"Do not move!"
Shouted the man with the mud-soaked boots.
"Who are you?!"
Nora is still shaking with fear.
"I wa--"
She can't seem to speak any words like forgetting entirely she was fully capable of speech as she tries to reply to the man.
"I said, who are you?!"
The man shouted loudly repeatedly to Nora. Almost breaking his voice doing so.
Nora regained a bit of herself and finally was able to utter an entire sentence.
"I'm Nora. Please. Your gun."
"What are you doing in here?"
Replied the man with confusion painted on his scruffily shaved face.
"Okay, I'll explain. But please, your gun. Please point it elsewhere."
He skeptically removed the rusty pistol away from Nora's head.
Although he removed it from Nora's head, he's still holding it with caution as if she will attack him.
Slowly, Nora picked up herself and was on her feet again.
She brushed off the dried mud on her palms and knees as she stood up.
"Talk, lady."
The man said to Nora intimidatingly.
"Okay. Let's do this again. Hi. I'm Nora, and you are?"
Nora jokingly said.
Clearly agitated, the man shouted again at Nora.
"I said, explain!"
Startled by the man's response, Nora talked as the man requested. Or at least shouted.
"So, I was staying in the house across the street for the night but just a few hours ago I was awakened by this sound, probably the door. Then I tried to check out the sound but I got so scared by the thudding sounds so I didn't open the door. I wasn't able to sleep after that. When the sun finally rose, I was able to go downstairs--"
"Okay, slow down, lady."
The man interrupted.
"Okay but you've got stop calling me lady. I mean, I'm a lady but you know, I have a name…mister."
"The name's Johann. Johann Bryne."
Johann finally introduced himself as he felt comfortable with her. Finally, tucking back his gun into his belt.
"Okay, Nora. Slow down a little bit this time. So, you were about to go downstairs and...?"
Nora replied, but this time she was composed.
"I was going downstairs then I smelled this familiar scent. I was so hungry so I checked out where it was coming from then I found this little picnic you got here."
Nora pointed at the table where the food was.
She then spotted the grill where another piece of meat was being cooked.
"So, you were out looking for a meal?"
Johann verified.
"Exactly." Replied Nora.
"Sit down there."
Johann pointed to the stool near the table.
Nora was quick to obey as if she knew who this guy was.
Maybe Nora is trusting too fast.
They could be anywhere... or anyone.
Johann prepared another meal for Nora on another plate. Or bowl. It's a big dog bowl.
He handed out the plate–the bowl–to Nora.
Nora quickly noticed where the food was in. She accepted the bowl while it was oblivious to her that her face was showing disgust.
As she was about to fork in the steak, Johann assured Nora as he sat down on another log stool beside her.
"Don't worry, I cleaned that dog bowl. I've been using it as well."
"He was a great friend. Buck's the name. He's been my companion ever since all this happened."
He added with sadness clearly hiding behind his smiling eyes.
Nora got curious, as expected with her nosy self.
"What k--"
"Killed him?"
Johann was quick to reply.
"The Siphons. The Siphons killed him."