The Land After Tomorrow (Completed)

Chapter 14: The Mob

Shots rang out and echoed throughout the building. Screams from all sides could be heard and shouting above the bullets ringing in the air. It had been about a week since they left the camp and all their supplies were being depleted. They tried to raid a local Walmart, but interfered with local mob groups. Now they were caught in a crossfire. They got backed into the corner of the store, where the electronics used to be. One mob was in the clothes section while the other was in the necessity products. There was no escape throughout the store without having to fight back. It was fight or be shot, and for them, being shot wasn't even a choice.

Drew had his back up against the counter wall trying to cover his head from the shots charging towards him. Matt, one of the group's best fighters was shouting out orders. Emily was laying on the floor with her hands covering her head from the bullets.

Matt tried to shout commands over the chaos erupting to no avail. Everyone was dazed by the shots while trying to remain under cover. Shouts from the other side to give up could be heard over the firing.

Drew covered his ears trying to block out the ringing within his ear. Glass was being shattered onto the floor and bullets erupted into the shelves. A boy about Drew's age was crunched down next to Drew behind the counter. "This is all your fault!" he shouted over the noise. Which, was true. It was Drew's idea to go into the store without surveilling the area. They wouldn't have been in this position if they followed the right procedure.

Matt called out to Drew ushering him with his hand, "Drew! Come here." Drew set his palms down on the ground and crawled his way over to where Matt was bunkered behind movie discs. "We need to split up into groups and try to sneak our way through. There is too many of us to get through without being seen and or shot. Less people together the better."

A shot rang out and sent Drew diving to the ground for cover. His hands were over his head as wood splinters erupted from the bullet. Matt was crouched next to Drew making sure that he was okay. "We need to move now!" he yelled down at him. Drew was lifted to his feet dazed and baffled from the commotion around him. "Take Emily and the two underneath the cabinets and try to make your way through the middle. Sides are taken over. Only way out is straight on."

Drew gave a slight nod. He crawled his way to Emily who was bunkered down on the ground shaking at every bullet that rang past her. He curled up and took cover next to her. "We need to move! I'm going to grab the two by the cabinets and then we are going to sneak through the middle."

She looked up at him with fear in her eyes, "We are going to get shot."

"Just follow me," he assured her. They crawled over to two younger boys hidden behind the cupboard. "Follow me," Drew ushered them. They crept in between the aisles keeping their heads down and knees bent. They briskly ran trying to get out as soon as they could. Shots rang out as they pierced into shelves. It went from total chaos to nothing but silence. "Stop," Drew whispered. They halted at a stop crouched in between shelves with glass underneath their boots. Nothing could be heard. The bullets stopped, and all was quiet. Drew listened intently to any sign of moment, but all he could hear was the glass shattering underneath his feet.

"Why did they stop?" the young boy asked. Drew didn't even look at him; he just didn't respond. Drew didn't know either. He poked his head out into the aisle hoping to catch a glimpse of what was going on, but nothing could be seen. Drew could hear his heart beat rapidly pounding within his chest. It echoed throughout his ears for it was the only thing that could be heard. The two boys crouched by Drew looking down at the ground panting for breath.

Emily moved up next to him and looked out, "Always quiet before the storm." Drew looked at her and at that moment everything broke loose. He watched the bullet sail in slow motion grazing across his shoulder taking some skin along with it. He immediately jerked back and fell into the shelf as he screamed in agony. The two boys looked at him dazed and scared. "We need to move now!" Emily screamed. She grabbed Drew by the arm and lifted him off the ground. They sprinted out into the open towards the exit as shots rang past them. A bullet hit the ceiling light shattering glass on top of them. They tried protecting their head from covering it with their arms as the glass pierced into their skin. A stalky, built man emerged from behind the wall leaping onto Emily. He pushed her up against the wall while Drew laid motionless on the ground. The two young boys tried attacking him with punching and kicking. It allowed a brief second for Emily to knee him in the stomach that sent him hurling to the ground for a few seconds. She tried to run, but he caught her shoulder with a firm grasp. He threw her into a shelf that opened a gash upon her right brow. She hit the floor and grabbed her head in pain. Blood was streaking down the right side of her face. He walked with a slight pride of triumph towards her as she tried to regain composure. The two boys had run out the door in fear leaving her to defend herself.