Page 13 of Marked for Execution

I was lost in my thoughts when someone called out, “Hello!”

It was one of the older ladies walking in the same direction. I tipped my cap and waved without giving her a verbal greeting back. Everyone who came across me thus far knew I chose not to say much, and they all seemed okay with it.Everyone except for what’s-his-face.Hopefully, I didn’t run into him again. I already had my dose for today.

When I came upon the larger homes located in the center of the community, my palms got clammy. I didn’t like being around so many people at the same time. I didn’t know who might have their eyes on me. Maybe I was just paranoid, but some days I felt like my senses were on overdrive and I didn’t understand why.

A random resident walked by, and my nose twitched. I could smell their unwashed body before they even made it beside me.No one else was scrunching their nose or giving him looks. It further led me to believe that my sense of smell was more sensitive than everyone else's.

With my fragmented memories, I was still learning—or relearning—things about myself.

Ignoring that line of thought for now, I continued forth with the goal of buying what I needed. I had some homemade bread and mayonnaise at home. I just needed to find something to put in the middle of the sandwich. The community had a small pen to the north for our farm animals, near the main shop. Now that we had a sheep from the last outing, I wondered if we would get more wool for the colder months—or milk.

Two houses down from the store, I saw there was already a good handful of customers looking around the front crates and inside.Alright, I told myself,just get what you need and go home.I walked through the double front doors and tried my best not to touch anyone as I dodged people milling about. The fact that I could smell their different scents was enough. I didn’t want to overload my senses.

Grabbing a head of lettuce, I spied a cucumber and grabbed that, too. If they didn’t have any meat available today, I could eat some sort of vegetable sandwich.

“Hey! What will you be needing today?” the guy behind the counter asked. He had a friendly smile, and I found myself giving him a small one back.

“Meat?” I tried to lower the tenor of my voice so that it sounded more androgynous.

“Alright. Here, let me grab the clipboard. Choose one of the community services, and I’ll be right back with what you need. We only have pork today, is that alright with you?”

I nodded my head as he handed me the sheet. The community was run by services instead of money. Trade goods worked too. Since I didn’t have a garden or anything good I found on the outing, I would have to sign up for community service.

Looking through the list, I was at a loss of what I wanted to do. Everything seemed to have the possibility of too many people around me.

“Have you decided yet?”How did he make it back so fast? Or was I standing here that long?

A large arm went around me and grabbed the meat that was meant for my order. I was about to whip my head around and say my peace when I saw a face I recognized. It was the other guy from the truck, the one that hung around with Eliseo. Just as broad, with darker skin, he cocked his head like he was challenging me.

My eyes narrowed as I calculated how far I would get if I kicked him in the balls, grabbed the pork, and ran.

“Samuel! What’s up, man? This one’s actually for the kid right here. You’re going to have to get the next one.”

Samuel stared at me; his smirk didn’t leave his face. “Nah, I got you. I’m just grabbing it for him. He’s doing community service with me.”

What?

“Oh, alright. I didn’t realize you guys had an arrangement already. Let me know when he completes it, so I can clear out his tab.”

“You got it.”

Samuel held onto my lunch, wrapped in paper, and I debated whether I should just have that vegetable sandwich I was considering earlier.Yeah. That sounds much better.I didn’t want to hang out with him or Eliseo any more than I had to.

Turning my heel without a word, I quickly walked out of the house.

“Hey!”

Fuck him. He could shove that pork up his ass, for all I care.

“Hey!”

This was beginning to become Deja vu. With my lettuce and cucumber in hand, I began to dodge the people milling about in the center of the community. Everyone looked at us strangely, while I ran into those that weren't looking at all. “Sorry!”

I dodged a poor old lady who pushed a wheelbarrow, but she tripped when Samuel ran into her, his momentum too much to stop. I was torn between using her as a diversion and stopping her fall because of my guilty conscience.

Dammit all!My feet moved before my brain even made up its mind.

Chapter 3