Favorite Time of Year - Florin Street Band

Merry Christmas everyone!

We're in the middle of a revolution. 

Always Hope!

The Promised Land: (Part 25) Somewhere I Belong 

They exited the building and walked down the street until they came to a full parking lot. Lifting up a set of keys, Caden pressed the remote button and one of the cars lit up with a small honk. Making his way toward the black car, he tossed the keys to Eden. “You wanted to drive, right?”

Catching the keys, Eden stared at them in confusion. “Sure, I guess. I don’t know where we’re going though.”

“Shy will tell you,” was all he said as he threw his backpack into the backseat and got in.

With Eden in the driver’s seat and Shiloh navigating, they drove out of the parking lot. For a few seconds, all was quiet.

Then an explosion went off behind them, causing Eden to jump and nearly swerve into a fire hydrant. Slamming on the brakes, the car screeched to a halt and Eden turned around in her seat. “What was that?!”

Smoke floated up between the buildings outside the back window.

“Just a security precaution,” Caden muttered in agitation, picking himself off the car floor after the sudden stop. “You mind watching the brakes?”

“Put a seatbelt on.” Eden glared at Caden. With an irritated huff, he buckled the middle seatbelt before lying across the seat. Hearing another click, Eden realized Shiloh hadn’t been buckled this whole time either. Quickly shooting a glare at Shy, she directed her question to Caden. “What do you mean by security? Why did you just blow up a building?”

“Like I said, it’s just a precaution,” he defended. “The less evidence, the better. I’m just glad we got there before Hunter or the Atari.”

“Why didn’t we go there in the first place?”

Caden ignored her, pulled the backpack under his head, and tried to go to sleep. Putting the vehicle in park, Eden turned around and smacked Caden on the shoulder.

“Ow! What was tha-”

“Quit ignoring me!” Eden demanded. “You act like I’m invisible! Or worse yet, like I’m too ignorant to understand anything!”

He blinked a couple times before responding with, “Aren’t you?”

Shiloh’s face immediately fell into his palm.

“That’s it!” Eden got out of the car and opened Caden’s door. “Get out. We’re settling this right now!”

“I don’t think now’s the best ti-”

“Get out.”

With a deep sigh, the teen did as instructed. “Do we really need to do this now?” he asked as he leaned against the car and shoved his hands into his jacket pockets.

“Yes, now.” Eden put her hands on her hips then crossed her arms instead. “You need to apologize!”

“For what?”

“Treating me like I don’t belong.”

Caden tilted his head. “You don’t. You’ll never belong.”

Eden’s hands turned into fists. “I can try! At least until I find my way back.”

“You’re useless,” Caden muttered as he leaned forward and started walking around to the front of the car.

“DON’T say that about me!” Eden shouted, stopping Caden entirely.

Turning around with his dark eyebrows knit together and his mouth in the shape of a frown, he walked toward her.

“Why not? It’s true. You can’t do anything out here. You can’t protect yourself. You can’t survive on your own. You can’t even drive ten feet.” His voice grew steadily louder. “You’re totally helpless! If it weren’t for Shy, you might not even be here! He almost died saving you!” As he motioned back to the car, Shiloh’s head poked out, cautiously watching the confrontation from inside the vehicle with a nervous look.

“You think I don’t know that?! I’m not blind!” Tears stung Eden’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

“You’re oblivious. It’s the same thing.” Caden stopped three feet in front of her, dark brown eyes narrowed. “You want to help. I get that, but until you know what you’re doing, you’re a danger to those around you. Especially to Shy and he’s the reason you’re still alive. You’re lost. You’re helpless. And you’re completely useless.” He turned around and started walking back to the car.

Eden’s tears could no longer be held back. Looking around for something, anything, she spotted a block of two by four wood amid a pile of rubble. Without thinking, she snatched up the block of wood and smacked it against the back of Caden’s head.

THWACK.

Cay found himself sprawled on the ground, wide-eyed and dazed. “Wha-”

Eden threw away the piece of wood and knelt to his level. “Don’t call me useless,” she said, her face just a few inches away from his. 

“Get out of my face!” He rose up on his elbows before Eden cut him off.

“Not until after you sit down and listen to what I have to say.” Her commanding calmness caught him off guard.

