Page 121 of His to Burn

Miles carried a small wrench. Lourdes had a hammer. Not exactly ideal weapons, but they held them like they meant something.

The three of us stepped into the tree line near the road, instinct guiding our silence. I gestured for Miles to take the right and Lourdes the left while I swept center. We walked in wide loops, skirting anything that might hold noise.

“Keep your eyes open,” I told them. “But don’t panic unless I panic.”

They both nodded. Miles adjusted his grip on the wrench like he tried to mimic the way I held my blade.

There was a van in the parking lot. I stopped next to it, Miles and Lourdes at the ready as I opened the door. It didn’t creak, and thankfully nothing jumped out.

A quick glance revealed a dirty sleeping bag and empty soda bottles. I pushed the door closed again.

When it clicked closed, Miles flinched and then gulped hard. He gulped and then smiled nervously.

I slapped him on the shoulder. “You know how to make it through anything?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No.”

“Gotta act like you’ve been there before.”

He chuckled low but stood a little straighter.

We moved without words, Lourdes and Miles two steps behind as we approached the gas station. There were two other abandoned vehicles and a car wash off to the side. I mightcheck them out depending on what we found, but for now, I focused on the main building.

Came up short when I heard a distant metallicclank.

It was far, but not far enough. We froze. Miles looked at me, his lips parted like he wanted to speak. I held up a hand and shook my head.

We waited.

A full minute passed.

Another.

Then I heard it again, and this time, I followed the sound.

Spotted it about 200 yards away.

A body, a man from the look of it, in the first stages of decay. He leaned against a fence, a thick brown belt wrapped around his neck.

The wind shifted, and the belt buckle clanged against the fence.

A group of birds took off in a flurry, their sudden movement pulling my eye. As I watched them, my heart beat slowed but the tension in my shoulders didn’t ease a bit.

I rejoined Miles and Lourdes, and together, we went inside.

The store itself was small. Easy to scan.And other than dust a few empty wrappers on the floor, surprisingly clean.

I spotted a battery-powered lantern tucked behind the counter. When I flicked it on, it burned bright, and I shoved it into my duffel.

I left Miles and Lourdes inside and did another sweep of the perimeter. Other than our friend at the fence, the area was empty. Still, now that the birds were gone. A quick sweep of the car wash revealed some empty soap bottles and a crate of corroded batteries.

Inside, I moved fast, grabbing what we could use and discarding what we couldn’t.

Stopped when I spotted what passed as treasure in this world. Unable to keep the smile off my face, I tossed it in my bag feeling almost giddy.

I somehow kept the smile off my face as I approached Asia.

“Change of plans,” I said as I stood next to her.