The Walking Dead: Return to Paradise Part Two

Chapter Five: A Secret Society For Dogs

Louis heard the sound of rattling coming from inside the old history classroom, they had since converted it to an armoury.
The door was ajar, so he quietly pushed it open. Minnie was standing at the bench in the centre of the room going through the drawers.

"Hey Minnie, whatcha doin?" Louis asked jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.

She turned her head and looked at him as she slammed a shotgun down on the table in front of her.

"I see." Louis nodded.

He walked up closer, standing next to the redhead. Minnie took a box of shotgun shells and began counting them.

"We can't just sit here and do nothing. The longer we wait, the harder it's gonna be to find them." She said.

"You're right." Louis replied, nodding.

"Well then why didn't you back me up in there?" She growled.

"Because Asim is also right. It's dangerous sending everyone out into the woods with no idea what we're up against."

"So you're here to stop me from looking?"
Minnie said, slotting shells into the shotgun.

Louis shook his head.

"Nope, I'm gonna come with you."

Minnie's eyes widened in surprise and the faintest hint of a smile appeared on her face.

"Thanks, Louis."

She cleared her throat and reached across the table.

"Ever use a gun before?" She asked, extending her hand, which was holding a pistol, to Louis.

"Uhhh..." He groaned nervously.

"It's pretty straightforward, I'll show you."
Minnie took a magazine from the ammo bag and placed it on the table.

"This is the safety switch."

She flicked the lever with her thumb, showing it to Louis. She pulled the slide back and locked it in place before picking up the magazine.

"The magazine goes in the bottom of the grip, then you push this down."
She clicked the lock, the slide flew forward with a metallic snap.

"Now it's ready to shoot. Just remember to keep your finger away from the trigger unless you're gonna shoot and don't point it at anyone you don't want to kill."

"Right, kill..." Louis repeated.

She spoke so matter-of-factly about ending somebody's life, like it was going to be unavoidable.

"You got it?"

"I think so." Louis nodded.

Minnie unloaded the pistol, pulling the slide and catching the chambered round. She handed the gun to him along with the mag.

"Show me."

***

The unfamiliar weight of a gun on his hip was somewhat distracting for Louis. Every now and then, his hand would brush against the weapon and he'd remember it was strapped to him. Guns were never something he had been comfortable with, the idea of shooting somebody made him sick, but Minnie insisted he carry one for protection just in case.

They had been walking for a while now, and were long past Marlon's old safe zone.
It had been a long time since Louis had thought about Marlon. He tried not to, it always made him miserable to remember.
Even with everything he had learned about Marlon the night Brody died, he still missed his best friend.