Wasteland // Kim Seungmin

19 - Visitors

But Sky didn't try anything that night, or the next night. I steered clear of Jeongin, not convinced that Sky wasn't jealous of him. I didn't want him to catch us alone again, no matter how innocent it was. I only talked to Jeongin, or any of the guys really, when we were in the big group.

3 nights after our reconciliation, I was lying awake while Sky was on watch, feeling slightly panicked about his lack of affection. Had he already decided I wasn't worth his time? That whenever a threat showed up, if I defended myself, fine; but if I didn't, also fine. Should I try to talk to him about how I'm feeling? Would he have reassuring words for me?

I knew it was very late, and I was on the edge of finally sleeping when I heard it.

A shout. Shouting, at least a few voices. I sat straight up in bed.

I could hear loud female voices and male voices, none of which I recognized. Then, the smooth, carefully composed low tones I knew belonged to Sky. He was reasoning, obviously trying to get the people who had come to camp to calm down, but they just responded with more shouting. Their voices were getting closer, and I could tell they were not far from our house. Sky's voice was coming from the front of the house, trying to meet them before they got any closer.

"Food and money! Everything you got!" A woman's shrill voice screamed out.

"We don't have much here," Sky responded, still with that calm, slow voice. I could picture him standing in front of them with his palms turned up, and Felix's knife stowed at his hip. "Just enough for the people who live here. You are going to have to move on."

"We know all about this camp. There's a ton of you, and you have a ton of supplies. We just need enough to get us back to where we are going." A male voice responded. It had a gravelly quality, and sounded menacing. I pictured a giant, who could snap a neck without breaking a sweat.

"It's like he said," another voice, Jeongin, "there isn't enough here to go around. We haven't been by the market in ages." Jeongin must have heard the commotion and come out to assist Sky. I tried to decide if I should go, maybe I could take the woman myself? But Sky would be pissed, and really I am not a fighter. I got out of bed and silently crept into the kitchen. I grabbed my cooking knife off of the counter and crouched beside the front door. If anyone came in, I'd be able to swing at them before they knew where I was.

"We know your women are here too. Heard there's one worth seeing in this camp lately." Another male voice, this one a bit nasal.

"No one pretty here." Sky said evenly. "This is your last chance. Move on."

"It's just two of you, and 4 of us." The girl sneered. "We just want some fucking money and some food, you're willing to die over it?"

Sky didn't answer. A moment later, the gurgly sound of someone getting their throat cut, choking on their own blood cut through the silence. Then, the night was filled with the sounds of fighting. I was desperate to know what was happening, but too scared to poke my head out of the door. I didn't want someone to see me and come in here after me. I gripped the knife, pointing it outward so I could just jab if anyone came in, and focused all of my senses on hearing. I could hear the sounds of punching and strangling, slicing and beating, grunts and curses as someone became overpowered. I had no way of knowing which side was winning. I only noticed that the fighting was done when the only sound I could hear was my own heavy breaths.

"You alright?" I could distinctly hear Chris's voice, and I took it as a sign that it was safe to emerge. I crawled around the door, and could see 3 figures standing together. Another was on the ground, sitting and examining his arm.