Apocalypse [will not be finished]

Chapter Seventeen

I'm in the armoury before I even know what I'm doing. I've never actually fired a gun before, but I'll find out how. In that moment, I could do anything if it meant I got Quinn back. My skin is prickling where Alex touched me. Where he held as he told me he was going to let my friend die without even trying.

I've shoved as many pistols as I can carry into my backpack when a hand lands on my shoulder. Startled, I'm sure it's Alex with a gun raised between my eyes - but it's actually one of the kids I saw earlier. He has the same worried eyes, the same upright posture that looks so unnatural it hurts me to look.

"What are you doing?" Although he's much taller than me and by the looks of it much stronger, he sounds scared.

Still determined, I decide to be direct.

"Stealing guns." His eyes widen for a second. Then, surprisingly, he laughs.

"Count me in." He takes the bag off of his back and packs in a rifle, shoving two pistols in alongside it. The bag already has cans of food in, as well as a torch and a few bottles of water.

"Planning an escape, are we?" I raise an eyebrow at his nod.

"I'll explain to you on the way."

"On the way?"

"On the way to wherever you're going. I'm coming too, if you hadn't noticed."

"I don't reckon you'd like where I'm headed." He frowned, zipping up the bag and putting it back on his shoulders.

"Can't be any worse than here." His voice sounds slightly more free now, and I feel myself even more determined in his presence.

Oh, well. I suppose it won't hurt having someone like him on my side. We walk out together, to the little bit of open garden which the boy calls 'the courtyard'. There was a big group of kids huddled around a big gate - the same gate, I assume, Luke has just come through. I push through the kids, the boy at my heels, and find Luke. He looks okay, at first glance.

However, as I come closer, I see the scratches across his arms, the gash along his jaw, the grazed cheek. My heart melts for him, and I throw my arms around him as I see him. He seems shocked by it at first, but then recognises me and envelopes me in a bone-crushing embrace. For once, I don't let go until he does. I let him hold onto me. God knows, he probably needs it.

"Sorry to interrupt," I hear Alex say from behind, "But we need to sort some things out, don't you think?"

All of his previous friendliness is gone, and as I turn my eyes take in his red-face and overall massiveness, I'm starting to realise why everyone might be holding their breaths. The boy from the armoury tugs at my arm, pulling me away from Luke. Luke's eyes start shining, but as Alex begins to walk towards him, he drops his hands in defeat. I feel the boy's grip on me tighten, and I'm suddenly afraid. What if Alex is some kind of maniac? What if he hurts Luke? I try to lunge forward but the boy has me by both arms now, and has pulled me into his torso.

"Stay calm," He hisses in my ear. "Don't make things worse."

I scowl but study Alex, knowing that if he so much as touches Luke I'll be out of this boy's grip and on him within seconds. He circles Luke, taking the paper from his hand and reading quickly. I catch bits from over his shoulder. Stuff about  'food' and 'one of yours' and 'peace'. I frown, trusting this less than I trust Alex. Luke is shifting uneasily from toe to toe, the walkie-talkie sitting awkwardly in his palm. The red light is on.

I tap Alex on the shoulder, and he whips round. The boy tenses as his grip on my arm tightens.

"The walkie-talkie," I say, "it's on."