Page 47 of Senseless
“Alright, now can I go check out these cars?” he asked.
“Yeah, go ahead. I gotta make sure I disarm this thing now.” I shifted to the side so Slick could jump out. He approached the road at a jog while I pulled the detonation wires from the trigger. I was preoccupied with insulating the wires so nothing else would set them off when I heard the series of shots.
“Ah, fuck!” Slick shielded his head with his arms, turning abruptly to run back toward me, then he fell.
“SLICK!” I roared, scrambling to get out of my crevice, but more rapid fire popped off and I was forced to duck back between the rocks for cover.
“Jandro—ughh—they’re up top!” Slick started pulling himself on his elbows, his legs bloodied and dragging behind him.
“I know, buddy. I’m coming to get you.” I barely had the arm space to pull my gun out, but fuck if I was about to leave him out there.
“No, stay covered!”
“Shutup, Slick!”
I jumped out, not giving a damn that I was making myself a target. Gunfire rained down around me as I grabbed the back of Slick’s cut and dragged him to the bottom of the rocky wall we’d hidden in. Miraculously, nothing seemed to hit me.
“VP, you need to getoutof there!” I recognized the frantic voice as Brick’s, shouting from the top of the ridge.
More gunfire filled the air—some pointed down at us, while other shots exchanged above us. I had to stabilize Slick first but fuck, I prayed Brick and the others weren’t overwhelmed.
“You’re gonna be fine,” I told Slick, taking off my cut and then my long-sleeved shirt. “Your first time getting shot, huh?” I watched his face, trying to make sure he was still lucid while I wrapped my shirt around his thigh and used the sleeves to tie a knot above his bullet wound.
The kid was squirming and nearly gnawing his lips off in pain, but nodded tightly.
“No one tells you this butnowyou’re a real Demon,” I said, pulling and tightening the knot. “You know how many times I’ve been shot? I’ve lost count at this point. One little slug to the leg ain’t gonna do shit to you, man.”
I started wracking my brain, trying to remember the major arteries in the leg Mari told me about, when Slick placed a bloody, scraped hand on my shoulder and shoved me hard to the side.
“Dude, what—“
He raised his opposite hand—his shooting hand—and fired three times in rapid succession. The next thing I heard was something heavy tumbling down from the rocks across the road, a body, with his weapon clattering down alongside him.
When another shooter popped his head and weapon out from his cover, I was ready. I fired first at the rock he braced his arms on, then at his chest when he jumped away. He fell dead, stuck in the crevice where he hid.
I looked back at Slick with a shaky smile. “See? You’re watching my back like it’s just another Tuesday.”
He laughed dryly, then immediately winced in pain. “I gotta keep you sharp, VP.”
“You’re doing a good job.” I tapped my palm to his chest, trying not to show my worry at his face growing paler. “You always have, and will continue to do so when we get back. ‘Cause this little scrape ain’t no big thing and I need you, okay?”
He nodded, more weakly than before.
“Stay put for a sec. I’m gonna check on Brick.” The gunshots above us had ceased and I didn’t know whether to dread or feel good about whatever that meant.
No sooner had I started climbing up the ledge than shots sent tiny explosions of dirt and gravel into my eyes. I curled up on instinct, spinning and forcing my eyes open to the coward hiding on the opposite ledge. My shots were wild and panicked, but the shooter slumped limply over a boulder, leaving a red smear.
I looked back down at Slick, making a small noise of disbelief as he shakily lowered his gun and gave me a weak thumbs-up with the other hand.
“Kid needs a promotion,” I muttered, finishing my climb to the lookout area.
Staying behind a rock, I quickly reloaded and peeked around cautiously, but soon figured out it was all for naught. I stood, coming out slowly to find several bodies laid out across the ground. Too many. Too still.
“Ugh, Jesus…” I rubbed my mouth, stuck somewhere between wanting to vomit, cry, and scream.
Soldiers clad in black camouflage were lying dead. But Brick was also lying face down. His nephew Wells was a few feet away. I spun around, looking to the ridge across the road, and saw more bodies there too.
Ours and theirs.
