"Now what?"
Violet pulled her gaze from the body on the floor and landed it on Mercy, who'd just forced her to pull the trigger on the only man they'd ever trusted. The young girl looked like she wanted to double over in grief, but she just stood there, arms wrapped around her waist, not making eye-contact in case she started crying. She was trying to be tough. For her. Violet nodded, turning to stone and giving a shrug as if what had just happened hadn't even phased her. "Now we have a drink. Lock up the place. Maybe check out the warehouse next door." She looked down at the body, then at her grief-stricken sister. Violet reached over and mussed her blonde hair, giving her a kiss on the top of the head. "Don't worry baby girl, you just saved our lives." She slapped a knife in the eleven year-old's hand. "Go on ahead and clean up in the bathroom. If something goes wrong just shout okay?"
Violet waited until she was gone before cleaning up the body, being ever-careful not to come in contact. Now that she was close, she could see that he was undoubtedly infected and shivered. She'd come so close to lowering that gun and letting them both get killed. When she was done dragging the body out to the alley, she sighed and locked the alley door, dragging a barstool over and hooking it under the knob before heading back to the bar. She went behind it's familiar U-shaped curve and placed a hand on the cool stone. She could remember a hundred nights at this bar. Jack had let her serve for a bit of money, drink when she was down, and even spend the night when her father was dangerous.
Without another thought on the matter, she reached behind her and grabbed some fruit-flavored drink of the glass shelf, it didn't matter, as long as it had alcohol. Next, she pulled a two glasses out from under the counter and filled them. She wasn't stupid enough to get drunk. Maybe in another time, when there weren't sick, homicidal manics running around, but not now that she had to protect Mercy. She did want something though, so one glass would be good.
Mercy came out of the bathroom, her face dripping from where she'd splashed herself with ice water. Violet smiled at her, a rarity she used only for the worst of times. It wasn't often that she smiled. "Here. It'll make you feel better." She slid one of the glasses to her sullen-looking sister, and took a drink of her own. Mercy was only eleven, but Violet didn't care. Piercings and tattoos were a no for sure, but, as long as she wasn't getting drunk, Vi would let her drink all she wanted. Mercy was her baby-girl, and, since no one else seemed to want so, Violet would raise her however the hell she wanted.
When the glass was empty, she looked at her sister. "So. What first? Sleep or ransacking the warehouse nextdoor?" She smiled at her again, slinging her black duffel onto the bar.
"I really don't think I could sleep after what just happened, and we could use some supplies to baracade ourselves in here." Mercy said, despite the purple bruise-like circles under her eyes. Violet just nodded in agreement.
"Alright then." She slid her sister a gun, slipped the bag back on her shoulder, and took her knife in her hand again. The gun still swung at her hip, but she really didn't want to use it again. A knife would be just fine. "Let's go." And with that, she led her sister back to the alley door. The warehouse shared the alley with the bar, and it's back door stood, facing them.
Violet crossed and jiggled the handle, but it was locked. Not too surprising. With a shrug, she flipped her knife in her hand and used the handle to slam the knob straight off the door and push it open. But it still wouldn't open. There was a shit-ton of stuff piled against the door. Violet knit her eyebrows in confusion and threw her weight into it, forcing it open. Once it was open, she waved Mercy in, and followed in after her, glancing at the stacks and stacks of boxes. "Alright. Stay close, I have a feeling we're not the only ones in here, but I'm not missing out on the opportunity to go through some of this shit." She whispered down to her sister as she started to move silently down one of the isles.
Mercedes watched her sister in amazement as the crept up the isles of the warehouse. She acted as if she hadn't just fed her little sister alcohol and hadn't just shot her trusted uncle. She shook her head and rolled her eyes. Sometimes, she swore the older girl had no emotion other than anger. Focusing her attention back on the things around them, Mercy strolled slowly among the boxes.
She stopped at one and peered in. A bunch of TVs. Great. So if they got bored, they could watch spongebob or something. Mercy rolled her eyes with a soft snort and moved on. The next box was filled with canned food and her eyes shot wide open. "Violet!" She shrieked in delight, completely forgetting that they were supposed to be quiet. Her and her sister had left their house in a hurry and so far, she'd been living on cold Spaghetti-O's. One can a day for the two of them to share, and while Violet let her eat most of it, it still wasn't near enough. In front of her was a whole ton of food. It took everything she had not to squeal in delight.
Violet came over and slapped her hand tight over her mouth. "Shut the hell up." She hissed angrily in her ear, and then saw what she'd found and dropped her. Mercy rolled her eyes and rubbed her neck while her sister dropped to the floor, yanking her duffle open. Hurriedly, she began tossing cans in the bag, looking around as she did so as if someone would stop them. "We're not the only ones who had this idea." She explained in a quick whisper as she zipped the bag back up and slung it over her shoulder. "Keep looking, but be careful. We don't know what kind of people they are and they might kill you for your supplies. We have to be in and out of here. Fast. We'll go back to the bar, and come back in a few days. I don't like the idea of getting second choice of all this shit, but whatever. Go."
Mercy didn't have to be told twice, and she scampered off silently, grabbing everything she thought might be necessary and bringing it back to the place Vi had dropped their bag, tossing it in. When she was done with the isle she was in, she walked to the end and turned the corner. Shit! She ducked behind a box quickly. On the other side of her small row of boxes, was a group of people. Vi was right. They weren't the only ones who'd had the idea of heading to the warehouse.
Slowly, she peeked over the box. Had they heard them? Would they kill them? They weren't infected, and the six year-old with them seemed to be a pretty good indication that they weren't hostile, but one could never know. Mercy ducked down low again and cursed herself with every word she knew in her head, breathing a little too rapidly.
She should just take off running now. Let them chase her, they wouldn't get far until they Vi got them, but she couldn't move. She was frozen in place as she peeked over the box again. They seemed okay... Maybe her and Violet would be allowed to group up with them... Even if her sister hated the idea of groups, Mercy had always thought they were safer anyway... She ducked low again and placed her hands over her head as she waited for them to find her huddled there. No matter what she did, she couldn't slow her breathing, and she was sure her heart was beating so loudly, the whole world could hear it. An eleven year-old girl. Maybe they would take mercy on her because she was young.
Or maybe not.