Free Scattered by Shannon Mayer Page B

whispered.
    I glared at him, my fear turning into anger. He was going to get us both killed. We worked our way in and out of the aisles , managing to pick up a little food. Some baby food ( mashed peas and carrots) , a few cans of tomatoes, and a single box of no-name cereal. It wasn’t exactly a feast, but it would have to do for now.
    We reach ed the far side of the store, listening for the Nevermore dragging his kill, but hearing nothing .
    The last aisle was bread and jam- we hit the jackpot. There were four cans of jam and two containers of peanut butter. I clamped down on the urge to squeal. We hadn’t eaten anything sweet or that rich in protein in at least two weeks. Subsisting on the local berries that had come into season and a large bag of rice had l eft us craving something of substance.
    Stuffing the jars into the knapsack, I took the now heavy bag from Dustin. He smiled up at me, the corners of his lips trembling. I ran my hand over his head, the blond hair ruffling under my fingers.
    A massive screech followed by a thunderous tumble of something heavy snapped us both low and into a crouch. We scuttled forward and peeked around the corner. There stood our three hunters, the Nevermores who’d chased us for the last few hours.
    “Damn.” Apparently I’d said that aloud because their heads snapped towa rd us. Our eyes met, fear suffused my whole body as their eyes filled with an intensity that made me flinch.
    I pulled back and Dustin followed me . Then the howling of the hunting pack began, echoing through the store, reverberating in my skull. Dustin was panting beside me and a quick glance showed his face tight and pale. We ran.
    Passing each aisle , I could see flashes of the Nevermores running to where they’d last seen us. After the third one flashed by , I spun and ran down the nearest aisle, filled with cooking utensils and spice s , heading toward the open doors at the front of the store.
    “Annie!” Dustin screeched , and I slipped in some canola oil as I tried to turn, my hands reaching out for him as I fell. My eyes could barely take in what I was seeing, my heart pumping with fear.
    The largest of the males had Dustin by the back of his shirt with his mouth, a low growl rippling around the fabric.
    “Slip out of the shirt.” I screamed. There was no point in being quiet now. They knew we were here.
    Dustin squirmed and wiggled and the male Nevermore wrapped an arm around my little brother’s middle. I was on one knee, my feet and hands slick with oil . Very slowly I stood, taking even , careful steps toward them. A second Nevermore and then the third appeared behind Dustin and his captor. I slipped off the pack and slowly unscrewed the lid on one of the peanut butter containers.
    Dipping my fingers into the soft paste I pulled them out and stuck them in my mouth. My saliva glands kicked into overtime as the salty sweet peanut flavour stuck to my teeth and tongue. The smell quickly filled the small space around us and the Nevermores lifted their noses in the air.
    “You want this?” I asked, smacking my lips together . The two smaller Nevermores let out low whimpers. I waved the jar in front of them and they followed it, like dogs after a bone in their master’s hand.
    One last wave and I threw the jar, over their heads to the back of the store. The two of them went scrambling and snarling after it, but the male who held Dustin didn’t loosen up an inch.
    “Dustin, I’m going to . . .” I didn’t get to finish my sentence. A crack resounded through the store and something whizzed by my right ear, the heat of it searing my skin. My hand clamped on that side of my face and I dropped to the ground. The male who held Dustin loosened his grip, a perfect round hole in the middle of his forehead appearing , as if by magic.
    “Come on , you two.”
    Dustin leapt toward me and I caught him, his arms tightening painfully around my neck. “Come on , buddy, we’ve got to go , ” I said.
    He