Bulletproof Heart

Chapter 6

The sun has just parted ways with the horizon when I wake up. The fire pit lies dark and empty, but there is still smoke curling off the ash, suggesting that it was just recently put out.

There's a rustle of fabric as I sit up. I look around, but there's no one in sight.

They must have left earlier, I figure.

I'm a bit disappointed, I admit. I'm grateful that they shared their fire with me last night, but it would have been nice if they'd at least woken me up before they left.

I stand up and stretch, relishing in the pop my spine gives. I brush the sand off my clothes and sling my duffel bag over my shoulder. I should probably get moving soon, the fire might've attracted Dracs to the area.

I start to leave, but get distracted by something white hidden in the juniper bushes. I get closer, pushing branches out of the way, and see that it's the Trans Am. I look at it. It doesn't look back, surprisingly.

Did they leave their car?

Suddenly, there's the sound of approaching footsteps from behind me. I whip around and see Fun, Jet, and Kobra Kid walking towards me. Fun waves a hand, and Jet nods. I wave back.

When they get in hearing distance, I say, "'Thought you guys ran off without saying goodbye, but then I found your car."

"Sorry we wandered off," Fun says, now stopping in front of me. "We had some shit to discuss. I hoped you'd still be asleep by the time we got back."

I wave a hand. "Nah, it's fine, don't apologize."

"So," Jet says. "Where are you heading now?"

"Nowhere in particular, I guess. I don't have anywhere to go."

At this, Fun and Jet exchange a look that lasts a few seconds, before turning their sights on Kobra Kid. This staring contest lasts a little longer, with lots of twitching eyebrows and vague hand gestures.

Finally, Kobra Kid sighs, and makes a face.

Fun turns back to me, beaming. "Well, now you do. You're coming with us."

Not expecting them, I don't process the words at first. "What?"

"Well," Jet explains. "We just finished discussing it, and we want you to come with us."

"Yeah!" Fun says. "Since you didn't slit our throats in the night and rob our still-bleeding corpses of our valuables, we figured that you're good enough to keep."

I blink. I turn to Kobra, who already has sunglasses on even though it's only minutes past sunrise. "You agreed to this?"

He sighs. I can't read his expression behind the glasses, but he looks like he isn't getting his way. "Yeah, I guess. What could go wrong?"

I blink again. "Okay."

"Okay what?"

"Okay, I'll come."

"Well then," Fun says. "Let's get going!"

We head for the Trans Am, which Kobra unlocks with a key he extracts from his red jacket.

I slide into the backseat next to Fun, tossing my duffel bag on the floor between my feet.

"Thanks, guys." I say, again. I feel like I'll never be done thanking them.

Jet is in the passenger's seat next to Kobra, who has his hands gripping the wheel. The air inside the Trans Am is hot and stifling. The ancient, cracked leather seats smell like sweat, and static burbles nonstop from the radio. None of the seat belts work, and there is a mysterious stain on the floor by my feet.