Error 31

Chapter 4:

The guy called Miguel looked up in confusion. "Boone? You're alive?".

"Yeah I am, I'm surprised you are". Boone replied dryly, his pistol still aimed at Miguel's chest.

Miguel shot his brother a glare and groaned as he tried to get himself to his feet, collapsing on the floor with a moan as his right leg gave out beneath him.

Boone cocked his gun and now aimed it at Miguel's forehead. "Don't move".

Miguel gritted his teeth and leaned his head back against the cool tiles on the wall. "You wanna kill me then just do it".

Boone's hand wavered as Cedar came out from where she'd been hiding and placed herself between both men, even going as far as placing her hand over the barrel of the pistol.

"Cedar, move". He demanded, looking over the girl's shoulder where Miguel was still cowering.

Cedar shook her head defiantly. "I'm not gonna let you kill your own brother, even if he abandoned you".

Miguel gave a pained laugh. "I didn't abandon him, Is that what he's been saying?".

Boone regained his grip on the pistol and aimed it over Cedar's shoulder. "Keep your mouth shut!".

"You wanna kill him, you're killing me first. It's that simple". Cedar stated, glaring Boone dead in the face as Rudy whined anxiously.

Boone contemplated this for another few moments before holstering his weapon with a sigh. "Fine, you win".

Cedar nodded as she knelt at Miguel's side, (Whilst keeping an eye on Boone from where he stood behind her). "You hurt?".

Miguel nodded and rolled up his pant leg, revealing a deep gash that split in a straight line above his ankle. "I got caught in a bear trap about two weeks ago".

Cedar winced and took out her small first aid box, she retrieved a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and cleaned the luckily uninfected wound before covering it with some heavy bandages.

"That should help for now, we'll keep an eye on it daily just to be safe". Cedar instructed, helping Miguel to his feet as he was now able to put pressure on his wounded leg.

"How did that happen?". Miguel asked, gesturing at Cedar's mangled face.

"It's a long story, I have no idea how to heal it". Cedar replied, wrapping Miguel's arm around her shoulders to keep him steady.

"You can tell him once we get out of here, I think we have company". Boone replied as loud banging sounded from the front of the mall.

"Life of the party". Miguel muttered as they made their way out of the mall and out to hopefully find somewhere safer to stay.

The group left the lower level of the mall without any incidents, Miguel struggled to walk up the rundown escalator but stubbornly refused Cedar's help, clearly not wanting to burden the teen.

They walked a little further until they settled down by a fountain that stood in the middle of the food court.

"What are all those coins doing down there?". Cedar asked curiously, looking down at the shiny objects sitting at the bottom of the water filled fountain.

"Back when things were normal, people would throw coins into these things and make wishes". Miguel explained with a smile, taking out a penny and handing it over to Cedar.

"Ah ah!". Miguel cut off, seeing how Cedar was going to say her wish aloud. "Can't say it out loud or it won't come true".

Cedar's grin faded as she tossed the coin into the fountain with a sigh before getting up to check on Rudy.