Wild For You

Chapter 8

    A damp, musty smell rose up from the mouth of the storm drain. It masked the faint smell of death and muck that followed us. We propped Tyler up against the wall. Groaning, he pressed his broad shoulders against the cement.

    "The cold feels good," He sighed.

    Between his legs Archie had curled up, careful not to touch Tyler's bullet wound. Lui had collapsed next to them on the ground. His chest rose and fell heavily, jerkily, like a puppeteer somewhere above us controlled him with strings, pulling him up gently then letting his shoulders crash down like waves on the shore. For some reason Archie was trying to stay as far away from Lui as he could without leaving Tyler's side and inching ever closer to me. Craig got a pitiful fire going, huddled around it with David.

    "What now?" I asked. "What- what even?"

    I was answered by a few shrugs and a groan from Lui. Obviously pained, he tried to stand, only to fall back onto his butt and smack his head on the wall. Craig gasped and hurried over like Lui was a toddler. Huge waves of sweat rolled down Lui's forehead, hair matted to his skin like a wild dog's. Hesitantly, Craig pulled him into a loose hug.

   Coming away soaked, he groaned. "Ugh, Lui, you're so sick. Did you get a cut or anything? Something that could have given you blood poisoning or-?"

    "For the love of God if this boy has sepsis." Luke said, sprawling on the floor next to me.

    Tyler mumbled something unintelligible, words echoing softly.

    "What was that, Tyler?" David asked.

    Tyler raised his head. He didn't seem as out of it. "Hm? I didn't say nothin,' man."

    There was more mumbling. Archie's ears stood up. Cautiously, a tall dark-skinned man emerged from the sewer with a gun gripped tightly in his hands. He had it pointed directly at me.

    "Woah woah woah! Who the fuck are you?!" I yelled.

    My hands shot up into the air.

    The man snarled, one side of his lip pulling up to show his teeth. "Who are you? What the fuck are you doing at my base?"

    Luke took a step back. Quickly, the man turned his way and lunged forward so he could better aim for Luke's face.

    "Chill, man, easy." David said. "We aren't here to take anything from ya or anythin,' we's is just trying to get away from these big crazy dudes. This was the only place to hide."

    David's voice was shaking.

    "You mean those guys on those four wheelers?" The man asked. His grip on the gun tightened so hard his knuckles were white. "You led them to my fucking house!?"

    He slammed the gun down on the ground. With a horrible flash and a gruesome bang! that made my ears ring, the gun fired a bullet up into the sky. The man, not even stunned, grabbed the first person he could reach and slammed them down as well. He grabbed Craig, who was too busy covering his ears to defend himself. Luke kicked the gun away and tackled the maniac.

    "Holy shit!" I yelled. It wasn't certain if I actually said it though, the ringing in my ears was so loud that I couldn't hear myself think.

    The noise died down. Luke had the stranger pinned.

    "Who are you? He asked.

    Realizing he no longer had control, the stranger growled. "Why do you want to know?"
   
    Luke pulled out his knife. "I asked who you are!"

    "Marcel! My name is Marcel! Get off of me!"

    We crowded around them. Craig picked the gun up and turned the safety on.

    David kicked Luke's shoulder lightly. "Let 'im up. Just be careful he doesn't run for it."

    "Hell no," Luke said, "Marcel here just pulled a gun on my best friend and me. He ain't goin' nowhere!"

    David pulled Luke off him. Marcel was cornered by all of us.

    Craig reached out to shake his hand. "We want to live just as much as you do."

    Marcel hesitated, face soured and low, but shook Craig's hand anyway. Gripping it tightly, leaving bruises no doubt, he calmed.

   "You could join us." Suggested Craig, who nursed his hand.

    David nodded but Luke's face turned red with anger the second the words were out of Craig's mouth. I went over to calm him down. Bitter words were spat under his breath as he yanked away from my touch.

----

    A few hours had passed. Marcel brought up a few boxes of supplies thar were filled to the brim with medical gear and water bottles. He offered to treat Tyler but had no idea how to help Lui. To keep Ty from feeling much pain Marcel gave him a few sips of whiskey from one of his bottles.

    "Hey," Tyler whispered to me, "c-can I squeeze your hand while he does this?"