“He’s probably not alone,” Rylen said.
I shook my head. “If his parents were with him, do you think they’d let him open the door and stare out at people? No way. They’d make him stay low until we were gone.”
Rylen and Devon shared a look, but quickly turned back to the house when the cellar opened further, revealing the chest, shoulders, and head of a young boy. With more light shining on him, I could make out the fear on his gaunt, brown face.
“We have to help him,” I whispered, but Shavontae was already getting to her feet. We walked together, guns pointed.
“Tae!” Devon said through clenched teeth. Rylen cursed and the two of them jumped to their feet, following.
The boy spooked, crouching again, so we slowly lowered our guns and held up our free hands.
My heart was going crazy.Please, don’t let this be a trick.The boy had partially closed the cellar again, but it was open enough for him to see out. He was watching to see what we’d do.
“Damn it,” Devon said. “Keep your guns up!”
“Hush!” Shavontae said back without looking away from the cellar.
Rylen’s jaw clenched, but he responded, “We’ll have your back.”
Shavontae and I stood arm to arm, inching our way forward. Behind me, I heard the jangle of the shop doors open, and feet pounding the pavement as the other guys realized there was a situation, but I was too focused to look back.
We got about fifteen feet away, and Shavontae was the first to speak.
“Hey now. We’re not gonna hurt you. Are you alone?”
The boy stared hard at her, then at her gun, which she held downward as we inched forward.
“We’re not going to shoot,” I assured him. “I promise.”
He didn’t move or speak.
“That’s close enough,” Rylen warned.
Ten feet away, we crouched down.
“I’m Shavontae, and this is my friend Amber. Those guys behind us are Devon and Rylen. We want to help you.”
I watched closely. It seemed like forever before the boy’s mouth moved.
“Why they look so mad?” he asked, referring to the men.
Shavontae, well trained, never took her eyes off him. “They ain’t mad, don’t worry.”
“They’re just looking out for bad guys,” I said. “Is anyone with you?”
He slowly shook his head.
I felt Devon and Rylen crouch behind us, giving off a slightly less aggressive air. The boy raised the cellar door a bit more, and Shavontae moved forward a few feet. She held out a hand. The next minute seemed to drag on forever until the boy opened the hatch door all the way and took a tentative step out. God, he was so thin. She set down her gun, holding out both hands now, and he slowly went to her.
“He ain’t nothin’ but skin and bones,” Devon whispered, taking the words out of my mouth.
“Amber, take her back to the car while we check it out,” Ry whispered. I nodded and walked next to Shavontae, who held the boy in her arms. One glance behind me found Devon picking up her discarded weapon as Rylen lifted open the cellar door with his foot, pointing his gun in. Texas Harry and New York Josh rushed forward while Matt escorted us to the vehicle, pointing his gun out in all directions as he crouched. My eyes went back and forth between the boy with dark skin and dusty black curls, to the guys dipping down into the cellar. If this was a trap, it was cruel.
“What’s your name?” Shavontae asked him.
“Tyree,” he whispered. He sounded lethargic. “You in the Air Force? My mama’s in the Air Force.”
“I’m in the Army,” Shavontae told him. “And Amber’s a paramedic.”
