by RB Stutz
“It’s under control. Our Boy Scout slash gangbanger decided to be stupid. He’s not going anywhere now,” answered Bobby.
The bullet that hit my hand and sent my gun flying went clean through. Although very painful, I knew it would heal soon. The bullets still in my thigh and shoulder were another matter.
“That was stupid Michael,” I said wincing at the still growing pain. I’d completely under estimated the brown toothed wonder. The way he was able to react was fast, too fast. The speed he was able to anticipate my move and stop me was uncanny. Also, his shots were perfectly placed to disarm and immobilize me. There was no way you learn that in country bumpkin school.
Who trained him? I then realized that right then I didn’t care, I had just been shot three times and people were about to die.
The pain continued to pulse through my body. My clothes were soaked with blood and it had started to pool on the floor. I tried to move my injured arm and leg, but immediately realized I couldn’t. If I could just hold out, the wounds would start to heal. I’d be able to move soon.
I knew I didn’t have the time to wait. The truck would arrive in a matter of seconds.
“Damn it! What good are these abilities if you can’t use them when they’re needed,” I muttered in frustration.
“Ok, Michael there has to be something you can do. Think.” I scrambled to block out the pain so I could try to come up with something, anything.
I was wearing the PTD. I could probably move enough to use it, but what good would it do to transport my broken body, but give them a reason to fill me with more bullets? They probably wouldn’t be as considerate to not kill me next time.
“Damn it, I was too careless.”
I heard three spouts of automatic rifle fire outside. It sounded like there were a few shots of return fire and then silence.
CHAPTER 10
Eerie silence came with the cease of the firefight outside. I was too late. I’d been too slow. The guards were dead. I should have acted.
“Damn it,” I growled. I tried to move without thinking and the still throbbing pain increased. I could have done something.
I forced focus into my thoughts. I needed to act before anyone else got hurt or killed, before I got anyone else hurt or killed. I knew Hank wouldn’t pause at the thought of ordering everyone killed before they left. He wouldn’t want to leave any witnesses. The only reason he hadn’t so far was probably to keep all his men on board with him, particularly Billy. I could have tried to get back into his mind to see what their next move was, but there wasn’t any time. My wits needed to stay in check. I had to stay aware.
It was impossible to fathom the idea that they were doing all of this, going to kill so many people for one truck of cash. I was going to stop them. Those backwards country psychos would get what was coming. I’d make sure of that. The rage I usually kept in an internal cage was breaking free. My teapot of pressure was on the verge of exploding and struggled to maintain control and think clearly.
The pain from the multiple bullet wounds was beginning to move from sharp to a dull spreading pain. The immense hatred I had for the gun men gave some distraction from the pain. The wounds weren’t going to completely heal with the bullets still in me and I didn’t have the time or the willingness to dig them out right then. My body was healing around the bullets, but I wasn’t sure what that meant as far as mobility. I tried to move my wounded shoulder, which was a bad idea. Another sharp twinge of pain ran through me.
I looked over at the rest of the hostages. The small family was all huddled together, the children both crying into the parents arms. The girl in the sweatshirt was sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest, a blank look on her face. The large man in the hat was still red faced and sweat streamed down both sides. His eyes were bulging and he was nervously looking around as if ready to bound away from anything that came near him. The two clerks were sitting next to each other. Ahmed was motionless and actually looked relatively calm, but expressionless. Jack also looked calm, though his right arm was making small subtle movements.
With a closer look, I saw he actually had something in his hand and he was moving his fingers, making quick glances down to see what he was doing. He looked up catching my gaze and nodded. Then, he brought a phone to his ear. He had somehow concealed it when they searched him. I shook my head mouthing “no” in response to this action. He ignored me.
Jack spoke with rapid words. “We have armed gunmen at the Granite Trail Stop at exit 46, Hwy 200…” He was cut off by another small explosion. A dark hole appeared in his forehead.
All of the hostages, including me, cried out in shocked response. My insides were screaming. I instinctively tried to move but still couldn’t enough to do anything.
I was just lying useless while everyone was dying. I wanted was to rip them to pieces. My breathing became heavy and fast paced as hatred took over. Making them pay for what they’d done was all that mattered.
Bobby shouted to the front of the store. “Hank, we better hurry. The cops are on their way.” Hank had been monitoring the movement of the cash from the truck.
Hank walked back to where we were at, followed by another man whom I hadn’t seen until then. He must have been one of the men who had taken out the armored truck. He was another unshaven redneck type in a t-shirt and jeans, but I didn’t care who he was. All that mattered was he wasn’t going to walk away. None of them were. “We’re ready anyways,” Hank said.
As he walked by I looked up with hate filled eyes.
“You still alive?” He said as he passed.
It took every ounce of control left to not use my good leg and take him out right then. I was still not in any shape to take all three of them. I could have probably taken down Hank, snapped his leg with one quick kick, but Bobby would have had a bullet in my head before I could get to the others. I forced myself to stay still.
“Bobby, you come with us. Billy you stay behind with Travis and take care of the hostages. Then meet us at the rendezvous,” Hank ordered.
