“Dad, is this true?” I knelt down beside him.
“We don’t have time for this! Leonard had to have heard the gunshots.”
“Dad! I need to know, please.”
I already knew. He looked drenched in guilt. I knew that look; it was hard to miss. He just sat there, slumped, staring at the floor. “I had to get back to you. I had lost your mom and I was delirious with pain. I had only one direction in my mind and that was back to you. I was convinced I would do anything to return to you.” Regret poured across his features. He looked at Tex, then back at me. “You have to understand. I hate myself for it. Every day I wish I could go back in time; I wish I could fix it all.”
I shook my head. Hearing it from Tex was one thing, but hearing it from my own father completely shook my world; it reshaped my life. The world was a hard place now and people would do anything to survive, though that didn’t justify his actions. He was my dad; I would always love him, but I knew I would never be able to look at him the same way after his confession.
“Why didn’t you come back to the bunker?” I croaked.
“I ran into Leonard and his gang and by the time I figured out what their plan was, I was too deep in to leave; I didn’t want to bring them back to you. It seems it was all for naught though.”
I sat silent.
“Elle, sweetie? Please say something.”
“There is nothing to say.” I gave him a kiss on the forehead and returned to Tex’s side. “Don’t kill him. Can’t you see he’s already suffering from the immense guilt he feels?” I looked at my dad with pity.
Tex didn’t say anything. I could tell that it took every ounce of strength he had to not use my dad’s head as a soccer ball.
“Just leave. Leave now. I’ll handle things here. Just go!” My dad gave me a quick hug, but he didn’t spare a glance at Tex. There were still so many questions that I wanted— needed —answered, like what happened to my mom, but he quickly shoved us out through the door and pointed down the hall. “Go that way. Make two rights and you’ll find the exit. There’s about four hours left until daybreak. You have to hurry. Please, just go!”
“I love you, Dad.” I said as I gave him one last hug.
“I love you too, Elle. My strong, beautiful girl.”
He handed me his pistol. I gave him a weak smile and turned away, following behind Tex. His shoulders were tense, wanting to give in to his innate desire to destroy my father.
It was all concrete—floor to ceiling—with fluorescent ceiling lights flickering every ten or so feet. It was clear and right before our first turn, we passed by a door that was slightly ajar. Tex peaked in; I followed suit and I saw a man I hadn’t yet met sitting at a desk. When I saw what he was doing and what he had, I couldn’t just let him be.
He was looking at an unrolled, laminated piece of paper—the map. Our backpacks and Tex’s axe leaned against the wall beside him. If I was correct, that was my utility belt lying on the desk. My knife would be there. I missed my knife.
I took a deep breath and willed all my strength up to the surface. I stepped passed Tex and kicked open the door. The man stood up, alert.
“ Blondie!” Tex hissed.
“ What the fuck!” He picked up his gun and aimed it at me. He knew he wasn’t supposed to shoot me; I was the female. I was the one who would be impregnated with mini-Franks and whoever else wanted a turn. I would not allow that. Ever. Suddenly, I had all the courage I needed and if I wasn’t going to let that happen, I had to do something about it. I raised my pistol and pulled the trigger. He fell against the wall. His eyes were wide; he never thought I had the guts. I was running off of pure adrenaline now. I watched as the man slid down the concrete, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. I ran to the desk and buckled my utility belt around my hips. My
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