“I’m tired of the way you treat me,” she continued. “I may not be the smartest or the most athletic. I don’t know how to use an AK47 and I can’t cook. But let me tell you what I CAN do.”

Her voice never rose, nor did it betray any of the fury she unleashed earlier. Instead, she spoke as though she were revealing something she had grown tired of holding back. “I can live. I can sing. I can give broken people hope. I can show the lost where to turn. I can give a hug to the lonely. If I can’t help, I’ll find someone who can. I can choose to get up and do something instead of nothing.” She pulled away and sat on the ground. The tears flowed down her cheeks, but she wasn’t quite finished yet. Her watery eyes drifted from Caden to the ground, as if she spoke more to herself than anyone else. “I might be terrified of this future, but I can choose to stand up and keep going when I feel like giving in to the fear. I can learn. I can change.” Looking back at Cay, she added, “And I can still be your friend, even if you hate me.”

Caden sat thunderstruck for a very long time. His expression went from complete surprise to confusion and back. His mouth hung open only to close then open again. Even his eyes kept switching from dark brown to red and back, as if he didn’t know what to believe any more. He looked back at Shiloh for help, but his twin only offered a tiny smile. Caden looked back at Eden and stared for a long time before finally asking, “Why?”

“What?”

“Why would you do that? If you’re so convinced… why am I your friend?”

Eden shrugged as she stared back at the ground. “Sometimes, the ones that are hardest to love are the ones who need it most. Back home… I was never the kind of friend I needed to be. I like being on my own. It wasn’t until after I got here that I realized friends protect each other. I have a second chance.”

Leave Out All The Rest - Linkin Park

So, here I am again. Preparing to travel across the ocean to get home. This year's concern: tense political issues that have resulted in a million protesters camped out in the city square. American citizens have been warned by the embassy to stay away from that area. So... yeah... Thankfully, we don't live that close to the center, so we should be fine. Speaking of thankful, I had a marvelous Thanksgiving break up in Virginia with some amazingly awesome people. It was very relaxing to get away from school for a while.
It has been a great semester. A little hectic, lots of change, but very good nonetheless.

~ Always Hope ~

The Promised Land: (Part 24) Money Money

“You contacted the Atari?!” Caden looked about ready to punch Linus in the face.

“Of course not, Fireball,” Linus answered calmly. “No faster way to ruin business than to sell out your customers.” At this point he tilted his head and stroked his mustache in thought. “…unless, of course, the selling out carries with it a hefty amount of cookie dough.”

Caden’s fists turned white as they began shaking. “You cheating, lying, stealing-”

“Flattery won’t get you discounts.” Linus shrugged as he picked up a sucker lying on the ground and unwrapped it. “I thought I was being perfectly reasonable.”

“Only in your twisted head,” Cay spat, his face nearly as red as his scarf.

“It’s no fun being fair ALL the time. Right, Sugar?” Linus winked at Eden before putting the lollipop in his mouth with a smile.

Wrinkling her nose, Eden went around the counter and pulled Caden aside.

“I can take him,” he whispered, subconsciously rubbing his ribs.

“Yeah, because brute force always works.”

Caden looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Generally.”

“Look, you’re still healing from your last fight,” Eden continued with a different approach. “Just let me try. If I can’t talk some sense into him, THEN you can knock his brains out. Deal?”

She could see the teen mentally debating whether or not to agree to her plan.

With a huff, he said, “Have it your way.”

“Extra cheese, hold the lettuce,” she mumbled.

“What?”

“Nothing. Thanks, Cay. One more thing, can you lose the demon eyes? They kind of freak people out.”

Caden complied with a scowl. Turning around to Linus, Eden noticed he was picking up the fallen ammo clips and placing them on the counter. He was grabbing the last ones from the floor when Eden walked over. 

“Linus, was it?”
“Still is, Sugar,” he replied as he placed the last magazine on the counter. “Linus Beck. You his envoy?” he asked with a nod toward Cay.

“Nope. Here of my own accord.” Eden picked up Shiloh’s list from the countertop. “What’s the total of all the supplies on this list? I want a concrete number.”

The white lollipop stick moved from one side of his mouth to the other before Linus look it out and threw the clean stick away. He took the paper from her and started rambling off each item and its cost.