Frantic surprise washed over Billy’s face. “What? That wasn’t part of the plan.”
Hank moved to within a few inches of Billy’s face. “It is now, and you are either in it or not Billy. Travis, make sure Billy is in it. If not, take care of him as well. You can leave the kids though,” Hank said before he turned to leave.
“You’re going to kill us?” shouted the father franticly, moving to stand.
The rest of the hostages began to panic.
“Oh no, oh no, oh...” the large man started to mutter, his red face turned completely white.
Travis waved the gun at the father. “Sit down unless you want us to change our minds about the kids.
The father looked at his daughter standing behind him and at his wife and son on the floor and reluctantly sat back down.
Hank was almost to the front of the store when he turned back. “Bobby, grab a hostage just in case we need a bargaining chip.”
“Sure thing,” Bobby said and pointed his gun at the girl in the sweatshirt, his face fixed with a menacing smile. “Come on sweet thing.”
“No, no, no…” she said repeatedly moving her head from side to side. She continued to sit.
Bobby moved towards her. “Ok, you want it rough then? I like it that way.” He forcefully pulled her up by the arm until she was standing. He put the gun to her head and forced her forward towards the front of the store.
“See you boys soon,” he said nodding at Travis and Billy as he walked by.
I couldn’t worry about the girl. I needed to protect the people still at the store first. The girl would be kept alive until they felt they were safely away. I needed to take care of the two left to kill the rest of us, then catch up to the others.
I tried to move my wounded shoulder again and even though the dull pain was still there, I could now move it some. I tried my leg and it was the same way. I wasn’t sure if I could walk yet, but I couldn’t waste any more time. I had
to move.
“Ok, so who’s first?” said Travis with too much enthusiasm in his voice.
“We don’t have to do this man,” pleaded Billy.
“Yes we do and you better not get in my way.”
“So, no volunteers huh? Travis pointed his gun at Ahmed. “How about you? It’s time to join your buddy.”
Neither of the gun men were paying any particular attention to me. They didn’t realize the kid with the bullet holes in him was about to jump up and give their day a turn for the worse. With some pain I was able to move my knees under my body and rise to stand. I was about four feet from Travis and had my hand on the wrist control of the PTD.
“You can start with me,” I said, startling both Billy and Travis.
“What? How the hell …” Travis started to say moving his weapon to direct at me.
I pushed the screen on the wrist control and instantaneously disappeared and reappeared in between Travis and Billy. From behind Travis’s turned back, I grabbed his right wrist, and with a snap broke it. He screamed in surprised pain as I took his gun, and bludgeoned his head with it on my way to point it at Billy. The weapon was fixed on Billy before he even realized what had happened. I heard a thud as Travis fell to the floor. Billy’s face turned white with shock.
“So Billy, you have a choice. You don’t deserve one, but I’ll give you one. You tell me where they took the girl or I kill you now.” I was using all the restraint I had left from just putting the bullet in him anyways. I’d killed before. I could do it again. The idiot didn’t deserve to live.
“I, I, I can’t. Hank will kill me,” he stuttered.
“W,w,well if you don’t, I’m g,g,going to kill you,” I said in a disgusted mocking tone.
Billy just stood there not saying anything in response.
“There’s no time for this crap.” I had no patience or time left.
I took Billy’s gun and handed it to the father. He took it and passed his daughter over to his wife.
“Can you hold this on him? I need about a minute or so, if he tries anything, shoot him,” I said.
He held the gun to Billy’s head. “No problem.” His face was a mask of calm hate with cold eyes fixed on the frightened Billy.
I stepped back a few inches and closed my eyes. I tried to calm myself enough to do what I needed to. I had to let the anger fall just long enough to be able to focus. It took a little bit, but once I was calm enough I focused on Billy’s mind and a few seconds later, I was in.
As I’d guessed, most of his thoughts were centered on fear of being killed by either me or Hank, but he was also thinking of the location he needed to get to. I was able to see where I needed to go. “This guy is pathetic,” I thought as I left his mind.
I guess I understood why everyone was staring at me when I left Billy’s mind. I mean, I had just teleported in front of them, disarming both men, and then decided to just stare at Billy for a while. Of course they didn’t understand any of what they’d seen.
“W,w,what did you just do to me?” Billy stuttered, sounding even more frightened than he had been before. He was staring at me with a terrified confused look. “How did you get in my head?
As far as I knew, no one before had ever been able to sense me in their mind. Why was he different? Why could he sense me? I didn’t know and didn’t have the time to ponder right then.
“What?” I said, blowing it off. He continued to look at me with the same expression. Everyone else was just staring as well. No one had moved yet.
The police were sure to be there any minute and I needed to leave before they arrived. I needed to get to the girl before they had a chance to get away. Also, I couldn’t allow myself to get tied up with police inquiry. I carried a fake ID, several in fact, but none were good enough to make it past police scrutiny. Even if I could pass it off as legitimate, there wasn’t time. I needed to act right then.
Just as that thought left my mind, I heard the sirens out front.
I turned to the silent group. “Is everyone ok here?”
