Broken Dreams(25)

“Oh, for the love of god. Nate, just stand up so we can see your physical condition.”

“Is he going to shoot me?” Nate was trembling all over while I was trying to look at his miniature body. His voice was shaky, like he was on the verge of bursting into tears.

“Depends. Get up and show us.” With his hands raised, Nate rose from behind the counter.

“Step around.” Henry directed with the business end of his gun. Nate shook his head. “Step around now, or I will put a bullet in your head!” Henry was spitting mad. This isn’t what I signed up for. I didn’t want to shoot people out of anger.

“Whoa, Henry. Calm down. Let’s not shoot anyone who is normal.”

“He’s pissing me off.” Again, he was talking through the teeth.

“Well, we can’t just go around shooting people just because they piss you off!” I snapped. I think I would be on the top of the “Pissing Henry Off” list. Nate stood there, looking back and forth between us. It looked like he was watching a tennis match. Henry grumbled something to himself.

“Nate, please, just come around the counter slow so we can check you out.” Henry backed away a little to give Nate room. He stepped out slowly, still trembling. “Remove your jacket, please.” Without protest, he shrugged it off. “Turn all the way around.” We both looked at him, then looked at one another. Henry nodded and lowered his gun. “Okay, come on out. You look clean.” Nate looked somewhat relieved. He put his jacket back on.

“What’s going on?” he said, looking around.

“Where’s the phone?” He dug around the inside of his jacket and handed it to me. “Thanks. It was my mom’s. Did you see her?”

“This is your mother’s? No. When I was running out of the church, I realized I had left my phone in there. I saw this one laying on the street and grabbed it, in case I needed one.”

“So you didn’t see her at all?”

“No. I’m sorry, Elaina. I didn’t.” I felt like I was starting to go numb. Nate grabbed my arm and asked me in a whisper, “Please, tell me what’s going on. What’s with G.I. Henry and his British accent?”

“Let’s just get moving back to the vehicle and head back to his place. We’ll explain the best we can when we get there.”

“Nope. I think I’m going to go home.”

“Yeah…no, you’re not.” My emotional self was going numb, but at least I could still rely on my smart mouth.

“I just want to get home, Elaina.”

“Did you see what happened out there?” I pointed toward the window. “Look, Nate. Look at the bloody window. There are true dead bodies in the streets. There are undeads roaming, looking for their next meal. If you go home, you will become one of them, for sure.” I think I nearly scared the piss out of him. He stepped back, and he looked to be absorbing what I had said to him.

“True deads?” Nate tilted his head to the left. “Like that hot vampire show? I don’t like the sound of this.” Oh, Jesus Christ, not again.

“For fuck’s sake!” Henry yelled. Nate jumped at the sound of Henry’s booming voice. “No, this is not like some damn vampire show! No one likes this! Now move!”

“Okay, okay, fine, you brute.” The three of us left the shop and rejoined Nick and Claire.

“Anything out here?” asked Henry.

“I haven’t seen anything.” Claire sighed.

“Alright then.” Henry put his hand up in his shirt and pulled out another handgun, handing it to my brother.

“Nope, not touching it.”

Henry shoved the gun at him. “Take it. Don’t be bloody stupid.”

“How do I know it’s a legal weapon?”

“Oh, what the fuck does it matter, Nick?! Do you see what is out here?” I pointed straight ahead. “Look, Nick! Look around!” Nick reached out and took the gun. Henry nodded.

“Think of it this way. You will be protecting Elaina.” He brushed past Nick.

“Wait. If he gets a gun, I want one, too.” We all turned and looked at Nate.

“Sorry, mate. Fresh out.” Henry was curt and kept walking toward the truck. That was a lie. Back at his apartment, he had put another handgun in his backpack.

I took a deep breath as we passed the bodies of my family and friends, knowing I would relive this moment every time I pulled the trigger. I had to find a way to block out my emotions or I wouldn’t make it. I stopped short. “Nick, do you still have that flask in your coat?” He reached in and pulled out a small silver flask. “What’s in it?”