The Conch Shell of Doom by Ryan Hill Page A

being recognized, so he and Alexis left the museum the way they came in. Since the museum was designed for people to travel in one direction, they got tangled up in a group of tourists. After a few minutes of weaving through everyone, the two walked out of the museum.
    And found themselves face-to-face with Percy.

    Bailey didn’t have the awareness to keep moving and act like nothing happened. He stopped, a confused look on his face. Alexis nudged Bailey to do exactly that, but he didn’t react fast enough. Percy noticed them as he lit a cigarette.
    “Hey, it’s you kids.” He exhaled through his nose as he spoke. “You’re not following me, are you?”
    Bailey’s mouth went dry. Does he know?
    “No, after you asked us about the museum, we got to talking and realized neither of us had been here since the third grade.” Alexis put her aviators on. “It didn’t take long for us to remember why.”
    “It’s pretty weak.” Percy flicked ash on the sidewalk.
    Whew. Bailey glanced at Alexis, appreciative of her quick thinking. She’s pretty good in a tight squeeze. If she weren’t there, he would’ve stammered for a bit and then tried to run away.  
    “Isn’t it?” The sun’s glare coming off the aviators made it impossible to read her face.  
    Percy’s unbandaged eye narrowed. “You’re not lyin’ to me, are you?”
    Bailey laughed nervously and then forced himself to stop.  
    Stupid! Run away!
    Bailey fought off the instinct to make a run for it. Keep cool. Alexis got us this far. Give her a chance to bring it home.
    “Why would we lie to someone we’ve never met?” Alexis tucked the aviators in her hair and then crossed her arms, taking a defensive pose. “I don’t think I appreciate some stranger talking to me like that.”
    Percy seemed rattled. His good eye darted from side to side. He flicked the cigarette away and then pushed them around to the alley beside the museum. “Enough of this.”
    “What are you doing?” Bailey didn’t know why Percy would do such a thing, but people didn’t normally get shoved into an alley so something good could happen to them.
    Percy threw them against the side of the museum. “Did Franklin send you kids to follow me?”
    “Who?” Bailey asked, feeling his body speed into the anxiety zone.
    “Don’t lie to me!  
    “I swear we don’t know who he is!”
    “That rotten old bastard did this.” Percy pointed to his eye. He seemed more shaken than the other two combined. “Did he pay you five bucks to follow me? I’ll give you ten just to piss off.”
    “We don’t know what you’re talking about.” Alexis’s voice cracked. “But you’re really scaring us.”  
    “Good,” Percy said. “You’re lucky I don’t have my gun.”
    “You have a gun?” She held up her hands and knelt down, eyes watering. “Don’t hurt us, mister. Please. We’re just kids. I almost died of cancer. Please don’t do this! My mom would be so disappointed!”
    “You did?” Percy looked at her, his mouth unhinged.  
    Even with the anxiety telling Bailey to run or curl into a ball, he forced himself to help. “She went bald and everything.”
    “Oh, man. I’m not going to. I’m sorry.” He ran, stopping only to pick up his hat, before disappearing out of the alley.  
    Bailey and Alexis didn’t move, afraid Percy would come back. Bailey relaxed, leaning against the museum’s wall.
    “If that were any closer, I’d need a change of underwear,” Bailey said.
    Alexis stood up, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I should’ve gone out for drama.”
    “That was amazing. I can’t believe you did that. Are you okay?”  
    Alexis bent over, hands on her knees. She cried some more. “I will be. Just give me a minute.”  
    “Take all the time you need.” Bailey wasn’t sure if he should pat her back, but he did it anyway. When she didn’t brush him away, he leaned in closer.
    “I hate going there.” Alexis stood up and pulled the aviators over her