A Remaining Podeshire 1

Chapter 12 (Part 3)

     The assassins moved with lightning speed, quickly encircling Oliver and Gregory. Before they knew it, firm hands had seized Oliver from both sides, effectively trapping him. He struggled against their grip, surrounded and unable to escape.

     Meanwhile, Cal took his pistol from his pocket. He flicked open the chamber and deftly added fresh bullets, the metallic clicks echoing through the tense air. With a swift motion, he snapped the gun shut and reloaded the weapon, his eyes fixed on Oliver.

"No!" Oliver pleaded, his voice trembling with fear and desperation.

     Gregory watched in horror, his body frozen with fear as he saw his father aim at Oliver. Memories of past violence flooded his mind, but he couldn't stand by and watch his friend get hurt again. He took a deep breath and sprinted towards his father's gun, his heart kicking through his chest.

     Yelling, Gregory grabs the pistol and yanks it down before Cal pulls the trigger. A blaring bang fills the air as the bullet hits the ground, missing Oliver. Gregory then seizes Cal's hands, keeping his aim away from his friend.

     Oliver witnesses his friend's bravery, making his eyes glisten. His smile widens, inspired by Gregory's sheer strength to fight back. Oliver feels a sudden surge of energy hastening across his body, taking a deep breath as he shuts his eyes.

     Thrashing his arms around, Oliver struggles to break free from the assassins' grasp as they hold him tight with an unyielding grip. A sigh escapes his lips as he looks at the men with a malicious gleam in his eye. Suddenly, Oliver jumps as high as he can and slams his feet down hard on the assassins' shoes.

     A searing pain shoots through the assassins' feet, causing them to howl in agony. It is a sharp, excruciating pain that radiates from their toes to their ankles. It forces them to release their captive, clutching their injured feet and groaning.

     Meanwhile, Gregory continues yanking Cal's gun down. His body tense with exertion as he tries to force the weapon downwards. The two men lock eyes, and their faces twist with fury as they growl at each other like animals.

"Greg!" Oliver called out, looking at Gregory with trembling knees.

"Run, Oliver! Run!" Gregory ordered, his attention still focused on struggling with Cal.

"No! I won't leave you here!" Oliver protested, his eyes darting between his friend and the other approaching assassins.

"It's you they're after!" Gregory's voice strained as he grappled with his father.

"But—"

"Just go!!" Gregory commanded, his eyes locking with Oliver's.

     As Oliver turns to face the other approaching assassins, a rippling wave of fear washes over him. He feels a pang of guilt for leaving Gregory behind, but he knows he has to keep himself safe. Swiftly, he turns and sprints away in a zigzag pattern.

     Gregory loses his grip on his father's gun and begins to pull his father away. However, before he can progress, Cal's two assassins grab his arms and pull him back. Gregory swings his arms around, but their grip remains steadfast as they drag him away.

"Guard him! The rest of you, follow me!" Cal barked out orders, his voice gruff with exertion.

"No!!" Gregory yelled out in a mix of anger and hopelessness. "I'll never let you hurt my friend again!" He struggled against the assassins' grip.

     Cal starts chasing after Oliver, brandishing his gun and trying to aim at his fleeing victim. However, Oliver's wavering movements make it hard for Cal to maintain a consistent aim, and he quickly realizes that firing his weapon will be a waste of ammunition. Instead of pulling the trigger, he holsters his pistol and focuses on the pursuit.

     Oliver glances back over his shoulder as he runs, and the sight that greets him is terrifying. His eyes widen in fear as he sees Cal and his assassins gaining on him. Oliver instantly changes tactics, abandoning his zigzagging path and sprinting in a straight line.

     Oliver's feet pound against the grass as he pushes himself through. Suddenly, gunshots echo through the air, and Oliver's head snaps back towards his pursuers, fear coursing through his veins. He sees them pointing their pistol and rifles at him.

     Quickly, Oliver's eyes dart to the gun in Cal's hand, and he can see Cal aiming at him. Gasping, Oliver purposely trips himself, tumbling to the ground just as the gun goes off. He feels the hot rush of air as the bullet whizzes past his head, missing him by mere inches. He then scrambles to his feet and hides under the grass.

     Missing his shot, a growl of frustration and irritation rumbles in Cal's throat. While swiftly reloading his gun, he and his assassins sprint towards their target. However, as Cal finishes refilling his pistol with fresh bullets, Oliver suddenly disappears from view.

     To evade his pursuers, Oliver crawls through the tall grass, his progress slow and painstaking. Every movement feels like a struggle as his forearms ache. Suddenly, a loud gunshot slashes through the air, and Oliver feels a sharp twinge of pain in his arm as a bullet whizzes past him, narrowly missing him.

     Oliver quickly moves away. But more bullets find their mark and come dangerously close, almost hitting his legs and head. Despite the close calls, Oliver keeps moving, crawling as fast as he can, hoping to escape the deadly hail of gunfire raining down upon him.

     The gunshots ring out from Cal and his troops as they search for Oliver. Frustrated by their inability to locate their target, they shoot at the ground before them, trying to flush him out. Without a clear target, they recklessly fire on the tall grass, hoping one of their shots will hit its mark and allow them to capture their prey.

     Slowly crawling through the grass will allow Cal and the assassins to catch him quicker, and Oliver knows he can't continue hiding under the tall grass. Gathering his courage, he rises to his feet and sprints. But, as he is about to dash away, he hears a yell that sounds like it's coming from only a few feet away. His heart pounding in his chest, he skids to a stop and freezes.

"Podeshire!!" Cal's voice echoes across the field. "Such a shame to see a coward like you hiding in the shadows. You have power, don't you? Then! Face us like a real man!"

     Freezing waves of fear rush through Oliver, causing his whole body to shiver uncontrollably. He knows that if he tries to run, the assassins will shoot him on the spot. Nervously gulping, he takes a deep breath and slowly turns around to face them.