Apocalypsis 04 - Haven

going to refuse to respond.
    “No comment,” he finally said.
    Winky laughed bitterly. “No comment? What? You think this is a fucking news interview, dude? I’m telling you right now … you’re dead if there are slaves or cannibal meals in there. Dead. Like as a doornail kind of dead. I’m not playing.” She waved her gun at him a little. Her tone said she was thoroughly disgusted with him, just like I was.
    Looking at Winky, I was just a little afraid she was going to go berserker on him. She seemed a little too excited about shooting him doornail style or whatever.
    “It ain’t like that,” he said, wiping the blood from beneath his nose. “I don’t eat kids. That shit’s disgusting.”
    “Whatever. We’ll get the story from them,” I said. I turned to Winky. “You got this?” I gestured to our bleeding truck driver. I wanted Winky to stand guard while I let those kids out.
    “Yeah. I got this,” she said, her tone menacing. “He makes one move, and he’s dead meat. Vulture food. Gator bait.”
    “Back up a little, give yourself room to maneuver,” I said, tugging on her sleeve.
    I faced him fully. “You have any weapons on you?”
    He shrugged.
    “I’m coming over to disarm you. You do anything stupid and my friend will shoot you. You understand?”
    He didn’t do anything. He was being stupid and trying to face me down.
    “Seriously, man. She’s little, but she’s vicious. Don’t think she won’t do it.”
    I wasn’t lying. Winky would probably shoot if she had to, but I was praying she wouldn’t have to. Chances were I’d get clipped or worse.
    He nodded finally.
    I walked over cautiously, waiting for him to make a move. But he just stood there and watched me come, wiping his nose off on his forearm a couple times. It left bloody smears across his skin that made me sick to my stomach, reminding me too much of the blood I’d seen at the canner house and elsewhere.
    “Who are you?” he asked when I got close.
    “Nobody you need to worry about.”
    “You’re that chick, ain’t ya? The ball-biter.”
    I groaned inwardly. “Shut up.”
    “You took that guy’s nuts off, didn’t you? You’re the one everyone’s talking about.” A small smile came to his lips. He looked happy that I’d chomped on a testicle. I didn’t know whether that was a good sign or a bad sign.
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” That’s it. Play stupid. Do not think about that guy’s nasty, smelly crotch and his testicle blood filling your mouth . My stomach clenched. My visual memory was way too sharp for my own good.
    “There’s a bounty on your head, you know.”
    My blood froze. Now I was sick and terrified. I didn’t want to clue this guy into the truth of his suspicions, but the idea of a bounty or contract on my head had me scared shitless. How am I going to live a peaceful life if a bunch of kids will always be out there trying to hunt me down?
    “Turn around,” I said, my voice gruff. I breathed in and out rapidly, trying to dispel the horrible feelings that were welling up inside my head and heart. I had to stay calm and collected so I could be ready for any sudden moves.
    He obeyed without complaint.
    I stepped closer and felt around the waistband of his shorts. He had a knife in a holder attached at his belt and another one in his combat boot.
    He turned back to face me as I stepped away.
    “I ain’t a bad guy, you know.” He tried to smile but winced when the pain came from his nose. He reached up and touched it gingerly, sniffing once and then groaning.
    “We’ll see about that.” I walked backwards until I was even with Winky, never taking my eyes off him. “He’s clean now. I’m going to check the truck.”
    “Good. I’ve got this. You can tell me about the ball-biting later.”
    My face went crimson, but I said nothing. Maybe if I pretended it was no big deal, she’d forget all about it. I walked backwards all the way to the trailer, only taking my eyes off my friend when I reached the end of it.
    Rob and Bodo came walking up at the same time.
    I looked back to see where Paci was, noticing immediately that he wasn’t with Rob and Bodo. I could make out his bent-over form, still sitting on the ground, his head hanging down. Bodo and Rob were sweating like crazy and both of them had beet-red faces.
    “Is Paci okay?” I asked, searching their expressions for clues of his condition.
    “He’ll be alright,” said Rob. “Nothing broken, just