This is the End 2(649)
“No,” Hendrix growled. “We are not letting you go. Even if we thought we could trust you, we can’t in good conscience let you go running around out there in the pitch dark. You’re going to get yourself killed, or worse.”
“Aw thanks superman,” the kid snarled back. “But I know y’all ain’t goin’ to shoot me. You got that do-gooder look on your faces. The kind that thinks you can save the whole freakin’ world. So here’s the deal, if you really want to do good then you’ll let me go. I got things I need to get back to and you’re holding me up!”
“What’s your name?” I asked calmly from the couch. Page had turned into me and I couldn’t force her off my lap, even though I knew how bad my body heat was for her fever.
He lifted his stubborn chin even higher and spit out, “Miller.”
“Is that your first name or your last name?” Vaughan asked gruffly.
“Don’t matter,” Miller countered. “It’s the only name I got and it’s the only name you’re gonna get. Now let me go.”
“No,” Nelson growled.
“Fine, then let’s make a trade,” he offered quickly. “You let me go and I’ll come back with medicine for your sick child. I wasn’t lying about that. I know exactly where some is.”
“You don’t even know what kind of medicine she needs,” Hendrix argued.
“Penicillin. Everybody needs penicillin. They give it out all the time,” Miller huffed.
“Who’s they?” I asked, carefully.
“Listen,” he answered instead. “This house ain’t safe. And y’all ain't safe stayin’ here. They,” he gestured to the three of us girls sitting on the couch, “are especially not safe. So if you know what’s best for you, you’ll pack up now and be on your way. And I’ll be on mine. Or they’re gonna find you and take you. And then you’ll be as bad off as my sister.”
“Your sister?” I jumped on the word, realizing his insistence was tied to something extremely important.
He groaned and put his head in his hands. “Yes, my sister! Now let me go, damnit. It took me six months to get out of there and I only got one shot to go back for her. Time is ticking!”
Silence ensued for several charged minutes.
Finally, Vaughan asked, “Who’s they? A settlement?”
“No,” he shook his head. “A militia camp. They’re building an army. They think they got this political machine that’s gonna restore balance to the great United States of America.”
“Those are pretty big words for you,” Hendrix scoffed.
“Yeah, well I’ve been forced to listen to their preaching now for a while. As stupid as it is, the phrases kinda get stuck in your head. I don’t believe it, but I can’t forget it either.”
“They have medicine there?” Hendrix pressed.
“Lots of it,” Miller confirmed.
“And they have your sister?”
“And my mom,” he whispered in a pained croak.
“Does your mom want to leave?”
Miller didn’t respond verbally, just shook his head with the first sign of vulnerability I had seen from him.
“You and me are going to make a deal,” Hendrix announced firmly. “You take me to that medicine and I will help you get your sister.”
“No,” Miller shook his head adamantly. “No way. You’re too big and too Yankee. You’ll just slow me down and I ain’t got time for this.”
“Fine, then you’ll stay here until morning at which time we will return you to your mother. She’s staying with the militia right? I bet they’re wondering where you are right now.”
“They don’t know I’ve gone missing. You think I’m stupid?” Miller was angry now, panic flashed in his eyes under the low light of the lantern.
“Maybe not yet, but I bet they will by morning,” Hendrix argued.
Panic turned to frustration and Miller snarled, “Fine. But I swear to god, if you give away my cover or leave my sister behind I will kill you myself.”
“Fair enough,” Hendrix agreed.
Reagan couldn’t stay quiet anymore. “You’re not seriously considering following him back to a militia camp? We don’t even know this kid! He could be leading you into a trap!”
Hendrix spun around, took three steps toward the couch and sunk down to his knees. He cupped Reagan’s face in his calloused hands and held her attention. “You know I have to do this. And you know I’ll come back.” He held her gaze while words seemed to fail her. “I’m not letting you out of this, Reagan, so give up that idea right now.” Finally she nodded into his palm and he placed an intimate kiss on her forehead.