188

You clear your throat and speak to the group.

"On the trip to the truck depot, ten miles from the Cathedral, the van went out of control. We sped over a bridge and into a creek. Uncle Lou was killed in the impact. The van was sabotaged, and all evidence points to one person."

You swing your rifle around and aim the weapon at Tom.

"Wait just a minute," he says and raises a hand. You pull the trigger. The gunshot echoes through the old church and time seems to freeze in the aftermath of the shot. A perfect round hole appears in Tom's chest just below the neck. His eyes fill with shock and terror as he glances down at the bleeding wound. You hear a woman scream, "No!" Smoke rises from the barrel of your rifle. A warm breeze blows dust through the air.

Tom collapses to his knees then rolls to his back, eyes wide and staring up at the ceiling. Emma dives toward his body and presses her hands over his chest wound, her hands quickly covering in blood. Mindy swings her weapon around, aims it at you, then tilts the barrel to the ceiling. A look of confusion hangs on her face.

Heather staggers backward, crying in a low murmur. She raises a rifle at you, hands shaking, eyes blank though streaming tears.

"You… you…" Heather mutters. "My brother. You killed my brother."

"He tried to kill me, Heather," you say. "Uncle Lou is dead because of him. I had to stop Tom before he could hurt anyone else."

You drop your weapon and walk toward the trembling woman. She holds out the rifle, shaking her head from side-to-side as if wishing away to last few moments. Walking closer, she raises the weapon higher, aiming the barrel at your chest.

"Give me the gun, Heather," you state in a soft, non-threatening tone.

She draws back the hammer, which clicks in place. The barrel is three feet from your chest, but still you walk.

"You killed him," she cries, teeth gritting.

"I had no choice, Heather. I'm sorry but what's done is done."

As you step closer, her angry expression breaks, and she cries harder, tears pouring over her cheeks.

"I don't know what to do," she stammers.

"Give me the gun."

Heather turns the rifle sideways and passes it to you. She drops to her knees and curls into a ball on the floor. You and Mindy crouch beside her, arms wrapping around her shoulders, as the crying woman rocks and moans.

As the group stands stunned in the Sanctuary, a sharp, deafening chorus of wails resonates through the Cathedral walls.