Chapter 12
Chapter 12
The group at the quarry...
Its dark, nothing but the campfires to light up the group hovering around it. Well, they don't seem too happy about us being here. Or maybe they're not happy that mr. Merle made it back. Which really, isn't he a part of this group? Shouldn't they at least ACT like they're relieved that he made it?
You would think, if one of their own was left in danger, they would care?
Apparently the answer is no, no they don't.
Not a one comes over when Mr. Merle steps out. The Asian guy comes close enough to ask if we're alright before the tall black man calls him back. The others seem to shuffle back, watching as if they're waiting for him to blow up at them. Like... like they're waiting for justification for leaving him behind.
Mr. Merle seems to realize this too because he huffs at them and stomps off to a tent backed away on the side. Asher, probably scared because of all the tension as well as the dark, races after him. I follow a bit slower.
"The hell do ya want?" Mr. Merle grumbles as Asher ducks into the tent after him.
I pull back the flap, grinning at Mr. Merle where he grumbles about annoying young'uns. The tent is a wide old tan one, little more than a tarp over poles. A black tarp stretches across the floor beneath two long palates of old blankets with a narrow central isle. Mr. Merle nods us to the second bedding, throws an arm over his eyes, and pretends to fall asleep.
Asher only lays down once I do. He curls against my side, one fist caught in my shirt and his feet under my leg. It takes me a lot longer to fall asleep.
Morning comes too soon with loud voices and far too much noise. Metal clings, perhaps a pot and spoon, and laughter echoes loud. Seriously!, how are these people still alive?
Asher had rolled away from me and latched onto Mr. Merle's side at some time during the night. With them both still asleep, I take a few minutes to resize a few supplies. I try to stick with stuff I found at the shopping mall. Even then, I barely touch a quarter of the haul.
Mr. Merle wakes up grumbling like an angry bear. I pass him a bottle of water and show him the pile of snacks that I resized. He pats Ashers arm to wake him, nudging him towards the food before his eyes are even open.
"Are they always so loud?"
Mr. Merle snorts a laugh, "You bet your ass they are, useless every one of em."
"You brother wasn't here?" I motion to the bedding that Asher and I slept on.
"Huntin, most like," he answers, taking a bite of a peanut candy bar. "He an I've been huntin an trappin ever day since we got here. Don't get much thanks for it neither but didn't expect it from em to be honest."
"It's an odd group," I offer, not really sure how to reply. He hums and lets the quiet stretch for a while.
"Asher needs clothes?" I'm not sure if the group here will have something or be willing to share.
Mr. Merle nods, "The beaners have a boy about his size. Maybe can ask them."
Before I can ask who the Beaners are, he looks me in the eye and says quietly, "You was awfully calm on the roof, kid."
I clear my throat, not expecting him to bring it up but I suppose he deserves an explanation. It's just, how do I put it in words? How do I tell a man that I was weighing his life against the ones he would hurt?
"There were men who..." No, That's won't sound right. He'll think I'm accusing him of doing the same.
"Some people..." No, that sounds judgemental, a bit too much like wizards attitude against slytheryn, or muggles, or non-human.
"Ya ever killed a man, kid?" He asks quietly, looking out of the tent at the noisy group outside.
"Yes," I confess, "a few."
"They deserve it?" He asks, still looking away.
"Yes."
Children's screams echo loudly outside. Several adults are shouting and running. Mr. Merle clamors out of the tent, gun already drawn and ordering us to stay back. Asher jumps to hide behind me, fists clenching my shirt tight.
I grab all the unshrunken supplies, stuffing them in my backpack and side bag. If the dead are here then we will need to move fast. I go ahead and unshrink a set of clothes for Asher. I doubt he will notice the magic and if we have to run he will need more than my oversized shirt.