The gunshots and fighting quieted down for just a moment as Hugo held Lila closely.

“I won't let you get away again,” Hugo said. Lila kept hugging him, with her cheek to his elbow. She was relaxed.

Another gunshot fired outside and Hugo snapped back. “Okay,” He put Lila down but just for a moment he tried holding on a little longer.

“What’s going on in here?” said a man walking into the store. Hugo turned around, snatching the metal bat from the floor. With a swift fling, the bat spun through the air and knocked the guy in the head. As the man fell, a group of them was revealed to be following him through the door. Hugo dashed forward, snatching the bat again.

Before they could raise their guns, Hugo swung with all his strength, knocking each of them to the ground. What seemed to be six men on the ground, holding themselves in pain. Hugo swung down on the first, breaking his skull. He took a gun and shot two more. Another raised their gun at the kids, but Hugo swung the bat again at the hand. The gun flew across the room. He bashed their skull as well. The fifth man tried crawling away, but Hugo shot his back and he flopped to the ground. Hugo aimed a gun at the sixth, but no bullet fired.

“Dammit,” Hugo said, clicking the trigger to no avail. The man leaped at Hugo’s legs, knocking him to the ground. He took a knife out, about to stab Hugo when they got a look of each other’s faces. The man was around the same age and height as Hugo, only a little darker.

“Hugo?” said the man.

“Juan?” said Hugo.

The two paused as more gunshots fired in the distance.

“Where’s Lila?” said Juan.

Hugo gently pointed to a counter, where Lila was peeking out from behind. Juan stood up, with a face of terror.

“Where’s Uncle?” said Hugo, he got up watching Juan.

“Fresno,” said Juan, he was still looking at Lila.

“And the others?” Hugo asked.

Juan turned to Hugo. “They were driving back from Yosemite, but got stopped at Fresno when everything happened. I haven't seen them since.”

Hugo nodded and during their moment of silence, gunshots got their attention. “We need to get out of here,” said Hugo. “We can get out while no one is looking.”

“I can’t,” said Juan.

“What?” said Hugo.

“I just can't,” Juan repeated. He looked away at the gunfire outside, contemplating something.

Hugo stepped away and kneeled to Lila. “Come on, we’re going,” he took Lila by the hand, and the other kids followed. There were six kids total including Lila.

Juan looked at the kids as they stepped out from behind the counter. “Oh man,” he said.

“What?” Hugo asked.

Juan sighed. He peeked out of the store then came back to Hugo. “Get those kids to your people, then go to my house. It was a good safe zone.” He said with a hush voice. “Keep them hidden. My people are bad people,” Juan continued.

“Why,” Hugo asked.

“I’ll meet you there soon, but if I don't show up, don't come looking for me,” Juan said.

“Hold on,” Hugo said. He found the back door of the store which faced the highway. The cars were all shot up but one was missing. Hugo turned back to Juan. “My people left and I can't take this many kids.”

“I’ll get you a walkie talkie. Get there, now,” Juan said.

Hugo nodded, and Juan ran back into the open, drawing attention away from the store. Hugo took the bat and one of the remaining guns and snuck out the back door with the kids. They headed to Juan’s two-story house hidden deep in a tulare suburb.

Through the streets of tulare, Hugo fought off wanderers with ease only using the bat. Lila stayed close to him the whole way.

“Hugo, are we going to live at Juan’s house?” said Lila as Hugo swung the bat at a wanderer.

“Not forever,” Hugo answered with a tired breath. “Just until Juan gets back.”

“I don't want to keep moving,” said Lila, almost shyly.

Hugo turned to her, “Dont worry. I’ll find a place where we can live forever, okay?” Hugo smiled.

Lila smiled back. Her baggy eyes seemed less sad now.

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One of the other children, a young boy, stepped up to Hugo. “Can I go with you?”

Hugo’s smile dimmed, just for a moment he saw hope in the child’s eyes as well as the other five kids. “Yes. You can come to. You all can,” said Hugo. All the children smiled, they seemed to look up to Hugo now.

“Can I come?” said a woman. Carmen stepped out from behind a bush beside the sidewalk, she seemed unhappy.

“Heyyy, Carmen,” said Hugo.

She walked up to Hugo and punched him across the face.

“Ow!” he said, quiet enough as to not draw attention, but the metal bat clanged as it hit the concrete.

Click

Hugo looked up to see Lila pointing a glock at Carmen, whose hands were now up.

“No, no, no, no!” said Hugo, lunging toward Lila. She jumped at Hugo’s burst, and dropped the gun. “Sorry, Lila. I didn't mean to scare you. Carmen here is a good guy,” Hugo said. He took the gun and gave it back to Lila.

“But she just hurt you,” Lila countered.

“You're right,” said Hugo. He leaned in closer and whispered. “She’s really mad at me.” Hugo winked. When he stood up, Carmen glared at him.

