Last Girl

Chapter 9

The awkward silence between the three of us is broken by a strange popping noise
Was that...gunshots?
Tessa's face drains of color.
"They found us" she whispers.
"We have to go now."
I peer anxiously out the small window on the door.
I see several black cars driving down the road.
Several people are in each, and they are all armed to the teeth.
I can't see them all, but the few people I do see are dressed similarly.
Black clothing, red bandanas around their foreheads.
Each carry a dangerous-looking gun, and their knives glint in the sun.
The jeeps are stopping in front of Costco.
"Fuck" Jacob mutters. "They found us"
I hurriedly grab my bag with some clothes and other items, and Jacob does the same.
Gracie picks up the first aid kit.
I leash Titan, so that we are ready to run.
The people are slowly getting out of the car.
They seems to have a leader.
"That's Ravenna" Tessa says.
"How do you know?" I ask.
Tessa doesn't say anything.
"She will kill anyone. don't get in her way."
Her blonde hair is tied back with a red bandana.
She doesn't carry a gun, but rather wields a wicked katana.
The thugs seems to be talking to her, and she gestures to the building.
I faintly hear their conversation, but I can't make out what they are saying.
"They're going to check the place out. Supplies. They probably suspect we are here. "Jacob says. "We have to run for it."
How did he know that?
I clutch the keys tightly in my hand.
"Where will we go?" I ask. My heart is pounding.
"Oregon"
"I was afraid you would say that."
Titan growls softly. His teeth are bared and his hackles are raised.
He doesn't like those men.
Luckily, the 2 men sent to investigate our building have decided to go around through the large doors.
I parked the car close to the smaller back door, so we don't have to run far.
Maybe 200m.
But that's in the open, in plain view of the bandits.
"We have to run like hell"
I hear the faint banging of the men on the doors.
3...
2...
1...
Jacob throws the door open and leads the way.
Tessa is half leaning on his shoulder and half running. Her gunshot would is not yet fully healed.
I sprint as fast as I can, dragging Titan with me.
I hear yelling, and then feel bullets whizzing through the air.
"They have Tessa! DONT LET THEM ESCAPE."
They thud into the concrete where I was seconds ago.
They keep coming.
I can't feel anything, so I keep running.
We are almost there.
The bullets keep coming.
My lungs are on fire, my legs churn relentlessly.
Titan is full-on running next to me, his pink tongue hanging out of his mouth.
Jacob throws the car doors open and shoves Tessa in.
I race to start the car.
Titan has jumped into the back, and Jacob is taking care of Tessa.
Bullets shatter the back window of the car.
I duck.
"STAY DOWN"
I yell.
The car hums to live and I slam on the gas, nearly throwing Titan out of the car in the process.
The tires squeal on the asphalt, sending the stench of burning rubber into the air.
Bullets continue to ricochet throughout the air, shattering several more windows.
I hear the other cars starting and I know I have to loose them.
I slam on the gas.
The wheels squeal in protest as the car bursts forward, mowing down several over grown hedges.
I hear the bandits hollering.
"Stop them!"
They are soon out of earshot.
I drive full-speed for awhile before I realize no one is following us.
My heart is racing and my body aches.
Jacob pants next to me.
"They aren't following us."
"Why?" I ask.
Jacob didn't have an answer for that.
I pull into an abandoned parking lot that I deem far enough away from the bandits.
I noticed that my ear is stinging.
I go to touch it and pull my hand away, hissing in pain.
My fingertip is stained with blood.
A bullet must have grazed my ear.
I hear a whimpering.
It's Titan.
He has a deep gash down his side.
Crimson blood slowly oozes out and stains his fur.
"Titan!!" I cry, distressed.
I pat his head and say to Jacob
"Bring me the gauze."
Tessa speaks up.
"Let me do it. I've had some experience with injured animals."
I reluctantly step back and let her take care of my best friend in the entire world.
"Is anyone else hurt?" I ask.
Silence.
Thank god.
I lean back in my seat, looking first at Jacob next to me and then Titan and Tessa behind me.
We were safe.
For now.
A question slowly makes its way into the front of my mind.
"Tessa?" I ask
"Uh huh?"
"Why does Ravenna know you? Why does she want to capture you?"
Tessa pauses, and sighs.
"It was only a matter of time before someone asked me."
"Well?" I ask, impatient.
"Ravenna...Ravenna is... she's my sister."