Alive in the Snow

8. Surrounded By Chaos

Checking his watch, it showed the time: 6:12. Yuvan decided to return home since his duties were over but something unusual occurred. The sound of shattering glass was heard not far away. Turning his head, he noticed the entrance door and the windows were pierced with holes. Among the fragments of glass, stones and pebbles of all sizes were found scattered on the floor.

"Who threw the rocks?!" - he yelled but there was no response.

Hurrying outside to investigate, he opened the entrance door and immediately noticed rustling in the bushes. A brownish-coloured cat strolled out and jumped in fear.

"Is this some kind of distraction? A prank? Arch, this isn't funny, come out!" - Yuvan cried in hopes of his friend popping out from hiding and responding with the word "Gotcha!"

Straight away, more stones were thrown but it was directed at Yuvan. Deciding to take cover, he ran towards the reception counter and threw his legs over it before crouching down. Firing of guns and people screaming to end the massacre arose. The air started to increase in temperature which made him sweat.

Pulling his radio from the side, he dialled it in hopes of reaching his colleagues but there was no signal. It released a static sound followed by high-pitched screeches.

"Goddamn, pick up!"

Shaking the radio violently, it went silent a moment later.

"You got to be kidding me. Fuck this."

Peering his head over the counter, he tossed the useless radio out into the open then backed down again, frustrated. Yuvan heard footsteps entering the room.

An armed man wearing a green coat was alerted. On his head was long black hair that was tied with a red band. The man stood still as he observed the reception room with his shotgun raised, pointing it in random directions.

"No officers here. Let's join the others and wipe out the police department with their own guns. Remember, this is our revenge!" - The man ordered, signalling to the others that it was safe to enter.

In response, a crowd of people rushed into the area and waited for further instructions behind him.

"Right, you 10, guard the entrance. The rest, follow me."

The man instructed and continued to lead the crowd, heading out of the room.

Hearing the sound of voices dying down, Yuvan shuffled his upper body to peer over the counter's edge. The sound of glass breaking was no more but the screaming from afar continued. He noticed appointed guards outside the entrance, standing side by side with their backs turned.

"Ah come on. Might have to ambush them somehow or rely on luck to save me today." - Yuvan thought to himself. He quietly ran through his rucksack and gathered a pocket knife. "Where's the pistol...where's the pistol... shit, I was supposed to get another one!"

Remembering the accident from earlier, he had forgotten to pick up his pistol from the ground.

"The hell am I supposed to do with a knife and Archie's matchsticks?!" - Yuvan contemplated his decision.

Crawling into the open with the box of matches, he hid behind the entrance's walls and took a matchstick out. Striking the match against the side of the box, a flame was ignited.

"Time to do the dirty."

Whilst staying low, he rubbed the lit match on one of the appointed guard's trousers. The fire slowly crept upwards.

With-drawing himself back behind the counter, he waited for the reaction...

"AARON YOUR LEG!"

"Eh? HOLY SMOKES GET IT OFF ME!"