𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐘. // B.E

I.

soft, pale light flooded through the thin glass in my window.

it stung my head, and i buried my face back into my pillow as a desperate attempt to fall back into my slumber.

after a few minutes of lying there and shifting my body around to try to get comfortable, i gave up. the sun was to bright. it urged me to get on with my day, no matter how much i didn't want to.

i blindly stepped out of bed, my eyes still closed, not wanting to let the harsh light in.

i stumbled over to the black metal rack that held what clothing i had, and i grabbed a big sweatshirt and slipped it over my head. i looked in the mirror after tying my long blonde hair back.

i opened my door and walked down the grate stairs, the metal cold on my bare feet. i walked into the kitchen.

quiet, as usual.

i looked over at the pictures on the counter. the last person to touch them was my sister.

i shook the thought away quickly.

i've been out of food for days, and i've been putting off going on a supply run for too long.

the streets have been quiet, and nobody that i know of had gotton close to my apartment in days. maybe it would be safe and i could move in and out of the rundown markets and get what i needed.

i opened a cabinet, pulling out a shiny black m-16 that i've never fired before, and honestly i had no idea how to use, but it made me feel more safe when i was out. i wrapped the strap around me and slung it on my back, also tying a white bandana around my face to protect my nose and mouth.

i moved over to my front door, slipping on my old pair of skate shoes and tying up the laces and grabbing my backpack.

i sighed heavily, closing my eyes before i pressed down on the door handle and stepped out into the outside. i locked it behind me. not that i had anything worth stealing anyways.

i gripped the gun in my hands, walking down the brick steps and then along the gravel sidewalk, the gravel crunching under my shoes.

the store was only a block away, which was convenient- but also meant the area held a lot of hungry intruders trying to get supplies. they'd kill me.

the store came into my view, and i broke into a jog. i got to the front of it, and stared at my reflection in the glass doors. i didn't recognize myself. who was this hooded, armed girl? surely not me.

i pushed the door open, and it swang behind me with a creak. most of the windows were shattered, and the tile floor was littered with shards of broken glass.

it was dark, and the air was cold. i pulled down my bandana, breathing in the air refreshingly.

i walked through the store, looking down the long empty isles. nothing. there was nothing here.

the long shelves held nothing but hungry mice and trash.

i bit my lip with frustration, my eyes tearing up. what was i supposed to do? starve?

crack.

snap.

i turned my head to the sound.

somebody was walking on glass.

i held my breath.

a tall figure with a long rifle in his hands peered over from behind a shelf. he hadn't seen me yet.

i was frozen with fear. my feet wouldn't move.

oh my god, he was gonna shoot me.

he was gonna shoot me.

this was how i was going to die.

i took one last breath before he locked eyes with me, pointed the gun my direction and squeezed the trigger.

immense, searing hot pain shot up from my stomach and i screamed, hitting the floor.

i immediately felt dizzy as i tried to black out the pain, and my hands became cold.

my vision became blurry, and my stomach started to bleed out.

another gunshot rang through my ears. wait- what?

my attacker slumped to the floor.

somebody new appeared, and they ran over to my side. i tried to see who it was, but nothing looked right.

the pain came back.

i groaned, tears streaming down my face.

"kill me, kill me, please kill me." i couldn't take it. i could see a pool of red around me, and i knew it wouldn't be long before i bled out.

"no, no, your gonna be okay." a warm hand touched my face, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

i clenched at my stomach, groaning again. among all this pain, i could feel the bullet inside of my stomach.

how- how am i still alive?

"listen, listen to me. i'm going to help you, okay? just breathe, and stop touching it, your making it worse." she took my hand away from the wound, and replaced it with her own.

i looked up at her face, i could tell it was bad.

"hey what's your name? can you tell me?" she asked, her facial expressions softening. she gently wiped away dirty tears from my face. "you can trust me, i promise."

i squeezed my eyes shut. "dallas, my names dallas. just please help me, i don't want to die."

she looked down at my stomach again, and then back up at my face. "okay, i'm billie. and i'm not gonna let you die dallas."

she took the bandana off of my face, and grabbed my gun. she stuffed both of them in her own bag and threw it over her shoulder.

"we have to get out of here before somebody sees us. i'm gonna have to pick you up. it's gonna hurt."

she pulled a beanie on over her head, looking around to see if the coast was clear.

"just keep breathing, okay? come on."

her arm slipped under my head, and them one under my legs. she hoisted me up and started walking out of the store.

the pain i thought couldn't get any worse, got worse.

i sputtered, trying to contain the pain and not be loud.

billie held me tighter, and she started running, careful to not shake me anymore that i already was.

i started getting loopy, and so tired.

my vision was completely black, and my mind felt like it was twenty feet above me.

billie stopped running.

she carried me up stairs.

she knocked twice on a door.

the door locked behind me.