The walk there was short and calm, but now the real issue began. Reapers were guarding the entrance to the building, with no signs of moving away. “So...um anyone gotta plan? We can’t exactly take these guys head on.” Mason looks back at the group, everyone looks equally lost, except for Roxxy whose smirk is a mile wide.” She steps forward and pats Mason with a loud thwack, and falls forward slightly. “See, this is why you guys are lucky to have me around. You’re not thinking hard enough you gotta-”

“Go around the back and find the employee entrance, and Brendon can lock pick it.” Roxxy whips around at Robin, glaring at the person who dared to interrupt her. Mason just smiles at her. “Nice plan, Brendon are you up for it?” Before he can answer, Aaron comes up behind him and slings an arm around his shoulder. “Of course he’ll do it. Right B-Dog.”

“Um..I appreciate it, but please don’t call me that.”

“Pfft-” Mason doubles over laughing, and Amy just smiles and shakes her head at the two. Robin and Roxxy just exchanges glances at head out without them. The others jolt when they see the pair leaving and briskly walk to catch up.

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They ended up not needing Brendon’s help, as the back door was slightly ajar. No one was perturbed by it, except Mason, whose queries were immediately shot down by the group. “Someone probably just left it open after running away. If a monster is chasing you, you don’t exactly stop to close the door. “ Aaron’s explanation didn’t fully ease his stress, but in their situation, not much would. They go inside, and the eerie quiet goes unnoticed. The silence is broken by Roxxy excitedly gasping and running towards a crossbow hanging on a wall. “You guys see this beautiful baby? This is a Ravin R15 crossbow. Oh I’ve always wanted one of these.” She continues to gawk at the weapon while Mason and Aaron share worried glances.

“Well anyway. I suggest you all look around and find somethin’ ya like. When you do find something, show it to me, and I say if you can use it or not. Then I’ll teach you how to work it.” She slings the crossbow over her shoulders and looks for arrows. Everyone else awkwardly bumbles around; None of them had been around this much weaponry before. Rustle. Mason stops dead in his tracks. “Did you guys hear that?”

“Don’t let your anxieties get the best of you. We already have one basket case we don’t need two.” Brendon doesn’t seem to notice her snide remark as he stares worriedly at Aaron who is playfully swinging around a combat knife. Rustle. “There it is a ag-mmph!”

A man emerges from the counter behind him and has his hand on Mason’s mouth, this other is clutching a pistol aimed at his head. “Nobody move. Tell me why you are here, and I might just let your friend here live.” Everyone freezes except Roxxy, who takes it as a challenge. “Oh yeah? Why are you so trigger happy to kill an innocent kid? How are we supposed to know you aren’t some escaped convict.”

“Ha. You really think I’m gonna be intimidated by a kid? And no, I am not an escaped convict. The world right now is a bad place, and people are becoming desperate. How do I know you aren’t scouts for a larger group? I watched a man get shot today over a loaf of bread.”

“I didn’t realise it was like this. We haven’t seen many people around. We are just scared kids trying to make it to Selenus. Please. Don’t hurt him.”

“Why should I-”

“Waah. Waah.”

“Shit.” The man darts after the source of the crying. Mason drops to his knees, petrified like a mannequin. Aaron picks him up and tries to console him.

“Alright. Just grab a weapon and ammo. We are getting the fuck out of here. I am not dying today because of some weirdo.” Everyone follows after Roxxy, and they head towards the back door, but Amy falters. “Um, guys. I’ll be right back.” Amy turns back and goes after the strange man. Roxxy holds Brendon back. “I’m trusting her for now. Even if something went wrong, that just means more of us get hurt.”

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Amy heads to the staff room where the man seemed to have gone. The door is cracked and she leans over to see through the sliver. She could make out a baby, and the man cradling it in his arms, trying his best to calm it down. She pushes the door open and the man freezes like a deer in the headlights. Amy puts her hands up in mock surrender.

“We aren’t trying to hurt you in anyway. I can tell you are scared, and just trying to protect your child. Is there anything you might need?”

The man looks confused for a moment, and then booms with laughter. “My, you are an interesting girl, I hold your friend at gunpoint, and you offer to help me. Why?”

“A friend of mine lost herself when her sister died, and she always blamed herself. She never told me she was suffering, and in return, she got so bad she almost took her own life, and she even ended up in Juvy. I vowed after that I always try and help people when they are suffering, even when they don’t directly ask for it.”

The man smiles warmly. “I’m touched. This is my daughter, her name is Emma. I’m worried because her mother became...” He trails off and stares somberly into the distance, but manages to regain his composure before tears could begin to burst from their dams. “And now, my baby girl is in pain, I know she gets headaches because she always cries. Poor girl, at her age, every pain you experience is the worst you’ve ever had.”

Amy looks at Emma’s beautiful green eyes and smiles. “She’s cute, and I can help you.” She pulls a baggie of aspirin out of her cardigan pocket. “I used to suffer from headaches too when I was younger. So I always keep a bag of painkillers in my pocket just in case. Please, take them.” She hands the drugs to him, and he accepts, but his face is strained.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to take advantage of you, but...”

“I understand, but taking care of your daughter is more important than being fair to a stranger.” He still looks pained, but then his expression turn to happy and he perks up.

“No, wait. I do have something.” Go behind the front counter, and you’ll find a cardboard box. Take it, it’s full of walkie-talkies. That should help you.”

“Thank you very much.”

Amy leaves the man and Emma, and she takes the box and reunites with the group. Roxxy looks particularly annoyed. “what took you so long, and what the hell is that?’

“Oh well, I was just getting a gift from a friend.”