Caden retreated to the opposite side of the room and focused his attention on a mountain bike, which was held in place by various riggings against the wall. “Calm down,” he told himself, taking as deep a breath as his bruised ribs would allow. Deciding he needed to sit down for a bit, he leaned his back against the wall and slid to the floor. Cay’s head plopped into his crossed his arms as they rested over his knees. He vaguely heard Eden and Linus discussing product totals. “…two-week supply packs for 150, combo respirators for 60, hearing protectors for 20…” On the list went, but Cay’s mind had already drifted elsewhere.

He had about fallen asleep when a prod to his side surprised him. Shy was sitting beside him, eyebrows creased in concern. “You ok?” he signed.

“I will be alright,” Cay signed back. “Need sleep.”

After jerking his right thumb in Beck’s direction, Shy signed, “Color?”

“Grey.” After a moment of thought, Cay added, “Thanks for stopping me.”

Shrugging, Shiloh adjusted the violin case in his lap. Caden ran both hands through his hair and stretched, a few audible cracks emanating from his back. “I’m too old for this,” he thought with wry amusement. He rubbed a hand over his swollen neck before resting his head against the wall.

After moving the case around several times, Shiloh ended up setting it on the floor and staring off into space. He considered bringing up the note, but decided against it. Maybe another time. Right now, Caden didn’t want to be bothered and agitating him wasn’t usually a good idea. His attention drifted over to Eden and watched as she counted out bullets with the creeper shopkeeper.

“So, you tried to shortchange us,” she said, folding her arms in an attempt to be intimidating.

“Man’s gotta eat,” Linus replied with a halfhearted shrug. Disappearing behind a rack, he came back with the missing equipment. “Here’s what you asked for. How do you want the change?”

“Credit,” Caden spoke up. His head still tilted back and eyes closed, his scratchy voice filled the small room. “On a new card.”

“Smart cookie.” Linus took out a card and handheld machine from under the counter.

He swiped the card, punched a few numbers, and handed the card to Eden. “All yours, Sugar.”

Taking the card, Eden inspected it. It was white and blank, save the magnetic strip and serial number on the back.

Shiloh came up to the counter and proceeded to pack the excluded items. After handing a backpack to Eden and giving one to his brother, he wandered outside. Caden shot Linus a dark look before following.

Shouldering the bag, Eden said, “Sorry about earlier. He has some anger issues.”

“No worries, Sugar,” Linus replied as he started putting the ammo away. “Fireball’s doing great if that’s his only problem.” He continued from behind a shelf, “Kids these days don’t know the meaning of fun. Just anger and terror.” He came back to the counter, seemingly less upbeat. “There’s a sad commentary for you.”

Suddenly remembering her dead phone, Eden pulled it out of her pocket and showed it to Linus. “Do you think you might have a charger for this?”

Taking the smooth object and checking the port, he let out a whistle. “Very old model. Are you sure it still works?”

“Yep. Well, it would if the battery wasn’t dead.”

Nodding, he pulled out a basket containing a mess of tangled cords. Looking through the tangled electrical octopus, he tried different plugs until one fit. Pulling out a charger, he handed it and the phone back. “I just have one for the car.”

“That’s fine. How much is it?”

Pulling out a lollipop from under the table, Linus handed it to Eden. “On the house, Sugar.”

“Thanks… I guess...”

“Take care out there, gumdrop. It’d be nice to have customers live long enough for seconds.”

Eden contemplated the sendoff before leaving the store with a nervous laugh. 

Shoving the items in her pocket as she walked outside, Eden noticed the significant lack of a particular blue van. “Um… where’d Ezra go?”

Caden, tucking the ends of his scarf inside his black jacket, waited until she was beside him to start walking down the street. Shiloh immediately followed his brother, but it took Eden a minute to register that they were leaving. She caught up to them and asked again, “Where’s Ezra?”

“She finished her mission. We need to finish ours,” Caden replied while still walking, as was his habit.

“So she left…” Eden kicked a rock in her path. “Where are we going then?”

“To the contact’s house.”

“The dead one?”

“Unless you know another.”

With a suspicious look, she followed the two as they turned a corner and went down several alleys. “What about the assassin?”

“Hunter?” Caden stopped at a side door and pulled out a key. “If he shows up again, I’ll take care of it.”

