The women and children who were here are gone.
I have no idea what’s happened.
“Breathe.” Eckhart is suddenly next to me, his hands on my upper arms.
“Don’t touch me!” I scream and push him away, nearly falling over one of the bodies. I scramble away from it and press myself against the side of the nearest building, looking all around me but unable to comprehend what I’m seeing.
Where did they all go?
“Calm down, please.” His eyes implore me along with his words. “I won’t hurt you. I’m going to protect you, but I need you to stay with me here. Stay calm. I need to think.”
“They’re….they’re…they’re all dead!”
“I know. Don’t look at them.”
“They’re everywhere!”
“Don’t look!” He stands in front of me, blocking my view of the street. “Turn around, face the building, and get yourself together.”
I shake my head but do as he says. I stare at the slight imperfections in the mortar and even trace them with my finger, trying to keep my thoughts away from the bodies all around me. My finger trembles as I slide it through the rectangular grooves. I continue the action until my heart slows, and I can breathe normally again.
“What happened to them all?” I whisper, but I don’t get a response. I turn my head to find Eckhart and see him examining one of the bodies. He comes back to where I’m leaning against the wall and hands me a pair of sneakers.
“Where did you get these?”
“Don’t ask,” he says quietly. “Just put them on and don’t think about it.”
I take a deep breath and do as he says. My hands shake as I lace the shoes up, but I manage to keep my thoughts off of the previous owner. The shoes are a little big on me, but I can walk better now.
“We should keep moving,” Eckhart says.
“Where do we go?” I watch him take a deep breath and figure all my questions are probably annoying him.
“I need more information,” he says, “but we need supplies first. You need water, and you have to be hungry by now.”
I haven’t even thought about it.
“You okay to walk?” he asks as he looks down at my foot. “It’s only a short way.”
I nod. If I open my mouth, I don’t know what’s going to come out of it. Maybe it’s best I haven’t eaten.
“Come on, then.” He waves his hand and directs me down the sidewalk. He takes his position behind me and to the right again.
“Shouldn’t you be walking in front of me then, make sure the way is clear and all?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Well, why not?”
“From here I can see what’s in front of you,” he says, “and I’m already in position if someone comes up from behind. With you on my left, I can also draw my gun faster without you being in the line of fire.”
“Oh.” It does make sense when he explains it like that, and I feel like an idiot for not thinking of it myself. The man obviously knows his job. “So, where are we going?”
“My place. It’s not far from here, and I need to get a few things.”
“You live here in Atlanta?”
“Yes, ma’am.”