In the quiet kitchen, Peter tried his best to relax his somewhat stiff face as much as he could. He walked over to open the windows to let the sunlight in and said in a soft voice, “Hello, I’m Peter. And, I’m here to help you. May I know your name, little guy?”
Flora replied with her a little raspy voice, “Hello. I’m Flora. Nice to meet you, Peter.”
Peter walked over slowly to the big freezer and asked, “Nice to meet you too, little princess. Can you please come out?”
“No. Flora can’t come out.”
Flora said with her slightly immature voice. Due to breathing the dry air inside for a period of time, her voice sounded a little hoarse. Even if she would occasionally breathe the air from oxygen can as her mother told her, there were limited amount of air inside the big freezer after all and they lacked circulation with outside fresh air.
Peter stood in front of the freezer and asked softly, “But big brother needs Flora to come out. So, I can take you to a safe place.”
“But, but, mommy told Flora to stay inside before she came back.”, said Flora.
Peter glanced around the clean and neat kitchen and said, “Big brother will take Flora to find your mommy. How about it? Can you come out?”
“Really?”
“Really. So, are you coming out?”
“Let’s make pinky promise.”, asked Flora as she stretched out her little hand from the crack.
Peter looked down at metal gauntlets and chuckled softly.
“Please wait a minute. I need to take off the armor, okay?”
“Okay.”
He didn’t hesitate too long and pressed the connection button on the thick metal gauntlet of his right hand.
As small connections were loosened, metal gauntlet separated itself from the hand’s armor system. Peter pulled it out and placed it on the table.
Enchanted thick leather glove, which was under the gauntlet, appeared. Peter took it off again. He stretched out his little finger to hook Flora’s small little finger gently and made a thumb seal.
Because Flora’s hand and fingers were too small, Peter had to put his thumb between forefinger and middle finger in order to accomplish the deal.
Despite of huge size difference between them, Peter still managed to do the pinky promise.
Then, Peter held Flora’s hand gently and opened the freezer’s cover with the other hand. Only then, he saw the complete appearance of Flora and the things inside.
Flora looked really cute. She looked a little smaller than four years old child. Her green almond eyes were looking up at Peter carefully. Meanwhile, Peter was also inspecting her situation carefully.
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In order for her daughter to be able to hide inside the big freezer well and for a long time, Flora’s mother put almost all the good things, which could be eaten directly, inside the freezer.
Moreover, with other things like bottled water and small portable oxygen cans, Flora didn’t have much space to operate. At most, she could only stretch out her legs a little bit and she had to stay in tuck sitting position almost all the time.
Thinking of these, Peter felt really sorry for Flora. Moreover, he was not sure whether they also eliminated Flora’s mother or not. Just on seeing how she arranged her daughter, Peter could feel her love on her little daughter. Although Flora might get trouble in opening the things, Flora’s mother effort was still admirable. In fact, Peter didn’t know that the bottles and some other things were already opened by her ahead in fear of her young daughter unable to open them.
Even so, Flora’s mother arrangement made him more guilty and some words told to him by the mysterious grim reaper appeared in his mind again.
However, instead of falling into confusion again, his eyes became brighter and firmer. After quickly ending his thoughts, Peter rubbed Flora’s brown hairs softly into a mess and hugged her out with one hand.
Despite being careful and gentle, Flora felt uncomfortable as she touched the cold metal. Peter forgot about it. Moreover, he couldn’t take off entire armors after all. He also noticed it and wanted to go back inside the light shield quickly.
Peter smiled and said, “Big brother can do magic. Do you wanna see it?”
Flora nodded with somewhat expectant eyes. Peter showed the thick gauntlet on the table and said, “Look. I will make that thing disappear.”
Then, he put the gauntlet into his space ring. Flora was surprised and clapped with happy smiles.
Peter smirked and did the similar operation on his leather glove. Flora clapped happily again.
Seeing that little girl getting cheerful and relaxed, Peter walked out of the kitchen.
Only then, he looked the living room carefully. It was a spacious living room but there were few furniture in it.
A big and clean bed was placed in a corner against the wall separating it from the kitchen. Then, a big closet was placed against the wall between two windows. At the spacious space in front of the front door, a set of sofa, a glass table and a TV were placed.
Peter praised Flora’s parents silently and asked Flora, “Flora, do you have photos?”
Flora rolled her eyes and asked, “Mommy put all photos in a book.”
Peter said, “Photo album? Can you show me that book?”
Flora pointed at the bedside table with her little finger and said, “In the drawer.”
Peter thought Flora’s family didn’t have photos because he didn’t see any photo in the entire living room. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to be weirdos. Peter crouched and opened the drawer of bedside table.
He found a brown thick book in it. Peter took it out and flipped a few times to confirm that it was indeed the photo album. He noticed a young woman smiling with little Flora in her arms. She was stunning.
Peter didn’t see Flora’s father in several photos he looked. But he didn’t think about it too much. After all, he didn’t have time to check the entire photo album.
Peter put it away and stood up. Then, he didn’t waste anymore time and walked down with Flora in his arms.
The rain had already stopped. It was a heavy rain but it only rained for a while under the shining sun. It was surely a strange rain.
When Peter walked out of the corridor and got back to the street, he first glanced at the undeads lying unconscious on the ground neatly. Only after seeing them still being unconscious, he let out a breathe of relief.
The street looked extremely deserted. There were still bullet holes in many buildings and vehicles. Some vehicles were in closed contact with the buildings and they were the masterpieces kicked away by Peter.
Flora looked the familiar but unfamiliar scenes doubtfully in silence. Peter hurriedly walked into the light curtain and sighed again after passing through the light curtain.
He felt that he sighed a lot today. But now, he didn’t have any thought to think about these. Because several vehicles appeared in his sight just when he crouched to put down Flora.
Peter quickly decided and stood up again with Flora in his arms. He felt that it would be safer for Flora to be in his arms.
His brain was telling him that it might be the reinforcements but his heart was quite unwilling to put down Flora. He didn’t want to make another regret again no matter what.