“Domik?”
“Hmm?” He barely replied, looking straight ahead to the gas station where they were headed, off to one side of what CJ was thinking of as the highway.
“What’s going to happen to us?” she asked, the fear she had been keeping at bay making her voice shake. She looked up at him hopefully, trying to not cry.
What’s wrong with me?
He touched her on the shoulder, turning her toward him. “We will make it to the base, and back to the Zataras. It’s going to be OK,” he whispered.
She nodded, hiccupping, as she swiped at her eyes with the backs of her fingers. “I know it’s silly. It’s just been a long day.”
He squeezed her shoulder gently before letting go. “Let’s find somewhere to rest and work out how to get to the base.”
She nodded; arms wrapped around her middle against the chill now that the sun had dropped beyond the horizon. “All right.”
He turned and began walking again toward the gas station, CJ trotting alongside him. As they approached, the buildings loomed out of the darkness. There was no movement of people or cars, no lights, no noise. It was as if everyone had just up and left.
The few vehicles parked nearby were abandoned, parked haphazardly, doors ajar as if the owners had just stepped out.
All the horror movies she’d ever seen raged into life in the dark. There could be many hidden threats. As they walked closer, she sidled toward Domik and slid her hand into his, needing to feel his strength. He looked down at their hands, fingers entwined, and then up at her.
“So, how are we going to do this?”
There was a front door into the gas station, which they bypassed, instead heading for the rear of the building. There was a small outbuilding to one side with a sign declaring it a mechanic’s workshop, and a trailer with an awning attached under which a set of deck chairs was placed.
“So someone lives and works here. But where are they?” CJ mused quietly, conscious of not making too much noise.
Domik let go of her hand and moved to the trailer.
“Be careful,” she hissed after him, moving to hide beside an abandoned truck. While Domik was gone, CJ looked inside the truck, finding a shotgun under the rear seat and claiming it with a triumphant fist pump.
A hand on her shoulder had her jumping in fright.
“Shh. It’s just me,” Domik said, his voice near her ear sending shivers down her spine.
“Fuck me, Dom. You scared the shit out of me.” She sighed, closing her eyes and resting her head against the door of the truck. She turned and showed him the gun. “I found us a gun, at least.”
He looked from her to the gun in her hands and back again and grunted.
“I know how to use it. Trust me.” She raised her eyebrow.
“I do.” He lifted the item in his hands for her to see.
“What is it?” It was a matte black colored box, about half the size of a shoebox.
“It’s Taurean.”
“What?” she gaped as he opened the box, looking up at him with wide eyes.
Domik shifted the box so she could look inside.
“What the fuck?”
