Confrontation

THUD

The young brunette was abruptly awakened by a loud sound. She coughed a little into her hand due to the dusty layer atop the couch she was laying on.

Probably should have dusted it first

She heard muffled voices from outside the door.

Crap.

She shot up and looked around for any place of cover but the sudden movement sent her crashing off the couch. The right side of her head and her elbow collided with the hard, cold floor.

The voices stopped.

She groaned and rubbed her sore spots and then proceeded to crouch behind the tattered piece of furniture and pulled out her gun.

You've really done it this time.

There was a few moments of silence. She could hear her own heart beating out of her chest. She didn't want this to happen. All she wanted was a little break from this living hell, but apparently the universe had other plans. She took off her safety and cocked her gun, holding it with both her shaking hands and placed her right index finger near the trigger. A bead of sweat dribbled down her forehead while she attempted to steady her breathing.

Attack only if necessary. You got this.

The door was bashed open and footsteps were heard entering the room. That was way too many to just be one person. She gripped the gun tighter and tried to eliminate any sound coming from her.

"We know you're here. Show yourself now," said one of them. It was a young man. His voice was cold, deep and threatening.

"We will shoot."

She believed that.

"Come on, man. I'm sure it was nothing. It's probably those rats again," said another voice. This voice sounded younger, kinder and not as deep as the first guy, but she could tell that this was a younger boy. "Jeez, Archie. Calm down, will ya? We ain't gonna shoot anyone," a raspy voice claimed. A girl. "I repeat, I will shoot. And don't call me that." responded the first guy, or Archie.

This is just great

Lighter patters of a pair of feet were headed towards the couch that Sabrina was hiding behind. She grit her teeth and ignored the dull throbs that resided by her right temple and elbow.

A shadow of a boy was cast in front of her. He stopped. He spoke: "Yeah, R's right. Don't make a big deal out of everything. It's not like-" he was cut off as Sabrina lunged at him. He let out a yelp of pain as she grabbed his right arm and skillfully but painfully twisted it behind his back. One wrong move from him and it would break.

The other two in the room abruptly turned around, alarmed by the call of distress from their younger companion.

The other guy was dressed in navy green cargo pants with a black long-sleeved, v-neck shirt and dirty brown combat boots. He looked younger than she originally thought, though he was taller than her.

He was armed with a heavy revolver. The girl next to him looked around Sabrina's age and height. Her dark skin complimented her striking emerald eyes. Her black hair was up in a messy ponytail with purple streaks in it. She had a short-sleeved black t-shirt with beige three-quarters and black combat boots. She was armed with a baseball bat.

While their weapons were very different their eyes sent the same message; "Hurt him and you're dead."

The girl looked a little scared as she didnt know what this stranger would do to her friend. The older boy on the other hand had his gun trained on her, his eyes devoid of any other emotion besides anger.

Sabrina tightened her hold on the young boys arm as he struggled and placed her gun to his head.

"I- I'll shoot," her voice broke and didn't come out as threatening as she wanted. Her body shook.

Goddammit. You already screwed up. Don't ever show weakness to the enemy, you idiot

"Oh yeah? I can shoot too," the older boy sneered, "You've never used a gun before."

"As a matter of fact, I have," she replied.

Why did I say that?

She internally face-palmed.

"Well then, you've never used it on a living being. I can tell by the way you're shaking. Your finger's not even on the trigger," he said mockingly.

Her eyes widened but she quickly composed herself. She narrowed her eyes and forced her voice to be firm, "There's a first time for everything. Now put your weapons down."

"I think you have the wrong idea. Put yours down and give him back," he said harshly, his voice increasing in volume.

She took a deep breath and calmly said, "You're not in a position to be giving those instructions."

"The hell I'm not! Let him go. Now!"

She didn't want to do this.

"Drop your weapon!"

"No!"

She didn't want to do this.

"I swear, I will shoot!" She pressed the barrel of the gun closer to the boy's head.

He scoffed and was about to retort until he felt the other girls hand on his forearm. He followed her gaze to the helpless boy. His watery eyes were pleading for help.

He sighed and put both his hands up in surrender. Dropping his gun with a clatter. His friend followed suite, simultaneously kicking their weapons away.

Sabrina let out a breathe she didn't know she was holding and whispered something that the three strangers didn't expect to hear. "Thank you."

She let go of the boy and caught him as he nearly fell.

They all looked at her in confusion. She knew it was risky doing this, but she had hope.

"I'm sorry. I really don't mean any harm. I was just scared."

She looked down at her feet and loosened her grip around the gun while it proceeded to drop to the floor.

"Wha-at?" the younger boy stuttered. His blue eyes twinkling in innocence, confusion and fear.

"If you didn't mean any harm, then what the heck was all of that about?!" the other boy screamed.

"I panicked, okay?! I was literally just sleeping on the couch before you guys busted in here and given the sorry state that this darn world is in, obviously I'm going to be freaking cautious!"

The black-haired girl suddenly spoke up with a raised eyebrow, "Then why are you telling us this if you're being so cautious?"

Sabrina stopped and stared at her and replied shakily, "Because you showed empathy for your friend. Usually people just leave them for dead, but you guys gave up your only means of protection just to ensure his safety which wasn't guaranteed."

"Sure it was guaranteed, you wouldn't have shot him," the boy interjected.

Sabrina glared at him. He was really getting on her nerves. She turned away from him and focused on the scared boy who was now sitting on the couch. She knelt down to him.

"I'm so sorry," she said.

He stared at her, while rubbing his arm. A tuft of blonde hair landed on his face

"I'm sorry that I hurt you and scared you."

She took her bag of her shoulders. The blonde boy flinched, and the others got ready to attack.

She pulled out a cooldrink can and they all relaxed. She placed it on his arm in order to help soothe the pain. He let out a sigh of relief and the girl's demeanor relaxed. She realized that the stranger meant no harm.

As for the other guy, he stood with his arms crossed glaring at her. "You're forgiven," the younger boy smiled crookedly. He stood up in his dark gray shirt, black pants and combat boots that matched his shirt and offered his hand.

Sabrina shook it and beamed.