Page 104 of Goose

“If you shoot me, this whole place will blow up! If I can’t have Goose, nobody can!”

She pulls a knife out of her pocket and swiftly turns in my arms, driving the knife right under my ribs.

I try to move, but Ellie Jo stabs the knife into me again, this time closer to my heart. She pushes me to the ground and flies on top of me, stabbing me over and over.

Bambi comes running over and pushes her off of me, covering my body with hers.

Ellie Jo screams and runs toward us when Bambi lifts the gun and fires off a shot. It goes right through Ellie Jo’s chest and she collapses to the ground.

Bambi turns to me and looks over my body. “We need to get out of here. You’re bleeding really bad.”

She tucks her arms under mine and helps lift me up. I groan as we slowly ascend the stairs.

I kick open the door at the top and we collapse onto the old wood floor. Looking around, I see that we’re in a dilapidated farmhouse.

“It’s Ellie Jo’s old house... on the outskirts of town.”

I nod and Bambi helps guide me to the front door. I grab her hand just before she reaches for the handle.

“Tripwire. If you open it this place will blow up. Let’s find another way.”

We head back toward the kitchen but see that the backdoor is boarded up. Bambi cries and I gather her into my arms.

“It’s okay. We’re gonna find a way out, I promise.”

Bambi just shakes her head. “We’re fucking stuck here! She made sure we would never leave!”

I look around and see a window big enough that I can crawl through. Nudging Bambi, I point.

“I’m gonna break the window, hold on.”

I slowly stand with her help and grab a chair. Lifting it up, I smash the window out, scattering broken glass all over the place.

I take Bambi’s hand and lead her to it. “Climb through, baby.”

She shakes her head. “No. You first so I can help you, come on.”

Bambi pushes me toward the window as she rips the rest of her shirt off to clear the sharp shards of glass that remained.

Gently, I ease one leg over and groan at the pain in my chest.

“Shhh. Easy. Nice and slow, babe.”

Bambi holds my hand as I move my foot around, looking for solid ground. Once I find it, I place my foot down and swing my other leg around.

I turn back to help Bambi through the window when I hear a spark. Smoke fills the window. I grab Bambi and drag her through the window.

“Hurry! She wired the whole place!”

We run when the entire house explodes, throwing Bambi and I across the yellow grassed lawn.

My ears ring as I roll away from the house as the fire burns my skin. I try to look around but my vision is blurry and I’m getting dizzier and dizzier by the second.

Looking back toward the burning house, I can see Bambi laying in front of it.

“No!”

I try to stand but fall and attempt to crawl instead. Making it over to her, I lay my head on her chest and frantically try to find a pulse.

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