Short Stories

A.C.E

The sun had started to set about an hour ago, and there are not many people left on the street. Thalia looked around the dull alleyways looking for danger. When finding she was safe, she continued walking to her destination. The small shop with its broken, hanging sign was always a welcome sight for Thalia. The shooting range feels like a second home. She let out a small sigh as she started to walk in, a slight smile on her face.

"The usual?", she heard Aaron ask her. Thalia comes in at least once a week. Aaron being the main counter guy has gotten used to her frequent visits.

"You know it", she replied.

After getting everything situated and paid for she heads to the shooting area. Hours sped by like minutes. Thalia was so into her practice that she didn't even notice the light stare coming from a couple of placements down. After collecting her last aim practice sheet, she started to pack away her things. Ignoring the stare coming from the man with the dark brown hair.

    "EVERYONE GET DOWN!!", A loud shout was heard from the front.

    Multiple men came storming in with guns and knives. Holding everyone at gunpoint. From her peripheral vision, she could see the man that was staring at her calling someone. Light whispers filled the room as the men started to raid everything available upfront.

          Money and guns.

    While their greed was distracting them, Thalia used that as her cue to leave. She quietly started walking towards the back exit.

    Before she could open it, a loud shattering noise was heard, most likely from the front window breaking. Four other men came running in and tackled the men. The man who was staring soon joined them.

          Not having any want to stick around any longer Thalia opened the door with a slight creak and slipped out. As soon as her first foot was out the door, her ankle was yanked causing her to fall forward out the doorway. A punch was soon landed on her face.

          oh hell no.

         Thalia started to fight back. Punches, kicks, elbow jabs, even some petty hair pulling took place.

    The noise from inside the range had almost ceased to exist but Thalia was too caught up in her own problems to notice. While grabbing a handful of the one guy's hair, the back door opened with a creak. Thalia couldn't see who it was but was too busy to look.

    Almost as soon as the door opened, shouting was heard from inside and the door was quickly shut. However, whoever left did so with clouded hesitation as the steps retracted slowly and heavily.

          The fight continued for a good ten minutes before police sirens were heard in the background. Thalia quickly ended things by knocking the guy out, grabbing her phone which had fallen earlier, and ran through the back parking lot into the small wooded area surrounding the shooting range.

          The sirens started to fade into background noises. Light pants were let out as Thalia kept running.

          She kept running through the woods until she came to a stop when spotting the creek. This was a sign she was a couple of blocks away from her house. She balanced herself while jumping on the rocks to cross the dirty water from the creek. The water is a mix of light green and dark brown.

          With only getting the heels of her boots wet, she swiftly made her way across and continued her path home with a light jog. The sirens are no longer able to be heard.

           After a few minutes had passed she finally made it to her house. She got in and wiped off her shoes and went straight for the shower.