall.

He was on his feet in a second, knife already in his hand.

Rem burst through, face streaked with tears, breathing like she’d run the whole way.

"Big brother!"

He dropped the knife on the bench and hurried over. "Rem, what’s wrong?"

She crashed into him, grabbing his shirt with both fists.

"Mom and big sister... they’re worse. A lot worse. They can’t even sit up now. Please, you have to come. Please."

Her whole body was shaking.

He looked down at her terrified little face, then over at Olivia.

They didn’t even need to say anything.

He nodded once. "Okay. Let’s go."