Until I Die(18+)

In Which It's Lights Out

        The curtain store is the only one with the shutters down, making it easy to find. Sam is practically bouncing her way over with me trudging behind.

        I glance upstairs, wondering if I should get someone, but that meant leaving Sam alone and I didn't think that would be a good idea.

        Lightly, she taps the shutters. "Hello?" her voice is a purr. "Just being a good citizen and checking up on our big, strong protectors."

        Jesus. I don't know whether to laugh or face-palm. I settle for shaking my head.

        She huffs when she doesn't get a response. "Are you sure they're even in there?"

        "I mean, I only know what I was told. . ." This is good, actually. Maybe I can use this to convince her to leave. "They're probably still sleeping. Let's leave them alone, yeah?"

        "Fuck sleep," she mutters. "This is more important than sleep."

        I make a face. Pretty sure the exhausted soldiers who spent last night running for their lives didn't see Sam's need for army dick as a priority. But before I can stop her, she twists a key slotted into a lock at the side of the store.

        The shutters begin to open with a loud screech.

        Alarmed, I grab her wrist and pull her away before turning the key back in the direction it originally sat. The stutters stop two-foot away from the floor. "What are you doing?" I whisper harshly. "Are you insane? They're in there for a reason!"

        A crowd forms up top, the noise drawing their attention. I can hear their murmurs. My cheeks burn from being centre of attention and I'm half tempted to say fuck this and walk away.

        I liked Sam. She was funny. But I wasn't about to get in trouble for her because she helped me find a vibrator.

         "God, why are you so afraid? Live a little!" she rolls her eyes, once again reaching for the key but I step in front of it, blocking her.

        "Just stop a second, Sam. Let's speak with someone first-" Like Eric.

       "And I thought you were cool," she says dryly. "Guess I was wrong." With that, she sits on the floor and begins to slide under the metal feet-first.

        "Sam, no," I exclaim incredulously.

        This is some of the stupidest shit I'd ever seen. I only wanted a charger, some spare underwear, and period products. But instead of tampons I have a whisper quiet bullet and a horny teenager on the verge of harassing what was left of the great British army.

        How the fuck do I get myself into these situations?

        "It's fine, Jo. Just chillout will you?" With Sam's hips now on the other side of the shutter and only her torso visible to me, I start to wonder if she was right and maybe I was just too much of an anxious mess to see the fun side of things.

        But then she screams, eyes wide and fingers desperately clawing at the shutters. The sound of it slices through me, into me, sending me into a frenzied spiral of panic and adrenaline.

        It wasn't a shout of being startled, or a faux yell of playing around. She wasn't joking with me. I could hear it in the agony dripping off the high-pitched cry. It laces her expression, too. Like so many others, I knew this was a memory I would never forget. Another one which would haunt my nightmares.

        "My leg! Oh my god somethings biting me!" she sobs, reaching for me. I dive to the floor and grab her from behind, trying to pull her free but whoever had hold of her had a solid grip.