He sat back down in the wheelchair and let the sensation settle for a second before wheeling his way to the front.
At the front of the store, a shelf crashed to the ground, sending its contents sprawling over the tile floor. Tyler got to the middle aisles and pulled behind one of the end caps to give him cover. He wanted to get up front to help, but rushing in without looking was asking for trouble. There was no way to know what he would deal with once he got there unless he took a moment to look. If his head were in better shape he would've moved in closer, but with the difficulty he was having trying to walk he thought it better to stay back.
"Give me the money, bitch," he heard a deep voice say from the front of the store. "All of it."
"OK. OK. Give me a minute. Don't shoot." She spit out the words between frantic breaths. From the sound of her voice Tyler could tell she had never been in a situation like this before, nor did she show any signs of training. He would've figured a company like this would've spent the time to make sure their employees stayed calm in a situation like this, if only to keep the other side calm.
"Do it now!" A gunshot rang out. The loud pop echoed through the store, causing some less stable items on the shelf to wobble as Tyler leaned into it for cover.
The woman let out a high-pitched squeal followed by frantic pleas for her life. "Here you go," she forced between sobs. "Get out of here."
The deep voice laughed. "I'm not done with you, honey. I want what's in the back too."
"I," she stuttered. "I don't have access to the safe. Only the store manager does."
"I don't want the safe, bitch. Take me to the back and get me the drugs."
"The back is locked until the pharmacist gets here. They are the only ones with keys."
"Here's what's going to happen. You are going to take me back to the pharmacy and open the door." Tyler peeked his head around the corner in time to see him pull the woman's name tag off her shirt. "I'd hate to blow your brains across the store now, Marcy. You've been so good so far."
Tyler balled his fists when he saw the man move behind her while holding the gun to her head. Her body, especially her head, shook up a storm as she walked towards the back.
Tyler moved the wheelchair back as the pair entered the aisle he'd been watching. For a moment, he considered wheeling back more and heading out the front door to escape. But something inside him wouldn't leave her alone, not for a moment longer than he'd already done by staying back for this long. If this was one of the punks that ambushed him out back, he might not stop with the money and the drugs. He might decide he wanted something else of hers; something no woman should be forced to give. Or, perhaps, he would do something much worse.
Tyler set the wheelchair brake and poised himself on the edge of the seat. He might not be able to stand up worth a darn, but he thought he should be able to do one good lunge to bring the man to the floor. It was his only option if he planned on saving her.
He waited patiently as the footsteps got closer. He saw her familiar white sneakers first, followed by the rest of her body. She glanced over, eyes widening as she noticed Tyler hiding around the corner. She covered her mouth and took another couple steps with the gun still pressed to her head.
Then Tyler saw his target. The man was tall, easily as tall as Tyler if not more, though he weighed probably one and a half times as much. He was built like a truck as if he'd spent his non-robbing hours hitting the gym to flesh out his bulk. For a moment, Tyler regretted his decision to stay and help, but it was too late to back out now. As far as he knew, the man would turn the gun on him and blow his head off the second he rounded the corner.
Tyler put every ounce of force he had into his thrust. Using the metal shelving as a guide, he wrapped his arms around the man as they crashed into each other. Once he was semi-upright, the dizziness set in, but the rush of adrenaline kept the sickness in check as the two crashed to the tile floor, sending the gun careening down the center aisle.
Free of the man's grip and the gun against her head, Marcy took off down the aisle screaming, not bothering to look back at her attacker or her savior. Tyler almost regretted saving her now. He'd made the move hoping to get help taking him down, or at least moving the gun.
Tyler tried to hold the larger man down with his arms, but with his sense of balance out of whack, he struggled to stay on top. No sooner than Tyler placed his arms around the larger man's throat, he shifted his weight sending Tyler into the cold tile.
"I hate heroes," the robber said moments before landing a blow against Tyler's bandaged head.
White flashes of light filled Tyler's vision, all swirling in the air as the vortex of pain and dizziness hit him full force. The second blow caught him in his jaw, filling his mouth with the taste of blood and two loose teeth. Tyler brought his arm up to push the man off him, but instead used it to block a blow meant for his other jaw instead.
