Staying Alive

10

“How long do you think this is going to take?” said Sadie.

Georgia and Sadie were lying on their stomachs in some tall grass. Georgia had a straight shot to the front door. As well as some windows. She just hoped they weren’t going to exit through the windows that she couldn’t see.

“Could be a long time, Sadie,” said Georgia, in a low voice. “Remember to speak quietly.”

“I hope James and Max are OK.”

Georgia didn’t say anything. She was hoping the same thing. She didn’t like having her kids separated from her, not in a situation like this. But she was going to have to get used to it.

“Can you see Chad?” said Georgia after a long pause, not taking her eye off the scope.

“Yeah,” said Sadie. “He’s still up there. He’s not moving very much. Probably trying to stay quiet.”

“I’m glad he had enough sense to kick the ladder down,” said Georgia. “You know, if it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“He’s nice, Mom,” said Sadie. “He’s trying his best.”

“Sometimes that isn’t good enough,” said Georgia. “Things are different now, Sadie. You’ve got to take this all seriously.”

“I am,” said Sadie. “I do my chores like everyone else. I keep a good watch. I’m getting better with a gun.”

Georgia didn’t say anything. She didn’t know how she could instill in Sadie the attitude that she needed to have.

Georgia’s thoughts turned towards the man that she had shot. It had left a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach, one that she couldn’t get rid of, no matter how much she told herself it was necessary.

But if given the chance, Georgia would do it again in a heartbeat. She was ready to shoot to kill. She wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger when the time came. Not for those men. She’d heard them talk. She may not have known their names, but she knew what kind of people they were.

“Do you hear that?” said Sadie.

Georgia heard it. She didn’t answer. She was too busy listening.

It was the sound of a car engine turning on. Georgia knew it must be the van. She hadn’t heard any gunshots, so there couldn’t have been a gunfight. It must have been Max or James moving the van out of the reach of the guys in the house.

“What’s going on?” said Sadie.

“Shh,” whispered Georgia.

Georgia was worried that the moving van might attract the attention of the men inside the house.

And she was right.

A moment later, she saw the door open.

Georgia had her eye glued to the scope.

A leg came out the door.

Georgia squeezed the trigger. She felt the kickback from the rifle, and her ears rang.

She’d fired too soon. She cursed herself. She’d literally jumped the gun. It was all the suspense of waiting, building up. But that shouldn’t have affected her. She was used to hunting. But she still wasn’t used to hunting people.

“You shot him!” said Sadie, much too loudly.

The man screamed in pain. He collapsed to the ground, falling out of the doorframe and onto the porch floor. He lay there, screaming, holding his leg.

Georgia waited and watched. She was holding her breath.

“Mom!” hissed Sadie, but Georgia ignored her.

Georgia was waiting to pull the trigger again. She was telling herself she was saving ammo by not firing and killing the man on the ground. She was telling herself that it was a strategic decision, that the second man might exit, and that she’d need to fire quickly to take him down.

But deep down, Georgia knew that she was hesitating because she didn’t want to take yet another life.

She knew she had to do it.

Seconds ticked past. They felt like an eternity to Georgia. She had tunnel vision, and the sounds of the world around her had faded. Her ears rang, and she wasn’t aware of anything but the man in her scope.

Georgia gritted her teeth.

She pulled the trigger.

The bullet struck him in the head.

Georgia breathed out.

Sadie didn’t say anything.

No one else appeared in the doorway.

Two down, one to go.

A gunshot rang out on the other side of the house.

“Mom!” said Sadie, tugging on Georgia’s arm. “We’ve got to get over there.”

For once, Sadie had some good advice.

Georgia snapped herself out of it. She didn’t look again at the dead man on the porch. She’d done what she’d needed to. She wasn’t going to apologize to herself for it.

Georgia sprang to her feet.

“Come on,” she said, taking Sadie’s hand and tugging it. “James and Max need our help.”

Part of Georgia wanted to stay back. Or to tell Sadie to stay back. She wanted to keep Sadie safe, but she also knew she might need her help in protecting Max, and more importantly, James.