by Jeremy Cook
***
“So instead of being a good person, you turn into a monster?” Elle yelled back. “From what I’ve seen there are very few uninfected people left and you want to threaten the few that you come across? You’re no better than those creature out there.” Elle spat at the ground in front of the man, a gesture of pure disgust and anger. She hated him for putting her in this position, for trying to take what they had worked so hard to create and protect.
“You’re right,” the man said. “Maybe we can work together.”
“How could I ever trust you?” Elle replied.
“Because I’m gonna lower my gun and hand it to you,” he said calmly. “Then you can either work with us or send us on our way. Either way, I’m not gonna do this.”
Elle saw that the man seemed sincere and she gave him a half smile and held out her hand. Just as the man started to lower his gun, he dropped to the ground followed instantly by a sharp report. Elle screamed and ran over to the man, grabbed the gun and tried to turn him on his side. As she looked up she saw Ellis jump on the back of the second man and pull him to the ground.
“Ellis no,” she screamed out, but Ellis couldn’t hear her. She ran over, holding the gun in her hand, trying to explain to him what was about to transpire.
“They were going to give up,” she said to him as he pinned the man down, holding his hands behind his back with one hand and forcing his head to the ground with the other.
“He pulled a gun on you Elle,” Ellis said, “They were going to take this place for themselves.”
Elle shook her head. “He was lowering his gun. He was going to give it to me.”