Chapter 62 Bullets from the Past

"What are we going to do now?"
I saw Timothy sitting on the mattress as he rubbed both of his eyes, wondering what was happening. Jayson is on full alert and Li is drunk as hell and nothing could wake him up. He just moaned as Jayson shook his shoulders and I hushed them, giving them a warning not to make any noise.
The color on Roanie's face suddenly went pale as she leaned against the wall, terrified of what will happen to us if ever the queer strangers find us all here. We're not sure if they're the kind of people that could talk things out but I doubt it the way they move and talk to each other as if cursing is a natural part of their speech.
"Don't panic, ok? Let's just pray they won't stay here for two long. We just don't make any noise so they won't locate us here. Prepare your weapons by your side in case they make anything that is threatening, understand?" I whispered to Roanie.
I understand her fears. Killing a Creeper isn't a big thing at all... but killing a human who thinks just like us, moves just like us and reasons just like us would be terrifying. We have no idea what is in their minds and if they're good people or not. We couldn't just trust anyone just like how we thought Melvin was a good person, but the truth is, he just used us to know some information about the bunkers and if anything happened at any bunker that they'll attack, it will be all on my conscience...
I looked slightly at the window again, and saw the tall men enter the building. We could all hear their insane laughter and the heavy steps of the leather boots on the wooden floor of the lobby as they all talked in a slur manner, which made it incomprehensible for us. They have like weird accent and when I look at Jayson's face, it's him that looks as pale as paper now.
"What's wrong? Do you know these people?" I hissed at him, his face panic stricken as he grip on his rifle tight.
He nodded, scared. It's called but his neck glistened with cold sweat. "They're members of the gang I used to be with. I don't understand how they came to this place."
"What? Of all the places, you and those people are in here? They'll kill us all if we won't do anything, Jayson! We should do something."
"I know. It's probably me who they are looking for in this place. I still have a few unsettled issues with my former boss and apparently, he had sent those men to collect my debt."
"You mean your life." I told him, my face hard as a steel as I looked at his troubled face, the Adam's apple in his throat moved up and down, swallowing the fear that makes his hand shiver while he's gripping his rifle.
I've never seen Jayson so scared like this and I already know that these men are cold blooded killers who are hired to assassinate him. I can't believe they had come to this place, not knowing that their target was just here in the same building as them. Fate is scary sometimes.
We couldn't do anything but to stay still in the room as the noisy, scary men down the first floor looked for a good room to rest. They are laughing like crazy over something and they shout when they talk. I curse as many times as I could remember while ensuring their stupidity. They are attracting danger in this place and if any Scarlet Tundra come here accidentally, god help us if they won't blow this place into smithereens with me, my friends and these stupid gang people.
"We'll be safe if we won't make any noise. I know those men. They're dumb as dogs. They won't come up here unless they notice something that will catch their attention." Jayson whispered to me and Mona and Roanie sat side by side as Timothy look at us, having no idea what is happening.
"It's ok Timothy. You can go back to sleep. You need to recuperate so your shoulders will heal fast. Do you need your pain killers?" I asked him with concern and he shook his head without saying anything but he's aware that there's a danger surrounding us as he heard the loud laughter down the first floor. I'm glad we don't have to explain everything to him and he just lays back on the mattress, being silent as a ghost.
"Get some rest, Roanie, Mona. Jayson and I will take care of everything. We'll watch and make sure those people won't find out we're here." I spoke to them with a voice as low as I could and they both nervously laid their backs on the soft mattresses that Li dusted a while ago. I look at him and he's peacefully sleeping, I guess the brandy helped a lot to ease and calm his nerves.
"We'll be fine. Let's just wait for those men to go away first before we leave this place. We can't show ourselves to them. They'll kill us all in sight." Jayson whispered to me.
"Everything will be ok, Jayson. Just relax. You can't aim right if you're trembling like that. Just inhale and fill your lungs with air ok? You won't fight alone if anything happens. We're all in this. I'll fight with you." I whispered to him while we're sitting side by side, my arm touching his arm. His hand searched for mine and when he felt it, he held it and intertwined our fingers as tight as he could. I rested my head on his shoulder as we both listened to the strange laughter of these men who hunted him and wanted him dead.
The light from the pale silver moon entered from the slight opening of the window of the room and we both focused on the light it cast on the floor. I could feel Jayson's nervous feeling as I try my best to keep his hand still, making him know that I'm here with him and there's nothing bad happening if we're just very careful. I have no idea what kind of debt he owed from his former boss but if it's money, apparently, it would be a really huge amount.
I want to ask him if my speculation is right but I just preferred being silent and just closed my eyes, as I feel Jayson's body stop from trembling. I guess what I'm doing works and he's somehow feeling that what I said is true. We just need to stay silent because I am sure those people won't examine this place if they're just staying for a night just like us. I think they're too confident of their ability and their broad body that nothing scares them for now. I wonder if they had already encountered Creepers though but it's impossible not to see one when these monsters are already all over Arcania.
This continent sure is doomed to fall and not too long, this place will be shrouded with the rebels and there will be chaos everywhere.
I wish that if that ever happens, I had already saved my dad and Carl and we could go somewhere safe, away from this place and from any complicated issues of the New Arcanian Republic. There is no point in staying here after all. As soon as the Scarlet Tundra take over this continent, this place will have no hope anymore and it's just a place of despair rather than bringing hope for its people.
The New Arcanian Republic had failed us all. They had all abandoned the people and only the privileged ones has the opportunity to live longer and I feel bad for the people who had never received any kind of help from the government of Arcania, just like Melvin and his people.
The imbalanced treatment made this country a living hell. There's no doubt it's people are turning against them and wanting to take down its leaders.
The laughter and cheers from the men down the first floor are slowly turned into loud snores. Jayson is right. These people are dumb and I wonder how long are they going to stay alive in this place if they're acting such like idiots. Just the noise they made are sign that they won't last a week in this place.
"Get some sleep, Harriet. I'll stay up and wake you if I need to sleep next." His hand squeezed my hand and I leaned closer to him, feeling the warmth of his body. "You work too hard a lot lately. You need rest."
"Fine. I'll try to drive tomorrow then so you can get more sleep." I whispered to him, my breath created a white smoke from the coldness and my eyes caught Li curling his body into a ball as he shivered. Because of the unwelcome strangers in the first floor, we now have to endure the coldness of this place, wishing that it would be better to sleep having a fire in the middle of us.
Before I decided to sleep, I kissed Jayson on the lips and leaned my head back to his shoulders as we huddle together for the warmth.