The Alpha Omega.

Trust.....

I put the rifle to my shoulder and aim center mass on the middle man.
"Get up, get in a single-file line and walk inside. If you try anything you get a bullet through the back."
I help the first one up, then so on and so forth...

I keep my aim steady on center mass, as we walk inside...
No-one does anything.
"Sit."
They all comply, while the one unrestrained helps the one who's shot.
"Now." I pull up a chair in front of them, keeping my finger on the trigger.
"I'm gonna talk to you, and only you." I point to the one who's unrestrained.

"Ok."
Is the response I get.

"What's your names?"

"I'm Mark, black shirt is Brian, white shirt is John, and the one you shot is Jack."

"Right, going back to that. Why did you shoot at me?"

"We thought you were someone trying to take our stuff."

"Your stuff?"
I start laughing until tears come to my eyes.
"This is my house, why else would I scream mom?"

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Where is she?"
My eyes cut and I look at him, scanning for any signs of hostility or lies.

"Who? Your mom?"

"Yes."
I click the flashlight off
"If you lie to me, or if I find her back there harmed in any way. I'm shooting all of you through the knees, and watching as you get eaten alive, understand?"

"Yes."
The fear in his eyes growing.

"Was she here when you got here?"

"No. We were being chased by those things and the door was open, so we ran in here."

I scan him, nothing about him says he's lying. Only that he's about to piss himself.
"Was there a note or anything?"
I feel my heart drop.

"No."

I take a deep breath, then decide I can atleast try and help the guy I shot.
"Lay him on the table."
I say pointing at him.

"What? Why?"
They all kind of tense up and form a wall around him.

"If I wanted you dead I would've already shot all of you, you saw my aim. I wanna save his life."

They swap glances, but still seem unsure.
"How do we know you're not gonna kill him?"

I sigh
"Because if I wanted him dead, my first shot would've been to his brain."

They look at each other again, then decide they don't have another option.
"What do we do?"

"Put him on the table, while I uncuff your friends."
I walk over to Brian and undo the cuffs, then turn and do the same John.
"If you wanna save his life, go to the kitchen and grab the needle nose pliers, moonshine from the freezer, and a bunch of towels from the bathroom."

They jumped into action.

"Mark, I need you to hold him down while I look at the wound."
I go to the kitchen and grab a pair of latex gloves, then come back and spread the wound.... It's bad.
The bullet went straight through, but left 2 fragments.

I watch as the supplies are dropped in front of me.
"Mark, put the towel in his mouth. Then, I need all of you to hold him down."

They do exactly as I say, Mark getting his arms, John gets one leg, and Brian holds down the injured one.

"Get ready. He's about to buck like a wild animal."
I pour some shine on the towel in his mouth, letting it seep though. Afterwards, I pour some on all the tools in front of me.
"Ready?"
I look at all of them.

They all look back and nod.

I pour shine on the wound, and watch as he roars from the pain, trying with everything he has to fight back.
I spread the wound and stick the pliers inside the wound, grabbing the piece of metal I try to gently pull....
It doesn't work. So, I pull harder and that one comes loose. I gently pull it out and drop it on the table, then spread the wound again.
I don't notice as he goes limp.

"Hey. Hey."
They all start almost yelling.

I look up and see what's happening.
"Check his pulse."

Mark sticks 2 fingers to his neck, then let's out a breath.
"He's ok, the pain just put him to sleep."

"Thank god."
I look up, then realize we have to seal the wound when this done.
"Mark, go get the metal trash can and bring it in here. Start the hottest fire you can."

He doesn't hesitate this time, before I can even finish he's up and getting the trash can. He starts a fire, using paper and then breaks a leg off the kitchen table and toss it in.

"Good. Now, this next part is gonna be the hardest."
I look down and steady myself.
"There's one more shard, but afterwards we're gonna have I cauterize the wound."

They look at me and nod.

"Are you ready? He's probably fixing to wake back up."

Mark looks at the other two, then turns to me and nods.
"Do what you need to, just try and save him."

I nod back, then spread the wound and attach the pliers to the shard. I tug softly and he shakes a little, I tug harder and he starts waking up a little.
"Hold him."
I pull once more and it doesn't move.

Jack wakes up.
"Do it." Mark yells.

I yank on the shard and it finally gets pulled out.

Jack roars again, until his voice is hoarse. Then, goes limp.

I pull out the KaBar and they flinch, then I place it over the fire.
"Hold him. This is crucial."
I watch as the blade turns a bright red, I move it from the fire and let it cool a little.
Then, I press it to his leg.....
The effect was instant, the smell of sizzling skin hit me, while I watch his skin cauterize.

He screams so loud, I thought the windows might break. Then, silence as he blacks out.

I get up and grab my rifle, before heading outside. I close the trunk, then climb inside.

Mark runs outside
"Hey, hey. Where are you going?"

"Honestly, I don't know, I just know I can't be here."
I turn the key and start the car.

"Hey."

I turn to a pistol in my face....
"Mark, what the fuck?"

"I'm sorry, but you have so much stuff. We need it."
His hand shakes slightly.

"Mark, rethink what you're doing. Please."
My hand sitting on the mace in my belt.

"Get out."
Is all he says.

"Mark. You have one more chance."
I silently unclip the mace, putting it in my hand.

"Get out."

I take a deep breath, then close my eyes.
"I'm not sorry about any of this."

"What?"
The gun shakes once more.

That's when I make my move...
I grab his wrist, keeping it steady while my other shoves his hand forward....
The gun fires, but I'm still alive. So, I click the button and spray him in the eyes with mace.

The gun is in my hands now, I don't hesitate. I squeeze the trigger twice into his chest. He drops and I instantly aim for the doorway. There's no-one. Before anyone can appear, I throw the car into drive, pushing down the accelerator. Listening as the tires squeal....

I don't breathe.
I don't think.
I just drive.