Gray: 10
"This is a terrible idea." I say, shaking my head.
"Do you have a better plan?" I didn't.
"You could get killed. Or beaten. Or..."
"That's gonna happen anyways, Click."
I lose my train of thought and glare at Amy for using the nickname. She smiles peevishly then turns to Colin, who's spreading ketchup around Amy's real wound to look like blood.
"You ready to act?"
A small smile lit up on his face as he looked up at her. I almost groan at the blush that spreads on her cheeks.
'Who's acting?" He said. She laughed, and he helped her to her feet. Well, foot.
We sacrificed some of the gauze to wrap on Amy's leg, so she could appear even more injured. Colin puts her arm around his shoulder, and with a grimace and groan, she stumbles a bit before sagging against him, heavily favoring her leg.
A loud clap sounds behind me, along with a deep rumble of laughter that made my stomach twist. I clench my fists, looking back at Amy, letting all the worry seep into my eyes.
"You're the most vulnerable member of the team. Why are you agreeing to do this and put yourself out in the open?" I ask, but she just shakes her head.
I'm so frustrated at her blatant disregard for her own safety that I actually jump when Jack's fingers close around my curled fist. He pulls my hand behind me, massaging the fingers open. A ripple of electricity shoots up my arm.
"Why so tense, Click? You need to relax, you aren't gonna change her mind anytime soon. And I am more than willing to help you lighten up." He whispers, his warm breath against my neck.
At least, that's what he tried to do. I pull my hand forwards, then kick my elbow up into his chest in one swift movement. He coughs and stumbles back.
"Alright. Since everyone seems to be against their better judgment on this, I have no choice but to agree. This is one of the few stores still open, and I can promise there will be other people there, most likely hungry and willing to kill to get what they need. Bree and I will be covering for you, and Jack will be on lookout for any gangs or bored policemen. Got it?" They nod and I let myself preen a little, proud of my speech.
"Then let's go!" Bree all but shouts, holding up her fist.
The door clangs open with the sound of a bell, bring nostalgia for what used to be.
I narrow my eyes at Colin's arm clenched a little too tightly around Amy's waist as they hobble in, with him gasping for help.
I readjust my grip on the pole and glance over at Bree. She's to my right, perched in a small tree. Jack's casually leaning up against the traffic stop, checking his fingernails. I roll my eyes and turn back to the store.
Inside, the store manager comes out behind the counter, rubbing oiled hands on a grime covered camo-shirt. I watch his expression go from suspicious to panicked when he sees the blood.
He calls to someone in the back, and then goes to help Amy onto the counter. Her arm jostles against the case and the scream cuts through me. I don't realize I'm moving until Jack pulls me back. My eyes are glued to her, so worried I can't breathe.
There was only supposed to be one person inside, one threat. Not two. Colin doesn't know combat, and Amy is injured
Amy chooses this moment to fling her glass at the burly man's arm. He freezes in surprise, and Colin jumps over the counter to tackle him. Jack runs past me, using his pipe to kick the door open. I bolt after him, adrenaline rushing through me.
Inside the store, Jack and Colin are tying the unconscious man up with more gauze, but I don't even have the time to be depressed.
At that moment, the other person appears in the doorway. But it's not another man. It's a teenage girl.
"Dad!" she screeches, looking at our crew with wide eyes. Then she notices the giant body on the floor. She backs away, starting to sob.
I relax my stance and walk towards her, mentally putting on kid gloves.
"Look, we just need some supplies. We'll let your dad go if you let us get what we need peacefully, ok? We don't want to hurt you." I say as I put my hand on her shoulder. She nods and covers her tear bitten cheeks with broken nails. I smile at her, then turn to my group to tell them to get what they need.
The next thing I know my head is crashing through the glass counter as the girl pounces on me. I let out a yell as my hair becomes matted with blood from glass shards. Twisting sideways, I throw the girl off me and land on top of her on the ground. She snarls at me, and I take in a quick breath when I see her eyes. They look like mine from months ago, when I got pink eye.
They're blood red, with discharge flowing out as the seconds tick by.
As I stare at her, caught off guard, she has the time to yank her arm out from under my leg to connect it with my chin. My head snaps back, but I catch sight of my pole next to me. I grab it and push hard down on her neck, vaguely going through déjà vu.
She only fights back harder, but my thighs press into her stomach, slowly pushing the air out of her lungs. I grit my teeth and push harder as her hands reach out to claw at my face. This has to end. In one swift movement, I push off my shins to land again on her, this time with my knee on her sternum. The cracking sound echoes throughout the store, and my team turns from their backpacks to see the girl go limp, her hands falling above her head, my skin under her nails and her body broken from my hands.
I pull myself off the ground, brushing myself off before the world goes blurry.
My last view is Colin's horrified face as Bree catches me from landing in the glass pile.
•••
The throbbing wakes me up.
I blink the sleep out of my eyes and try to sit up, quickly realizing that was the stupidest thing I could've done.
Amy's face hovers over me, and I feel a trickle of water flow onto my forehead.
"Hey, it's okay, just relax, I'm washing your hair."
Jack's face appears next to hers, peering at me with a grin.
"That's for sure. Click, you look sexy as a redhead." I don't say anything, just stare at him, confused.
Amy explains nervously. "There's so much blood, you look like Ginny Weasley."
I try out my voice. "We need that water, don't use it on me. Once I sit up and get a little food, I'll be fine. Can I have some help?" Amy tries to protest, but Jack's already pulling me all the way to my feet. I grunt and stumble as my world decides to start spinning in the wrong direction.
"Wow Click, that chick really clocked you." Jack laughs as I fall onto his chest. I weakly try to pull away, but he wraps his arms around my waist, securing me there. Shuddering, I glare up at him and he laughs again, the rumble jostling me.
"You can let me go now, Cruiser."
'Wouldn't dream of it. Not when I have such a good view." I squint in confusion, finally taking in our surroundings.
We're on another roof, and I realize it's Walmart. How'd we get here? Someone must've carried me—I grimace at the thought.
The view is ugly, with overturned cars and sewage flooding the streets. I look back up at Jack, silently demanding an explanation.
He looks out at the view and gags.
"Gah, Click. That's not what I meant." Then he pointedly looks at my face, letting his eyes wander. I push him away again, this time planting my feet so I don't fall.
"Will you stop it? We don't have time for your entertainment. I don't have the patience for this. Why is everything a game to you?"
"Is that what it looks like? You're reading me all wrong Click."
"Stop calling me that!" I growl. He sighs, and I blink in surprise as Jack Cruiser actually gives up.
"Just get some rest, okay? You've had a heck of a day." I fiddle with my drying hair as I watch his retreating back, failing to ignore the thudding beat my heart's pounding out. I feel almost disappointed he didn't have a snide comeback.
I frown in confusion, more unsure of myself than I have been in a while.