A Brand New Nowhere

Betrayal on the Battlefield

Karter's head was pounding as she drove home that evening. Jasmine was on the phone with her, trying to milk her of every detail of what happened.

"Shiiiit" Karter groaned, resting her head back while she was at a red light.

"What's wrong, Kar?" Jasmine asked.

"Could you come over tonight? You'll be able to see Gowen a few days before our group date thing since he's meeting me at home..."

"Sure I'll be on my way in about five minutes." She sounded serious.

When all three of them got there, Karter introduced Jasmine to Gowen (who had gotten to Karter's house before she did).

The introduction was cut short when Gowen cupped Karter's face to examine her forehead.

"Holy shit that's a deep bruise... do you feel ok, love?" He asked, his voice soft.

Karter melted from his concerned eyes. "I... I'm ok, Gowen."

"Promise?" He pouted, knowing she can't lie to him now.

Fuuuck he's adorable when he pouts! Ugh!!

"No.. my head hurts and the lights are too bright."

"Come sit with me then, love. Jasmine, dear, could you grab her a cup of water?"

"Yes, sir." Jasmine smiled, seeming to like taking orders from him.

Gowen walked Karter to the couch and sat her in his lap. She tried to protest.

"Gowen, please.. I-" She was cut off from him looking at her forehead again.

"Are you seeing double?" He asked, cutting her off.

"No, sir."

"Are your ears ringing?"

"No, sir."

Jasmine gives Karter a plastic cup of water and sits next to the couple. There was a moment of needed quietness before a loud engine of a car broke the silence. A warning shot was fired in the kitchen before multiple gunshots started going off.

Gowen reacted quickly, pushing Jasmine to the ground. He held Karter by her waist and laid on top of her on the ground. The awkward position made Jasmine get too embarrassed to look at them.

The loud sounds make Karter's head throb. Her eyes rolled back and she blacked out. Her head gently fell against the floor and he shielded both of them from falling/flying shards of glass or wall plaster.

Once the gunshots stopped, Jasmine scrambled to the kitchen so she could be away from the windows. She was having a panic attack and needed her space from Gowen. Karter woke up dazed and he looked down over her.

"You ok, Karter?!" He sounded scared and concerned.

"Yeah I feel better after resting my eyes. What the hell happened?" Karter squirmed under him, trying to silently tell him to get off.

He got the hint and got off while crawling towards the window to peek out. There stood the stories bad guy: Opaline Hendrikson, Gowen's longest working assistant.

She had worked for him for over 10 years, a little less than his entire career working in that field. Her crazed expression scared him into a frozen shock.

"Gowen Terrance!" Opal called out. Both girls looked at him as he came back into reality. "Come out here and own your destiny!"

"Babe.." Karter started but Gowen put up a finger in her face, telling her to stay silent. She huffed at him, earning an assertive glare from Gowen.

"Come on out, Mr. Terrance. Don't make me come and drag you out!" She threatened, starting to walk towards the house.

"I have to.." He mumbled, getting up and going to the front door.

"Do you have a fucking death wish?!" Jasmine squeaked at him. "Get your ass back over here, Gowen, and maybe you'll be able to keep your head on your shoulders!"

"Stay out of sight." He ordered. Click. The front door unlocked and the door handle turned from his hand. Creeeeaaaaaak. The door slowly opened and Opal lowered her gun with a satisfied grin.

"You truly are more of an idiot than I thought you were." She tisked, cocking back the hammer on her gun.

The muzzle pointed straight at his heart. Before she could pull the trigger, Karter blocked Gowen's body with her own. Her head barely sat on his collarbones when they stood flush with each other.

"Karter, what are you doing??" Gowen whispered in a frantic whisper.

"Shut up I'm trying to save your life.." Karter huffed with uneasy confidence. "I won't let you hurt him!"

"Oh dear. What an idiot you've grown attached to, Mr. Terrance." Opal pointed the gun at Karter's heart instead. "Pity. I actually liked her."

"Why are you doing this, Opal?" Gowen cried out, not wanting Karter to get killed.

"A certain someone wants your heart on a platter." She cooed. "I'm only following orders.."

Her target on Karter's body changed slightly.

"I won't let you!" Karter yelled, still blocking Gowen.

"My dear Pierre, money is money." Opal sneered as her index finger squeezed the trigger of her deep emerald-green pistol.

The bullet spiraled out of the chamber, spitting out of the muzzle. As Karter stood fearlessly between the bullet and Gowen, she soon realized and felt her mistake. The bullet pierced her upper thigh, right below where the seam of her shirt ended.

"Ah! Shit!" Karter screamed in pain as she folded and fell to the ground in front of Gowen's feet.

He crouched out of Opal's range, took out his own gun, quickly flipped the hammer of the gun back, and shot Opal's hand.

Bang!

She yelped and dropped her gun on the ground. She held her bleeding hand and gave into his dominance in the fight. Her knees hit the rough ground to submit.

Jasmine called 911 while Gowen disarmed Opal.

"After all I had done for you," Gowen hissed, aggressively kicking the gun away from her. He kept his gun on her the entire time. "I gave you a job when no one else would.. and this is how you repay me?!"

"Tough tits!" She seethed, spitting at him.