 “Says the kid with a broken rib,” thought Eden as they entered the building and went up a set of stairs. The three found themselves in an apartment of sorts, bare and empty, save a few necessities. The room was furnished only with a cot, table, and chair.

“Grab what you need and let’s go,” Cay muttered as he went straight for the cot. Eden looked through some of the papers lying on the table while Shiloh opened various broken cabinets hanging on the walls. Eden ended up playing with an odd-looking transceiver until Caden found whatever it was he was looking for. Shoving something under the cot and heading back to the door, he said, “Time’s up.”

One Day Too Late - Skillet

The Promised Land: (Part 23) The Good Life

The owner of Sparrow’s rested his arms on the counter and leaned against them. His moustache twitched as a corner of his mouth turned into a smirk. He tapped the clips and said, “This ain’t gonna get you far, gumdrops.”

“What’ll it get us?” Caden obviously wasn’t pleased, but his tone was almost mocking.

Holding up both index fingers as a sign to wait, Linus went to the back and rummaged around. Eden could see boxes getting thrown around and heard what sounded like marbles spilling out on tile flooring.

“Ouch!” Linus returned, rubbing a spot on his head hidden under his navy blue baseball cap. Reaching under the counter, he pulled out a red pouch with a white cross on the front and three suckers.

Caden’s arms folded into a pretzel against his puffed chest. “That’s ridiculous. I traded in Forte last month for three times that much!”

“Inflation rates, Fireball. Medkits don’t run cheap, you know.” Linus shrugged as he unwrapped one of the suckers and stuck it in his mouth.

Caden ran a hand through his hair. “What’s it going to take to get everything on that list?”

Linus took out the red lollipop and pointed it at the clips with a smirk. “A lot more than this petty cash.”

With his own smirk, Caden turned his bag over above the counter. Bullets, magazines, and ammunition belts in all sizes and for all kinds of firearms spilled out on the wood with dulled tinks and clanks. It was a good thing the lollipop was in his hand because Linus’ mouth dropped open.

“Sugar rush,” he muttered in amazement. Letting out a low whistle, he pushed back the cap on his head and stuck the candy in his mouth. Glancing from the clips, to Eden, Shiloh, then Caden, the shopkeeper began stroking the beard on his chin.

After three long minutes of thought, he took the lollipop out and asked, “Any Bitcoin?”

“Nope. That’s all we have,” Caden replied, motioning to the pile on the counter.

“What we got here,” Linus said with a grin, “is an invaluable opportunity. Not two days ago, Atari lemonheads came through here and wiped out my supply o’ ammo. Nearly robbed me blind. Normally, I’m not the type to trade without Bitcoin credit, but I think I can make an exception.”

“So you supplied the bullets that were sent through the Infected…” Eden said in a voice unintentionally laced with disapproval.

“Sure did, Sugar,” Linus answered. Noting the sour look on her face, he added, “Hence my swift departure.” Taking the list, he retreated to the racks behind the counter and started sorting through them.

Eden came up to the counter and started organizing the ammo by size, mostly to give her hands something to do as her brain mulled a few things over. “So bullets are used as currency in the future?”

“Something like that,” Caden muttered while keeping a suspicious eye on the shopkeeper.

“It’s more of a barter system, Sugar!” exclaimed Linus from behind a shelf. “I’ll trade for anything of value. All depends on supply and demand.”

Eden held up a clip. “High in demand, I take it?”

Caden gave a single nod.

“To lemonheads, at least,” Linus sauntered to the front carrying three large backpacks. They were similar to the one Caden and Shiloh had before, only perhaps a little smaller. When he placed them on the counter, he eyed the organized ammo. Licking his lips, he started hauling the payload into his arms. Caden grabbed hold of Linus’ blue sleeve. “Hold it.”

Without looking away from the man with the mustache, Cay grabbed one of the bags and handed it to Shiloh. “Check them.”

Taking the other two bags, Shiloh plopped on the ground and started sifting through the contents.

“I assure you, Fireball, everything’s in there,” Linus stated, “…for the most part.”

With a look of deep confusion, Shiloh pulled out a fez.

 “I KNOW THAT ONE!” Eden exclaimed when she saw the article. Cay, Shy, and even Linus stared at her like she had just lost her mind.
“S-sorry,” she muttered as a self-conscious flush enveloped her cheeks. “I just… you know what, never mind. Why is that even in there?”

