Page 56 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 9-12
Damian and Jun exchanged looks. Mark, their security, grimaced. It wasn’t his job to look after the kids. It was his job to stay on top of Jun’s and Damian’s safety.
Damian and Jun took the stairs up at a run.
Betti’s voice rose in a wail. “Howser, please. I don’t want to.” Her voice cut off in a cry.
Damian rounded the last bend between himself and the kids.
Betti was on the floor against the wall, blood on her face. Howser stood over her, a cell phone Damian hadn’t seen before in his hand. He looked down at Damian, eyes wide, then reached for Betti, grabbing her hand. “Come on.”
She pulled her wrist away from him, but he wouldn’t let go.
“Stay back,” Howser screamed at Damian.
He let go of Betti, hand going to his waistband.
Damian grabbed Jun and jerked him down on instinct.
Howser drew a handgun. He pointed it at Damian, arms shaking.
Episode 11
Damian
Damian pushed Jun down against the wall, putting himself between Howser and Jun. The floor was cold under his hands. That was a gun. There was a motherfucking gun in the hands of a twelve-year-old. Who the hell had given Howser a gun? The muzzle trembled wildly. Fuck. In a space like this, a bullet could ricochet anywhere.
Betti’s eyes were wide. “Howser, don’t! I’ll go. I’ll go!” She tugged on his hoodie.
Mark, their security, slid around the bend of the stairwell, gun already out and pointed at Howser.
Howser backpedaled. “Open the door.”
Betti sobbed, opening the door back into one of the hotel floors. Her hands slipped once, blood on her palms leaving smears behind. She got it open on the second try.
Sickness clawed at Damian’s inside. Jun was tense as iron against him.
Howser pushed Betti backward through the door. It slammed shut. A scream came through the other side, followed by thuds.
“Get down a level,” Mark bellowed.
Damian grabbed Jun off the floor, dragging him down toward the lower landing, away from the direct line of fire from the upper door.
Mark jerked it open. Damian stared in its general direction, waiting for a gunshot, for sounds.
Betti’s muffled sobbing and Armada’s angry voice came instead.
“All clear,” Mark bellowed.
Damian took the stairs two at a time. Jun followed.
Armada had Howser flat on the hallway carpet, holding him down with her full body, her legs straddling his middle. She had his wrists in her hands. He thrashed, cursing and trying to bite her arms. Betti huddled against the opposite wall. Mark had Howser’s gun, the clip removed and in his palm.
Damian grabbed Howser’s wrists. Mark spoke urgently into his mic. Cedric answered. He couldn’t leave the other children.
Mark grimaced. He pulled zip ties from the kit on his belt and held them out to Damian. “If you’ll do the honors, sir. I need to search him.”
Damian nodded. Armada eased back, letting Mark take over.
Howser looked at Damian. His eyes were wide and desperate. Tears streaked down the sides of his temples. Damian secured his wrists and ankles.
