Supermarket Rush

Larry crossed his arms smugly as the contestants rushed out the dining room, shouting over each other in panic about missing car keys, changing clothes, and other sudden emergencies. He slipped out after them just in time to spy Sabina crash into Madeline while balancing on one leg to wear a heeled boot.

"Aaah!"

"Sorry!"

"Watch where you're going!"

"Hey, that's my shoe!"

"Oops!"

"Sorry, comin' through!!!"

Another round of chaos ensued, and when the last contestant slammed the front door minutes later, Larry smacked his forehead.

"Ah!" he exclaimed. "Forgot to tell them their budget."

Vroooom!

The last car pulled out of the driveway as he opened the door. He shrugged from the doorway.

"Well, they'll find out themselves."

***

REMAINING TIME: 01:57:22

"...and this is why I keep my car keys on me at all times," Travis bragged.

"I heard that the first time... Eyes on the road, Mister." Iris pointed at the windscreen.

"Relax, I'm a local. Of course I know the way to Star Supermarket."

'And how do you intend to get there without looking at the road?!'

"Yes, but safety first."

"You're plenty safe with me."

Iris narrowed her eyes dubiously. 'Am I?!'

Travis glanced at the GPS on his dashboard. He was driving along the designated route given by Larry and the only cars on this road were his and the slowpokes they'd left in the dust. What was Iris even worried about?

He stepped on the gas pedal, increasing the speed.

Vroom...

Iris tugged her seatbelt even tighter. She could handle this speed... She was just a passenger... Just suck it up and...

'Is that... Lavender?'

She inhaled again to double check, catching another floral whiff. Strange. There weren't air fresheners on the spotless dashboard or the air conditioner vents, and Travis clearly preferred cologne over perfume.

"Do you have any siblings?" she asked.

"No, why?"

"Nothing."

Iris pulled down the mirror above her head to apply some lip balm, but stopped imperceptibly when she noticed something: A faint, pink mark in the shape of lips on the corner of the mirror. It looked old, or maybe the car owner had tried to rub it off recently.

'Playboy? Or a playful date?'

She side-eyed her partner. His profile was sharp and he kept his appearance suave, wearing a designer polo shirt, black chinos, and nice shoes even on a supermarket run. But was this enough reason to make assumptions about him?

"So, where're you from?" Travis inquired.

Iris turned to look out the window. "City L."

"That's quite far. And you travelled here for the show?"

As they sped down the windy hill road, she could see the rest of City X spread beneath them like a miniature 3D map. Even from afar, it looked so majestic and bright and... alive. Like a pillar of the country's best, the poster child of cities that attracted foreigners. Its bustling lifestyle had drawn her in eight years ago, and it felt more like home than home ever was...

"Iris?" Travis prompted.

"Oh, no. I didn't travel over. I've lived here since uni," she explained. "There's just... something about this city."

'And it's far enough from home.'

"Which university did you attend?"

"Diamond U. 'Go, Starlings!'" Iris chuckled, quoting the school mascot.

"That's interesting. I studied abroad—Ramford College, ever heard of it?" Travis said almost offhandedly.

"Who hasn't?"

Ramford was one of the top schools in the neighbouring country, with beautiful, rolling green hills on campus, beautiful aristocrat students, and even more beautiful tuition fees—

VROOOOM—!

Just then, a flash of yellow zoomed past them, tires squealing as a tight turn was executed.

"Damn, I think that's Davenport!" Travis slapped the steering wheel and slammed his foot on the accelerator. "We have to hurry!"

"Travis, SLOW DOWN!"

"We've got no time to lose!" Travis gritted his teeth, jerking the car to a sharp right.

"THIS ISN'T A RACE!" Iris screamed, her seatbelt digging into her stomach.

'Should've driven my own car!!!'

***

REMAINING TIME: 01:40:01

A silver convertible stylishly pulled up at the parking lot of Star Supermarket. A canary yellow sports car was already there, parked ostentatiously across two spots by the entrance. A few meters beside it, there was also a black sedan and several large vans straight out of a thriller movie. The moment the convertible's engine shut down, its passenger door was thrown open and a black haired woman stumbled out of it.

Iris squatted down in the middle of the parking lot and cupped her hands over her mouth, cameras be damned. She clamped down on her teeth, trying not to hurl.

Travis locked his car and walked over to her. His gray eyes widened when he saw her pallor. "My goodness, are you alright?"

Iris clutched her stomache, feeling multiple bruises forming from the seatbelt marks. She tried to glare at Travis, but even his face looked blurry right now. "Ya think?!"

"I'll drive slower next time," Travis promised, pulling her upright and towards the supermarket entrance. "Come on! We don't have much time left!"

"Urk! Slow down—" Iris groaned, swallowing the contents of her stomache.

A blast of cold air hit her as they crossed the threshold. Travis grabbed two baskets and shoved one into her arms. "Remember what we discussed on the car," he reminded her. "I'll get the meat; you get the fresh produce. Nothing but purple, green, white and brown food."

Iris nodded queasily as he rushed off like a track and field runner. She ambled towards the trolleys and switched her basket for one; at least she could lean on it while shopping.

As she pushed the trolley past aisle after aisle, placing bottles of seasoning, sauces, and vegetables into her trolley, she tried to ignore the cameraman following her. The film crew must've temporarily rented out the whole supermarket, because it was as empty as her refrigerator after forgetting to buy groceries for a week. However, that only made her more self-conscious.

Step step step step.

Iris hastened her steps to reach her final destination: The back of the supermarket where the fruits were. She didn't like this feeling of being alone in a silent place, knowing there were others near her yet unable to reach out for them, stuck in a race against herself and an invisible clock...

It hit too close to home.

Squeak...

Iris came to a stop, and her trolley's wheels screeched to a halt.

Standing in front of her, picking and choosing berries, was Skyler.