He waits several minutes after they’ve left his field of view, making sure they do not turn back for any forgotten items. After he’s sure a quick return is not on the menu, he exits the barn and heads for the house. Mikey is in the living room tending to his daily chores. He acknowledges the boy, who returns his greeting with a smile, the first time he has done so to Rad.
Rad ascends the stairs, breaking off to the direction of Hawaii and Zee’s voices. He finds them in their bedroom. They fall silent when he knocks, and remain so when he enters. Zee’s face holds a frown, an oddity for her. Hawaii raises his eyebrows at Rad, but does not speak.
Rad informs them they need to talk, and it needs to be done away from Mikey. Curiously Hawaii does not question Rad’s request, he only asks if Outlaw should be present at this private meeting. Rad confirms and Hawaii sets off to find him, after telling them all to meet in the barn in five minutes.
Zee heads downstairs. She instructs Mikey to clean his room once he’s done with the living room, after which he will be finished with his daily duties. She tells him to stay in the house, and she’ll be back in a little while to play games with him. The boy is happy to be given a lighter workload, and his excitement is conveyed by his bouncing about while dusting the empty bookshelves.
Hawaii finds Outlaw cleaning the gutters at the rear end of the house. The matter of fact attitude Hawaii exudes is striking. Outlaw is accustomed to sternness from Hawaii, but he always chuckles at Outlaw’s jokes, even when he himself knows they’re not funny. A display of seriousness at this level is concerning.
Hawaii and Outlaw enter the barn to find Rad and Zee awaiting them. Zee is seated on a tool box, her knee anxiously bouncing up and down. Rad is leaned against a pillar, his cold gaze aimed up at the rafters.
Hawaii motions for Outlaw to take a seat, then pulls the barn doors closed, leaving only a small gap between them. Outlaw looks to Zee, an inquisitive gleam in his eye, her returned gaze does not offer it’s usual comfort.
Hawaii clears his throat. He regards Rad and speaks softly.
“Is this about Rosaline?” he asks.
Rad inhales and nods, confirming Hawaii’s query.
“Look, I know you all think I’m being too-”
Before he can finish Hawaii waves him off.
“I think you might be right.” Hawaii says.
The large mans' eyebrows raise, “Really?”
“Yesterday, when we were hunting, we were attacked by Talkers.”
“Shit!” Rad exclaims.
“Is that why Sweetie has been acting weird?” Outlaw asks.
Hawaii’s head bobs, “Probably.”
Rad stands up straight, pushing off from the pillar, “What happened?”
“They ambushed us by that creek. There were five of them, all Talkers. I’ve never seen more than two in the same group.”
“How did you get away? Did they follow you?!” Outlaw frantically questions.
“No, they didn’t, and we didn’t get away. Sweetie shot one, and Rosaline killed the rest.
“Wait, she killed four of them? By herself?”
Hawaii’s tone drops, a somber cloud hanging over him.
“Yeah. Three of them attacked her at once, and she still killed them, and fast.” he replies, a sense of despondence riding his words.
“Holy shit.” says Outlaw, his mouth agape.
“I didn’t see her kill the first three, but the way she took out the last one...it was like she became one of them. It was terrifying.”
“Fuck!” Rad says, his voice elevating.
Hawaii’s holds his hand up, motioning for Rad to lower his voice.
“This makes what I was gonna say even worse.” Rad says, still more heightened than he should be.
Outlaw's gaze moves to Rad, “Did something else happen?” he asks.
“Yeah it fuckin’ did. Yesterday Mikey told me that Rosaline has killed, a lot.”
“I mean, don’t we already know that?” Outlaw replies.
“She’s killed a lot of real people, real people man!”
“Okay yeah, but real people can be shitty. We all know that.”
“You’re not listen’ to me. Real people. Not bad people. The kid told me that Rosaline thinks all people are dangerous and they only pretend to be good when they want something. She told him they always have to kill first. She doesn’t give people a chance, man. The way the kid said it, it’s like that’s always her plan.”
Outlaw relents, pondering on Rad’s statement. Zee moves from her seat, joining them in the small semi-circle the guys have formed.
“Look, whatever we do we have to consider what happens to Mikey.” she says.
“Fuck that! You know she wont leave him here, and we can’t let her stay here.” Rad responds.
“My sister is out there with her right now!” Outlaw says, as though the fact just occurred to him.
“She’s not going to hurt Sweetie.” Zee replies, her certainty alarming the distressed brother.
“How do you know that?”
“Because that would put Mikey in danger, and I don't think that’s something she would ever willingly do.”
Zee’s attention turns her companion.
“You’re being uncharacteristically quiet.” she says.
Hawaii sighs, weaving his hand through his hair.
“Rad’s right. We can’t let her stay here. She has to leave, and so does Mikey.”
Before Zee can oppose he continues.
“I know you don’t like that, I don’t either, but it’s the safest move for us.”
Zee shakes her head.
“But is it the safest move for Mikey?”
“You want to try and make her leave and keep Mikey? She killed four Talkers by herself. What are we going to do to her?” Rad says, sternly.
“I just don’t think this is our only option.”
“You sound like you don’t want her to leave.”
“Maybe I don’t! I-I like her.”
Rad throws his hands up, waving off her statement.
“Get the fuck outta here!”
"Look, they've had a rough life. Worse than we know, worse than we'll probably ever know. I think she's just protective of Mikey. He's only five, he doesn't even really know what he's saying." Zee says, a hint of plea in
