Single Minded

Chapter Two

Daniel huffed as he shouldered his way through a snow drift, leaving him covered in a fine, white powder. Not that it mattered honestly; the snowstorm had already coated him with snow from head to toe. This was simply just more snow to add to that. But even though Daniel was soaked to the bone and shivering like a leaf, he was in high spirits as he was buffeted by the wind. A few days ago, he had passed through the small city of Elkins which was located more on the eastern side of the state. Daniel had a little more than 200 miles to go before he made it to Washington D.C. which seemed like such a small distance after comparing it to his journey from Denver. But Daniel realized that he still had a long trip ahead of him, so he was making good headway through the storm. Already, he had covered about thirteen miles from Elkins and it was only just nearing evening.

Daniel glanced down at his watch in the waning sunlight as the snow fell around him, piling up to replace the snow drift that he had just demolished. He sighed, glancing around him to see if he could spot any shelter through the sheet of snow that obscured his vision. Well, he reasoned, at least it isn't snowing as hard as it was earlier. I could barely see through all the snow. Daniel shook his head, a halo of snowflakes exploding outward from the sudden movement, and went back to searching for shelter. After walking down the road a bit, he noticed a little furniture store tucked into a lot, hemmed in by the woods surrounding it. The light reflecting off the snow resting on the leaves gave the whole situation a eerie, unworldly feel that Daniel immediately took a disliking to. He warily approached the run down building, taking quick glances at the trees and the shadows they casted.

Reaching the window, Daniel switched on his flashlight that he kept taped to his under barrel, sweeping it across the room. The white light chased away the shadows in the store, illuminating overturned chairs, smashed vases, empty dressers and other destroyed furniture. Daniel went to sweep away some of the snow that lined the window, trying to see if he could spot anything below the window sill. Miraculously, as he scouted out the building, the snowstorm let up, the snow no longer falling in droves and the howling wind reduced to a quiet whisper. At that moment, he also saw a small stack of canned foods in the corner of the room, next to a tipped over lamp. Huh, Daniel mused, stepping away from the window and approaching the door. Maybe I've finally got some luck on my side. He reached for the half frozen doorknob and twisted, letting his M4 hang from its strap on his shoulder.

That's when he heard the sound of a gun's hammer being pulled back.

Daniel whirled around bringing his assault rifle to bear. Behind him, a figure covered from head to toe in snow stood aiming a .357 Magnum revolver at his head, their face hidden behind a pair of snow goggles and the shadow of their hood. Other figures rose from beneath snow banks, appearing like phantoms as they aimed their own primed weapons at him. Daniel flicked off the safety on his M4, slowly sweeping it across the group as he tried to keep an eye on the one with the revolver. There was eight of them, and from what he could tell, they were were all armed to the teeth. Daniel started to sweat underneath all of his layers; he was outmanned and outgunned, and if this confrontation turned into a firefight, then things would get real ugly, real fast. They had planned this trap very, very well.

Daniel decided to speak first. "What do you want?" Daniel demanded, trying to maintain a façade of confidence. In reality, he was just trying to keep his composure and desperately trying not to panic.

The man with the revolver lazily stepped forward, the snow that had been snagged on his close falling away to join the piles on the ground. Obviously the leader of the group, he said in a gruff, southern accented voice, "Whaddya think? We want yer stuff." He jerked his revolver in Daniel's direction, and Daniel noted that his finger was resting on the trigger of the Magnum. This situation had to be delicately dealt with or, if he got a little trigger happy, this man could very well blow off Daniel's head with his hand cannon. And Daniel definitely did not want that to happen.