My heart’s in my throat and I gasp for air as my chest heaves up and down. I look down and one of my slippers is missing. No time to stop though.
Bruno hooks a left and moves along the buildings. As I follow, my fingers touch the buildings for support, feeling the difference in texture between the brick and cement. Hoping against all odds we survive or can at least find a place to hide.
Cole’s hands grip his pistol, following along and checking to make sure the guards didn’t catch up.
Only two more blocks to go. But two blocks seem like an eternity when fighting for your life. Every breath, every stride, and every sound is magnified in my mind. The colors are more vivid, the feeling of suffocation more powerful than ever.
A loud crash lets us know we haven’t escaped them. They come thundering after us, firing nonstop. I don’t have time to scream or cry, just sprint with all my might after Bruno, hoping Cole follows with Zeus. The guards outnumber us as they pin us in another alley.
There’s nowhere left to go. We don’t have the manpower or firepower to take them head-on. Bruno and Cole take turns shooting back at them, but we know it’s only a matter of time before the guards figure out we’re at their mercy.
“Maybe I should have a gun,” I say.
Cole glances at me. “Have you ever shot one?”
“No. But it’s not hard to figure out.”
He thinks for a second. “Here goes nothing.” He places his other black pistol in my right hand. “It’s already loaded. Just aim and pull the trigger.”
Bruno empties a full magazine, hits the slide, and then slams in his spare. Then I shoot Cole’s other gun and empty it. It’s the first time I’ve ever touched one, and it feels good to fight back, although I’m sure my shots are nothing more than a deterrent.
The spray of bullets answering us forces us to shoot blind. Zeus barks ferociously while standing in front and Cole reins him in by pulling his collar. Dirt, dust, and pieces of debris shower us, leaving flakes of blood behind, but we rotate shooting until the ammunition is spent. After the last shot, Bruno and Cole lock eyes knowingly. They press against the wall and communicate with hand motions. I squeeze my eyes closed, trying to block out the sounds of hell being unleashed around us. Then we wait for the inevitable onslaught of violence from the guards. Cole pushes me behind him to protect me, and Zeus growls low and deep in his belly in front of us.
By now, we’ve sweated through every layer of clothing possible. The acrid smell of hot lead bores through my senses. I swear I feel a raindrop on my cheek as we wait and wait for the guards to kill us.
The gunfire continues but fades, confusing all of us. Male voices, some yelling and some moaning, creep across the street like ghosts. I want to look around the corner and find out what’s happening, but I know Cole would never allow it.
Bruno shrugs his shoulders and Cole furrows his brow and shakes his head in response. Nothing happens. “They should be here by now,” Bruno says to Cole as he swipes his forehead with his large hand.
“Stay here—let me look.” Cole ducks his head around the corner slowly to get a better look. “I see nothing. No eyes.”
Bruno’s jaw tightens as he thinks. “I don’t know, dude. Could be a trap.”
“Why would they trap us if we’re already cornered?” I ask in a whisper.
“Damn if I know… These guys are mentally sick.” Cole’s intense eyes rest on me for a moment. Despite his glistening face with dirt smeared across the side, he still looks amazing. The desire reflected in his expression and the way he protects me make me want him even more. My whole world hinges on how I feel about him. I’d die without him. If Alyssa could see us now… Maybe she can.
The building I lean against is full of pockmarks as if it’s seen decades of battles. The grout crumbles and barely any of the glass windows remain. Another raindrop lands on my arm, and this time, I know I’m not imagining it.
“Well, what’re you thinking?” Bruno asks Cole.
Just then, a figure looms in the entrance, but it’s not a guard. He’s skinny but muscular and short with a long beard. Slung over his shoulder is a large strap with long, slender bullets lining the outside. He carries the largest gun I’ve ever seen a civilian carry. The black brand around his neck is unmistakable.
“Come with me,” he says with an authoritative voice. He points the gun at us and motions with it for us to move.
We all stare at him, thinking he’s insane or we’re imagining his presence. Zeus growls again, baring his sharp canines and poised to attack.
“What about the guards?” I ask.
“They’re dead, so I suggest you follow me now unless you’d like to sit here and wait for more to show up.” He rounds the corner and disappears.