7

Leaving our home was the hardest thing I had to put my sister through. But I knew the risk if we've stay there just waiting for more people to show up and threaten or worst hurting my sister. Leaving our subdivision was easy. It was a mile and a half to the main road and then about a few more miles to the main highway to get out of New Orleans. I knew the most direct route would have the most problems to get across so we would take backroads and shortcuts through the city parks and hopefully find a car to ride the rest of the way out.

Twenty minutes later we were a couple of minutes from the main road when we hear sirens and gunfire. I stop and grab my sister and took us to hide behind a burnt-out car. I count to ten and look over the hood of the car to see what was happening. A black truck was rushing down the street with a police car chasing after it, both shooting at each other. I counted to ten again, waiting for anything else to happen. When the sounds a gunfire and sirens fading into the distance, I hold my sister closer to me and pick up the pace to get out of the city. Shit shit shit. It's only been a couple of days and the city is falling apart. Where is the national guard? Why isn't there anyone helping us? What is going on?

Reaching the main road, we walk for ten minutes before turning onto a side road that I use to bike down when I was in high school. This road was well-wooded on the left side to dense for most people to walk through and behind some houses on the right of us. Walking with a brisk pace but keeping my head low and watching for anything that might come out at us. Knowing that the gangs are running wild put me on edge. This morning was a testament to that and the hold in my shoulder was proof of that. I pull out my Glock in case anything happens.

"Avery, I don't know what's going on but don't pull out your weapon until I tell you to," I told her I hear her meekly say okay.

With that confrontation, I slow my pace down so she can keep up. We hide behind cars and dumpers making our way northwest to one of the major highways out of New Orleans. I know that marital law is in effect and that the national guard is blocking all the roads, but I had to try and get my sister out of this city. I had to try.

Walking along back roads and allies was the slowest but best possible way to get out of the city unnoticed. After several turns and long narrow roads I saw the flagpole to De L Salle high school, I felt some relief as we near the water and the highway out of the city.

I stop walking to check out the nearby area. The open road between the alleyway and the 2-lane street to cross over into the next ally was long, longer than the road back to base camp in the desert. Looking out onto the open road again, I made a tentative step when a loud and piercing sound ripped through the air hitting metal. Something small ricocheted off the metal frame of a car door and I stepped backward pushing my sister back into the alleyway.

I let out a deep breath holding my hand behind me signaling my sister to not follow, this time I take a smaller step crouching low trying to stay behind cover waiting for another shot to come out. After 60 seconds another shot came toward me and I clocked the location towards my left. I station myself towards the right of the car providing as much cover as I needed, I took the rifle off safety and lined up my shot using the hood of the car as a countermeasure. Counting the seconds until this person took another shot at me. With each second, I took a deep breath to maintain my focus. Once I saw the flash of a bullet exiting the muzzle, I quickly aimed held my breath, and took fire hoping that my aim was true.

I counted the seconds waiting for something, anything to happen. Keeping my hold behind cover, sweat dripping down my face, I hear the sound of gunfire again. The sound of metal hitting metal as the bullet bounces off the car frame. I peek over the hood of the car and saw two figures running between some abandoned cars. 'fuck' I mumble to myself. I take a deep breath, ignoring the throbbing pain in my shoulder. Peeking over the hood of the car again taking aim and firing my rifle. I hit the second figure running and watch it go down.

"Aye we coming for you!"

I don't respond to the taunt and watch where the other one hide behind a car. Waiting for them to expose themselves. Sweating dripping from my face, blood running down my arm, I wait for my moment to end this person's life. Keeping my line of sight on the car they are hiding behind, I take a deep breath, releasing the pain and tension from my body. Feeling the blood slide down my arm, mixing with sweat.

Aware of everything around me in this moment I force my mind back into the desert. Forcing myself to go back into the place that kept me alive. In the deepest reaches of my mind, I become the soldier that keeps everyone around her alive and safe.

Movement from the left side of the car caught my notice and I wanted to see the brow, see this person's face. I inhale deeply and held my breath, seeing this person peeking over the left headlight, I fire heading him between the eyes, watching his body fall lifelessly to the ground.