[quote=@deegee]
There she was. [color=fff79a]klak. klak.[/color] Her boots on the tile. Her light wasn't helping the matter, and for a moment, he considered just pulling the trigger. Two of them. Two would mean trouble. Two would mean more will come. More would mean the stinkers. Trouble. Trouble... he couldn't trust her. Sure, sure. Not looking for trouble. [color=fff79a]klak.[/color] 

[color=598527]"Like the others. Right..."[/color] Easy... easy... game-face. (cosmetics, foundation, $6.99, aisle 6 -- 'beauty products.') [color=598527]"Shut up!"[/color] Sometimes that voice was just too present. too close. Bad timing. Did I say that out loud? The light... her light (C-cell batteries, checkout #3 display -- place where you just whacked Dude with an Edger -- $24.99, aisle 17 -- 'garden implements') [color=598527]"I said cut it OUT!"[/color] ...was still lingering close at-hand, so that he couldn't focus. [color=fff79a]klak.[/color] The gun wavered in his hand a little, aimed at her (general location.) The barrel of the gun looked big... dangerous. Dirty. Like it was ready to deliver infection and pain. The fact that it quaked slightly in his (nervous? sick?) hand did her no favours, though the fact that he wasn't pointing directly at her, but only vaguely at her, was of some consolation. 

[color=598527]"y-you just need to go. Away from here. Take your friend and leave. I-I just don't want to have to kill him. Or you. But you can't stay. Can't. I'm just not done, see? If I was done, you could stay, and it'd be swell."[/color] His face loses all emotion. [color=598527]"But I'm not. So you can't. Go."[/color] (bullets, security counter, no listed price [NFS!] -- you can always replenish...) [color=598527]"SHUT. UP!"[/color] 
[/quote]

[quote=@The DudeMan]
[h3][b]March 15, 2018 - Framingham, Massachusetts - Walmart[/b][/h3]

The room was spinning and he felt the cold on the open wound beginning to seep in as the blood began to drip all over the tiles around him. He blinked a few times as his eyes finally came somewhat into focus and he looked up to see his attacker crouched holding a gun and he could hear Bri approaching. He tried to free himself without gaining too much attention from the gunman but he was still kind of out of it and the more he struggled the more he felt himself losing consciousness. He had to help her, he had to do something but at the moment he was completely powerless to do anything. He could call out to her, he could warn her of the gun, but what would this guy do if he did that? He could try to tell her to run but would this guy shoot her in the back? He did hit Grant in the back so it's possible. He was getting desperate to step in, he struggled once more to no avail. His eyes began to well as the image of Bri being shot ran through his mind over and over again. He couldn't let that happen, he wouldn't. [color=0076a3]"Please--"[/color] his voice was weak but sincere, [color=0076a3]"Sir. Please. Don't hurt her."[/color] He pleaded. [color=0076a3]"Tell her to go. Do what you want to me, but please don't hurt her."[/color] He didn't know what else to do, he wasn't strong enough to break his bindings and he didn't want to risk her safety by calling to her or allowing her to do something heroic. So he pleaded and stared at the man as he laid in a growing pool of blood becoming dizzier and more light headed by the second. He felt tired, he felt weak, but he fought the urge to close his eyes and sleep until he knew that Bri would be safe. At least for now.
[/quote]

[b]March 15, 2018 - Framingham, Massachusetts - Walmart[/b]

Bri crouched momentarily, placing the flashlight on its end, beam reaching for the ceiling. It cast her immediate surroundings in a dim, dusty grey light, brushing the edges of each shape in a soft blur.

Somewhere under the layers of adrenaline, her heart sank a little for the man with the gun. The way he spoke, the tone in his voice… she’d heard it before, or at least variations of it at work. There was something broken about it. But then, weren’t they all a little broken now? Survival changed you. For better or worse, it changed you no matter who you were before. Those that say it doesn’t are lying. 

[color=7bcdc8]“We’ll leave, you have my word,”[/color] she reassured him in gentle tones, leaving her machete on the ground near the flashlight. She couldn’t see details, but the way his hand lightly shuddered was enough for her to put her weapon down. Any sign of a threat from her wouldn’t be received very well, for sure. [color=7bcdc8]“May I go to him? I’ll check him over and make sure he can walk and then we’ll be gone before you know it.”[/color] The young woman didn’t wait for an answer. Prudent to be cautious, yes, but she had no idea the extent of Grant’s injuries. For all she knew, he could have minutes to live. Slowly, casually, keeping her hands in a meek way, she knelt next to her best friend and tried to assess without touching him. [color=7bcdc8]“Grant? Where does it hurt? Can you move?”[/color] she asked calmly.