Days Until

Chapter Four

"My, my, what a nice boy you have there by the way," The woman clapped her hands together and stared intently at Henry, "how 'bout you hand the brat over and you can leave with all that shit you took?" Tyler could barely believe his own ears. It had been six days and people were already this insane?

"How 'bout no." He mocked, leveling the barrel to her head. He had no intention of shooting—he just wanted to scare her off. It didn't work too well seeing as she whipped out a pistol and shot at his feet. Tyler jumped, nearly dropping his rifle. Henry yelped and moved closer behind him.

"Cute. Anyways, if you won't cooperate, then I guess–" For the first time since he appeared, the fourteen year old spoke up. "Irene, can't you just..." He trailed off at the dirty looks the bikers were giving him. Irene sneered and sauntered over, gripping his chin with one hand while leaning in. The entire scene sickened Tyler, making him uneasy and tense.

"Well, well, well, does lil' Ian have something to say? You gotta lil' bone to pick? C'mon, speak up so we can hear you then!" She shook his face left to right as she patronized him. Ian looked down, avoiding eye contact with her, and repeated what he had tried to say.

"Can't you just leave them alone? We have–" Ian gasped and stumbled back, putting a hand to his cheek. It took a moment for Tyler to realize that Irene had just backhanded him. Anger festered inside, but he refused to act. He had to be rational about this or him and Henry could both die. His jacket tugged down as Henry gripped it tightly and stared at Irene in disbelief.

"Who made you the boss?" Irene cackled," you think you can go around spouting your opinions and cutting people off? News flash: you're not important enough to do that. Go back to crying in a corner, whiney bitch!" Ian stared at the floor, his face gradually becoming more red. Tyler had had enough of this.

"Look, just keep your shit. We'll leave." Tyler reasoned. Irene turned to him, trying to catch her breath from all the shrieking laughter. She wagged a finger at him. "You're not going anywhere! I like you, you amuse me." She grinned and looked at her three heavily bearded stooges. "Let's take them back to the station! I'm sure they'd love it there." Her tone suggested the exact opposite, though.

All three of the men walked towards them, ready to grab them. Tyler aimed his gun at the closest one and shot. He missed the head, skimming the ear and immediately his rifle was snatched from him only to be thrown on the floor. A fist collided with his nose and large hands wrapped around his arm while another pair took his other. Tyler struggled in vain, kicking and pulling. Henry cried out, thrashing around as the remaining biker just hugged him from behind and lifted him up.

"Goddamnit, leave him alone!" Tyler shouted, regretting to ever bring him along. Blood from his nose ran into his mouth, leaving a metallic taste on his tongue. Where was Carmichael when he needed him?

Irene just shook her head and rested her arm around Ian's shoulder. He pushed her off and stumbled back. "Not a chance, old man. How could I pass up a free little boy that I could do whatever I wanted with? It just isn't done." She snickered and snapped her fingers.

The bikers began dragging them down the aisle and to the back exit of the store where Carmichael was last seen. Tyler prayed this wouldn't be a case of wrong place, wrong time with him.

The sun shone brightly overhead, baking them as soon as they stepped onto the parking lot. Tyler thought he would be taken to the cluster of motorbikes, but instead he and Henry were dragged towards a beat-up white van. As they neared, he noticed someone was already in the driver's seat and ready to go. The men that gripped him opened the back doors and shoved him in; Henry not far behind. The doors slammed shut, cloaking them in darkness. An engine revved up and the floor began to vibrate.