WE ALL DIE ▸ NICK CLARK

xxii. control

"You should have said sooner!" We hear a man saying followed by screams and people fighting.

I look at Crazy Dog who nods at me and I shoot at the air causing the mess to stop.

Apparently they all knew that there was almost no water left.

"Back away from the well, you pathetic assholes," I scream.

"We're taking it to make sure everyone gets what they need." Crazy Dog tells them causing the people to step away letting us pass between them towards the water source. "Thank you very much."

As we walk people keep murmuring and Nick steps in front of the well.

"Move aside, Nick," I tell him looking in his eyes almost begging him to get the fuck out.

"You're not taking the well. Stick to your half of the ranch, we stick to ours." He says.

"The water's here, Nick," I say. "We're not walking away from it."

"There's a pump on your side." He says and I look at Crazy Dog.

"No," I say, noticing him slightly nodding in deny.

As I say this Nick takes a gun. I don't know what's worst. Him having a gun or him planning on pointing it at me.

He sits on the will and the old fuck who was fighting me yesterday gets on his side with her little rat, followed by another old fuck, this one with a broken nose.

Crazy Dog took a step forward but Ofelia stopped him.

"Let her deal with this." She told him making him step back again.

"Step back," Nick tells me and I step closer to him making him hold the gun tighter.

"This lady right here..." I pointed at the old fuck with the little rat. "...I mean... not here, but her child, threw a cup full of water to the ground cause her mommy taught her how to be racist from a young age," I say with a sarcastic smile.

"That other lady just tried to steal two cans of water." I pointed. "And that man..." I pointed at a big guy who looked like he had just butchered someone. "... also tried to steal water and he also started a mess. Congratulations, you get the medal." I tease the man and then look back at Nick.

"Who's the problem here? Me or You?" I look into his eyes before getting closer to his heart.

"Don't fuck this up," I whisper
and I slightly hit his shoulder.

"See you all soon," I say loud enough for everyone to hear and walk away with Crazy Dog and Ofelia.

***

Me, Ofelia, Crazy Dog, and Khal were talking in our house. Some people were trying to find water along with Alicia, opening a hole in the ground.

"Grab your weapons," Khal says noticing a row of men from the ranch with weapons pointed at us. Nick in between them.

"I could talk to them," Ofelia says.

"No more talking," Khal says back.

"I won't draw first blood but if they attack, Taqa will understand." Crazy dog states.

"Hey," Ofelia calls us and we look at the window only to see Nick backing away from the group and walking towards his sister.

He's followed by the other men and Ofelia leaves the house, being followed by us.

"My boots!" I mutter as I walk behind her to the hole.

"Hey," Nick says as he sees me handing me a shovel.