Coffee with the Criminal

eight

"Long time, little brother."

I stumbled to the back of the dark room, the only source of light bring the street lamp that shone through the little round window beside me. Cameron seemed to be as shocked as I was as he ignored his brother's smirk and suddenly started to search the shack. I understood he wanted to find something to help David, who seemed as though he was surpressing his whimpers of pain from the gunshot wound in his arm.

Trying to push the confusion aside, I knew I had to help him.

"Cameron, he's been shot."

David was panting by now, his breaths heavy and shallow from running and pain.

Cameron wasn't making eye contact with David and stared at me in shock. He was speechless, trying to make sense of why his brother was here but couldn't muster up enough courage to speak. I didn't know the history between them both but I knew I had to bring his focus to helping him.

"Hey," David spoke, holding on tight to his arm and flinching. Cameron looked at him reluctantly and I saw a new side to him. A helpless one. One that was in need of something but I couldn't make out what.

"I can tell you everything, but," he whimpered once more, his eyes with a pleading look. "you gotta help me, brother."

Cameron's eyes glistened with tears that thteatened to fall out. Whatever it was that had happened both brothers, there was some heavy history between them and I knew Cameron couldn't bring himself back to the moment.

"I..." he looked at me helplessly, his breath becoming heavier.

"Give me your shirt," I said told him as he obeyed and took off his jacket and then the plaid shirt underneath.

As I ripped off the sleeve of his shirt, I stepped forward to David who was trying to make eye contact with Cameron whilst holding in the pain.

"This is going to hurt but we need to apply pressure to it."

"I know, hun." David tried to smile at me. "This isn't the first shot I've taken."

I ripped his sleeve off the arm that was wounded. As repulsed as I was by it, I took the piece of Cameron's shirt and wrapped it tightly around David's upper arm and tried to ignore his grunts of pain. At this, I notcied Cameron's turning around and walking closer to his brother.

I wrapped the shirt tighter around his arm, Cameron soon calming down and crouching down beside his brother. He hesitated before grabbing hold of David's other hand that was clenched. He held it tight as I finshed wrapping it.

"What do we do? We need a doctor, I don't know how to help you if..." I was worried I didn't apply enough pressure to stop the bleeding but I tied the shirt as tight as I could.

"I don't need no doctor." David sat up straight as Cameron let go of his arm. They both shared a glance before Cameron stood up and asked if I was okay. I couldn't reply so I fumbled around in my pocket for my phone.

"Wait... what are you-" David looked at me in panic. " What are you doing?"

"I need to call someone, I-" my voice was panicked and I was struggling to keep myself from crying. "The cops, an ambulance, anyone!"

"No! You can't-"

Cameron laced his hands around mine and took my phone.

"You can't do that, Sky."

"What do you mean I can't? Cameron, he's bleeding! He was shot!"

They both looked at me in silence with the occasional grunt of pain from David.