The Gunslinger

Chapter 4 : Allies in the shadows

Kenny "Kens" Blackthorne trailed the gang through the winding streets of Silverton, keeping a careful distance. The night air was cool, carrying the distant sounds of the bustling town. Viper's gang was making their way toward the saloon, a dark and menacing mass moving with purpose. Kens adjusted his hat, his eyes sharp and focused, ready for the confrontation that was sure to come.

As he rounded a corner, the sudden force of a tackle sent him crashing into the grimy alleyway beside him. Kens grunted as he hit the ground, his hand instinctively reaching for his gun. He rolled to the side, coming face-to-face with the attacker—a woman. Her long coat billowed around her, and her black cowboy hat barely concealed her short brown hair.

"Who the hell are you?" Kens growled, shoving her away as they both scrambled to their feet.

The woman stood, dusting off her coat with a defiant glare. "This is my bounty.
Stop right there."

Kens blinked in confusion. "This is my bounty.
Viper's mine." She scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "That's no ordinary gang leader. He's a Gunslinger. He's dangerous."

With that, she lifted her sleeve to reveal a scar running along her forearm. Kens, taken aback, stepped closer to the light.

Her eyes widened as she saw his own scar, a jagged line that ran from his cheek to his jaw.
"So you have the Gunslinger power too," she said, her voice a mix of surprise and curiosity. "I'm Isabella Drake. And I'm going to be the one who kills Viper."

Kens' expression hardened. "You better get in line." His hand slid to his gun.

Izzy's eyes flashed with a fierce determination. "Fine. If you think you can take him first, let's settle this now."

In a heartbeat, both drew their guns. The alley erupted in a symphony of gunfire, bullets slicing through the air with deadly intent. Kens' movements were smooth and controlled. He fired with precision, his power known as Bullet Control in full effect. The bullets he shot curved and danced, guided by his will, their trajectories shifting with every thought.

Izzy's reaction was swift. She moved with agility, her own guns blazing in a deadly rhythm. Her power, Bullet Storm, made her bullets ricochet off walls and objects, creating an unpredictable barrage. The alley was soon filled with the chaotic dance of bullets ricocheting in all directions.

Kens ducked and dodged, using his Bullet Control to intercept and nullify the ricocheting shots. He focused, directing his bullets to intercept and deflect the incoming storm of metal. It was a fierce contest of skill and power, each trying to outmaneuver the other.

Izzy, caught off guard by the way Kens' bullets moved with such precision, took a grazing shot to her arm. The pain seemed to only fuel her anger. She fired with even greater intensity, her bullets ricocheting off every surface, making it nearly impossible for Kens to find a safe angle.

Kens gritted his teeth, his mind racing.
With a deft flick of his wrist, he redirected his bullets, making them intercept and disrupt her ricochet pattern. The clash of their powers created a dazzling display of skill, a deadly ballet of gunfire that left little room for error.

Finally, Kens saw an opening. He fired a final, well-placed shot that struck Izzy's gun, causing her to stumble. His bullets stopped just short of hitting her directly, the tension in the alley palpable as they both paused, guns still smoking.

"Stand down," Kens said, his voice low and commanding.

Izzy, panting and exhausted, lowered her gun reluctantly. "Alright, alright. You win.
But let me explain."

Kens gave a curt nod, his expression softening slightly.

Izzy's eyes, filled with a mixture of pain and determination, began to tell her story.
"I need to kill Viper. He's responsible for the death of my son."

Kens' brows furrowed. "He killed your son?"

Izzy's voice trembled with a mix of anger and sorrow. "No, he didn't kill him directly.

My son, Nathaniel, was born with Gunslinger powers, just like me. After his father died, Nathaniel struggled to find his place. He was lost, and Viper preyed on that weakness. He lured him into his gang, promising a sense of belonging and power."

Izzy's gaze was distant, as if she were seeing her son's final moments. "One day, Nathaniel didn't come home. When I finally found him, he was lying in an alley, dead and alone. They didn't even have the decency to bury him. He was just discarded like trash."

Kens sighed, his gaze thoughtful. "Tsk Revenge is a hella of a thing"

Izzy looked at him, her eyes pleading. "I need this. I need to end Viper for what he did to my son. I want to make him pay for the pain he's caused."

Kens studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. You can join me. Viper sounds like he's stronger than I thought."

Izzy's face softened slightly, her stubbornness giving way to gratitude.

"Thank you. I'm Izzy Drake, by the way."
"Kens Blackthorne," he replied, tipping his hat slightly.

Just as they exchanged names, a distant commotion broke through the night's silence—a series of frantic screams and shouting came from the direction of the saloon. The two gunslingers exchanged a look of understanding.

Without another word, they sprinted down the alley, their boots pounding against the dirt, toward the source of the chaos. The night was thick with tension, and as they approached the saloon, the sound of violence and mayhem grew louder.

Together, they charged into the fray, ready to face whatever awaited them.