Chapter 2: Reality
Finnis was torn out from his covers by his older brother, who grabbed him by his arms, pulling him up and out of bed. "Come on man, let's stop by the corner store. We need some water". Finnis smacked his tongue around the inside of his mouth, feeling the dry, dehydrated feeling of the need for water. "Thanks for the warning", muttered Finnis under his clenched teeth, feeling the harsh cold bite into his legs and arms, as well as hearing the wind creek through the open slats of wood in their shack. He knew it wasn't a good idea to move out from his parent's home at twenty, but the fight between them was inevitable.
"Cameron", Finnis called for his brother's attention, as Cameron headed for the door. His brother continued to grab objects off of the counter, piling them into his back-pack. "Cameron!", shouted Finnis, demanding his brother's attention. Cameron grunted and looked back at Finnis. "What, man?", his brother called down the hall.
"Remember that we only need water. Only take what we need, because we're down low on our last forty euros." Finnis looked at him sternly after replying. Cameron nodded and turned back to his work, as Finnis leaned up against the wall, and began to shuffle his feet. He began to mutter a few words under his long and distressful sigh. Cameron had finished packing up whatever gear they had needed for the small walk. "Don't be stressing your leg too much, Fin", Cameron shot at Finnis quickly. Finnis slowly nodded and took some of the pressure off of his leg, and moving to the side of the hall, allowing his elder sibling to walk past and out the already open door.
Finnis slowly followed him out of the shack, pacing his steps and counting them quietly behind his brother.
PUTSHOUUuuuu!
A gunshot was heard in close proximity, most likely in the next block beside them, followed by a short female's scream. Cameron hurried his pace, ignoring the shot and eyeballing the convenience store several meters up the side-walk. The bright exposing sun did nothing to protect him at the frost biting at his cheeks, from the surrounding snow on the ground. The white powder would crunch underneath their feet every step of the way since they exited their shack down the road. The cold began to irritate Finnis, as he reached up and rubbed his cheek, feeling his thick stubble. Cameron held the door open for Finnis.
The cheap metal bell on the door made a tinkling sound as they entered, and they both sat on the small individual diner table. Cameron seemed to have caught the shop owner's eye, since both of their faces lit up with bright smiles. "Cameron!" yelled the shopkeeper, extending the "O" in his name with a friendly voice. "Haveno, my good man", said Cameron calmly, towering over his short and stubby friend. Haveno was a very plump fellow, with light black stubble along his face, along with greasy mop-like hair. Haveno extended his arms for a hug toward Cameron, as Finnis' brother quickly accepted the hug. The shopkeeper's attention turned to Finnis, who was trying to avoid attention. By now, the majority of the population of the shop was looking in their direction wondering what all the hassle was about.
"Ah, Finnis. It's been a while, no?" Finnis nodded. Haveno had a thick Romanian accent, which could be incomprehensible had the boys not known him as long. It had been nearly four months since they had last talked to him. "What can I do for you boys today?", Haveno smacked his hands together and rubbed them. Cameron looked down to his jacket, unbuttoned a pouch, and quickly tossed a couple of euros through the air to Haveno. "Twenty-four pack of water, please", Haveno caught the euros in his hand, nodding, then waddling to the back of the room, turning into the storage area. Finnis crossed his arms and leaned up against the dual-windowed door. Haveno slowly returned from the back with the retrieved items in a large industrial bag. He walked over to Cameron, patting him on the shoulder and handing him the small pallet of water bottles. "Take care, you two.", Haveno frowned at the sight of both of them nodding and turning to exit the store.
The walk home felt longer than the previous walk to the convenience store. Cameron heaved the twenty-four pack of water, arching his back to support the platform. Finnis walked in front of Cameron, holding his arms out and cushioning the heavy pallet, beginning to walk backwards.
The door to their apartment burst open without a turn of the handle as the two boys clumsily emerged into the creaky, morbid room. Cameron and Finnis simultaneously dropped the pallet onto the floor. The floor croaked in age and stress according to the pallet's weight. The boys slowly walked into the living room, examined the torn brown leather couch for open nails or rat feces. The couch shook, as the both of them collapsed onto the couch, the wooden floor replying with a long moan.
Finnis quickly unsheathed his combat knife, which had the words "1990 Canadian Engineer Corps" engraved into the blade. He slashed at the thin plastic cover for the water bottles, easily cutting a clean opening for him and his brother to have access to the water. Cameron reached over Finnis' knee and grabbed a water bottle, and then resumed his position, turning his head to face Finnis. His younger brother noticed his glance at him and turned to face him, drinking a deep throat full of water. "What?", Finnis asked confusingly.
"Well, I was just wondering if retiring from the military was the greatest idea, man" Cameron said hesitantly. Finnis sighed, looking down at his combat knife, examining the engraving. "Well, I was forced into retirement. And I wasn't about to let you stay in the force without me covering your ass.", chimed Finnis as both the boys chuckled at his statement. Finnis' face turned serious. He then added with "Who knows?" pausing, and then resuming "Maybe it was for the best of both of us"