“Misplaced merchandise?” Linus wrenched his arm free.

Looking at his twin, Caden asked, “What’s missing?”

Shiloh proceeded to fingerspell, but he was going too fast for Eden to keep up. Apparently, a lot of the items were omitted.

“I’ll just be going now.” In one motion, Linus grabbed an armful of magazines, spun around, and made a quick getaway.

“You come back here!” Caden hopped over the counter in pursuit. The shopkeeper made it about five feet before getting tackled.

“ACK! Get off, you little sugar monkey!”

Eden and Shiloh both saw clips go flying as they peered over the counter.

“CADEN!” Eden dare not attempt to actually stop the lad, but she hoped he would at least hear her over the struggle. He didn’t. He was working too hard to get Linus in a chokehold. Significantly taller, Linus fought back, jabbing Cay in the ribs with his elbow. The recipient quickly let go with a grunt and hugged his side. As soon as Linus stood up, Cay grabbed his legs and brought the man down again. Eden was about to shout a second time when she felt something tap her shoulder. Shiloh handed her a pair of hearing protectors and waited until she put them on.

“Stop.”

He only uttered one word. Only a whisper, but it was loud enough to sound like an explosion in Eden’s head, even with the ear protection on. The struggle ceased with both opponents covering their eardrums in pain. Caden looked particularly irate as he stood up. Instead of yelling at his brother, as Eden expected, he turned and yelled at Linus. “Quit trying to rip us off!”

“You were the one trying to rip my legs off,” the shop owner shot back. Linus sat up and rested an arm on his propped knee. “Listen, gumdrops, the way I see it, you can do one of two things. You can either take my offer. Or we can throw jawbreakers until the lemonheads come back. Your choice.”

Little Wonders - Rob Thomas

~*~*~*~

“Saturday. October 25, 2102… that’s today?” she asked. 

“It was 2012 when I fell asleep!” 

~*~*~*~

So began Eden's adventure last year when she woke up 90 years into the future. She's changed a lot so far. She still has a long way to go, but she's getting there. 

I know that my characters aren't perfect. In order for them to turn into the kind of characters I want them to be, they have to go through hardships and trials to help them grow. Along the journey, I give them happy moments and hopes for them to hold on to. I like giving my characters a mission of some sort. I also like giving my characters someone to go on that mission with, whether or not they initially enjoy it. They learn to appreciate the company later on. I like writing. I like watching my characters face particular situations and see how they decide to handle them. 

I like writing because it reminds me that I have a story that's being written. Every single day. I am given choices that can impact those around me, as well as myself. My story has its ups and downs. I've had hard times and great times. 

These last five weeks have been particularly wonderful, even with the daily dose of school/work/social stress and family travel/visa registration issues (which have been all sorted out for another year, as far as I can tell). 

I'm not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination. I'm still growing and I have a long way to go, but I'm getting there. One hour at a time. 

Every day I am reminded of the incredible blessings God has given to me. Everything from the beauties of nature, to the opportunities in life, to the loved ones I hold dear. 

The greatest blessing of all? 

Salvation. 

Hebrews 5:9, "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"

Hebrews 12:1-2, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Endurance and Victory. 

Never Alone. 

Always Hope. 

~*~*~*~

The Promised Land: (Part 22) Get Out Alive 

“If this guy knows everything, what’s to stop him from going to the orphanage?” Eden asked as they drove along.

“I was not the original contact for the package,” Ezra explained from her spot in the driver’s seat.

 “You weren’t?” Eden looked at Caden, who was resting in the reclined captain’s chair beside her, then looked to Shiloh, who was riding shotgun.

“No,” Cay rasped, adjusting the bag of ice on his wrist. “The original died in the massacre.”

“So if he’s looking for the dead contact in Jericho, why are we headed there?”

“Supplies.” Eden could tell he didn’t feel like talking. Not that she minded if he didn’t speak. It wasn’t exactly pleasant listening to his hoarse, crypt keeper voice. He rarely had anything uplifting to say anyway.

Twisting in his seat so he was lying on his side, Cay moved another bag of ice from its place on his throat to his bruised jaw. Eden absently stared at the bright red cloth covering most of his neck.

“Nice scarf.”

“Thanks.”