They all nodded. I don’t think they knew what to make of the bullet ridden teenager who had teleported to save their lives.
“Thank you,” said the mother holding both of her children.
“Yes, thank you son,” agreed her husband still holding Billy at gunpoint.
“Of course. You take good care of those kids,” I said. “Do you have him under control until the cops come in? I mean if you need me to, I would love to knock this idiot out.”
“I think I have it covered,” the father said keeping the gun on Billy.
The sirens were now right outside. I could see the sun was up now. I needed to get to the Land Cruiser and then past the police, so I had to think fast.
An idea came and I started to walk, forgetting about the leg injury. Fortunately, my wounds had mostly healed around the slugs still in me. It was sore when I moved, but I could walk just fine. Quickly, I made my way around the store, grabbing a pair of black leather work gloves, sunglasses and a ski mask off of the shelves.
“Please, do me a favor and don’t mention I was here, at least not initially,” I asked the group of survivors.
“No problem,” said the father. “You just saved our lives. Are you going after the girl?”
“Yes. I’ll get her back,” I said.
“Do you need a hand?” The father asked.
“Take care of your kids. I’ve got this.”
“I don’t doubt that.” The father put the gun into his left hand and expended the right to me. “Good luck son, and thanks again.” I shook it and nodded.
I put the confiscated gun in my holster and headed back into the men’s restroom. Since I knew it was at the back of the store, if I gave myself ten feet to jump from the back wall, I should be able to clear the store. It was risky to jump when you couldn’t see the destination. Ten feet was enough to clear the store, but I wasn’t sure what might be behind the store. If there was an object in the exact place I was going to jump to, well let’s just say it would be extremely uncomfortable.
Once I cleared the store, I needed to get to the truck. The items I grabbed would protect me from the sun and once I was in the truck, I’d be further protected. The windows were darkly tinted and they kept the sun off when I had to drive during the day. The trick would be to avoid detection by the police. I hoped they hadn’t blocked me in.
I heard the police enter the store beyond the restroom door. Quickly, I put on the gloves, mask and sunglasses and then took a second to look in the mirror.
I looked like an idiot. Picture a kid trying to dress up as a ninja for Halloween, but wearing his mother’s sunglasses. I hadn’t had the time to consider fashion or my masculinity.
“Ok, here goes nothing,” I sighed as I pushed a button on the wrist control.
Instantaneously, I appeared in a clearing covered in loose grey gravel, directly behind the store. Where I landed was luckily free from any obstruction; however there were two cops standing only a couple of feet in front of me with their guns raised and a shocked expression.
Before they had any time to even register what was going on, I applied just the right amount of force to two quick punches, a jab to the one on my left and a backhand to the other. They both fell unconscious to the ground, without even a word.
I hated to do it. The poor guys would most likely be out for a while, but I needed to get to the girl as soon as I could.
I moved to the corner of the building and peered around towards the front. I didn’t see anyone from that angle. I was hoping all of the other officers were inside by now. Even if they were though, I knew it wouldn’t be long before they came back out, so I had to hurry.
I saw a small storage building just in front and to the side of the store. If I made it to the far side of the small building I’d be able to see what was going on in front of the store and if I could make it to my truck, but still be out of sight. I estimated the distance to the far side of the storage building, entered
the estimate into the wrist control, and held the control out towards the destination. With a push of a button I appeared on the far side of the storage building.
Being able to estimate distances was part of the PTD training we received while at the HUB. One had to be accurate in distance estimation in order to effectively use the device. The standard setting was ten feet just in case one needed to make quick reactive jumps. Whenever I needed to make a calculated jump though, I had to estimate the distance and enter it into the device.
From the side of the storage building, I could see the front of the store as well as my truck. The Land Cruiser was where I’d left it, parked at the pump and luckily facing the road. I realized I never did get any gas. The gauge hadn’t been completely on empty, but it had been close. Where they were taking the girl wasn’t far away; I had plenty of gas to make the drive. I’d worry about what do after that once I stopped them.
There were three police cars parked right in front, but I didn’t see any officers outside the building. Assuming they had arrived two per car, there should have only been at most four left. It appeared they had gone inside while the two searched around the building.
“Perfect.”
I entered the distance to the truck on the wrist control and jumped right to the driver’s side door with my keys already in hand. I quickly got in, started the truck and took off turning right onto the road heading away from the highway. I looked in my rearview mirror and didn’t see anyone initially leaving the store.
While reading Billy, I saw the rendezvous point was a small clearing about five miles away. From there they’d switch vehicles and take a series of logging roads to a lake cabin. I still had plenty of time to make it to the clearing. The police probably assumed they fled on the highway, unless they could get Billy or Travis to talk. Either way, I thought I had plenty of time to stop them first.
I hoped to god the girl was alright. Enough people had died. The thought of that caused my blood to boil again. For a truck full of money, and probably not much money, relatively speaking, they had killed how many people? Over the past year, I had seen so much sick, twisted darkness, so much selfish dark indulgence at the expense of innocence and the happiness of others. People like those, with no respect for others, no respect for life, were not people at all. They were monsters, monsters that needed to be stopped and put down.