Shadows Peak |✔

Chapter 10: Sydney

Stupid. Stupid stupid stupid. I knew I shouldn't have asked about the money!

Sydney moved as quickly as she could through the rain, looking for another place of shelter. She was worried she had raised suspicions of her and would have to leave town soon. She wasn't sure how people would treat her, and she couldn't risk any confrontation; not while she was injured.

I've been here one afternoon and can't even manage to blend in.

She continued down the main road, walking, rather than running; the dirt road now a muddy consistency. She was having trouble maneuvering her crutch around and didn't want to make it more difficult by trying to move at a faster pace.

Her blanket was beginning to weigh her down, and with only one good leg, she had to leave it. She took it off her shoulders, tossing it to the side of the road. As much as she wanted to keep it, it being one of few things she had brought with her from Galdon, she had to let it go; it was no use to her wet.

"Hey! Hey, wait up a sec!" an unfamiliar voice yelled out from behind her.

Sydney ignored the voice, picking up speed, despite it being difficult. She used both arms to pick the crutch up and down, the mud tacking onto it. Whoever it was had to be talking to her, but she wasn't keen on conversating again; especially considering how well it went for her the last time.

"I know you have nowhere to go! And you're clearly not from here! Just wait a minute!" the voice, a male, yelled out. He was definitely getting closer and fast.

Crap! How much does he know?!

Not sure if he was a threat or not, Sydney stopped moving forward. She knew there was no point in trying to outrun him, in her state he could easily chase her down. Instead, she reached her hand inside her bookbag, gripping onto one of the pistols. She didn't pull it out, but she held onto it, turning the safety off.

As she stood, in the middle of the road, she could hear the man slow down, stopping a few feet away from her. She kept her ears sharp, still facing the other way, tuning out the sound of the rain.

"Look. I'm sure-" he began, but Sydney didn't let him finish.

Turning around, she pulled her gun out, aiming it at him with her free hand, the other firmly holding onto her crutch. She watched as his eyes grew big, his mouth slowing, no longer letting words fall out of them.

It's the guy from the pub.

Recognizing him, her guard went up further than it already was.

"Why did you follow me!?" she yelled.

The guy threw his hands up, keeping his eyes on the gun as he took a step towards her.

"Don't come any closer!" Sydney demanded, her arm shaking under the weight of the gun.

He stopped approaching, heeding the warning she gave. She just hoped she wouldn't have to kill him. Even though she was taught some Westerners were savages, that didn't make her want to kill one; but she would, if she had to.

"You have a gun?" he asked, his voice unsteady.

"Obviously," Sydney said through gritted teeth.

"Why do you have a gun?" He looked nervous, his eyes constantly shifting from the gun to Sydney.

"For protection," she answered.

Using one hand to brush his soaking hair out his face, he lifted his face to the sky. After taking a deep breath, he looked back at Sydney.