“Matches your eyes.”

Caden sent a short-lived glare in her direction before letting it drop with a snicker. “Either he’s starting to appreciate my sense of humor or he’s too tired to care,” Eden thought with a smirk. “I’ll count that as progress.”

She looked out the window and watched as they entered the city of Jericho again. The place was still very foreboding. A chill snaked up her spine just thinking about her last visit. Ezra turned a few corners and drove through a part of town Eden hadn’t seen before. As they were slowed down, Eden looked back at Caden. He looked like he had been dragged into unconsciousness solely by fatigue. When Ezra stopped the van, he awoke with a bloodshot, deer-in-the-headlights expression.

“We’re here.”

Getting out, Eden looked at her surroundings. They were parked next to a row of buildings that were stripped of their former glory. Several were unmistakably the ruined buildings of fast food chains, the very ones of Eden’s bygone era. There was no sign of life in any of the buildings or on the street.

“I am getting some serious zombie apocalypse vibes from this future,” Eden thought to herself.

The twins went inside a once-upon-a-time fast food restaurant, while Ezra stayed in the van. Leaning over the see the mysterious woman through the window, Eden muttered, “I don’t mean to be sound rude or anything… but…”

“Why am I creepy?”

“Er, no.” Eden blinked. “I was just going to ask why you’re not coming. But I like your question better.”

Ezra gave a faint smile. “Forgive me. It is a trait many people have trouble ignoring.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Eden thought to herself. She walked around to the other side of the van and got in the passenger’s seat. Closing the door, she sat in silence for a moment. Looking Ezra in the eye, she asked, “You can’t really see the future, can you?”

The older woman shrugged. “I see many things, most of which have not happened yet. I only see pieces. Like a giant puzzle, but few pieces ever fit.”

“Why are you helping these kids?” Eden glanced at the door the brothers had already walked through and lowered her voice without realizing it. “By all rights, they should be back at that orphanage themselves, not gallivanting through the land playing toy soldiers and Wolverines.”

Ezra sighed. “A number of years ago, I watched my family die before it ever happened. No matter what I tried, I could not stop the inevitable.” She stared at Eden with a look the sophomore could not place. Sorrow, perhaps. Regret? “I did not choose them, just as I never chose you. But these pieces fit. Somehow, you are here to help change this world.”

Eden found herself scooting closer to the car door. “Sorry, I want to help, but I’m kind of a one trick pony and saving the world isn’t my trick.”

“Change starts with action. Action starts with thought.” The strange woman inclined her head forward, as if waiting for a reply.

“Eden,” Caden’s voice echoed through the empty street as his dark head poked into view from behind a door. “You coming?”

The gypsy smiled and whispered, “Think about it,” as Eden left the vehicle.

The blonde followed the twins into an old, yellowed building. The door closed behind them with a tiny jingle. It was dimly lit inside, not unlike most buildings Eden had been in while in this land. Very few things lined the walls, mostly large equipment which would be hard to walk out of the store with unnoticed. Most of the wares hung on racks behind a large counter. Eden approached the counter with the familiar feeling she got when trying to decide what to order from a menu. A loud DING rang through the store, making Eden jump nearly three feet in the air. Caden stood by a desk bell on the counter.

A gruff voice answered, “Hold your candy carts, I’m on my way!”

Eden raised an eyebrow. “What did he-”

A loud crash interrupted her as a tall, narrow man stumbled into the room and over something before managing to catch himself on the counter.

“… uh, hehe.” Standing up quickly, the man brushed himself off and cleared his throat. “Welcome to Sparrow’s! I’m Linus,” he said with his trimmed mustache curling up at the ends. “You’re just in time, sugar cubes. I’m in the middle of moving shop. What do you need?”

Shiloh handed the man a list, while Caden watched. Eden noticed his eyes glow with a red tint as his face twisted into a frown. “That kid really needs to work on his trust issues,” Eden thought. The man studied the list for a few minutes before setting it down and pushing the sleeves up on his light blue hoodie. “That stuff ain’t cheap, gumdrops. Show me whatchya got.”

Caden took off the bag he kept with him at all times, pulled out three firearm magazines, and stacked them on the counter. Linus took the time to inspect each one of them. As he set the last one down, he looked back at the list.

“Well?” Caden demanded.