Page 41 of Zeus

"Be cool," the man in the lower bunk says to the younger one. "They're not going to hurt us, right, boys?"

The older man, more than likely the dad of the kid above him, glances at each of us as if demanding that we assure the kid that he's safe.

"Stay cool, and you'll be fine," I assure both of them. "We want your money, guns, phones, anything of value."

The older guy points toward the far wall near the front door. "All packed up and ready to go."

Bobby shifts on his feet as if he's not very impressed with their cooperation. It's clear the man had high hopes of hurting someone tonight.

Zeus moves toward the bags after a quick glance in my direction to make sure that I'm keeping an eye on our new friend.

He shoulders the straps of the two rifle bags, wincing slightly when the kid in the top bunk starts crying. I can only guess that he worked really hard to earn the money to buy his own hunting rifle.

"What a pussy," Bobby growls, smiling again when the kid cries harder when the rifle is pointed in his direction. "Want me to give you something to cry about?"

"Easy," the dad says. "We're no threat to you."

"Damn right, you're not," Bobby growls, turning his attention and the barrel of his gun in the dad's direction.

The man in the lower bunk looks relieved to have the threat aimed in his direction rather than at his son, but that doesn't stop him from trembling at the possibility of harm or even death.

"We're good," I say once Zeus opens the front door and steps outside. "Let's bounce."

I keep my feet locked on the floor, my breath growing more erratic as I watch Bobby struggle with just leaving and not hurting anyone. I don't feel any sense of relief until the man turns around and walks past me.

He grabs one of the straps on the overnight bags before walking out the open door.

"Grab that other one," he calls out over his shoulder, a giddy hitch in his step just before he disappears into the darkness.

Noticing the cell phone in the outer pocket of the bag left behind, I pull it out and place it on the table along with a set of keys in the same pocket. It's the only thing I can offer them right now that might help ease the pain of the situation.

I don't glance back at them as I walk out, closing the door behind me.

We make our way to the car much faster than we did to the cabin. Zeus already has his weapon and the two newly procured rifles in the car's trunk.

Bobby gladly hands over the strap of the overnight bag to him when Zeus holds out his hand. I do the same, grabbing the car keys from Bobby when he holds out both hands, one with the keys in it and one with a small bag of what I have to presume is meth.

The man seems to be struggling to decide what he wants to do first. Although Bobby thinks he may have a lot of time, I know the police will be heading this way soon.

"I'll drive," I say, making my way around the back of the car, heading for the driver's seat. Zeus climbs in the back, and thankfully, Bobby doesn't argue before climbing into the passenger seat.

The man doesn't hesitate to reward himself, loading his drugs into a glass pipe before lighting it.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Zeus snaps as he rolls down his window.

I do the same, wanting as little fucking exposure to that shit as possible.

"I have to pass a fucking drug test next week," Zeus continues.

"Jealous?" Bobby asks, blowing smoke in Zeus's direction.

I watch in the rearview mirror, knowing it's likely my old friend will climb over the seat and put his fist through the man's face. Instead of beating the shit out of him, Zeus turns his attention out the window.

"What next?" I ask a few minutes after driving off.

"Take a different way back to your place," he says. "Make sure we aren't being followed."

It's the most sense he has made all night, and since we took the most direct way to the cabin as possible, taking the back roads means avoiding the police who should have already been dispatched to assist the hunters.