A quick errand. That’s what she had run out on that morning, heading to get the supplies off of Aly’s list and then make it home in short order. It wasn’t as though it were complicated in the grand scheme of things. All they needed were a few foods to keep her own strength up from the feedings, a quick trip to the bank to see what she still had in her reserves that had been transferred at the beginning of this whole thing, and a few household items. Nothing overly big, nothing that would cause suspicion. As far as anyone would or should have been concerned, it was a routine trip to the store.<br/><br/>That’s what it should have been.<br/><br/>Walking down the aisles, she’d picked up a few things: some chicken, some canned goods. Aly had told her she could go all out if she wanted, but it was easier to keep things shorter so she wasn’t caught out and about without proper vaccination papers. Vaccination papers she didn’t have nor would she be getting as she couldn’t. To get the shot would be the death of Aly as she’d be unable to feed her and then where would they be? She’d be without her mistress to serve and Aly would be dead. That couldn’t happen.<br/><br/>She wouldn’t let that happen.<br/><br/>Her form moved up and down the aisles, picking up a few bits and pieces here or there, continually moving though she spared a few nods of greeting to those she recognized. For the most part, though, she remained “ focused”, completely engrossed with what she was doing so as to keep the needless interaction to a minimum. A box of cereal, a carton of milk, and she was up at the counter with the entirety of her purchase, waiting in line for the register to be open when all hell seemingly broke loose in an “organized chaos” sort of fashion. She froze, watching as the guard started filing in, blood running cold as she took a few steps back only to hit another person halting her tracks further.<br/><br/>There was no way that Aeri could run; if she did, there would only be further attention on her and she’d surely be carted in.<span style="font-style: italic">I have to get back to Aly at all costs…</span><br/><br/>“Alright, ladies and gents, you know the drill! Papers out, IDs out, arms out for verification!” the voice boomed as the men dispersed, going from person to person to check for the proper paperwork. Paperwork she didn’t have. Taking a few more steps back, the woman feigned having to go to the bathroom. While it wouldn’t get her out of there, it’d give her a few more minutes. Moving as nonchalant as she could toward the bathrooms, it took everything in her not to bolt and run the moment she was close enough to have a straight line. That composure she had was hanging by a thread, barely able to keep herself restrained as the worry and panic began to set in.<span style="font-style: italic">I can’t get this shot. I can’t get this shot. I ca-</span><br/><br/>Her body collided with another, a strong hand stopping her from falling over, but the face it was attached to was none too friendly. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, face bearing down on hers enough to cause her mouth to go dry and her palms to sweat.<br/><br/>“I just needed to use the restroom.”<br/><br/>“That’ll have to wait, we’re doing mandatory shot checks. No one can leave the area.” He paused looking over her form before holding out his other hand. “Proof of shots?”<br/><br/>Face paling, she took a sharp breath and tried to remain calm. “I forgot them at home.”<br/><br/>Staring at her for a moment longer, he perked a brow. “Right.” Then, calling back over his shoulder, “We need a shot over here!”<br/><br/>“But I told you I forgot my papers!” Aeri shot back, praying she could appeal to his nicer side. “Let me run home and get it, and I’ll be back!”<br/><br/>“You know the rules,” the man answered, devoid of any emotion other than a stern confidence. “Papers must be on you at all times. Another shot won’t hurt you.”<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Shit shit shit, no! I can’t get a shot!</span>she thought, following along pathetically as he brought her forward to one of the makeshift nurse stations, plopping her down in a seat. On the verge of tears, she kept biting them back, her arm held in place by another sturdy grip, the nurse’s.  They were priming the spot with a disinfectant, another preparing the shot behind him before handing it over. “This’ll only hurt for a second.”