Vol 1: Part 2

It was the sound of gunfire that rudely awoke me from my slumber.

The tires squealed as they tried to keep their grip on the road. "Fucking hell!" I screamed, as bullets ripped through the car, until It started looking more like a cheese grater than a car.

The smell of gun smoke flared as the headlights highlighted our impending stop as we careened right. Heading towards the woods. A tire got struck something before we were viciously thrown around.

Once, twice, thrice. Three times we rolled before crashing to a stop in front of a tree. The world swayed uncomfortably as I sat there dazed in a broken chassis, covered in broken glass, and soaked mud. I weakly took off my seat belt.

My body racked in pain, struggling I pulled myself to look at the driver. "Hey, you still alive?" I hoarsely whispered.

The driver gave either a groan of confirmation or agony, the ringing in my ear was unable to tell the difference.

"C'mon, let's get out of here." I said as I tried to help the driver get out undoing his seatbelt. The driver waved his hand signaling me to stop. It was warm. Warm, sticky, and slick. In the fading light of the headlights I could see him crouched over one hand trying to stop the bleeding from his stomach.

The ringing seemed to fade as my vision focused. The crimson stains upon the seats, the drivers slightly curly fringe, as fear, then grim determination enveloped his hazel eyes. His haunting eyes met mind before he slowly started to speak.

Grabbing my hand. "You've got to go, I'll hold em here." The driver wheezed between painful gasps of air.

I looked at the broken windshield an escape into the woods it would be a long trek, but I might be able to make it. The odds go up if I leave the driver as bait.

He nodded, with a friendly grimace as he guessed my thought pattern. "Just go. The boss he needs someone capable to stick it to these bastards, not a half dead driver like me." He said with a pained grin as he turned around trying to pick up the violin case behind him.

"Could I have at least have a name to remember you by." I said gloomily, as I passed him the violin case with my pain filled palms.

"Call me Joe." He smiled wryly as he opened up the case, taking out the pieces he clumsily assembled the Tommy gun inside.

"Nice to meet you Joe. I will pour you a drink when I get back." Clumsily climbing out the windshield, the rain soon soaked my clothes, the musky smell of the forest filled my nose as I dropped onto the muddy ground.

A soft but strong voice drifted into my ear. "I'll give em hell."

"I'm counting on it." I automatically replied as I gazed into the forest. Hearing a click brought me back to reality.

"You'll need this." He smiled as he slid the briefcase over the bonnet the newly assembled sub machine gun resting on his shoulders. "Always been a fan of the classics." He smiled as he caressed the barrel of the gun.

"Thanks." I said. It was an awful goodbye but we were pressed for time as more headlights started moving towards our position quickly grabbing the briefcase, I ran for my life. Unfortunately I wasn't running very fast.

I started hobbling into the trees the thick foliage covering me from the light. I heard the door to the crashed car open, the tinkle of shards of glass falling onto the ground echoed into the quiet surrounding.

As I continued I heard the faint shout of Joe. "C'mon then you cock suckers!"

The racking of the Tommy gun echoed as he continued shouting. "I've paid my dues, I have no regrets. Now I'm ready for hell boys! How 'bout you!?"

That was the last thing I heard before the tidal wave of gunfire spread through the forest like a wildfire. Under that inky black sky Joe died. The police found him along with two fallen foes in the morning. Whilst I don't know how he lived, I at least know how he died. A hero.

The thick mud sucked my failing limbs into the ground as I crawled through the foliage. The brambles added more scratches, cuts, and holes in my clothing that were already there curtesy to the broken glass.

I was left gasping for breath under that starry sky as my hunters enclosed around me. Do I hide? Do I make a valiant final stand? Questions of my impending death floated around, as I scrambled forwards.

I pulled myself underneath a tree as I sat there shivering. My mud stained, sweat covered, blood soaked clothes clung to me like an overprotective mother, as I hugged the briefcase tighter.

I exhaled in pain as I gently touched my sides. Fortunately I don't think I broke a rib though I probably wasn't going to be looking pretty. Not that it mattered I was going to die from hypothermia, or a bullet before I died from a bit of bruising.

I drew my pistol. The gun it's polished barrel, a gun metal grey, glistened in the full moon as I thought about how to take as many of the bastards down as I could.

A sense of calm took over as I contemplated my final stand. I checked the briefcase opening it up, something was different. "Joe you fucking champion." I muttered with a smile as I pulled out the flare gun he put inside the briefcase. Holstering my pistol I picked up the briefcase.

Painfully I started to move, going slow I started to jump at shadows as I moved from tree to tree. All I could hear was my own breathing, and the crunching of twigs.

I burst through the trees into a clearing, I aimed up and set off the flare.

A red light illuminated the forest, as the first flakes of snow drifted down clouding the moon. Shivering I scurried behind a tree outside the light as I began waiting. Waiting for friend or foe.

