“One more step an’ I will blow your fuckin’ brains out.”
I estimated that the badass gunslinger was around fourteen. I could see over his shoulder, which made it obvious that he hadn’t gone through puberty yet. Henry was tied up on the floor, blood all over his chin and shirt.
The only thing I could think of was how the hell did this scrawny punk ass kid get Henry down? Both Claire and I held our hands up. “Let’s have a chat about this first,” I said.
“There ain’t nothin’ to talk about!” Who did the punk ass kid think he was, hollering at me like that?
“Have you ever heard that elementary poem ‘Don’t Say Ain’t’?” It probably wasn’t the best time for me to throw out some proper Elaina attitude.
“Shut up! I’ll do it! Maybe I’ll shoot him firs’, and make you watch him die!”
“Whoa there, cowboy. Let’s calm down and chat about this,” Claire said, always the practical one. I thought about kicking the little punk ass kid in his little boy tomatoes, ripping the gun out of his hands, and turning the table on him. But if Claire or I had reached for our Sigs, I had a feeling that our foreheads would have been peppered with pellets.
“Wha’s to chat about?” His skinny little lip curled up into a snarl.
“This, you fucking idiot!” I yelled.
Claire kicked me in the calf. “Shut it, Elaina!”
Henry was scream mumbling in the back on the floor. He had a scarf tied around his head like a gag. He was yanking his arms, trying to free himself from a rope that hogtied his hands and legs behind his back. “Let’s just calm down and talk about this. Maybe we can work out some sort of deal.”
Not only was she practical, Claire was diplomatic, unlike me, who would rather smartass my way out of shit. I couldn’t believe she wanted to make a deal with the prepubescent punk ass kid. Then I noticed the offer of a deal got his attention.
“What kind of deal?”
“We may have something you would want. Food or drink?” The punk ass kid licked his dry, overly-chapped lips. He was hungry, for sure. His shirt was barely hanging on him, his collarbones were protruding, and his face was sunken in.
“You will trade for tha’ crazy fucker?” He nodded his head back toward Henry, astonished. I wasn’t sure who this kid thought he was, but I was the only one who could call Henry crazy and get away with it.
“Watch your mouth, you hairy-palmed little boy! Don’t you dare speak poorly of him!”
“Screw you! Do you have any idea wha’ he did? Huh? Do you?” Claire and I looked at each other.
“Looking for undeads and supplies?” I cautiously chose my words. The punk ass kid started laughing. It took me by surprise. I wasn’t so sure what was funny about the situation.
“You have no clue, do you?” Henry started yelling as much as he could through his gag. The little twerp continued to laugh.
“Uh, yeah I do. We stopped here to check for supplies.” I felt my fourteen-year-old self coming out.
“Look around! There ain’t no supplies. I’m all out!”
“Exactly. That’s why we will work a trade with you. We have some supplies.”
“That doesn’t change what he was doin’!” Henry continued yelling through the gag. I couldn’t make out what he was trying to say.
“Alright, Captain Know-It-All, you tell us exactly what he was doin’.” I crossed my arms in front of my chest. It’s my signature “I don’t give a fuck what you say because I know I’m right” move.
“He killed that dude out there. That other one that was wit’ you!” I stopped for a moment. I was taken aback. That dude was my blood. Thoughts of Nick’s death crept back in.
“What? No, he didn’t! That dude was killed by that undead out there! And that dude is my brother! Show some respect, you pissant!” He laughed again. It was such an evil laugh. There was something seriously wrong with him.
He got inches from my face and yelled, “Wrong!” I didn’t back down. He had no idea who he was fucking with.
“How am I wrong? Please, tell me how I’m wrong!” I was ready to fuck his face up.
“I saw him go behind him after he yelled to you, covered his mouth wit’ his hand, and put a gun to his head.” He was batshit crazy. There was no way that Henry would have done something like that! The kid could sense that I was doubting his story. “It’s true! Then he bit right down on his arm and was suckin’ on it like a vampire!”
“I’m throwing out the bullshit flag on that one! Nick was bit by the undead that’s under that shelving unit! You’re just making up shit! And, FYI, vampires are not real!” My heart and mind was racing, trying to figure out how to get Henry free.