Page 102 of Mountain Security

Alex.

In the fading light, she struggled to see where he’d been shot. Then he and Arnaud were on the ground, grappling for the gun.

Yvette ran to help him, only to be stopped by Aristide’s grip on her hair. He threw her off balance and tossed her onto the ground. She yelped at the pain in her scalp, which was replaced by a much sharper pain moments later as she landed hard on the ground, her hip taking the brunt of the fall. For an instant, her entire left leg went numb.

No.

She had to help Alex.

But I can’t get up.

If you can’t get up, crawl.

For once, her inner voice was giving her good advice.

Aristide was distracted now. The gun in his hand shifted from side to side. It was clear he wanted to shoot, but wasn’t certain he could hit Alex.

Yvette used this moment of distraction to her advantage. She crawled on the hard, frozen ground, her fear so great, she barely felt the cold.

She grabbed on to the man’s leg, lifted his fine-knit pants, and bit as hard as she could. Aristide’s howl was music to her ears. She bit harder, holding on for dear life, even when he kicked at her midriff with his free leg. She looked up, just in time to see the black gun coming down on her head like a hammer.

There was a loud thud, and then a ringing.

She lost control of her limbs, felt her body moving sideways as Aristide kicked her again. This time, she didn’t even feel the kick.

Nausea rose to her mouth.

She saw bright flashes of light and struggled to look beyond them.

Alex.

Where are you?

The lights flickered, and her world faded to darkness.

* * *

Alex

Alex punched Arnaud Gaultier hard.

His knuckles cracked against the man’s face. He waited for the dull ache to turn to pain, then realized it was the man’s cheekbone that had cracked, not his knuckles.

Arnaud wailed, and Alex punched him again, this time on the side of the head. His other hand, he kept on the man’s gun, forcing it against the ground.

Blood dripped down his right arm, and he could feel that arm growing weaker, but Arnaud was no match for Alex physically, and definitely no match for Alex’s wrath.

Alex slammed the man’s head on the ground once.

He tried to kill Yvette.

Then again.

Finally, Arnaud’s body sank limp against the ground. His fingers opened up reflexively, and Alex grabbed the gun, turning just in time to see Aristide slam his own gun on Yvette’s head.

“No!” Alex roared.

As he watched, Yvette’s eyes grew unfocused, her face slack.

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