Dark Sky

16 - Staring Down a Barrel

Chapter Sixteen

The barrel of his shot gun was placed carefully in the corner of the window frame with its sights trained on the wreck of the car below.

Travis was positioned far enough back that it was unlikely he would be hit by any return fire. The man cowering behind the car was obviously an amateur and had no idea how to use a fire arm.

Travis also recognised him as the man from the farmhouse.

He knew he hadn't killed him.

That might change in the next few minutes he thought smiling to himself as he fired off a round into the roof of the car.

This idiot must be here to rescue the girl which is why Travis had sent Jeb to get her. He might need a hostage should things not go quite as planned. But after he had watched the rescuer dash from cover to cover, he knew this was going to be a short fight. Easy.

Travis watched with amusement as the hero jumped up and fired a round in his general direction and then proceed to lose his weapon into the road out in the open.

"What a dick," he grunted with a smile.

The hero had lost the battle already. If he went for his gun now Travis could just pick him off and end him for good.

He watched in anticipation for a good few minutes before realising his target was not going to make a move.

"Your gonna make me come down there aren't you?" Travis questioned as if the hero could hear him. "Ok you asked for it."

Within a minute he was creeping out of an opening that used to house a front door. The frame was all buckled and the door lay covered in dirt on the pathway just outside.

He took it slow, he knew his opponent had lost his weapon but didn't want to assume anything. Last thing he needed was to stroll up to the car he was hidden behind, only to be taken out by a secondary weapon he didn't know about.

Slowly Travis began to cross the street towards the broken vehicle his shotgun raised and ready to fire.

*****

Joe sat with his back against the car.

His heart was racing with anticipation. What was the gunman in the house waiting for?

Was he simply going to wait for him to go for his gun that was now laying in the road and then take him out? Or was he just going to come guns a blazing. Either way Joe knew he was not going to fair well in the end.

He was beginning to curse himself for trying to enter town via the road. He should have known better and come in by fields via some random house, but it was too late now and he was pinned down.

"Get you hands in the air and come out real slow!" A gravelly voice ordered from the other side of the vehicle he was crouched behind.

Joes stomach did a somersault as he realised this was it and he now faced a dilemma. Stay where he was and probably get shot for not obeying, or, do as he was instructed and probably get shot as soon as he poked his head out.

Considering his choices and being the one that was now weapon less he figured he should do as he was ordered and hope his captor wouldn't shoot an unarmed man.

"I will not ask you again!" The voice bellowed in disapproval at Joes hesitation.

Immediately Joe raised his hands and stood up.

"Ok. I'm coming out," he announced to his captor, "don't shoot."

Quickly Joe was face to face with Travis and the barrel of his shot gun aimed right at his head. He knew if the man pulled the trigger now it would all be over, forever.