Shannon

     “You.” She turned and pressed a finger into my chest. “You are the first to die in a survival movie.” 

     My mouth opened and closed. Okay, so maybe I did sound a bit like that one guy who dies first every time, but that’s not my fault. Sometimes those guys were quite reasonable. After studying my reaction, her face broke into the sunniest smile and she began to chuckle. I guess I thought she was crazy at the time because I remember letting my frown deepen. 

     “That seems a little uncalled for.” I complained, but she didn’t seem to mind. She seemed entertained by me, which was surprising since I found myself a pretty boring person. I had a job sitting at a desk, no fancy office or anything, just a little cubicle with enough room for a succulent. The apartment I lived in wasn’t luxury by any means, but I could watch T.V. and sleep, which fit all my prerequisites. 

     “I’m giving you the chance to become the side character who doesn’t die until ¾ of the way through. Be happy with that.” She rolled her eyes. I couldn’t help a smile. 

     Shannon didn’t strike me as the kind of person who was happy at an office job or sitting at the T.V. for four hours. She didn’t strike me as someone with a boring life. She seemed to be someone adventurous, someone who wanted everything with no means of obtaining it. She was the kind of person who would dig with her own hands if buried beneath the earth was an answer to her questions. 

     Her finger pointing into my chest morphed into an outstretched hand. 

     “I’m Shannon. Shannon Frye.” She announced like a prayer, a sermon the world could not miss. 

     I slowly reached up and took her hand in mine. I gave it a firm shake and nodded. With equal force, and trying to match, even slightly, the tone of her voice, I responded. I can no longer remember if she smiled after hearing my name. I can no longer remember if she thought my name was so ordinary it was extraordinary, or if she raised an eyebrow in jest. I can only remember my own words and how I hoped she responded. 

     I’m Finn. Finn Walters. Her eyes were alight.