Giving Mercy • 10 K

Chapter 2

We pulled up to a run down motel infested with Z's.
" Puppies and kittens, guys!" Warren called out to the group. 10 K pulled up his sniper and shot one, and he muttered, " 7,926." .
" What's the counting for?" I questioned him as I stood up to shoot with him.
" It's how many Z's I've killed," 10 k said as he look through the his scope and shot another one, " 7,927." I shot one, along side 10 k. He smiled a little as I hopped down and pulled my Tri- Dagger out and started stabbing the shit heads through the lower jaw. Their rotted blood spewed from the entry wound and dripped down my knife and onto my hands. The smell of the blood was unbearable, like rotted flesh and eggs that were left out for months.
I had slaughtered about a dozen Z's. When I turned around I saw the biggest shock on everyone's face.
" Well damn girl, no wonder the call you The Shy Bandit!" Doc gasping with amazement.
" Well looky here, we have a little badass in the group!" Warren laughed and shocked her head.
" Good, that means you guys can protect me better." Murphy said with cockiness.
" Kid, your my new favorite. Sorry Murphy!" Addie said with a laughter.
" Oh thanks, you make a guy feel loved, Addie." Murphy rolled his eyes and drank from the jug.
" Badass," 10 k announced over the murmur of the crowd. He was slowly turning red, and so was I.
There were a couple Z's in the lobby when we walked in. I grabbed my dagger and stabbed one in the left temple.
" Asshole!", I murmured under my breath. Warren, Doc, Addie, and 10 k got the rest.
I jumped over the counter, knife in my hand, looking for the keys to the rooms.
" There's two keys here," I called out to the rest of the group, " there's one on the second story and one on the first. It looks like there's a queen bed in room 289, and a king with a pull out mattress with a pull out mattress in room 158. "
" Well, I guess we will take the king." Warren said motioning to Addie and Murphy to come with her as I have her the key.
" Then, I guess, us three amigos will take the queen." Doc announced through Murphy's complaints.
When Doc, 10 k, and I got to the room Doc said, " Well, kids, I'm to old to share a bed with you, so I'ma take the pull out couch. " I saw 10 k turn red as Doc said this.
As I laid there on my side facing away from 10 k, I could feel the sadness creeping out of my throat. I tried to hold it back, but this time it was too intense to hold back. The first tears rolled down my checks. I sniffed unintentionally, and 10 k rolled over. Touching my back he said, " Are you ok?". I shivered as soon as he touched my back, and my heart melted at the sound of his voice.
" Yeah, I'm fine." I answered with a watery voice.
He scooted closer and put his arm around me, for now we were spooning and he whispered into my ear, " Tell me what's wrong." .
" I miss my family, you know?" I answered.
" Yeah, I lost my dad." He hesitated to answer.
I rolled over and put my head into his chest as he held me close, and we fell asleep as Doc was outside keeping watch.