Save them both

You probably can't move right now with the storm coming in anyway. You can hear the thunder booming outside and the rain pounding on the roof of the grocery store. Even though you know taking on a wounded person is a risk, you also feel it's your obligation. This is the example you have to set as a leader. You're the one deciding what sort of world, what sort of society, is going to be left.

"Alright, let her go, Ritter," you say.

He reluctantly releases his hold on Cassie and she rushes to her brother's side. His eyelids slowly open, but you can see he's delirious.

"It'll be alright," Cassie murmurs to him.

"Get me bandages, the cloth kind, peroxide, some of that antibiotic ointment, and medical tape," you instruct Ritter.

He leans in and whispers in your ear, "You've gotta be kidding me. We're gonna save this guy?"

"Yes," you reply sternly.

"This is dumb," he replies. "We've already got too many-"

You grab him by the shirt collar and lean in close.

"What I say goes," you hiss. "I'm in charge."

Your tone softens before he can mentally back himself into a corner.

"Besides," you smile, "you want be on my good side, right?"

You press your body against him, just enough to be clear without being blatant. Ritter relaxes a little and then smiles as well.

"You're the boss," he says.

You're sure a feminist somewhere is rolling in her grave, but you're not above using your body to control a wildcard like Ritter.

The muscled thug returns a few minutes later with an armload of supplies. He hands you the list of medical gear and then begins to snack on a Snickers bar and drink a warm bottle of Coke.

"Once you finish with that get back on the clock," you warn Ritter. "Get us some real food and bottled war and then set up a watch. I don't want any crazies trying to escape the storm catching us with our pants down."

Ritter winks and replies, "Anything you say, boss."

It takes you longer than you expected to clean Charlie's wound. He doesn't seem to have any ruptured organs, which is lucky, but the infection seems pretty bad in his abdomen. You drain him of pus and then pack the wound with antiseptic-slathered bandages. You tape a large bandage over the wound.

By the time you're done Ritter has set up a hot plate on the desk and cooked cans of soup. You drink a bottle of water and eat the soup with him while Cassie tries to feed her brother.

"He gonna make it?" Ritter asks.

"If we can get him back to the mall," you say.

"Not tonight," Ritter replies. "The storm is bad. We need to wait until morning or risk driving into trouble."

"Alright," you drink the last of the soup from the can. "Let's get the van loaded and we'll move him to the front of the store. Then we'll set up watches between me and you."

"Sounds like a plan," Ritter replies and pushes off.

The rains batter the windows of the store and the wind howls around the van and scatters papers from the checkouts. You and Ritter drag Charlie to the front of the store and then begin the exhausting process of loading the van up with supplies. Cassie helps some, but you can tell she hasn't slept in days and you send her back to her brother.

It's past midnight by the time you and Ritter are done and the storm is not relenting.

"Get some sleep," you tell Ritter. "I'll wake you in a few hours."

You take up a sentry point perched atop one of the checkout conveyor belts. The added height allows you to keep an eye on most of the store, the front entrance, and Ritter.