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A few more hours of strolling around the city, and they finally stumbled upon Elyza's destination. Both girls looked at the tiny shop, then looked at each other. The doors and windows were all boarded up.
"Well, it's worth a fuckin' shot." Elyza muttered as she began trying to pry the wood of the door. A piece of wood split, slicing her finger open. She drew her hand back and whimpered, only momentarily, as she got back to work.
"Elyza-" Alicia protested. "Can I- let me help you."
"I got it." Elyza grumbled. She pulled, struggled, and snapped off piece by piece until most of the door was exposed. Alicia took note of Elyza's bloodied hands and internally shuddered thinking of the pain.
"Ok let me get you cleaned up," Alicia kneeled, taking off her backpack. "I know I packed some ointment in here..." She trailed off, rooting around in her bag.
"I'm fine," Elyza protested.
"Not fer long." A gruff, Texan voice interrupted.
The girls froze and Elyza felt something poke into the middle of her back. Alicia's jaw dropped as she peered around Elyza to see the barrel of a gun aimed at the blonde through a mail slot on the door.
"Elyza!" Alicia blurted out.
Elyza raised her hands above her head slowly. "Listen, I'm looking for a guy named Mack Walters."
"Why the fuck would that be?" The man sounded impatient.
"My dad was friends with him." Her voice shook a little as she began to lose her cool.
"And who the fuck would yer daddy be, little girl?" The man shoved the gun forward, causing Elyza to stumble a bit.
"M-M-Mitch. His name is Mitch Lex." Elyza closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to look at Alicia anymore. Things were going south very quickly and she began fearing for her life.
Things grew silent for a few moments. Elyza peeked open her eyes to find a pair of green eyes staring directly into hers.
Throughout the entire exchange, Alicia kept her eyes glued on Elyza. She couldn't speak, move, or even remember if she was breathing. When Elyza opened her eyes again, Alicia took the opportunity to concentrate on Elyza's face, searching for any hint of a different outcome other than death. Alicia locked eyes with Elyza and her breath caught; she saw nothing but an endless ocean of cerulean. She felt those piercing blue eyes penetrate deep into her core as she struggled to regain her breathing.
"Fuckin' Mitch..." The voice became softer as it broke the silence. "Well shit, I'm sorry I reckon. C'mon in, kids." The gun withdrew and they heard rustling. The door opened slightly. "Get the fuck in here before them dead 'uns start scamperin' our way." The girls quickly made their way inside.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Alicia threw her arms around Elyza's neck and embraced her. "I was so worried you were gonna die." She buried her face in her shoulder and hugged her tighter. Elyza instantly wrapped her arms around Alicia's waist and pulled her close.
"Ahem." The girls pulled apart and spun around to see an older man in his 60's. His gray hair was down to his chin and scraggly, his clothes were torn and filthy, and his only facial expression so far was a scowl. "So why are y'all here?"
"Um," Elyza began nervously. "My dad mentioned you a few times, but when stuff started going to shit he told me to come find you if anything ever happened to him."
Mack rubbed his chin scruff while his face remained unchanged. "Go on."
"Well...He died. I figured maybe you guys had some kind of deal worked out or something that way I could get weapons or ammo..." Elyza looked at the man's perpetually scowling face, fearing she had sounded stupid.
"Yer dad was a good man," The old man turned around and started walking away. "He talked about you more times than there are stars in the sky." He walked behind the counter and faced them. "But I'm afraid I can't go givin' out guns to little girls."
Elyza froze as she felt her face growing hot. She clenched her fists and her nails dug into her palm. "With all due respect, Mack," It took everything she had to speak in a relatively calm voice. "I'm not a fuckin' little girl!" In one swift motion Elyza drew both her 9mm's and fired them, shattering the glass display cases on either side of Mack's head. He instinctually ducked and covered his ears, mouth agape. "At least he wiped that fuckin' scowl off his face." Elyza thought to herself as she holstered her weapons, noting his shocked expression.
Mack regained his footing and the two stared each other down for several moments.
"Well I'll be damned. You're tougher than a stewed skunk." The old man smiled. "You really are Mitch's kid. Take whatever the fuck you want."
Elyza smiled, turned around, and reached out for Alicia's hand. Alicia grabbed her hand and the two girls headed for the back room with Mack leading the way.