Wait for morning.

You decide her idea makes sense and pull off at the next exit, 5 miles later, to no place in particular as any sign telling where this might have been is long gone. You see the only standing building as you leave the highway is an old rather sturdy looking black building with the remains of a sign once proclaiming, “Live Nude Girls.” You look down and see she has completely fallen asleep and are once again struck by just how beautiful she is. Almost as if to force your hand as you consider stopping at the building the wind picks up violently and rain begins to beat down on your truck. You realize going off road in this rain might get you stuck and the only hope of sleep either of you have as she stirs awake at the sound of rain banging off of the roof of the truck is to go inside.

She sits up and grips the rifle looking around. “Are we stopping?” She sees the building and looks at you. “What do you think, should we go in?”

“I don’t know if it is smart but I don’t like the look of those clouds.” You point west as the lightning strikes nearby and see the sky has taken a turn for the worse. You first think this bizarre but as you think about it your mind remembers that if the land here was as flat and devoid of vegetation as it is now storms would rule the Midwest with very high punishing wind more and more common. “If this building has lasted this long it is probably more safe than this truck.” You pull around to the east of the building to hopefully protect the truck from damage and as the rain slows for a moment you reach back behind the seat, grab the shotgun, and look her in the eyes. “Just keep alert. Come on.” You pull the door open and the wind nearly rips you off your feet. Despite the slow in the rain you are both soaked in an instant as you race for the back door. You find it locked but pull a lock pick set from your belt and set to work. She shields you from the rain with her body as if the two of you had done this countless times and to your surprise your nimble fingers have the lock open far faster than you would have thought possible. She pulls the door open and the two of you slip in as quick and quiet as you can. You blink as your eyes become accustomed to the darkness and pulling up your shotgun you click on the flashlight attached to it at some point as if you knew it was there all along. Peering ahead your ears pick up the sound of movement from down the hall in front of you in the main room ahead beyond a simple wooden door, once covered in what looks like the remains of red felt padding, hanging slightly open.

She pulls her head to your ear and whispers to you, “I hear at least 2 things moving in there.” You point your gun down to remove any water in the barrel and she opts to sling her rifle for fear of the same and pulls out her .44. In her left hand she pulls out a flare and prepares to light it when you hit the corner. The two of you inch forward quietly and cover the light till you are in place at the corner of the door. Pushing the door open suddenly and hunching down as small as possible she lights the flare and tosses it into the room beyond with practiced ease. As the light fills the room you see…