- - - "God, what're they eating, fucking bricks?" Charlie whined, hoisting the weakened teen over his shoulder.
"Don't be mean," Brandon reprimanded, sliding under the teen's arm and lifting them. They hung between Brandon and Charlie like a wounded soldier, their head lolling down to their chest.
"Have you met me?" Charlie scoffed. "I'm not exactly known for my kindness."
"Whatever, Batman. We need to get them inside," Brandon instructed. "Their wrists might get infected if we don't."
"Taking in another stray, Dusty?" Charlie scoffed.
"Dusty?" Brandon moved towards the road, taking laboured steps.
"If you're gonna give me a stupid fucking nickname, then I get to make one for you."
"Yeah, that's fair."
"Where are we going? In case you've forgotten, I'm very blind, and this is very unfamiliar territory, so I will be no help if the Amazon man comes back."
"A friend's," Brandon grunted. "My place isn't safe anymore."
"But I just memorized the layout!" Charlie huffed, irritated.
"Tough," Brandon heaved the teen further up his shoulder, groaning with the effort. "And besides, she's only a block or two away."
"Only?
"Shut up and drag,"Brandon muttered.
- - -🛸/🦇
The rings became more frantic, and soon someone started pounding on the door.
"Open up, fuckers!" A voice cried. "This bitch is heavy!" Another voice shushed frantically.
"Who's that?" Kammal whispered to Amara. She shrugged.
"Sorry about him, Amara, he's a bit of a prick," the other voice said, to which the first protested with a sputter. "It's Brandon, from AP Bio? And Charlie, who you probably don't know."
