29:16:04:59 Read Online Free

freckles near her dimples.
    Ricky Alexander had already been outside and leaned our way when he saw us coming. He was a little taken aback by our firearms, but paused only a second or two. Ricky knew us well enough to know we weren’t the danger. He beeline it straight this way, swinging a baseball bat over his shoulder. It was a crude weapon for a crude kid. He was a stout child and a full head shorter than me. With a swash of red hair and even redder cheeks, Ricky always looked worth bullying, but he was unbeatable in a verbal contest.
    “Well, aren’t you two just ready for war? A little too holed up in your house awhile, Jackie Boy, gotta give that blood a little boil?” Ricky asked.
    I could stand for a little less of his cordial attitude and a little more serious of an appreciation for the fact that there were bullets flying through the air. Then again, he did have a weapon, so at least he was ready.
    “Not now, little one,” Kyle replied as he glared down the street, trying to pinpoint the exact location of where we were meant to go. The twitch of his muscles and his incessant blinking made him seem beyond feverous. I hoped I was up for this, and prayed the others were as well.
    “Ricky, where did the shots come from?” I asked, giving him a quizzical look that demanded an answer.
    Ricky’s mind raced to find a snide comment, or maybe a good one. It was always hard to judge which direction he would take his replies.
    Ricky simply swung us his bat off his shoulder and pointed down the road. “Palmers,” he answered.
    The Palmer family were a huge lot and good people. I didn’t think they ever raised harm to others, and helped the most they could. It felt wrong, impossible to believe that the bullets came from the Palmers’ house. Yet with how life was unfolding, things had started to happen closer to home. A wave of dizziness hit me and I took a deep, tired breath to steady myself. These damn sleepless nights were taking a toll.
    From what I knew, the Palmers were a family of two older siblings trying to handle five younger children. Zoe and Peter were only twenty-five and eighteen respectably. Peter was far stricter of the two, while Zoe remained good-natured for the sake of the children. They didn’t even know if the kids they were taking care of were family or not. Nevertheless, they were surviving, or at least they had been.
    “You don’t think…” Kyle leaned in and whispered.
    I was thinking the same thing. If someone got desperate enough, hungry enough, mad enough, then things like what we were thinking could happen, and have happened.
    I shook my head. There was no point in assuming anything. My mind reset to focus on Olivia for half a second, trying to comprehend the thought of her suddenly being down here and in harm’s way. I tried to push the thought aside, but it refused to budge. I could hear faint cries and laughter in between my ears, driving me into a quiet craze.
    “Well, are you going to put that stick to use?” I asked Ricky. I could care less if he came, but the extra support might be necessary.
    Ricky’s eyes sparkled and his cheeks brightened just a bit as he contemplated the question. His wheels were turning, sputtering with a comeback. It didn’t usually take this long. Maybe the gun in my hands was hindering his wit. A hard shove from behind brought Ricky back to his senses.
    “Course he will!” Jamie exclaimed. His sister stood behind the chunky redhead. Jamie was usually quiet and reserved, but today she seemed far from her usual temperament.
    “Okay then. We’ll lead and you two watch our backs. You have anything to use?” I asked Jamie. She held up a large, jagged kitchen knife. The thing looked like it could fall to pieces, but it would have to do. I nodded and set out first, going in the direction Ricky had pointed.
    The others who called this neighborhood home watched as we trekked toward the Palmers. Most were unwilling to confront whatever had happened. They