GLOWING (Joel Miller)

23 | The Turn

I wasn't quite sure how long Joel and I stayed outside, but when he shook me awake and led me back into the building, the moon had well and truly moved across the sky.

"I'm fine," I mumbled, stepping away from Joel and towards our backpacks. Henry was already asleep, using his backpack as a pillow. It was silent in the next room, but I poked my head in, to check on the kids, regardless.

I could barely see into the dark room, save for the sliver of moonlight from the drawn window curtains. Both Ellie and Sam were lying atop the two twin beds. My eyes softened at the smiles on their faces as they dreamt. It was quite endearing.

"Are they asleep?" Joel whispered as I shut the bedroom door behind me. I nodded. "Good."

I copied Henry and laid my backpack flat on the ground, adjusting it, so it would be more comfortable. Joel had taken it with him after he'd left me in the convenience store. The familiarity of it made me feel a little more like myself. Joel dropped his own bag and did the same, beside me.

"Good night, Joel," I mumbled, closing my eyes and turning away from hm.

"Good night, Jenna."

***

The next day came all too quickly, but not in the way I had anticipated. I was awoken by a terrified scream and a loud crash.

"What the fuck?"

I immediately jumped up, fingers already wrapped around the gun in my pocket. I aimed it at the noise, my finger, almost pressing down on the trigger, but the sight before me caused me to falter. Ellie's screams of terror were bloodcurdling as a little figure pinned her to the ground, snarling and spitting.

Sam.

I hesitated for a mere second, but instinct took over and i knew what I had to do. I took a step forward, aiming my gun at the poor child. I was about to pull the trigger when the weapon was knocked clean from my grasp. I looked up. It was Henry.

"Henry, it's too late—"

Henry didn't even listen to me, instead fired his own gun in Joel's direction, who immediately raised his hands in surrender. The shot bounced off the ground with a bang.

Ellie was still screaming bloody murder, but neither Joel or I could move to help her. I was about to risk it and lunge for Ellie, but a second shot rang out. This time finding home in Sam's skull. He slid to the ground, dead. Poor Sam.

Ellie sat up shakily, looking up at me, but I couldn't check to see if she was okay. We weren't out of the woods yet. Henry stared down at his little brother's unmoving form, his eyes glazing over with sickening recognition. It was clear he was in shock; he didn't quite yet realise what he had done.

"Henry, give me the gun," Joel instructed, slowly reaching out towards the weapon in Henry's shaky hand. "Give it to me."

"Henry, it's okay." I tried to assure him. "it's going to be okay. Just give Joel the gun."

Henry looked like he really wanted to, but the moment he looked down at Sam, he lost it. "Sam?" He whispered, as if the little boy might respond. But he was met with silence. "What have I done?"

"It'll be okay, Henry," Joel pleaded, reaching out again, but Henry wouldn't listen. With one final heartbroken look at his little brother, he lifted the gun to his temple and pulled the trigger.

"Oh my god," Joel uttered under his breath as an animalistic sound escaped Ellie. I stared down at the brothers. I didn't know them, but I knew they had been through hell. They didn't deserve this.