Page 3 of Point of Infinity
“I’m sorry.” The guy with the gunshot wound chuckled. “Next time I’ll ask him to refrain from shooting until I get out of the way.”
The one with the familiar eyes joined him in a laugh.
Did they forget about me?
“Excuse me!”
They both looked over their shoulders. I fell back on my butt.
“Hey.” The one with the hazel eyes reached out and placed a hand on my leg. “Be careful. Are you hurt?”
“No.” I shook his hand off my leg, although it offered some comfort. “Who are you guys?”
“Don’t worry about that right now.” The one who took a bullet for me spoke up. He turned to his friend. “Got to check out downstairs.”
When he moved, the two bodies at the bottom of the stairs came into view. It was real. It wasn’t a dream, and if they were real, it meant . . .
I pulled myself up and stumbled down the stairs. He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me to him. “Whoa. Wait a minute, princess.”
“My mom.” I fought against him, but he had a solid hold on me.
The other guy stopped at the entryway to the living room.
“Oh, man.” He rubbed his stomach and looked back at me. Sadness filled those familiar eyes.
“Is she?”
He nodded.
I slumped in Ratchet’s arms.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered in my ear.
I wiped the tears from my eyes. Not yet, I couldn’t break down yet.
“I want to see her.”
“I don’t think that’s a good?—”
“Please.”
“Let her see.” Ratchet nodded to his friend. His head dropped, but he stepped out of the way.
Ratchet let me go but grabbed my hand with his good one. He led me into the living room. I peeked around him and saw it. My mother sprawled out on the floor.
Her clothes lay tattered in scraps on her body. Dark discolored bruises had already formed on her arms and legs. A distinct handprint wrapped around her left upper arm. Her eyeswere closed, but the only mark on her face was a smear of blood trickling out of the corner of her mouth.
Her face appeared so peaceful.
I dropped to my knees next to her but didn’t touch her. She appeared asleep, but her skin looked pale and clammy. The smell of death surrounded her. I would never get that smell out of my memory.
“We need to get out of here.” The guy with the hazel eyes backed away from us, but the one he called Ratchet squatted next to me.
“Give her a minute.” Blood had soaked his black bandana. It must have been painful, but he was being so kind to me. The other guy passed him a gun.
He set it on the floor next to my mother. He touched my arm. I jerked away and glared at him.
His eyes darted around. And his lips spread into a grimace.
