“I think so as their food was drastically smaller portions than it’s been in the past,” answers Phil.
I look into Bobby G’s backyard, think about our community, and ask myself, “Will we run out of food? Do we have enough supplies for everyone here?”
There is a knock on Bobby G’s front door and then two people enter Bobby G’s house.
Phil and I look at the two people that enter Bobby G’s kitchen and it’s Jon and Matt.
“I heard you had a crazy trip today,” says Matt.
Matt sees Phil and I each with a beer bottle in our hands, so he opens Bobby G’s refrigerator and grabs one.
“You and Shaun did the same thing back in my Dad’s house in Carolina. But you were taking sodas instead of beers back then,” I say with a joking tone to Matt.
“You still want me to put a quarter in a jar like you used to make us do?,” jokes Matt as he hands a beer bottle to Jon as well.
I smile at Matt’s joke and remember some fun times in high school with Matt, Jon, Phil, and Shaun.
“Let’s go in the living room,” I say.
The guys and I sit down in Bobby G’s living room and Jon says, “Jordan and I got a bunch of good stuff today.”
“What did you get?” asks Phil.
“We got some meds, supplements, protein bars, and other good stuff from a small pharmacy that was basically untouched,” answers Jon.
“Run into any trouble?” asks Phil to Jon.
“No, it was a pretty easy trip,” answers Jon.
“What happened on your trip with JJ today?” asks Matt to me.
“These two criminals grabbed Lauren and tried to take my stuff,” I answer Matt.
“Was anyone hurt?” asks Jon.
“Yeah, Tiny and Tyler got hurt,” I answer.
“Any chance they come around here?” asks Matt.
“I doubt it, since Tiny’s giant forehead was sliced open and I shot Tyler in the side of his head,” I answer Matt.
“Are you okay Ry?” asks Jon.
I finish my beer, stand up from the sofa, walk towards the kitchen to get another beer, and answer Jon, “Yeah, I’m okay. It was self-defense.”
“Anyone else need a beer?” I ask as I stand in front of Bobby G’s refrigerator.
“I’ll take another one,” answers Phil.
“Jon? Matt? How about you?” I ask.
“I’m good,” answers Jon and Matt answers, “No thanks.”
I grab two beers from the refrigerator and walk back into the living room.
I hand Phil a beer and I say, “It was self-defense killing that guy Tyler, but either way he and Tiny deserved to die.”
“Why?” asks Matt.
“Well, besides them being criminals who escaped prison. They probably raped and killed these two women in JJ’s neighborhood,” I answer.
“How do you know that?” asks Matt.
I look at Matt and answer, “Well, Phil’s detective skills are rubbing off on me I guess.”
Phil looks at me and says, “Explain that further Ry.”
“Well, I noticed that Tyler had scratches on his neck, like from someone who was fighting back against him. And the two chick zombies we killed in front of JJ’s house didn’t have any pants or underwear on,” I answer.
“They were naked?” asks Matt.
“No, they both had t shirts on. But it doesn’t matter either way. Those two attacked us, almost took Lauren, and now they are gone. And good fucking riddance. The world is a better place without them,” I say and then I drink some of my beer.
“I have always thought an eye for an eye is the best form of punishment,” says Jon.
“What do you mean?” asks Matt.
“Simple. You get what you give. If you do something to someone that same thing should happen to you,” answers Jon.
“Amen,” I say.
“But what if you were wrongly convicted?” asks Matt.
Jon looks at Matt and answers, “With DNA evidence and the improved ways to find people guilty or innocent it would be easy. Sure there would be exceptions, but it would also drastically cut down the crime rates.”
“I saw so many repeat offenders so many times around Raleigh. One guy I arrested two times in one week for similar crimes,” says Phil.
“People weren’t afraid to do the time for the crime, but if you lost a finger, or a hand, or your life because of the crime you committed, I’m sure that would make people think twice before doing something,” I say.
“What if you are protecting yourself? Like the guy who killed two intruders who broke into his house, what would have happened to him?” asks Matt.
“That’s different, he and every person has a right to stand their ground and defend themselves,” says Phil.
“Seems like a blurred line though, what makes something okay and something not okay?” asks Matt.
“Well, all that shit doesn’t matter now. This new world is chaos and people can kill other people and get away with it,” I say.
The guys look at me and wonder if I’m okay.
“But the universe, or god, or whatever you want to call it, knows what we do. Karma will level the playing field, and I just hope karma sees all the terrible things I’ve done as self-defense and me protecting the ones I love,” I say as I look up at Bobby G’s living room ceiling.
The guys don’t know what to say after my statement.
I look at the guys and ask, “What do you guys think? Am I going to hell for what I’ve done?”
“No Ry, you had to do those things,” answers Jon.
“Why? Why did I though?” I ask.
“To protect the people you care about,” answers Phil.
I look at Phil and Phil says, “It’s normal to feel bad for killing a human being. Normal people aren’t okay with killing others.”
I look at Matt and
