Mad Woman✓

4. Bad bad bad

"Bad, bad, bad, we're in trouble now, or so so so they'd say...." 

   POV JOE ALWYN:

"I shot him", I mumble, "I shot that guy. I once read in a book that the knee is a good spot to shoot someone, without killing them. Oh God, I didn't kill him, did I?" Panic is taking over my mind and I'm covered in a layer of sweat, it's tantalizing on my skin.

"No, he'll be fine", she says confidently, "He won't die."

"But I shot him, Taylor. Why did I- I'm good. I'm a good person. I don't shoot people. I mean, I wanted to save you, so to you, I might be 'good', but... Oh my, I can't believe it. My fingerprints are all over that gun now. They'll find out. I'm going to prison. I'll be one of the losers and they'll burn me to the ground right there in the middle of the prison... I am not going to die in a prison. Gee, I can't breathe."

"They won't find out it was you. There are thousands of guns just like this one. With the exact same bullets in it. It's a basic gun. You're good. Besides, it was self-defence. They won't go to the police anyway. They can't risk that. The police might find out all the shit they did. And that's way more than shooting someone in the leg. Also, didn't you see the gun he pointed at you?"

"He had a gun pointed at me?"

"Yes. And he was holding me with his one arm, the gun with the other. He was pressing a knife in my waist." She lifts her shirt a little bit and I see a red line. It's not bleeding, but it looks painful nevertheless. "You saved the both of us, Joe. So yes, you are a good person. One of the best I have ever known."

"Okay, I am good. I'm good. Perfect."

"Exactly. Now try to breathe a little more evenly. I don't want you to have a panic attack or something like that."

"Everything is fine."

"Everything is fine."

"They won't find out it was me?"

"We're leaving New York today and I'll make sure to destroy the gun. They won't find out. Besides, my fingerprints are all over it as well. You don't have to worry, alright?"

"No. You are not going to pretend you shot him! You didn't do anything wrong!"

"Nothing will happen. To neither of us." I look at her and even though her voice sounds confident, her face says otherwise.

I watch the road in front of us and sigh, "Where are we going?"

"Away from here, away from the New York."

"I know, but where are we going?"

"Europe. Italy, I think."

"And we'll just hide out there?"

"Yes, we'll need different names and a story. But we'll hide out there. You can be... I don't know.. Greg."

"No, I don't want to be Greg."

"Well, choose another name, whatever."

"What would you call yourself?"

"Last time, I was Alison." I try to ignore that, apparently, there was a last time for Taylor. Something like this has happened to her before. And maybe more than once.

I hate to even just think about that.

"Okay... Why?"

"It is my middle name."

"Then call me Matt, short for Matthew. Because that's my middle name."

"Joe Matthew?"

"Yes..." I say, but it doesn't sound very convincing.