UnEarthed

Chapter 4

With a new battery installed, Kenzy pulls away from the auto body shop and speeds down the nearest stretch of highway. Theresa has been on her mind from the moment she said goodbye. "Why did she give me this?" Kenzy asks herself as she tugs on the necklace dangling around her neck. "What is it supposedly keeping me safe from?" Turning the volume up on the radio, Kenzy tries to drown out the voice in her head. 

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 Max pushes a squeaky shopping cart down an aisle of the gun store. Hope walks up and sets a case of bullets in the basket. 

"Don't you just love our family shopping trips?" She asks in a sarcastic tone. 

Max laughs and replies, "Oh, definitely. Most people shop for groceries and we shop for weapons." 

Hope smiles and walks next to Max in search of Rob and Trojan. "I can't believe we've lost Kenzy again. I swear, it seems like as soon as wecatch up to her, all it takes is one blink and she's gone." 

"She's a pro at it." Max answers. 

"Apparently... where the hell did Rob and Trojan run off to?" Hope's eyes dart down the aisles as they pass. 

 "There they are." Max points to Rob and Trojan both standing at counter looking at weapons. 

"Great." Hope sighs. "What is it with you men and your damn weapons?" 

"What's with you women and your damn shoes?" Max jokes. 

"Shoes don't kill people." 

"They can if you don't know how to walk in them." Max adds. 

Hope just laughs and follows Max to the other two group members. 

 "Check out this bad boy." Rob exclaims as he holds up a large crossbow. 

"Rob, we don't need another crossbow. The one I have works just fine." Hope says. 

"Everyone needs a good crossbow. This baby is top of the line. I guarantee whatever you're hunting, this killer will get the job done the first time." The quirky, half-bald salesman says.

 The four friends look at each other and try to hold in the laughter. If only the man knew what they were really hunting, he would reconsider his sales pitch. 

 "Rob, seriously... we don't need it. What we DO need is ammo." Hope says and holds up the cases of bullets. 

 "And a crossbow." Rob adds and smiles a cheap, clever grin. 

 Hope rolls her eyes. "Put it back, Rob." She then walks away.

 Rob turns to the salesman. "I'll take it." 

 "You just love pissing her off, don't you?" Max asks, slightly irritated. 

"Oh, she'll get over it. This baby is for her anyway." Rob says.

 "You're buying her a crossbow? For what?" Max asks with a confused look on his face. 

"Her birthday is in two days." 

 "And you thought the best gift was a crossbow?" 

 "Yeah. I'd love something like this."

 Max rolls his eyes. "Yeah, and you're also a guy. She's a girl." 

"She's also a hunter. She's not like other girls. I know my Hope." 

"If you say so." Max gives in. 

After the long trip, the crew makes it back to their headquarters in Paradise, Texas. It is an old, white farmhouse tucked away in the middle of the country. Rob bought it, cash up front from an old farmer. He knew he and the others needed a safe place to train and live. The house may look normal from the outside, but it is loaded from floor to ceiling with weapons, traps and security cameras. After helping the others unload the car, Hope proceeds to head up the stairs to her room but is stopped by Rob.