Colouring In The Black Hole
Bethany crept around the corner, heart in mouth, rifle slung across her back. She had a knife in her belt, and two handguns in leg holsters strapped to her thighs, spare ammunition rattling in Tessa's furry leopard print backpack, an affair that belonged the old world. Bethany had 'borrowed' it, along with her extra weapons and some food and water, unconsciously anticipating a journey she may never return from.
She had pretended to go to bed, biding her time, before sneaking out, Tessa snoring like an elephant, the house otherwise strangely silent. Her mother and Ellie had been curled up on the double bed, looking oddly alike in the gloom, the sight of them so nearly stopping Bethany from leaving. But the thought of Abigail out there, surrounded by Skitters, had driven her woodwards, and here she was, shaking in her cowboy boots.
Just as she was about to head towards the treeline, a hand was suddenly clamped across her mouth, stifling her cry of surprise, an arm around her waist, dragging her back. "What the fuck!?" she hissed, whirling on Sam, who immediately backed up against the wall, hands flung up in silent surrender.
"I was gonna ask you the same thin', sugar," Sam snapped, "what the hell you playin' at!?"
"I'm not playing at anything," Bethany snapped back, her face bone-white in the moonlight, "I'm going out to find Abby and Jess."
"Sounds like the goddamn Babes in the Wood," Sam muttered to himself. "But you can't go harin' off in the dark by yourself," he said, returning his attention to Bethany, "you's just gonna end up in some space scrapyard somewhere, along with the rest of those harnessed kids" -
- "And so might my sister," Bethany said, making for the trees, "that's why I have to go out there – I can't cower in my bed, hoping for the best, that Daddy dearest will bring her back. That's just pure... pure piffle!"
A reluctant grin tugged at the corner of Sam's lips at this immature outburst, making him scrunch up his eyes, knowing he was probably about to make the biggest mistake of his life. "Wait up, Beth," he called after her, finally daring to lower his hands, "I'll come with you."
Bethany turned around, wrongfooted by his offer, her green gaze searching his face for the catch. But Sam stood his ground, pulling out his guns as he did, glancing around him, sensing the unseen stares surrounding them.
"I might be a douchebag," he said, motioning her forwards, "but even I know my limits."
Bethany studied him again, eyes narrowing. Then she nodded, the movement abrupt, impatient. She set off into the trees, Sam rolling his eyes before following her, his guns still drawn. They had only been on the move for five or so minutes when there was the sound of something moving in the undergrowth, making both of them freeze.
Sam put his finger to his lips, Bethany pressing her back against a tree, her hand reaching for her knife. He glanced around him, brow furrowing slightly, still sensing those unseen stares. Yet it seemed like he and Bethany were the only people left in the world, an unconventional Adam and Eve, the thought making him glance at Bethany's bare legs, a bad habit he would never be able to break.
"Hot damn," Sam breathed to himself, half wishing he'd played the long game with Bethany after all, rather than turning to Bob's niece for physical consolation.
Bethany threw him a funny look, but seeing they still seemed to be alone, she set forth again, Sam following her, still eying her long limbs. "Abby?" she hissed, glancing around her. "Jessup?"
"Keep it down, kid," Sam hissed, "do you want to bring the Skitters down on us!?"
"I don't think they'd fancy a Sam sandwich," Bethany hissed back, eying his stained shirt with disgust, "not unless they were competing in a barfing contest."
Sam made a low whistling sound. "That's me shot down, big style," he muttered, "maybe I've had a lucky escape."
"More like I have" -
- "Ain't my fault Marlene got knocked up," Sam spat, rounding on Bethany, "I made her no promises, but she went an' tried to trap me all the same" -
Bethany screamed as something suddenly appeared out of the darkness in front of them, Sam letting out a yell, only for his head to go rolling across the leaf-strewn ground, splattering Bethany with blood, a Skitter looming over his fallen body. Her feet remained rooted to the spot, even though every instinct was screaming at her to run, Bethany unable to breathe or blink or be, as the other Skitter circled her, claws clicking together, its lizardlike gaze contemplating her almost thoughtfully.
A whimper escaped her lips, tears dribbling out of the corners of her eyes, the sky spinning above her, Sam's head by her feet, the startled expression on his face almost amusing, like somebody had jumped out from behind a tree and yelled BOO! at him. Bethany's fingers twitched in the direction of her knife, the only weapon within reach, her other weapons seeming like they were worlds away.
"Please," Bethany whispered, knowing she was wasting her words, "please" -
One of the Skitters' heads exploded, making Bethany jump violently, her knees finally giving out beneath her. "Fuckin' run, kid!" a man yelled from amongst the trees. "Prayin' to God ain't gonna work this time!"
Bethany scrambled to her feet, hearing the sound of more Skitters approaching, the other Skitter meeting the same fate as its companion, the gunshot echoing through the air. Black hair blinding her, she took off amongst the trees, her cowboy boots slipping and sliding over the leaves, sobs tearing themselves out of her throat. Where she was running, she didn't know, only knowing home was now a myth; shelter a story that had turned its final page a long time ago.
There's a pattern in the system
There's a bullet in the gun
That's why I tried to save you
But it can't be done...