V & V - Rageous Rageon Redemption.

Singed Swirls

Veneer POV:

The ride is quiet as Fred drives through the deserted streets. He turns around a corner, parking the truck in an alleyway.

Fred: "Okay, I need someone to sit in the driver's seat ready to go in case alarms go off. I doubt we'd be confronted with police, but still, we need to be careful. I also need someone to go in with me and the last Rageon to be able to bring the stuff to the truck bed."

Kid Ritz: "How much are you planning on taking?"

Fred: "I was thinking it may be good if we each have a gun. With that logic, we'd need enough ammo so we wouldn't have to worry about running out. I don't think we'd need a ton, maybe a few cartridges."

Kid Ritz: "Okay. Rollie, you feel alright with being our driver?"

Rollie: "Yes."

Kid Ritz: "Okay, then, V? Wanna bring the goods to the bed?"

Ven: "Sure."

We all nod and climb out of the truck before Fred approaches the doors of an ammunition store.

Ven: "Let me try opening the door."

I focus on the locks and imagine the metal twisting...

*CLICK*

The door opens and Kid Ritz pats my back proudly. Fred walks in slowly, his gun cocked. He motions with his hand for Kid Ritz and me to follow. I've never been in an ammunition store; it's so manly and gross. I look at the different items for sale, and do take time to admire the shiny knuckle rings before Fred calls me over.

Fred: "I think the guns are kept in the back. Mind giving the lock a go?"

I nod and walk to a door marked "staff only." I envision it opening, my mind going blank as I reimagine myself on the yacht. I need to start deep breathing so I don't spiral...

*CLICK*

Oh, thank goodness. At the last moment, the door clicks open.

Fred walks in happily, leaving me in the hallway as Kid Ritz follows suit. I try to steady my breathing, realizing I'm getting close to risking a panic attack. Why do I always freak out when I use my Siren magic? And why does my mind drift back to the darkness on the yacht?

I try to gather myself as Kid Ritz pops out of the room to hand me two guns.

Kid Ritz: "Keep one for yourself, sweetheart. Give the other to Rollie. Fred and I will find the ammo."

I nod, feeling very uneasy about holding this murder weapon. I step outside, approach the corner, and glance both ways before heading to the truck. I see Rollie sitting with his shirt covering his mouth, looking frightened.

Ven: "Hey, babe. You okay?"

He looks past me, as if seeing something. I glance behind, noticing something moving among the trees behind the buildings lining the street. Whatever crawls across the branches is enormous and appears misshapen. It's too dark to identify it, but I sense that it's not good.

Ven: "Oh... has that been here the whole time?"

Rollie nods, looking very stressed.

Ven: "Well, Kid Ritz told me to give you this."

I hand him the gun, seeing the stress grow more on his face.

Rollie: "I... don't know how to use this."

Ven: "Neither do I. I mean, I have a basic idea, but I was planning on Kid Ritz giving us a tutorial."

Rollie groans quietly as he puts the gun carefully in his lap.