January 7, 1939

I trudged along the pavement at a sedate pace, my mind focused on the gentle footsteps that seemed to echo throughout the street. It seemed like I was the only one on a mission at five o' clock in the morning, but I could faintly hear the noises of people moving around in their house. The houses around here had thin walls so if there was a murder occurring down the street, half the town could hear it. Sadly, they did not hear the sounds of twenty-two people getting stuffed into a small shed. About fifteen of them were already in the ground, the rest in the shed.

"I counted them all. I don't know how the boss did it, but he hid them pretty well. I would think I had common sense to know what was going on, but I didn't." He rubbed the middle of his forehead, hard. "I feel like a dumbass."

"You knew it was wrong and you did it regardless," I started. "All I feel is bitterness and sadness. If they were killed by the virus, I wouldn't have been so upset. It's like cancer. It invades the body, killing it slowly. It hurts, but damn it isn't murder! Jack, we could go to jail for this." Jack takes off his jacket. He reached behind him and took out a gun. He made sure it was loaded and slipped it into the waistband of his trousers, under his shirt. This is the only time I get to see his eyes. I stand beside him, with my arms crossed and my eyes locked on him.

"Don't look at me like that, things happen. Are you going to help me or what?" He throws me the shovel, walking towards the shed. He unlocks it, swinging open the door. Suddenly, he steps back. His legs go weak and he falls on the ground. There is no one in the shed. My palms were sweaty and the adrenaline coursing through my system was shutting down my ability to think logically. Jack lunges back into the shed, scraping the ground like a mad man.

"They aren't here, damn it Focker, they aren't here!" There were fast footsteps behind us, threatening to expose our secret. My toes start to curl in my shoes as I turn to see he culprit. It's Adobe. He walked up to me, patting me on the back. My relief was showered by Jack's voice. "It was him. He was the one spying on me. Focker, he knows our secret."

"No, that's Adobe. He's my friend."

"He knows our secret."

"Adobe doesn't know."

"He knows our secret." This time, his voice went cold. It seemed like he was accusing me of something. Jack took Adobe by the ground, covering his mouth. His scream was stifled. I could hear him panting, like an animal gone wild. My grip on the shovel had tightened. I hit Jack across the back, but it was useless he would not let go of Adobe. By this time, Jack had a firm grip on Adobe's hair, smashing his face into the dirt. He kicked the back of my leg, causing me to stumble. I almost fell straight on my face. I felt the pain and saw the second blow come for my abdomen.

"I do not want to hurt you, but he knows about the bodies." From the ground, Adobe pleaded.

"I swear, I don't know what you are talking about!" His mouth bled. Dirt and grass surrounded the corners of his mouth. Tears streamed down his face. "Jack, stop. Please!" He didn't listen. He put his foot on Adobe's neck, pressing as hard as he could. "We have to kill him. He'll  tell the police if we don't," he cried. Jack pulls out the gun from his trousers, pointing it at him. Adobe screams, a mixture of confusion and fear. The scream was pain put into the air, loud enough for anyone who cared to help end it. I know someone heard him.

"The bodies aren't here anymore. Do you think Adobe would have the strength to take the bodies away. He is just as dumb as I. Trust me, he wouldn't do something like that. Jack, look at me." He refused to have eye contact with me. I stepped forward, but then I heard the gun click.

"Think about the consequences after you kill him. You will go to jail for a long time. Do you want that?" I gripped my abdomen, doubling over. It was hard to breath and it was even harder to keep my cool. My stomach hurt. 

"But, the bodies..." He whispered.

"Fuck the bodies. It's just you, me and Adobe." It seemed as if his emotions had wavered. He kept waving the gun between the ground, Adobe and I. Even if the chances were there and Jack killed Adobe, I would never forgive him. You don't murder people, it's not right. I would have to go in, I knew I would save him, but at least this way his mind had a few moments longer to prepare. Silence was the only thing between us.

Suddenly, Jack shook his head. Adobe screamed.

"Jack!" 

The gun went off.