The decoy

Chapt 14

Chapter Fourteen

            Deacon Hill sat in the car watching Sebastian through the scope of a rifle as Sebastian approach the dark haired teenager.

            "I'm waiting for my dad but he's late," Sebastian said. 

His voice was calm but his head was spinning.

            He had set the trap but he knew he couldn't follow through with it. Over the last four years he had made many sacrifices to survive and he had become Deacon Hill's tyro.  He had many compromises to survive but he would not help Hill take another prisoner.

            Sebastian watched the car turn out of the lot across the street and began to move towards them.

The girl smiled at Sebastian. It was a welcoming smile.

            "Don't run away yet. Stay calm but listen to me," Sebastian said, "He will kill you." 

Sebastian was watching the car approach as he tried to warn her.

            The girl's smile disappeared. She had a look of disbelief and confusion. She was not sure if the boy was teasing her now or playing some joke.

            "The man that is coming to get me is going to take you. He will kill you if you run now. Please wait till I tell you to run and then go, quickly back to the mall. Bang on the door and get the security people. I'm not joking. This guy will kill us both if he gets you."
            The girl didn't speak. She didn't move. She looked at Sebastian and wondered if this was real and as she read the look on his face she knew he was not joking.

            Sebastian realized that Hill would have to put the rifle down long enough to drive to the bus stop. This gave him a little time. It would be enough to warn the girl and at least get her started towards the safety of the mall. Hill could stop the car and take aim at any time when he realized that Sebastian had warned her but it was the best chance they had.

            "This man is going to kill you."

He looked back at the car and knew that Hill had put the gun down and was driving towards them now.

"Run," Sebastian shouted.

She hesitated and looked over at the car across the street.

            "Run," Sebastian shouted again.

            He grabbed the girl by the hand and pulled her from the bus stop to the parking lot where they would run to safety. He turned his head constantly to see if Hill stopped the car to pick up the rifle but the car continued on towards them. It was picking up speed.

Sebastian pushed the girl in front of him so that if Hill tried to shoot them he would hit Sebastian first.

            The girl recognized the terror on Sebastian's face. She began to sob as she ran more quickly. Her right sneaker slipped off of her foot and she stumbled but Sebastian grabbed her and prevented her from falling. He pulled her forward, not letting her stop to get her shoe.

            The car veered off to the left so that he could enter the driveway to the parking lot. Then the car raced towards them through the parking lot. There were only a few parked vehicles between them and there was no sense trying to hide as it would only allow Hill time to use the rifle. If they didn't get to the mall they would be caught or shot.

            Their chests heaved with exhaustion but they continued to run on as quickly as they could. Hill was only twenty feet from them and the door to the mall was still too far to reach. Sebastian realized that Hill was not going to shoot them now. He didn't need too the car was now his weapon of choice.