Unhidden Pilgrims

“It would be so nice if we could write something on the shooters’ faces with these ink cartridges and pens.”

Heidi said, “Just by throwing ink items at people, you’re telling them that you want to be left alone.”

Tom said, “If we throw ink cartridges at them, maybe exclamation points will wind up on their faces.”

Heidi laughed. “That could really happen. Something as simple as an ‘x’ could also wind up on their faces.”

Denise said, “I could first throw my push pins at their faces. Then Tom could throw partially-open ink cartridges. We might be able to imprint tattoos on their faces.”

Tom laughed. “That actually might work.”

Heidi scratched her left ear. “One of the thieves already has a tattoo on his face.”

Tom asked, “What kind of a tattoo?”

“I think it’s a hundred-dollar bill.”

The lights in the corridor suddenly were turned on by someone outside of the office. Tom gestured with his hands for people to get under their desks. Heidi stepped back to the desk where her purse was. She moved the chair out of the way and went under the desk. She finally moved the chair in front of her body, so it would be tougher for people to see her.

Loud noises from bullets and breaking glass were heard. Joe’s voice said loudly, “Come on out! We know you’re in here.”

After a few seconds, more sounds of bullets and breaking glass were heard. The sounds were initially near the front door, but they quickly moved through some of the cubicles up to the one where Heidi was hiding. Several pieces of glass were kicked forward by the shooters and flew across the floor. Then the noise of bullets was followed by more broken glass. One of the glass dividers next to Heidi’s desk was shattered. A piece of glass bounced under the desk and hit her purse. She pulled her purse up against her chest and hugged it. She then bowed her head and prayed silently for God’s help. As she separated her clasped-together hands, Joe’s voice said, “I know you’re in here, Heidi. We’ve been following you.”

Heidi inhaled and exhaled slowly. She tried to talk, but no noises came out of her throat. Her lips silently formed some words: “Okay, I’m in here.” She then pushed the chair outward, crawled forward from under the desk, and stood up.

Joe was standing just a few feet away. His machine gun was partially resting on his right shoulder. He took his right index finger off of the trigger, placed his gun on the desk where Heidi had been hiding, and said sarcastically, “We meet again.”

Heidi’s eyes were blinking, and her hands were shaking. Her right hand moved to the pocket on the right side of her pants. Before she could pull out her Taser or small pistol, Joe grabbed her right hand. While firmly gripping Heidi’s hand, Joe removed her Taser and small pistol. Joe then walked over and stood behind Moe. He put Heidi’s weapons into the backpack that was strapped to Moe’s back. With a frown on his face, Joe walked back to stand near Heidi.

She tried to talk, but her lips were wobbling, and no sounds came out. She then cleared her throat a couple of times, making noises each time, and closed her mouth.

Moe, who was standing five feet behind Joe, kept his index finger on the trigger of his machine gun. He moved the barrel, so Heidi’s head was in line with the front and rear sights of his gun. Moe then asked, “Is it my turn, Joe, to shoot someone?”

“I think it is your turn, but we should wait to see if there are more people in this office.” Joe looked around at some of the other cubicles. “We might both need to be shooting people at the same time.”

Heidi’s eyes looked down at the floor as she clasped her hands together. She closed her eyes and was silent.

Joe laughed. “Are you praying?”

After a few seconds of silence, Heidi looked up at Joe and said in a strong voice, “Yes, I am.”

“Do you really think God can help you?” Joe asked.

“He definitely can,” Heidi said. “He already has helped me to get my voice back again.”

Joe looked at Heidi’s throat, took two steps forward, and stood right in front of her. He then reached his right hand up and touched her throat. “Let’s see if he gives you back your voice if I take your throat away.”

Heidi took a step sideways; Joe took a step in the same direction. He then grabbed onto her throat with both of his hands. “How does this feel?” he asked.

As Joe began to squeeze her throat, Heidi inhaled and then coughed several times. Phlegm flew out of her mouth onto Joe’s neck.

Joe squeezed her neck tighter as he said, “You won’t be spitting at me if I close up your throat a little more.”

Moe said, “Even if you strangle her, that won’t get rid of her throat.”

Joe loosened his grip slightly and stared through Heidi’s glasses into her eyes. The tears forming in her eyes were making the lenses of her glasses foggy.

Joe raised the corners of his mouth in a smirking gesture. “We could just hide her under that desk again.”

“We could also just leave her on the floor,” Moe said.

“Do you want to shoot her in the throat, Moe?”

“Yeah, I’d love to do that. I’ve never shot a woman before.”

“We could check and see how long it takes to quiet someone’s voice by shooting a throat,” Joe said.

“Shouldn’t we make her scream before we try to make her quiet?” Moe asked.

Joe let go of Heidi's throat, stepped backward, and removed a knife from one of his pockets.