Page 91 of Slaughtered Firefly
“Summer, it doesn’t have to be like this!” Dustin shouted from across the way.
“Fuck you!” I yelled back.
“Just come out we can talk about this, do you really want to go to jail?” Dustin’s voice the negotiator in this situation. I almost laughed too loudly; jail was nothing compared to the loss I had suffered.
“I won’t let them keep her, you’ll have to drag me out by my cold dead pussy.” I enunciated as I threw a grenade in the general vicinity. It was a weak throw, a distraction so that we could make our exit. Cole had brought reinforcements.
“Move your asses or so help me I will kill every single one of you useless piece of shits,” I barked as the ringing died down around us.
“That wasn’t nice Summer, you have what eight bullet’s left?” Dustin goaded.
“Nine, you mother fucker, eight if I put one in your pretty little temple,” I sassed.
“We can help you find her, all you have to do is turn yourself in,” he negotiated.
moved,I shot around just barely nicking his ear, and all hell broke loose. The men moved and Cole was within arm’s reach.
Seven, the shot left the barrel as I turned to run.
Six, a bloodcurdling scream ripped through me as a bullet entered and exited my right leg. I tripped over myself, pushingto keep going.Don’t die yet. Not fucking yet.I stumbled behind a pillar. Cole forced behind another as the footsteps of the SWAT team closed in. The men laid down cover fire as I held back tears. I ripped my t-shirt, tying it around my leg as the pain seeped around.
I needed to move or I would be dead. I turned, firing blindly into the masses, hoping that my bullet landed with a thunk, no longer as accurate or caring so long as I made it out of there alive. Five.
Move. Move or you're dead, Summer. Just do it.I chanted in my head like it was the last fucking thing I would do. I whipped around, firing the remaining bullets into the dusty coverage, making a beeline for Cole and the open door. It was so close.. I could taste the freedom. Cole.
I felt the wind knocked out of me as the bullet sank into my shoulder. My eyes widened in terror as my outstretched hand barely shy of Cole’s. His roar of pain was mirrored in my foggy mind. My body slammed sideways as I made impact with the ground.
Dustin stood just feet away, the barrel’s heat not even dissipated. His features pinched in sadness for what seemed like an eternity, but I knew to only be a few seconds. Cole’s pistol fired recklessly towards Dustin as he dodged and ducked for cover. The longer I stared at the blood leaking out, the more I tried to laugh ... red. My favorite color.
EPILOGUE
“Dammit, what is taking him so long?” Nervous energy rattled my brain as the phone continued to ring with no answer. “Did you get the number right?”
“Yes, I am not an idiot.” Jasper threw his hands up as if he were innocent.
“Then why the fuck is he not picking — ”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The door pounded, and the phone clattered to the ground. I peered through the keyhole. A tall man stood there in a dark suit, stethoscope draped like a noose around his neck, a soft leather bag gripped in one hand. His hair was neatly combed; hiseyes were not. He smiled like a man who enjoyed the punchline before the joke.
“Stare at me all you want, but open the door first,” he said, voice almost conversational.
I swung the door open, pistol to his temple. “Who are you?” I barked.
“The doctor, isn’t it obvious?” He tilted his head as if surprised I needed telling.
“Bullshit. Where’s Dr. Reed?”
“The good doctor is tied up with an awfully messy trauma — a man and his balls, if you can imagine,” he said with a bored chuckle. “Really tragic. The man should see daylight more often.” He glanced around the living room. “Oh dear. Nobody cleans anymore. I suppose it’ll do.”
“Do you think this is funny?” I tightened my grip.
“I never joke about cleanliness,” he said, then, softer, “Now — will you show me the patient, or must I fetch an audience?”
I slammed the door behind him and pushed him toward the kitchen. Summer lay sprawled on the linoleum, clothes damp at the collar, breaths shallow. Her eyes pinched tight in pain.
“Cole,” she murmured.
