The Man Behind the Gun

Chapter four

"The Day Nina Gurzsky was saved"
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Eric knew they had to leave. They had seen him use his abilities, they knew of his alter egos dark deeds. They will hunt them. With fear and panic in his veins, he shakes his wife and daughter awake and helps them to pack their belongings. There was no time, there was no time.

Early in the morning, it was as they ran, behind their house, through the small meadow, into the forest. He wouldn't be able to ever forgive himself, or the others, should anything happen to his little angel or his wonderful wife. He knew his Darling knew who he really was. But she played along because she loves him. His beautiful wife.

Their Lungs ached, the air felt like knives, but they did not stop to run and run. Behind them, he heard them: Footsteps. Rushing through the underbrush they were behind them, and to his frustration, he did not feel any iron on them.

He takes his daughter in his arms as he takes his wife by the hand and runs, stumbling but never falling.
But that doesn't stop the law enforcers from catching up with them. His family is not used to running. Tears rise in his eyes, he's not ready to lose his beloved ones, he wants to scream in anger, kill the attackers, erase them from the surface, but he just can't do that to his family.

His legs are weakening, those of his wife are also giving way.
His breath falters.
They are wasted.
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Harry jumped up in a hurry when Gordon called him. North of them they ran, a small family of four, and nine pursuers.

"What now, Gordon?"

The headhunter took Harry by the hand and whispered concentrated and slightly irritated. "Apparate us where my mind guides you. Don't worry about splintering. I'm not dying."

Harry nodded and with a crack they were gone.
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The men armed with bow and arrow had his daughter. He let her go for a moment and they had her. Sweat ran down his forehead and he trembled weakly.

They said they would trade him for her. That it would be better if a terrorist like him would give up and not let his daughter pay for him. He gives in and does as commanded. His little Nina cried bitterly when the exchange took place, and at the same time, the birds began to scream.

'Oh god, please don't' he thought when he terribly realized that she was using her animal manipulation.

She hissed and screamed that they should release him, and the men became nervous.

The birds attacked, flew away over their heads, and one of the men relaxed and the arrow flew, at top speed, straight at the embracing mother and child.

It was like slow motion.

Out of nowhere, half a meter from the two civilists, two formed themselves with a crack out of nowhere, and the arrow bounced off a hand covered with bone blades.

Shock spread among the men as the two figures fully erected themselves and they sparkled with something that can only be described as resentment.

The older of the two strangers formed a green fireball in his hand and hissed in cold cutting anger. "Let the man and his family go, people. Now. "

"Or what?" one of the younger uniforms shouted. "What can you do, we're nine!"

A crooked terrible smile formed on the mouths of the two green-eyed troublemakers, and without a word, the younger of them wrapped himself in dazzling light, and suddenly ten doppelgangers of him stood around the pursuers, their blades and claws extended, their faces distorted into devilish grimaces.

"Now we are twelve. And my flames are tired of wood anyway. They whine for flesh. Shall I set them on you, or will you go in peace without the man and never return? "

The men trembled. They tried to hide it, but one could not deny it nevertheless.

They took a few steps back, their weapons lowered, but the danger was still noticeable in the air.

Only when their weapons disintegrated by the older stranger's forces did the people run away, and the doppelgangers became what they were before: Shadows.

Eric ran towards his Love and daughter, all of them were crying, and he kissed them on the Foreheads. Oh, gods, he had thought he had lost them.

He hugged them tightly, a laugh escaped his lips, and he turned to the Strangers that had saved them. "Thank you, both. But I won't be part of any brotherhood or team again. So, will we be able to go separate ways?"

The Two of them held the gaze with the man they knew only as the small kid's father.

"We are sorry, but who are you? We simply came, because we felt the animals in distress, so we came to find the source. Only because your kids called out for them to help, we even realized your situation. May we know who you are?" asked the younger, but got nudged in the side by the elder. "No Time, lad. Look, Sir, we don't belong to any sort of organization. But we do have enough space for three more. We live like nomads, so we have a big tent, but we will need your permission first. Choose wisely, I wouldn't want to stay here any longer than needed. Who knows when they will show up with real weapons. We are not almighty."

Eric broke the gaze and looked into the brown orbs of his Love. She nodded to him, holding their daughter tight in her grip, and he turned to their savior. "Who of you is the Teleporter?"

The younger raised his hand and Eric hummed along. "How many can you carry, young Man?"

"Two, when I am alone. Gordon is strong and his legs are faster than any car so far. He can carry the other one. However, while i... teleport, don't wiggle around. During teleporting, our molecules get decomposed, transported to the wanted destination and put back together. Wiggling around can cause severe damage to the body, and in the worst case... eternal sleep. I don't want to make it sound sweeter. It's dangerous."

Eric nodded and turned to the man named Gordon. "And how many can you carry?"

Gordon shrugged. "No time, bub. Around ten, if I have too. Lady, come here and hold your kid tight, don't let her go. Sir, come here as well, both hold on to me. Harry, take their package, we will meet at the camp. And be careful. Go!"

Harry nodded, and with a loud Crack, he was gone with the belongings.

The older Gordon held on to the Family and sighed. That will hurt later on.

His leg muscles tightened, the floor underneath them seemed to dent under the concentrated power, and with one set they were far in the air.

Panic filled the family until the little daughter noticed the green-eyed mutant running across the treetops through the air.

The family father was sure he would later squeeze him out about his ability pallet.