White Space Season 2

up!” Bruce shouted, banging again.
    Liz went to the window and unfastened the latch. She tried pulling it open, but it was stuck, and hard to manage with one hand still holding her baby.
    She had to set Aubrey down.
    Shit!
    Liz leaned over, laying Aubrey on the floor beneath the window. Her daughter’s shrill scream grew louder.
    “I know, I know, Baby. Just a minute,” Liz said as she yanked on the window, but it was still stuck. She pulled again, tugging harder until her fingers were white with pain and desperate for leverage.
    “It’s OK, baby, it’s OK, Mamma’s gonna get us out. Mamma is … ”
    The door burst open behind her, slamming into the wall like booming thunder. Light from the hallway flooded the room, and a shadow crossed into its path.
    Liz turned around just as Bruce raised the gun and shot her. Twice.
    The pain was immediate, in her chest and somewhere in her head, though she couldn’t tell where, as the feeling spread like fire through her skull.
    The last thing Liz saw as she hit the ground was her baby screaming — and Roger’s shadow draping them both.

    * * * *

EPILOGUE

    Alex pulled himself from the bed, his lower back on fire, with no sensation past his waist.
    Paralyzed.
    It was all he could do to stay conscious. All he wanted to do was close his eyes and drift off, but if he did that, he was certain he’d never wake. He was also certain his mother and sister would die. He had to save them.
    Light poured through his half-open doorway. He could hear banging down the hall. Bruce was going after his mother and baby sister, trying to get into Aubrey’s room.
    No, no, no!
    I have to stop Bruce. But how?
    Alex pulled himself along the floor, one bloodied arm at a time, like a wounded soldier crawling toward his door.
    He made it to the hallway just in time to see Bruce rear back and kick at the door. And then he was through it.
    Gunshots.
    Two of them.
    No!!
    Alex wanted to scream, but his voice was trapped in his throat — or perhaps he’d lost the ability to speak.
    He threw one arm in front of another, moving as fast as he could, his heart racing as he waited to hear another shot. His mother’s voice was still, leaving only Aubrey’s screams.
    She’s dead! No!
    Please don’t kill Aubrey. Please, please, please.
    Alex pulled himself closer to Aubrey’s room.
    Ten feet … nine …
    Every move a struggle that felt like it might be his last. He had no idea what he’d do once he reached the doorway. How he could possibly save Aubrey, or his mother, if she were still alive?
    Eight feet … seven … six …
    Alex heard the man laughing.
    No, please!
    Five feet … four feet …
    Aubrey’s screams grew louder.
    Is he hurting her? Get your fucking hands off my sister!
    Three feet … two feet … one …
    Alex slid his body through the doorway and saw the back of his mother’s head, blood in a spreading lake beneath her.
    No!
    Bruce was hunched over, pointing the gun into Aubrey’s chest, singing, “Hush little baby, don’t you cry … ”
    No! Don’t! Alex wanted to scream, wanted to stand, wanted to throw himself in front of his sister, take the bullet. But both body and voice betrayed him.
    She’s too young. Don’t!
    Bruce’s gun shook in his hands, a shaking that started to spread from his hand and through his body, as if he were in battle with himself.
    He shoved the gun against Aubrey’s head.
    Her scream cut through Alex’s heart. He had to get to her.
    No!!
    Bruce screamed, “Die, die, die!”
    No!
    Bruce stood, but instead of shooting down at Aubrey, he thrust the gun into his mouth and pulled the trigger.
    Blood spattered the window behind him as his body fell in a thunk to the floor beside Alex’s mother.
    Aubrey screamed, turning her head, seeing Alex.
    He crawled to her. Her eyes, so big and afraid.
    Six feet … five feet …
    I’m coming, Aubrey. I’m coming, Baby Sister.
    Four feet … three …
    As he drew closer to his mother, he saw the wounds, her wide open eyes, and realized she was dead.
    No!
    Don’t look at Mommy, don’t look. I’m coming.
    Two feet … One …
    He pulled himself to his sister and reached out to caress her face, pulling himself as close to her as possible, hoping to shield her from seeing their mother.
    It’s going to be OK, I’ve got you now.
    I’ve got you.
    But Alex couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer.
    He surrendered to the darkness, his final thoughts in vain as Aubrey’s screams carried out into the cruel,