Nick laughed and shook his head. “Yeah, remind me to grab earplugs the next time we go out. Get some rest, man. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Earplugs?” Phoenix huffed. “Wow, rude.”
Nick pushed open the door to his room; amusement lingered in his features. Kate sat on the bed, the novel she had swiped from the pharmacy propped on her knees. The sight of her taking a moment to read and relax put him at ease. Her gaze darted to his shoulder as he kicked off his boots and settled in.
“How’s your arm?” Kate asked. Her eyes creased with worry, and her mouth was set in a tense expression.
“It’s good, baby. You okay?”
Kate nodded and forced a smile. While Nick was away, she had reclined on the bed in hopes of escaping into a fictional world. She had always enjoyed horror—the idea that one’s station in life could always be worse, terror and dread with distinct causes and clear descriptions. However, the intensity of her thoughts swallowed her focus. Kate found herself reading the samesentence repeatedly or skimming the text without retaining the words.
Nick sat on the edge of the bed. “I may have a plan to get rid of our Norman problem.”
Kate perked up.
***
Nick and Kate walked through the doors of a warehouse that seemed to digest them as they entered. A long hall offered doors leading to various rooms of storage. A chill bounced from the metal walls and clung to their skin. Dust particles floated about in the stagnant air.
A door at the end of the hall flung open and Norman crashed through, panting. The couple paused, and Norman froze when he spotted them.
“That kid that’s been helping me, he’s hurt. Some boxes fell on him and I can’t get them off!” Norman gasped. Nick scanned Norman for imprints of weapons, and scrutinized his words for ill intent. Nevertheless, Nick stormed toward the storage room because if Phoenix was hurt, he could not afford to waste time.
“If you’re playing games, I will fucking end you,” Nick growled as he passed Norman by with Kate’s hand in his as she followed close behind.
Wooden boxes towered over them, stacked on metal shelving and nearly touching the ceiling. Categories like ‘winter clothing’ and ‘9mm ammo’ were hastily scribbled across each one.
“He’s back here,” Norman said and pushed past Nick toward a corner of the room. As Nick and Kate approached, a groan became audible. Phoenix lay beneath several wooden crates, the one on his waist labeled ‘engine rebuild kit’. The shelving unit holding the boxes had fallen over and rested against the one next to it, wedging the boxes against Phoenix’s body. Various vehiclecomponents were strewn across the floor: brake assemblies, rotors, even full transmissions.
“Oh, bro. I’ve never been happier to see you,” Phoenix grunted as he peered up at Nick.
“His legs first. Grab one side of that crate,” Nick ordered Norman. The men bent at Phoenix’s lower half and curled their hands around the bottom of the boxes. “One, two, three.”
Norman and Nick lifted simultaneously until the box hovered over Phoenix’s legs. They heaved the box several steps before dropping it onto the concrete floor. Phoenix’s legs bore a deep gash where the corner of the crate had dug in from the weight.
“One down, one to go,” Nick said as he positioned himself to carry the next one. Norman followed suit and awaited the countdown.
When the second crate was lifted away, Phoenix lay back, breathing in relief and letting out small whimpers of pain.
“You’re okay. We’re here,” Kate consoled as she knelt beside Phoenix and took his hand.
“You think you can walk?” Nick asked as he inspected Phoenix’s wound.
“Probably. Other than feeling kind of banged around, I don’t think I’m hurt anywhere else.”
Nick held out a hand and helped Phoenix to his feet. He winced in pain as he put weight on his injured leg but managed a steady standing position.
Norman had started to back away from the scene, attempting to fall into the shadows of the storage.
“Hey!” Nick shouted. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“He needs to go to the infirmary. I can take him,” Norman offered.
Nick shook his head. “We have unfinished business, you worthless fucking scumbag.”
Norman backed into the wall and put his arms out, bracing himself for an attack.
“What the hell is going on?” Phoenix asked.
