Northern Exposure: The Divided

  Chapter 10

  Sky and I pushed our shopping carts side by side; through the clutter which lay scattered at our feet and around the large meteors blocking the centres of the aisle. We had fallen into our previous routine and again not a word was said by either of us. But then silence was interrupted by groans from the corner of the vegetable isle. From the darkness came the faint sounds of what sounded like an animal caught in a trap. I looked Sky in the eyes, confused and unsure of what to do next. The groan became higher, more pitched and I had to find out what it was. I walked towards the turned down cabbage shelf and before I knew Sky was right behind me with a shotgun drawn waiting for any sign of danger. As I slowly crept up to the dark corner I made out a pair of eyes. I reached out to the poor animal in need. But it did not move; it simply sat there whining.

  I softened my voice and begged it to come out, I tried whistling softly as well and then suddenly the animal reacted and moved a few inches which put it in direct sight with the light. Was it, No it could never be, I had to be seeing things! But then I saw it again, there was no mistaking that was no animal, that was a human child. But how did a child survive all this time out here all alone? ”

  Hey there little one, come out, it’s okay we won’t hurt you.” Once again I put on a soothing tone hoping to lure the young one out of the dark rank corner. The child just lay there cloaked away in the abyss of darkness. I crouched down and slowly approached her, trying to be as subtle as possible. The child crept towards me on her hands and knees, as she entered the light I made out blonde little locks, pale skin and....Then it struck me no normal child could survive here alone. My emotions had once again gotten the better of me and carelessly allowed me to slip up.

  ”REAPER!” I screamed and scurried then turned to run, but before I could get far enough she had pounced onto by back and was rearing to bite down on my neck. I screamed and shuffled moving franticly each time to set her off balance, so that she would need to readjust before biting down, I screamed for Sky who in turn kept shouting that I stand still. I did not listen until I tripped, landing hard to the floor with the little reaper still on top of me, fighting all my natural instincts I did exactly what Sky said. Without hesitation Sky cocked back the pump action and before I could try and fight back anymore a single shot had brain matter splattered across the room and all over me.

  I tossed the lifeless corps of the young girl off my back and jumped up and slowly backed away, wiping blood and tissue from my shoulders. To think this was once someone’s daughter or grandchild. I tried holding back the tears which swelled in my eyes. Clearly Sky wasn’t as effected as I was.”Let’s keep moving”. The harsh tone in her voice showed anger towards the girl rather than sorrow. She had been in the same scenario way too many times to allow any types of emotion to blur her judgment. Sky knew it was either kill or be killed. An important lesson I would have to learn, and quickly.