This guy is kicking my ass. If I don't get him off me soon, I'm going to die.
Tyler held his arms up, protecting his head from the flurry of blows meant to take him out. Each impact sending jolts of pain that shot up his arms and weakened his biceps, making it more difficult to maintain the position with every blow. He turned his head to the side, hoping there was something close enough he could use as a weapon. Ideally, he wanted the gun, but would settle for a bag of Skittles if it was within reach.
To his right, the end cap displayed shelves full of scented candles, each contained in a small glass jar. It was better than he could imagine. All he had to do was grab one and swing. He waited until there was a break in the punches to make his move since another shot to the jaw would've been devastating.
After blocking another shot meant for his forehead, he looked to his right and grabbed one of the green candles. He let out a yell as he put everything he had into the move. He hoped to catch the attacker in his jaw; knock a few of his teeth out.
Before the glass jar could find its mark the robber grabbed Tyler's wrist, knocking the candle out of his hand.
"I respect a man willing to defend himself." He reared back with his free hand before landing another nasty hook on the side of Tyler's head. "Would've been smarter to let me have the drugs. Now I have to kill you and take the girl before I get the drugs. Can't let anyone think I'm weak."
Tyler wanted to say something witty back at him, but his jaw hurt too damn bad. It took every ounce of self control to keep from screaming out in fear. With the big man on top of him, he didn't stand a chance if he were healthy, let alone wounded and dizzy.
Other than the candles, there weren't a lot of options. The only thing he could do is take the beating until the man decided he'd had enough and ended his life for good. As much as he missed his wife and kids, he wished it wouldn't last much longer. He hoped they got the word he'd died so another could live. Not many could say they got the chance he had. Most people would've found a nice quiet place to hide until the situation blew over instead of getting involved.
As he bled on the waxed tile floor, he wished he would've run and hid instead. He wasn't ready to die. Not here, so far away from home. Away from Carrie, Melanie, and Ryan; the family he spent his whole life supporting as an absentee father.
Facing his death made him miss them even more. He wished he'd gotten one last chance to say goodbye.
The large man laughed. "Looks like your part in this is over."
Tyler closed his eyes as the other man balled his fist. He didn't want to see the blow as it hit, it would only make it worse. When the blow didn't come after a moment he opened his eyes in time to see the barrel of a wooden baseball bat smack into the attacker's ribcage. The man yelled out as the blow sent him into the candle display.
Free of the man's weight, Tyler crawled backwards away from the man who was now holding his ribs.
"You bitch! You'll pay for that."
Marcy roared as she swung the bat again, this time aimed at his head. Tyler winced, expecting the bat to spray him and half the aisle with blood
as the blow hit home, but the robber ducked at the last second. Glass shattered into tiny shards as the bat smashed into the center shelf of the candle display. The bat smacked into the solid metal support beam, sending waves of pain up Marcy's arm. When she didn't drop the bat, Tyler was amazed with her more than she already was. She'd already fooled him with her running away screaming act, seeing her as the aggressor was almost too much.
As the man struggled to get to his feet. Marcy moved in for the kill; swinging the bat with everything she had. The bat found its mark in the guy's gut, doubling him over on the spot. It would've been one hell of a victory if he hadn't grabbed the bat. She pulled the handle, desperately trying to pull the bat free, but as Tyler already knew, he was way stronger than she could ever be, even under her adrenaline fueled rage.
"Hope you enjoyed your fun, bitch. Now it's my turn." He pushed the barrel of the bat at her before jerking it back, pulling the bat straight out of her hands.
"No, no, no," she said, backing away from him as he closed in, slapping the barrel of the bat against his empty palm.
Thwap.
Thwap.
The sound echoed through the empty store, interrupting the faint music streaming through the store speakers.
Tyler tried to get up, but the pain in his face and head topped off with the dizziness kept him rooted to the ground. Watching him track Marcy down made him feel helpless. While she'd given him another chance, he almost wished she would've left instead. He didn't want to watch him beat her to death, but unless his vertigo would subside long enough to make a move, there wasn't anything he could do.
Sliding back to prop his back against a nearby shelf, his hand brushed against something metal and cold.
The gun.
