Shane let his head rest against the window of the Hummer. His eyelids were heavy, but sleep eluded him. He felt exhausted; mentally, physically, emotionally. It was hard to believe that only twelve hours ago, they were just arriving outside of the base where they would attack the Shadow People; that Najia hadn’t even been dead for an entire day, and that the day wasn’t even over yet. It felt like an eternity since that morning. A day that just wouldn’t seem to end. All he wanted to do was sleep forever.
He felt the Hummer slow to a stop. He had just enough energy to lift his head slightly to peer out the window. A woman stood terrified on the side of the road, shoving two young children behind her in an attempt to protect them. This caught Shane’s interest and he followed Marlon and Gil as they both stepped out of the vehicle.
“We’re not going to hurt you,” Gil said to her as gently as he could. “Are you okay?”
The woman’s eyes moved quickly from Gil, to Marlon, to Shane. She stepped backwards, hesitant.
“The war’s over,” Marlon said softly. “You’re safe, now.”
“It’s over?” she squeaked. She turned her face to the warm sun as if she didn’t believe it were really there.
“Where are you headed?” Marlon asked.
“I don’t know,” she said, her voice on the edge of a sob. “My husband,” the woman said. “His name was Morris. He was supposed to be here. To bring us somewhere safe.” She pulled her two children close to her. Their frightened eyes turned to the three men before them.
Shane stared, horrified, at the family who waited for the man he killed so ruthlessly. He forced his gaping mouth to close.
“We escaped the Shadow People,” she said. “We were hiding in the sewers for the last year. Morris promised it would be safe. He said he would do whatever he had to do to keep us safe. He said the Shadow People promised they would not hurt us. Oh, Yoba, I didn’t know. I didn’t know what he did.” She started to sob. “I don’t know what deal he made with them. They probably kil-” She snapped her mouth shut as she looked down at her children. She pinched her lips together and blinked back tears. Her voice shook as she continued. “He told us to go to Stardew Valley if… if he didn’t make it.” She closed her eyes for a moment as she attempted to steady her breathing. “He never showed. He said it would be safe there. Please, I just want my children to be safe.”
Shane’s gaze shifted to the boy and the girl clinging to their mother’s arms. He had killed their father. He was a murderer.
He could feel Marlon’s eyes on him.
“Well,” Gil said, clearing his throat. “You’ll be safe with us. We’re heading to the valley ourselves.” He smiled. “Got a couple kids there already. I think you’ll like it there.”
The woman forced a smile as she clung to her children. She bent down and kissed their cheeks, ignoring the tears that rolled down her face.
“What about Daddy?” the little girl said, her voice shaking.
“I don’t know,” the woman said, fighting to keep her composure in front of her children. “Let’s just… let’s go to the valley, hm? It sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Other kids your age?”
The girl nodded slowly. “Okay.”
Shane turned away, his eyes on the horizon.
“Let’s go, kid,” Marlon said to Shane. “Bus is movin’.”
Shane shook his head. He attempted to swallow the hard lump in his throat. “I killed him, Marlon,” he muttered. “I can’t…”
“What are you gonna do? Walk?”
Shane didn’t answer.
“Get in the damn car,” Marlon said. “Plenty of room in the trunk.”
*****
Shane shoved himself into the corner of the back of the Hummer, his legs spread out across the floor and his arms folded as he stared out the back window. He let his head rest against the back seat, turning his eyes only when he sensed someone watching him. The little boy peered over the edge of the seat and smiled when he caught Shane’s gaze.
“Are you in the army?” he asked curiously.
Shane turned his eyes back to the road. “No.”
“But you have a gun.”
Shane moved his arm in an attempt to hide the weapon in his pocket. “No.”
The boy giggled slightly. “Yes you do, I saw it. Army guys have guns.”
“Army guys have uniforms, too,” Shane pointed out, still averting his gaze.
The boy was quiet as he considered this for a moment. “Did your uniform get dirty?”
Shane sighed. “Sure.”
The boy smiled at him. “You saved us,” he said. “The army people always win. They’re the good guys.”
Shane said nothing.
“I want to be an army guy some day,” he continued. He made his fingers into a gun and shot at an imaginary enemy. “It would be so cool.”
Shane met his gaze, his brows knit together. “Were you afraid?” he asked the boy. “Were you afraid of the Shadow People? Afraid of what they would do to you and your mom and your sister?”
The boy’s smile disappeared quickly as he stared at Shane.
“It’s not cool,” Shane muttered, turning back away.
“Heroes aren’t afraid of nothin’,” the boy said after a moment. “I’m gonna be one, just like you.”
“Superman’s a hero,” Shane said, his gaze on the horizon. “And superman isn’t real.”
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
