Well, I should have known how this would all pan out. She hates me and I can’t say I blame her for it. I’ve been the biggest let down of the century to her. I guess that’s always how it works with me. Something good comes along and I grab it and break it, until it’s shattered completely.

I grab the metal ladder and attempt to walk up, but Gabe puts his hand on my shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry about it. She’ll come around,” he whispers.

“Nah,” I sigh. “This is the worst day of my life. Dad’s dead and Emma hates my guts. I swear, I don’t give a damn if these guys kill me or not. I’m ready for it.”

“Don’t talk like that.” Gabe gets angry. “You’re my brother and I love you. I’m here for you, but I’m not going to let you get yourself killed out there.”

“Whatever,” I sigh. I’ve got no patience left in me. Everything I’ve ever wanted has fallen apart. The time has come to find out how this all ends.

“We don’t even know if they’ll find us,” he says, in reassurance.

“They’ll find us,” I say. I leave it at that and climb out of the shelter to find Mary at the front door.

“I’m going out for some coffee and milk. It’s going to be a long few days in here, I presume. Might as well get some bacon too.”

“It’s like the diner has followed us.” I smile.

“The diner never closes, sweetie.” She winks at me and leaves the house.

I slump down in the kitchen. I just let my body hit the floor. I rest my head in my palms and try to breathe. I can’t do this shit anymore. If this is the way my life is going to go, I don’t want to live it anymore. There’s at least one person keeping me going and that’s Emma. I’m going to protect her the best way I can. I’m going to provide for her. Hell, I’ll even kill for her if I have to.

Mostly, I just want to cook her breakfast in bed. I want to build a giant backyard for her and watch as she gardens. Does she garden? Shit, I don’t know, but if she doesn’t, I’ll plant a garden myself. I want to give her a picturesque life. The way I see it, life is only worth living if you can give back to the people you love.

I close my eyes and imagine it. I can see it so damn clearly. It’s comforting thinking about Gabe coming over for barbeques. Or if we had a kid… shit, I don’t know if it’s too early to think about something like that. It’s a huge step, but even that is something I’d want to do with Emma. I’m not losing it. I’m as clear as clear can be. I just want a normal, good, healthy life. Is that too much to ask?

“Soren.” I look up and Emma is standing in front of me, against the doorway. “What’re you doing?”

“Just thinking,” I tell her.

“About what?” she asks.

“About how sorry I am for everything. I guess I’m not feeling all too great about life right now,” I admit. “Every path I’ve chosen has ended up being wrong. Do you know how shitty that feels?”

She walks up to me and kneels in front of me. “Every path, but you,” I whisper. I can’t look her in the eyes, dammit. If I do, I’ll start bawling like a little girl. She means so much to me that she makes my emotions all twisted. What’s a guy to do?

“I want to be with you,” she says. She places her arms gently around my body.

“You do?” I ask. “Why the hell would you want to be with a guy like me?”

“You’re kind. I want to believe that you’re mostly honest. You’re strong and handsome,” she says.

“Don’t forget sexy,” I smile.

“The sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on,” she smiles and turns pink. “I just want you to promise me one thing.”

“Anything,” I tell her. “Just name it.”

“Well, I’ve been thinking and—”

“You want to get married?” I interrupt her.

“What?” she laughs nervously.

“I asked you if you want to get married,” I say. I reach into my coat pocket and pull out something I’ve been keeping in my jacket.

She looks down and her eyes widen. “Soren,” she whispers. “What is this?”

“You don’t recognize it?” I smile.

“I think I do,” she says. “Oh my god. It isn’t, is it?”

“First edition of Gwen Talbathon’s first book, The Faraway Calling. You like her right?” I ask her.

“How the hell did you find this?” she asks, choking up a little.

“I kept my eyes open. I asked around. Anyway, open it up,” I say. I hold the book out to her and it’s obvious that something is stuffed in the first page.

