The Long Road Home

Chapter Nineteen

Page watched the empty streets through the glass door of the superstore. She and the other guards were waiting for Harry to come back for them. As soon as they got to the city, they went right to the sporting goods store. The raiders had left, so the group took the remaining two snowmobiles and pull sleds.

Page had stood guard with the others as a handful of their people packed the sleds all full. The snow had stopped, but the temperature had dropped and it was now far too cold to walk back to the settlement. Harry suggested they hide in the superstore until he could come back with the empty sled to bring them back.

Page stayed with the other guards. She was worried the raiders would hear the noise and come looking for them.

'See anything?' Jack asked joining her. She shook her head. 'It's too damn cold. If they have any sense at all, they are holed up somewhere in the city nursing their wounded.' Page nodded but did not stop watching the streets. The last thing she wanted was to be trapped inside a store again. At least she knew Kidd was back in the settlement safe in his bed.

Karen ran over to them. She was panting and her cheeks were flushed.

'There is someone outside.' She told them in a whisper. 'We were watching out the windows of the loading dock like you asked, and Will saw movement. Thought it was a screamer at first, but when they got closer, there were a dozen of them all dressed in heavy coats, and carrying all kinds of guns.' Page wanted to swear.

If they pulled the same shit as they did back at the sporting goods store, they would break their way in and try to trap them inside. Page had numbers now however. She reached down and unlocked the door.

'What are you doing?' Jack asked confused.

'Letting them in.' She explained. 'Otherwise they will break the door and it will get much colder in here then it is now.' She looked to Karen. 'Get the others and get them up here. We may be able to drive them off with our numbers.' Jack nodded his agreement. They took cover and watched the door. There was a second entrance near the other end of the store, but the group had already made sure there was no getting in that way. Moments later the rest of the group were hidden with them watching the doors.

Mason, with fourteen others appeared outside the glass door. He looked in through the glass, but as dark as the store was, Page knew there was no way he would see the hiding guards. He tried the door and seemed surprised when it opened. The group came in out of the cold and knocked the snow off them. Mason scanned the store frowning.

'You think they all left?' the woman to his right asked.

'Maybe.' Mason said. 'I sure hope not. Bad enough we lost the woman and brat. Spread out and keep quiet. If you find anyone, don't kill them. They are useless to me dead.'

'I've heard enough.' Jack growled. That was the signal and everyone readied their guns. Page set an arrow and waited. The raiders at the door readied their weapons looking for the speaker. 'I don't know who you are,' Jack continued 'but you are outnumbered, and out gunned. I suggest you go back to those that Page wounded and stop messing with our people.' Mason scowled.

'That bitch with you?' He demanded.

'I am here,' Page said 'and I have an arrow pointed at your head so I would refrain from calling me names.'

'You shot my brother.' He snarled. 'I will make you pay for that.'

'You attacked us first.' She said unconcerned. Even if the raiders attacked, Mason would not live to see it. 'I don't know what your plans were for us, but I am sure it was not a picnic in the park.'

'Fuck you!' He roared firing his gun into an empty cash counter. Page fired and her arrow hit Mason in the forehead. He fell back and hit the ground trashing. Page had no time to think over the fact that she had just killed a human. The other raiders opened fire, and the guards fought back.