“You gave a gun to a kid?” said Carmen.

“She saved my life with it,” said Hugo.

“Could've ended mine,” said Carmen.

“Well then dont punch me next time,” said Hugo.

“Then don't abandon the people who care about you next time,” Carmen countered.

Hugo paused, Carmen glared at him even more.

“I’m sorry…” Hugo conceded. “...but can we do this inside? We’re almost there.”

“Almost where?” said Carmen.

Hugo pointed to a house down the street; Juan’s house.

There was a broken-into van in the front, and the house seemed just as run down as the ones around it, but there were no obvious problems when glancing at the house from the front. Behind the van, they found the gate to the back yard, it was wide open with a couple wanderers walking around.

After taking out the wanderers and closing the gate, they took a look at the back yard.

“Wow,” said Carmen. “This yard is huge. And a pool?” she said, walking over to the far corner.

“Yeah,” said Hugo. He glanced around the yard and remembered when he used to play with his cousin there when he was a kid. The grass is dead now.

Inside, the group settled down onto the living room couches. They were dusty and a bit torn, but very comfortable. Hugo found the old stash of toys and gave them to the kids while he and Carmen talked in the garage.

“So what?” said Carmen, crossing her arms.

“I’m sorry…” said Hugo, looking the other way.

Carmen raised her eyebrows.

“…for abandoning everyone,” said Hugo.

Carmen continued glaring at Hugo.

“But good news, we’re going to escape. I met my cousin and he’s going to get us a walkie talkie,” said Hugo.

“For what?” said Carmen. “You’re gonna call the Spine after you abandon them. They could think you’re dead right now, also. And then you ask for supplies and bring five kids to the middle of nowhere on your own?”

“Not my own, my cousin will be there, and you can come too!” said Hugo.

“No, Hugo! You can't just walk out on all those people!” said Carmen.

Hugo stepped forward, his hopeful face went stern. “Look, I didn't ask for this. I’ve been looking for my sister all this time and now that I’ve got her I’m getting out of this mess for good. We may have had something, but that was when I couldn't see a way out of this. You can come too, or you can stay behind.”

Carmen looked into Hugo’s stone cold eyes. “And Jacob? Mordecai?”

Hugo turned around, “They’re fine.”

“You seemed to be getting all buddy buddy with them too,” Carmen said, getting closer to Hugo with almost a snarl in her voice. “If it weren't for the spine: You’d. Be. Dead.” She said in Hugo’s face.

Hugo, stayed cold.

“Guys?” said Lila. They turned to see Lila standing in the doorway to the garage.

“Yes, Lila?” said Hugo, his voice was soft.

“Primo Juan is here,” she said, and pointed to the window to the back yard, where Juan was looking in with a nervous face.

“Let him in, let him in,” Hugo whispered. He and Carmen ran to the door to the back and unlocked it, letting Juan inside.

“Who are you?” said Juan to Carmen.

“A friend of Hugo’s,” said Carmen. “I’m guessing you’re primo Juan?” She said in an off tone.

Juan nodded, kinda awkwardly. He closed the door behind him and the three stood around the dining room table. Juan took a walkie talkie from his coat and placed it down. “Look, we leave tonight any later and-”

BOOM

The back door was kicked open, revealing Jacob, a bloody mess with a black eye. He was waving a gun in the air. The kids peaked in from one of the doorways.

“What is this?” Jacob said, furiously.

Carmen stepped to Jacob to get a better look, “Jacob! You’re-”

“Get back!” Jacob swung at Carmen, knocking her to the counter. She got up with her side hurting. “So this is what happens? Things go down and you run away like a coward? Huh? What happened? Is this about the boat? Did you even look for me?”

Hugo put his hands in view and spoke slowly, “Jacob, this isn't about the boat.”

“And who’s this guy?” Jacob pointed the gun at Juan. “What now you’re siding with them. They just killed so much of our people.”

Juan put his hands up, “Hey man I was just following orders.”

Jacob pointed the gun at Juan, with the face of intent.

BOOM

Jacob shot Juan in the chest, who then turned to Hugo and collapsed.

BOOM

The hand that Jacob held the gun in was blown across the wall.

Hugo and Carmen turned to Lila, who was standing in the doorway with the glock pointed at Jacob.

“Ahhh!” Jacob screamed. He fell to his knees, with his handless-wrist before him, all while screaming. Carmen jumped to help him.

Hugo snatched the gun from Lila.

“Jacob is very angry,” said Lila.

“I know,” said Hugo, trying to find the right words.

“I was aiming for his head,” she added.

Hugo put his hands to his mouth, and closed his eyes along with a deep breath. “You can't shoot people,” he said sternly.

“Why not?” said Lila, almost innocently.

“…without my permission.”