She lifts the cover open and a diamond ring is sitting on page one. A note is attached. It’s something I wrote: This could be page one of our lives. I really hope it is because you’re the most beautiful girl in the world. I’d do anything if it means getting a whole book’s worth of memories with you. I promise, if you marry me, I’ll cherish you for the rest of our lives.

I grab the ring and look her in the eyes. This is the most intense moment of my life. I grab the ring and place it on her finger. She opens her mouth. “Yes,” she says. “Yes, I’ll marry you!”

I touch her face gently and move in for the kiss. My heart is about to fucking explode. I swear, things better start working out for me now. I can’t believe she said yes. Our lips gravitate toward each other. And then we hear it, a loud screeching sound coming from outside, followed by large boom noises, like a car backfiring.

Thwack! A hole is penetrated in the wall, right above my head. “Down!” I scream.

I cover her body as the sound of metallic rain levels the walls of the house. I scramble and move us to the corner, where Mary’s metal table sits. I throw it on its side and use it as cover.

“We need to get to the bunker!” I scream.

“What the fuck is happening?” Gabe and Julia come diving into the room.

Emma won’t say a word. She’s white with fear and I don’t blame her. I didn’t think they’d be here so soon. How the fuck did they track us down so fast? But just as I wonder how, I hear Mary’s voice yell outside, “Get to safety, goddammit!” It’s followed by a loud scream, as if they hit her in the legs or back, right after.

“Mary,” I whisper. “Shit!”

“Follow me,” Gabe says, crawling on the floor to the bunker.

We make our way to the metal door. When we get to the bunker, the women go in first, followed by Gabe and me. Before I drop to the bottom, I look at the front door. Boots are coming in close. Mary, what have they done to you? I quickly close the door and reach up from a shattered area of concrete, where the floor has been blown out a bit. I grab the rug and cover up what I can.

“What do we do?” Emma whispers.

The truth is, I don’t have a fucking clue. Gabe grabs an M16 and tosses it my way. I grab and it feel the weight of the gun. This is not going to be pretty, but I try to keep the image I had of our future in my head. I’d do anything for Emma, right? Even take a bullet? You’re goddamn right I would.

Mary screams upstairs. “Get your fuckin’ hands off of me, you punks!”

“Where are they?” A voice asks. “I know you have them here!”

“Just kill me already,” Mary shouts back. I hear her spit at the man and then there’s a loud slapping noise.

I start pacing the room. “I can’t deal with this shit,” I mutter. “I can’t let them hurt her!”

“Quiet down,” Gabe motions. “There’s nothing we can do.”

“Then why the fuck are we here, huh?” I ask him. “Why did we come if we’re not going to fight back?”

“They’ll kill her if we do,” Gabe says.

“They’ll kill her if we don’t,” I argue.

“Either way, you’re fucked,” Emma says.

“Shit,” I whisper.

“We’re so done for,” Julia says, tears streaming down her face. She looks like a ghost.

I look at Gabe and he stares back at me. We’re at a standstill and nothing can be done. At least, that’s how the situation is presenting itself to us. Then, out of nowhere, Emma sighs loudly and stretches.

“I’ll do it,” she says. “I’ll go upstairs and handle this.”

“Fuck no,” I firmly state. “You’re not risking your life any more than you already have. We’re stayin’ down here until they leave.”

“Search the house!” A man upstairs yells. “Every single nook and cranny.”

“Then we better hope and pray they don’t find us down here,” she says.

We can hear each step that’s made upstairs. A bomb shelter is nice and all, but what are you going to do when the enemy won’t leave your place. There isn’t even any food down here, dammit. My mind is on Emma’s safety, while also trying to find a way to save Mary in the process.

Boots walk right above us. Dust falls onto our head with each step that’s made. I knew things might get tight during this, but I didn’t realize we’d be trapped like animals. All we can do is hope for the best. Gabe and I sit, aiming our M16’s, pretending like everything will be okay. Truth is, we have no fucking clue.