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Lost Planet

Emilie Cole

    We run all night to find safety. Ever since the outbreak, we’ve been on the run. When we finally reach our destination, it surprises me. It is just a laundromat. This is the safest place in the city. When we walk in the door the smell of laundry detergent hit us. The smell brings up feelings of safety. It is still very dark that I could only make out the shapes of the washer. We look at each other and smile that we are finally safe.
    I ask, “Why is the laundromat the safest place in the city?”
    Damen answers, “It is the only spot that the mold can’t grow. The infected won’t come near the scent of the detergent.”
    I laugh and wander over to the wall of dryers. Reaching out touching the cold metal, I wonder what it is like to not have dirt covered clothes. I then look over at Kate, who has curled up asleep under the table and wonder what she is dreaming of.
    “I wish that both of you would have known the world before the outbreak. It was a beautiful place,” Damen states.
    I sigh. “I don’t mind the world the way it is. How did the outbreak happen? Why did the mold turn people into monsters?”
    Damen looks at me and shrugs. If anyone could answer those questions, then this laundromat would be filled with people washing clothes not seeking refuge from the dangers outside. The sun is now starting to rise. Its rays bouncing off the silver metal all around us.
    I stand up to look out the window. I am stopped by a moan of an infected outside. I am afraid that it will come for me if it sees me. Everyone is asleep but us. I wish I could curl up by Kate and sleep.
    Damen doesn’t mind how close Kate and I are, but the others seem wary of us.
    “I wish I could just hold her and sleep, but I need to explore,” I state.
    Damen nods and we get up together to look around. I’ve never been inside such a big laundromat before. We find a vending machine and break it open. Damen hands me a soda.
    “Try it. I used to love these when I was your age.” Damen says to me.
    “What is it supposed to do?” I ask.
    Damen answers, “It is just a drink that may give you some energy.”
    Sipping the cool sweet liquid and it burns going down my scratched throat. I cough but take another sip. Finally, I hear Kate waking up. I go to be by her side. She looks up at me and we smile at each other. Her bright green eyes burn into me.
    I grab her hand and show her the different areas of the laundromat. I then hand her my soda for her to try. She takes a sip and makes a face that looks like disgust. We both laugh and continue our walk around the laundromat.
    Kate asks, “Did you get any sleep? You look as though you’ve been up for three days.”
    I answer, “I haven’t been to sleep yet. I don’t think I look that bad. I will sleep soon I promise.”
    I then look at my reflection in the shiny metal of the dryer and notice the dark circles under my eyes and my long red hair frizzed all over the place. We finally find the restroom and to our surprise there is running water. We run the cold water over our faces and wet our hair.
    I go back out and decide to lay down under the table. I close my eyes and drift off to sleep. I wake to the buzz of what I assume is the dryer shutting off. I look around to find Kate folding clothes and Damen relaxing in a chair by the door.
    I sit up and smile because our running days are over, and we are safe inside our laundromat.

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