Glory (Book 1) by Michael McManamon Page B

the bed and pulled out a few more clothes. "There, I think that'll do."
    "Are you sure? It looks like you've taken out a lot."
    "I don't need this stuff. Just a few shirts. A sweater. And a couple of things I don't want to leave behind. I'll be fine."
    At this, Adam thought about his book. That was something he was going to leave behind. He didn't feel too upset by it. If anything, it was just a slight question as to whether or not he was doing the right thing that crossed his mind.
    "There's one more thing," Shelly added.
    Adam tilted his head. She had spoken a little unsure of herself.
    "What is it?" he asked.
    "My father has a gun."
    "A gun?"
    "In his bedroom. In the closet. I think we should take it."
    Adam thought about it. He had wanted to try to find one earlier, but hadn't wanted to look through the apartments. Of course, if they came across one of those creatures, or met another guy like Sam, it would be good to have.
    "I don't know," he said. He had never shot one before. He didn't know how to. More than that, he wasn't sure if he could kill anyone.
    "W e nee d to take it," Shelly said, picking up on his hesitation. "I don't want to kill anyone, either. But we may need it."
    Again, Adam looked at the young girl. She seemed so much more mature than he had been at that age.
    "Okay," he said. "I'll go get the gun."
    Shelly shook her head. "It's okay," she said. "I'll do it."
    "But your parents."
    Shelly raised her hand. "They're dead, I know. I heard them do it. I saw them after."
    Adam lowered his eyes. He still couldn't believe that she had had to experience such a thing.
    "I really don't mind," he said.
    Again, she shook her head. "No, I want to do it."
    Shelly left her backpack on the bed and walked out of the room.
     
    *
     
    Shelly came to her parents room. She had only looked inside yesterday, but that had seemed like such a long time ago. She didn't really want to see her parents again. She knew that they were dead. She knew how they had done it. They had clawed away at one another until they both died . No, she definitely didn't want to see them again . But this was something that she needed to do.
    She put her hand on the door knob and almost pulled back.
    There was nothing to worry about , she told herself . They were dead.
    She turned the knob and pushed at the door. As it opened, Shelly was able to see her mother and father lying on the floor. She looked again at their faces. The blood had started to dry. Their expressions had remained the same. They both looked angry.
    Shelly took a moment to prepare herself and entered the room.
    She quickly made her way to the closet. Although she wanted to take a closer look at her parents, she knew that it wasn't a good idea . What would she gain from it ? It was better to remember them as they were.
    She opened the closet door, sliding it sideways. Then she looked at her mother and father's clothes. Things that they had worn. Things that...
    No, it didn't do any good to think about it.
    She bent down, grabbed a stool from near the end of her parents' bed and stood on it. On the tips of her toes, she reached up for the gun. It was difficult to reach. The box was pushed far back against the wall.
    Eventually, her hands came upon the handle.
    She pulled the box forward and slid it off of the shelf. It fell, much heavier than she had expected. She had never actually lifted the box before. It pulled against her arm. She managed to stop it from falling to the floor.
    Shelly got off the stool and turned around. She didn't bother to close the closet door.
    Without looking at her parents, she left the room.
     
    *
     
    "Here you go," she said, holding up the gun box before her.
    Adam was standing by her parents' bedroom door. He had anxiously been waiting for her. He hated the idea of her seeing the dead bodies in there, but she had been adamant about it and he didn't want to stop her from doing it. It was obvious that she needed to deal with all that had happened in her own