I discarded the flare gun, It had served its purposed, now holding my pistol with two shaky hands as the red light started to dwindle.

I held my breath, as the rustle of foliage drew my attention. Three humanoid shadows crept forwards in the fading light, using my the crease in my elbow I stopped my misty breath escaping into the clearing. I redrew my pistol.

I could just barely see the small clouds that escaped into the night as they walked forwards. Fight or flight? Indecision welled up inside me as I debated whether or not I should stand my ground or flee.

Fight. That was my answer as a hot sense of vengeance threw off the icy shackles, of the freshly, futile, falling snow. Adrenaline numbed any pain I was feeling as I lined up my first shot.

I licked my cold, cracked lips as I pulled the heavy trigger. The hammer slowly moved back only to rocket forwards with a deafening bang. Once again my hearing was shot to shit.

The shadow didn't make a sound as it fell onto the ground, without a pause I lined up the second, the third. My vision tunneled as two more shots bellowed into the night. Harbinger's of death is what they were as two more silhouettes crashed into the ground.

A feeling of ecstasy crashed over me. The relief of surviving. My ragged breathing refused to calm down as I made my way to the corpses.

The flare had completely disappeared by now as I fumbled around in the dark after almost tripping over one or two tree roots. I finally found them using my hands touching their cooling clammy skin as I looked to find their heads, and once I found them, I proceeded to blow their fucking brains out.

Covered in a shower of Luke warm blood, gore, brain matter, or whatever occupied those three punks heads I carried on.

Holstering my pistol once more so I had a free hand to make sure I didn't fall into a ditch or something. That would be highly embarrassing, this man could take out three men in a wood after surviving a car crash, but couldn't get himself out of a ditch. I would be a laughing stock.

Adamant that it would never happen I proceeded to move at a crawl as I tried to banish the various worst case scenarios from my head.

The shadows of the trees seemed to thin as I think I was making my way towards the edge of the woods. I was what, maybe less than one hundred meters away from freedom?

"Terry! Terry is that you!?" A voice shouted in front of me. "Did you finally get him?" The man laughed as he made his way over.

Oh shit. I started to walk over.

The man delayed a little before turning his flash light to get a better look, I immediately threw the briefcase at the man. It hit with a satisfying grunt. I launched my self forwards blindly tackling the man. Furiously squinting I tried to get used to the bright light.

Pushing the muzzle of his gun out my face as we hit the ground. I punched the man in his jaw. My knuckles cried in pain as I landed the punch. I then ripped the gun, by its length I guessed a shotgun, out of the mans hand.

A sharp jab to my liver forced me off the man dropping my prize as I scrambled to my feet. A sharp pain cut across my cheek as the man smashed the flash light into my face.

The world went dark. I felt a cold hand grabbing my throat as, I began to desperately grapple with my opponent. The world went numb as I focused on survival I didn't even feel the warm droplets of blood falling onto my neck.

We dragged each other onto the cold ground as we jostled for supremacy, I finally gained the upper hand as my knee rushed into my foes groin. With a shout of pain he instinctively let go.

Not letting up my moment of dominance I pushed the advantage as I head butted my way to victory. I could feel the cartilage in my enemies nose break. The smell of blood was thick in the air. Giving, a savage roar of triumph I pushed the man onto the ground before pummeling his face with my fists. I left him in a bloody pulp on the ground.

Struggling to my feet I began to hurriedly look around. My hands scoured the frozen, wet ground for what I dropped.

I found it. The briefcase I had thrown, it was now wetter then when I had first had it, but luckily it was still in one piece. Giving a sigh I struggled on hoping to finally get out of this death trap.

I made it. Hysterical laughter built up as I stepped on to the tarmac. Though I took one look behind, and that same laughter died in my throat.

Three flashlights were making their way over. My knees buckled in defeat as they crumpled onto the tarmac. It was a good run I suppose. I wonder what hell will be like? I closed my eyes as strength deserted my body like a pack of rats on a sinking ship.

The roar of a car engine rumbled closer like divine thunder. My eyelids lit up as the headlights raced around the corner.

I could smell the sulphuric smoke before it began. Another round of gunfire set off. It was becoming rather common tonight isn't it? I waited for the pain to assault me as the bullets passed through my torso. Am I already dead? I felt no pain, but my ears were still ringing.

A rough hand shook my shoulder. Opening my eyes was a worried, wrathful face that looked like he was about to set the world on fire as he grabbed my pale hand.

"Jester!" My brother in arms, my best friend, and accomplice in this life Jackson screamed in my ear. Well I was trying to read lips as the sound was deflected by the bells blaring in my ears.

Looking, around there was more blood, carnage, and destruction what happened tonight won't be forgotten. Neither would the wound on my pride.

"For fuck sake." Jackson mouthed as he hurriedly dragged, and bundled me into an awaiting car. More pursuers ran up towards us. I only felt the slight tremble of recoil next to me as the world slipped from my grasp.