Zuflucht

33 *unedited*

Curt

"I'm armed with a weapon and I'm not afraid to use it!" I called out loudly, trying to sound as confident as ever. My finger was dangerously close to pulling the trigger, and I kept my gaze firm on the silhouettes that now started to fully show themselves in front of me. I heard Richard gulp, the metal of his gun making an annoying ticking noise as he lightly shook in fear.

There were four of them in front of the spotlight, but it sounded like there were more. Anyone looking could definitely see the different assortment of weapons they had chosen for themselves. One had a large gun that closely resembled a shotgun, while two had a simple pistol. The third had a weapon I couldn't make out, but definitely didn't hope to feel the consequences of.

They didn't do anything or say anything, simply choosing to stand there. Part of me was more stressed about people, because they didn't have to be inches close to kill you. My trigger finger itched as I watched one of them load their pistol, then tilt their head sideways, choosing to leave it there.

"I said put your weapons down!" I commanded once again, watching as they didn't even move a muscle. I glanced over at Richard, nodding my head ever so slightly to continue with the plan. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and although we were outside, it felt like someone had crammed all of us in a box and shut it.

I heard Richard shift, but I kept my gaze forward, not daring to look away from the current situation.

The one with their head cocked to the side stepped forward, finally tilting his or her head back upright as their hand with the gun twitched lightly. My body became uneasy and my fight or flight mode kicked in as they started to raise their pistol, stopping once their arm was fully extended towards me.

"Curt?" I heard just very faintly, and I almost didn't know who it was for a second. Her voice was muffled because she was in the truck, but I could make out her voice easily from behind me.

"Curt?" This time it was Richard who looked scared shitless to say the least. His eyes were bulged with fear as he waited for my cue, his hand gripping the desired item of choice.
The individual didn't move and neither did I, making the suspense even more suffocating than it already was.

I can't take it anymore...

I looked over at Richard and nodded once, which was enough for him to do what I needed him to do. He quickly used his teeth to rip the thin paper material off the fuse, and activate the flare before chucking it as hard as he could in there direction. Immediately I took the moment to start shooting, and popped one off right away before ducking behind one of the abandoned cars we had moved. Richard did the same on the very opposite end of the bridge, waiting on the perfect moment to come back up and try to take one down.

Turns out I was right...

There were more. A lot more. And they were definitely making it known. Bullets flew in all different directions, one barely missing my ear as I rose up to try and take another one out. I looked across the bridge at Richard who was braced against the car, flinching anytime a bullet hit anywhere near him. I noticed after a few seconds he pulled out another flare and held it up and pointed towards it for confirmation. I was confused until I focused my vision a little harder, and noticed the it wasn't a flare. It was a stick of dynamite.

"Are you crazy?" I mouthed. Looking at him as if he was a psycho. I quickly focused my attention back on the flying bullets as one whizzed passed and hit the windshield of the pickup Fiona and her daughter were in. The glass didn't shatter, but instead cracked into tiny webs, each getting increasingly bigger the father away from the bullet hole they were. I heard both of them scream, and could only hope everything was okay.