The Prospect's Deal

01

"Looky here," Ezra grinned, earning a nudge from his partner. "Looks like we've caught ourselves a straggler."

Travelling alone has its perks. I don't have to share recourses, I get peace, and I don't have to worry about another life. However, it heightens my chance of being manhandled and kidnapped by some scoundrels looking to steal our resources.

I looked at them and shook my head, I was awfully quiet and decided to be mute.

The grin grew wider. "What, did I break yer voice?" He paused, cocking his head to the side. "Ah, you're just a little scaredy-cat, right?" Ezra turned to his partner. "You think this little mouse is lost?" he whispered.

I looked at him and then his partner before looking for my pocket knife.

The partner chuckled at Ezra. "Looks like she's scared alright. I think we got a prime catch here."

Ezra noticed that my hand disappeared into his pocket and he took a step back. "Now I wouldn't go reaching for anything dangerous if I were you."

I looked up at him as I grabbed a rock and threw it at him before grabbing my backpack and running off.

The rock hit Ezra in the head and he stumbled backwards with a grunt. He watched as I ran off. "Son of a—" He cursed under his breath.

His partner started laughing. "I told you she wasn't a little mouse!"

I kept running through the forest, I was panicking and I was scared.

The two men started laughing behind me. "She's pretty quick for such a scaredy-cat."

They started running after me.

I hid behind a tree and I took out a gun before aiming it at them.

Ezra and his partner ran right past me before they both paused.

"You have a gun?" Ezra's partner shouted. He paused for a second before he continued running toward me. "You know these woods are full of wildlife! Don't you think it's a little irresponsible-"

"I can't believe you're worried about that." Ezra cut him off. "She's running towards the Green Moonbase—"

As they kept speaking, I kept running.

Ezra was right behind me now. He was starting to gain on me.

Ezra had managed to grab onto my arm and pull me back, stopping me. He held me against him by the wrist. "Now, now, sweetheart. No need to run away."

I struggled to get his grip off me.

Ezra laughed and tightened his grip on my wrist. "You are one tough cookie, ain't you?"

I pulled my finger on the trigger and shot his partner in the leg.

"Ack!" The partner screamed and fell to the ground.

Ezra looked down at him, then back at me. He still had a hold of my wrist.

I shoved him off me and ran back somewhere secluded.