In the midst of getting his ass kicked he almost forgot it was here. Tyler picked up the gun, flicked off the safety and aimed it at the man's back.
"Stop now," he demanded, fingers itching to pull the trigger.
The man turned around, face widening into a grin when he noticed Tyler with the gun. "Bet you don't have the balls to use it."
"Try me." The edges of Tyler's mouth twitched as he waited for the man to make his move. He didn't want to kill anyone, but he also wanted to be alive. Given the circumstances, it would be one or the other. In his mind he was ready for what he might have to do.
"You realize I'm not here alone, right?" He motioned his head towards the front door. "The second my boys hear a gunshot they'll come running. When they do, what do they think they'll do to you and your lady friend?"
"I'll tell you what I think. I think you are full of shit. There isn't anyone out front waiting on you. You've been here too long for that. If they were going to come running, they would've been in here by now."
"Then it seems we have a Mexican standoff."
"Seems that way," Tyler agreed.
Behind the robber, Marcy tiptoed around the corner holding a glass wine bottle above her head. Tyler kept his face expressionless, not wanting to give her away. As long as Tyler held his attention, she had a clear shot.
The man twisted the bat in his hand. "I'm going to play a hunch." He put his weight on his rear foot to lunge at Tyler at the same time the wine bottle hit home, shattering into hundreds of pieces as the bottle hit his head, sending waves of the purple liquid across the floor. The big man dropped to the ground hard, dropping the bat as soon as his arm hit the floor.
Tyler lowered the gun and let out the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Are you OK?"
She nodded. "I'll live, you?"
"Same."
Marcy stepped over the big man to get to the wheelchair, then helped Tyler back into the seat. He was thankful to be off the cold ground, but wished he could walk. Whatever was going on with his head needed to disappear, like yesterday.
"What should we do with him?"
"Sell duct tape here?"
She smiled, before running off to get a roll.
When she returned it took her a while to get him tied up; the wine was making it difficult as hell for the tape to get a grip. She took a minute or two, but she got his hands taped behind his back then taped the hell out of his pants to make sure he couldn't run. The final piece of tape was reserved for his mouth.
Tyler wanted to put another piece of tape over his nostrils to make him suffocate, but he decided this was good enough. He was going to feel like a jackass when he woke up and found himself tied up and unable to move.
"I don't want to be here anymore," Marcy said, tossing the tape onto the floor. "I refuse to be the only one working after this crap."
The realization hit Tyler like a truck. He'd been in here for a while and hadn't seen another soul. Marcy was the only one manning the store when there should've been at least six or seven up front, not counting the pharmacy crew in back.
"Lots of call ins?"
"More like no-shows. Jerks didn't even have the decency to let me know."
Tyler didn't hold his confusion to himself. Something was going on around here, but he didn't know what. The only thing he could think of was a terrorist attack in the area that targeted major roadways to throw the nation into chaos. But even if it was as widespread as Marcy insisted earlier, it didn't fit the bill of any terrorist group he'd ever heard of. Most of the big groups wanted to inflict as many casualties in as little time as possible to minimize the ability of the authorities to respond.
The accidents would make total sense if they planned on doing something else. But as far as he knew, nothing else had happened, though to be fair he still hadn't checked the news.
A mechanical grinding followed by a short chime announced the appearance of another customer. Looks like Marcy won't be leaving yet. However, when Tyler heard the voice of the man shouting into the store shortly after, he wished they both had.
Continued in Episode Two
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The Demontouched Saga
Demontouched - The Complete Saga
Demontouched - Book 1
Fallen - Book 2
Reaper - Book 3
Vessel - Book 4
Sacrifice - Book 5
Risen - Book 6
Echoes of Tomorrow
Season One
The Demontouched Saga
Demontouched - The Complete Saga
Demontouched - Book 1
Fallen - Book 2
Reaper - Book 3
Vessel - Book 4
Sacrifice - Book 5
Risen - Book 6
The Nephalem Files
Sparked
Vampire for Hire
Dead of Night
Astraea Renata Books
Far Too Young to Die
Echoes of Tomorrow
Season One
Echoes of Tomorrow Season One: Episode One (Echoes of Tomorrow: Season One Book 1) Page 3