red hill - jamie mcguire

had been in a long time, or maybe it had just been a long time since I’d noticed. A gentle wind blew
the leaves on the trees, making it sound like lazy waves pulling away from the sand.
As beautiful and calm as it was in this tiny town, being outside was a risk, and the absence of cars
on the road or even the occasional stray dog made even a perfect day fearsome.
Several gunshots rang out in the distance, echoing and bouncing so many times we didn’t know
which direction they came from. It was too far away to be in town, but everyone but Joey looked
around, uneasy and unsure how to react.
“Let’s get the shit we need, and get out of here,” I said.
Everyone agreed with a nod, and we set off toward the grocery store, more cautious knowing there
were still dead citizens of Shallot making their way to the noisy car on the highway. Joey walked with
both hands on his gun, holding it in front of his body while he walked sideways like you’d see in a
movie. It was kind of sexy, but I still thought he was an arrogant asshole. My mother liked to share
what she learned while drowning in the dating pool, and the one thing she said over and over was that
it took a certain personality to be a soldier, a cop, or a firefighter. None of which I was attracted to,
but for whatever reason, watching Joey move like an action hero made something inside of me squeal
like a fan girl.
Cooper had emptied his duffle bag and was carrying it with one hand, and holding Ashley’s hand
with the other. We all stopped just outside the door, fidgeting and nervous. I hated not knowing what
to expect, especially when something that wanted to eat us alive could be inside, and I imagined
everyone else had the same thoughts.
Joey glanced down at Cooper’s duffle bag. “Water, weapons and ammo, food. In that order.”
We all nodded.
Joey crouched down, and Cooper did the same. He looked like a little boy trying to emulate his
favorite super hero. He stepped his foot inside the nylon handles and dragged the bag along with him.
What are you doing Joey mouthed, immediately reacting to the noise the duffle bag made as it
slid across the floor with each step Cooper took.
Cooper held up his hands. Hands free, he mouthed back.
Joey rolled his eyes and shook his head. Cooper looked like a scolded puppy, stepping back out of
the duffle bag’s handle before picking it back up. A few moments later, we heard a noise come from
the back.
Four pairs of eyes grew wide, and Ashley immediately attached herself to Cooper’s side. Joey
disappeared down one of the short aisles. We all stood around, not sure what to do.
Joey returned, his posture more relaxed, and his gun at his side. “Must have been an animal. I
didn’t find anything.”
“Let’s get to work,” Bryce said. He took a miniature basket, the perfect size for that miniature
store, and I followed him as he made his way up and down the aisles. He grabbed water bottles,
canned goods, Ramen noodles—which was a staple for us as college students, anyway—a couple of
large screwdrivers, various sizes of knives, a meat tenderizer mallet, an umbrella, and a few brooms.
“You gonna clean someone’s house” I teased.
Bryce unscrewed the bristle end and then picked up a knife. “Spear.”