Page 126 of Gunslinger Girl
“Tell your men to stop shooting!” She poked one barrel through a gap in the tables, looking for movement.
“Are you going to tell yours to do the same?”
“They’re not mine. They’re Selene’s, remember?” Pity paused. “She’s still alive, by the way! You ought to work on your aim.”
More quiet followed, and she could hear the sounds of pounding on the front doors and distant gunfire. But in the Gallery there was silence.
“You’re lying,” Sheridan said finally.
“Nope.” She looked around and saw people darting toward the exits, taking advantage of the cease-fire. Keep him talking. Give them time. Give Olivia time. “She’s alive and pissed off. I don’t even want to know what’s going to happen once she gets her hands on you.” No response. “You thinking about it, Patrick? Maybe if you give up now she’ll make it quick—”
A shadow fell upon her.
Daneko. His right hand was wrapped in someone’s silk scarf, but his left held a gun, as dark as death itself.
Idiot, she had enough time to think. Distracted by your own distraction. Pity raised her weapons, but it was too late, he had the drop on her and—
BOOM.
Daneko went flying backward in a mist of scarlet.
Pity twisted around and found Siena standing nearby, shotgun smoking. She threw herself down beside Pity as gunfire erupted again.
“Good timing!” Cold terror followed relief. “Max! Is he—”
“Still alive?” Siena snapped. “Yes. And irritatingly insistent that you stay that way, too.”
“You don’t care at all, of course.”
“Don’t get smart. Where’s Liv?”
There was a sudden flurry of activity from the front of the Gallery. A mob of Tin Men flooded in through the front entrance, Olivia at their head. The ones who had held the door all dropped their weapons, save for one, who bolted.
Olivia cut him down before he made it a dozen paces. “We’ve got them surrounded!”
Pity cried out with triumph, a sound that caught in her throat as she spotted Halcyon and Sheridan disappearing into the halls of Casimir.
CHAPTER 42
Pity was in pursuit in an instant, not pausing to see if it was safe or when Siena yelled after her. She darted through the carnage, leapt over a body, and made it out of the Gallery in time to see the flutter of Halcyon’s coattails down a side hallway. She ran to the corner and took a quick look around it. Empty.
She turned and ducked barely in time as Sheridan appeared at the far end. Plaster exploded above her head. Pity righted herself and took aim, but he was already out of sight. She waited a moment, ready, but he didn’t show himself again.
She took the next corner more carefully, catching another glimpse of them. Heart beating so hard she felt like it might come out her ears, she trailed them through Casimir’s maze of hallways. She thought she heard Siena calling somewhere behind her, but she didn’t stop as more gunshots erupted ahead. A minute later she came across a Tin Man slumped on the floor, a trail of blood on the wall behind him.
She checked for a pulse.
Nothing.
Everyone stay in your rooms, she prayed, continuing after them. Sheridan was desperate now, and there was no telling what a desperate man would do.
The theatre, she realized. That’s where they were headed. Halcyon must have some emergency way out. He’d be a fool not to.
Cautiousness forgotten, she ran, bursting through the doors of the theatre as the two men reached the arena floor, Halcyon leading.
“Stop!” She propelled herself down the steps, firing a pair of warning shots.
The bullets struck the floor between them. Halcyon kept running, but Sheridan stumbled and fell to the floor.
