“We have to get out of here!” Kai shouted. He planted a calloused hand on each side of Ally’s waist, bent his knees slightly, exposing the light definition of the muscles in his calves through his track pants, and lifted her into the air so that the upper half of her body was draped over his shoulder.

Ally didn’t fight it. She didn’t even open her eyes during the pickup. She wailed agonizingly, donning a facemask of tears, smeared pink lipstick, and snot.

Kai began walking east, no destination in mind, just knowing he had to get them as far away from the massacre that had just occurred. Kai adjusted Ally in his arms, felt her liquidized pain soaking through the back of his shirt.