Paradox

Chapter 6: Fort Mohave, Arizona

The SUV jerked to a stop. Connie stopped in front of the gas station, checking her passengers. They barely made it to the pump. She climbed out, slamming the door. They were only a couple hours out from the central station. She didn’t have time for trivial matters.

At the beeping of the machine, Landon opened his eyes. He had been listening for the last ten minutes of the ride, heart racing, waiting for an opportunity to go for the guns in the back. There were footsteps moving away from the car. It was time. Landon climbed over the seats toward the trunk. Stomach dropping when he found one of the cases empty. There wasn’t time. He grabbed the second case. g*n in hand and ammunition in pocket, he made his escape. She was nowhere in sight. It might be their only chance. 

“Devin,” he shook his brother’s shoulder, “get up. We need to go.”

The other groaned.

Landon shushed him, “we can’t let her hear us.”

“Who?” Devin started taking off the seatbelt. 

“Connie.”

They got out just as the door from the gas station opened. Landon grabbed Devin’s hand, pulling him after him. It wasn’t fast but they made it a good distance before she could realize what was happening. From down the highway they could hear the SUV start. 

“Through the buildings,” Devin suggested, through heavy breaths. He had no clue who they were running from, the girl earlier had seemed friendly enough but something spooked Landon. 

Landon didn’t answer. He led them between the buildings to another parking lot. There was a supercenter. Large enough to hide in. That was their only choice.

Connie figured that as well. She had been gone for five minutes to grab water. In that five minutes she failed to notice the movement in the car. It wasn’t until they were half way down the block that Connie saw them. 

“Wait,” she shouted but they didn’t. They weren’t important, she argued with herself. Truly they were more of a hindrance than anything. Then why do I feel sick? She slammed her hand into the door. Because I don’t want him to leave. Connie chased them. The last she had seen they ran into the store. She couldn’t help but laugh. It had been a long time since she played hide and seek. 

The brothers heard the automatic doors open from the clothing rack they hid behind. Devin was hunched over trying to not be sick. 

“I can’t,” Devin wheezes, “it’s so hot.”

Landon watched for Connie, “I’ll lead her away. Find somewhere to hide.”

“No. Landon, don’t leave.”

“I’ll come back. Stay around here.” Landon dashed through the clothes to the food aisles. He needed a plan. The best he could come up with was ‘make noise’. So he did. Landon started throwing things off the shelves. It was loud, enough to draw her attention.

Her voice rang through the silence, “Why did you run Landon? I thought you were coming with me.”

He froze. Pain spread across his chest. What is this? Landon fell to his knees gasping. He knew he needed to move. Connie would find him then Devin. She did something to him. He was sure of it. 

“Why are you on the floor?” She was right behind him.

Landon covered his head, trembling. The pain grew, spreading to his whole body. He could feel it. He had disappointed her. That’s what this was. In the pit of his stomach, he felt the dread.

Then gentle hands grabbed his hands, “Listen. You’re okay now. You’re safe with me.”

It was gone. All of it. He felt himself slump against the cold floor. Fingers running through his hair. Connie hummed a quiet tune. His g*n was pulled from his hand. He knew he should try and stop her, but he didn’t want to. She said he was safe. He couldn’t quite place why he had been running at all.

“We should find your friend before he hurts himself,” Connie helped Landon to his feet. The boy had a dazed look in his eyes. She took his hand, “where is he?”

“Hiding. Devin’s waiting for me.”

“Then let’s go get Devin.”

They walked through the destroyed goods. Landon led slightly, barely pulling Connie along to where he left his brother. Walking down the main aisle, they went slowly. Slow enough for Connie to notice the man stalking towards them from the registers. Enough time for her to push Landon behind a display before the man could fire the shotgun in his hands.

“Come out Demon!” the man yelled, “I know what you are.”

He shot another. The next moments ended before Connie could process what had happened. Some of the buckshot caught her in the leg. A scream ripped from her throat. Then like lightning Landon took the g*n Connie had tucked away, and shot the man. Bang, bang, and a thump, leaking into the horrid silence around them. 

Connie looked up at Landon. He still had a dazed look to his eyes. The world caught up, she looked over at the man on the floor. He had killed for her. Her heart soared. Landon was hers.

A shuddering breath then the g*n clanged to the floor. Landon held himself up on the display. A whimper escaped. 

Connie slid her hand up to his arm, “you did great.”

He didn’t speak.

“Listen, I need help.”

Landon flinched kneeling beside her. Gently looking over where the blood was coming from. She stopped him. Grabbing his chin to make him look at her. Tears rolled down his cheeks.

“There’s no need to cry. You did what you had to do,” Connie wiped the drying tears from his face, “we can go find Devin, then finish our trip.”

Landon turned back to her leg, “I should take you to the pharmacy,” he pulled her up, and helped her onto his back. They made their way across the store to the pharmacy. Landon kept glancing to where he left Devin. His brother wasn’t there. He could calm down a little. Nothing felt solid. He was sure he would fall through the floor any second and cease to exist. His heart tried to beat out of his chest, but every time it started to race something forced it to slow. He knew it was Connie. He knew she was dangerous, but there was nothing he could do.

He set Connie down on one of the pharmacy waiting chairs, “I’m going to get bandages.”

“Maybe find your friend too.”

Connie watched him walk away. She chuckled to herself. It was the best feeling in the world. The way her stomach flipped reminded her of the romance movies her mother would make her watch. The project had work. Her mother would be so proud. She found love. 

The two boys came around the corner. Landon had a first aid kit tucked under his arm, and one hand around Devin’s arm. They shuffled over. Devin sat in one of the chairs across from her. He glared silently. Landon returned to her, and started treating her leg. He cut away her jeans, pulling out the pieces of buckshot. The alcohol burned as he poured it over the split skin. The blood ran down her leg in her shoe. He took off the shoe and sock, cleaning the blood up before finally wrapping it in bandages. 

“Are we ready to go?”