Chapter 13: Seraphina’s Vow

The sun was setting, painting the sky in deep oranges and reds as the trio of Black Dust moved deeper into the wilderness.

Their new reputation was spreading like wildfire, and the pressure on them was mounting.

The lawmen were on their tail, bounty hunters circling like vultures, and whispers of their exploits had reached even the farthest corners of the land. Black Dust wasn't just a name anymore; it was a force that made waves in the corrupt world they were trying to dismantle, one shot at a time.

But while Bastian and Barok had often been the focus of attention—Bastian with his sharp wit and charm, Barok with his quiet strength and tactical mind—today, it was Seraphina who felt the weight of their growing notoriety.

The fire in her heart, the quiet fury of someone who had long been wronged, began to stir once more.

It had been days since their last skirmish with the government's enforcers. Though they had managed to escape, the tension among them was palpable.

Barok was focused on strategy, always thinking three steps ahead, while Bastian kept things lighthearted, attempting to mask the creeping unease that came with their increasing notoriety. But Seraphina had been quieter, more introspective.

She couldn't escape the growing feeling that the journey they were on wasn't just a fight against the corrupt—it was a fight against herself.

A fight to remain true to the ideals that had driven her since she first picked up a gun, and a fight to protect something she had never quite allowed herself to acknowledge.

Her past was never far behind her.

The memories of lost loved ones, of betrayal, of being a tool for those in power, still haunted her. The weight of those moments sat heavy on her chest. But here, with Barok and Bastian—two men who, despite their differences, shared a common purpose—she found something new. Something she hadn't realized she was missing. A team. A family.

—-~

Windbreaker was one of those sleepy towns on the edge of the frontier, the kind of place that didn't get many visitors.

The dust-covered streets barely saw any traffic, and the buildings sagged under the weight of years without care. It was the perfect place for a fresh start, or at least for a moment's reprieve.

As Black Dust passed through the town, the locals watched them with a mix of curiosity and fear.

They knew the reputation of Black Dust, but they also knew that the group had never been known for wanton violence. They were rebels, but not the kind that burned towns to the ground.

As the trio approached the local saloon, a strange unease settled over them. They could sense something in the air—tension, like a storm waiting to break.

Barok scanned the street, his eyes narrowing as he searched for any sign of danger.

"I don't like it here," Barok muttered, his voice low but firm.

Bastian grinned, always the optimist. "What's not to like? A quiet town, good whiskey, and maybe a game of cards.

We could use a break."

Seraphina stayed silent, but her sharp eyes studied the surroundings carefully. Something about the quietness felt off, as if the town was too quiet. She had learned to trust her instincts over the years, and right now, those instincts were telling her that this place had a hidden danger lurking beneath its surface.

"We're not here to relax, Bastian," Barok said, his eyes still darting over the streets. "Keep your head on a swivel."

Seraphina didn't argue, but her attention was focused on the saloon ahead. There was a glint in her eyes, a familiar sharpness that only appeared when she was about to do what she did best. "I'm going to check the back. You two keep an eye on the front."

Barok nodded once, but Bastian had to smirk. "What, you don't want to see how badly I beat Barok at cards?"

Seraphina's lips twitched into a small smile before she turned toward the back entrance of the saloon.

"I'm not here for your card games, Bastian. I'm here to make sure we're not walking into a trap."

Barok watched her go, a flicker of something unreadable in his expression. There was always something about Seraphina that intrigued him.

Her quiet strength, the depth behind her eyes—it wasn't just the gunmancy that made her dangerous. It was something more.

—-~

As Barok and Bastian entered the saloon and found a corner to sit down, the atmosphere inside felt different. The usual sounds of clinking glasses and murmured conversations were replaced by hushed whispers.

The few patrons still inside eyed them suspiciously.

Bastian gave them a wide grin, tipping his hat. "Is it just me, or is it getting awfully tense in here?"

Barok scanned the room, his hand resting on the hilt of his revolver. "It's not just you," he murmured. "Something's off."

Before they could make any further move, the door swung open with a sharp creak, and a group of armed men stepped in—lawmen, but not the usual kind.

These were more organized, more disciplined, and their eyes were set on Barok and Bastian with an unmistakable coldness.

"Well, well," one of them sneered, his hand resting on the holster of his revolver. "Looks like Black Dust has finally come to town."

Barok's expression remained unchanged, though his mind was already calculating his next move.

He glanced at Bastian.

"Get ready."

Bastian grinned, his fingers already twitching toward his duel pistols. "I was born ready, partner."

But before any of them could draw, the sound of gunshots rang out from behind. Seraphina had emerged from the back of the saloon, and the moment she entered, her revolver was already raised, her aim steady and deadly.

She didn't hesitate—two shots rang out in quick succession, striking two of the lawmen dead-center in their chests.

The entire room froze, eyes wide in shock. Seraphina didn't give them a chance to react.

She moved with the precision of a sniper, but her pace was that of someone accustomed to quick, ruthless combat. Another shot rang out, a lawman dropping to the floor with a pained grunt.

Barok's eyes widened for just a moment before narrowing again. He had never seen Seraphina in action quite like this. She was methodical, yes, but there was a raw intensity to her movements now—an intensity he hadn't fully understood until he saw it in action.

It was as if the weight of everything she had lost, everything she had fought for, was being poured into her shots.

Bastian, too, was quick to react. His Jokesters were drawn with a flash, and he joined Seraphina in the assault. The lawmen, unprepared for the ferocity of the attack, were quickly overwhelmed. In mere moments, the saloon turned into a battlefield, with bullets flying in all directions.

"Damn," Bastian muttered, taking down another lawman with a swift shot to the leg. "You're even scarier than I thought, Seraphina."

Seraphina didn't respond. She didn't need to. Her eyes were locked on the remaining lawmen, her revolver steady in her hand, as she moved with deadly precision.

She was a force unto herself—an unstoppable tide of ice-cold fury, one that left nothing in her wake but those who had been foolish enough to stand against her.

Barok had long been the planner, the strategist, but even he couldn't deny that Seraphina had just proven herself to be something more than just a skilled marksman. She was a warrior, a true part of the team—a force to be reckoned with.

—-~

The battle was over almost as quickly as it had started. The last of the lawmen lay scattered across the saloon floor, some dead, others wounded and begging for mercy.

The trio stood in the middle of the room, breathing heavily, the smell of gunpowder thick in the air.

Seraphina lowered her revolver slowly, her eyes cold as she surveyed the room. But there was a flicker of something else—something deeper—in the way she looked at the fallen men. It was a mix of regret and something more resolute.

"We're not here to kill indiscriminately," she said quietly, her voice calm despite the violence they had just unleashed. "But sometimes… sometimes, it's the only way."

Barok nodded, his voice gruff but understanding. "You did what needed to be done."

Bastian walked over to her, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Hell, I'd say that was damn impressive. You certainly know how to make an entrance."

Seraphina smirked slightly, but there was something more in her expression now. She wasn't just a bounty hunter anymore. She was part of something greater—a team, a family.

"I'm not in this for glory," Seraphina said quietly, her eyes meeting Barok's. "I'm in this because it's the only way to stop what's coming. The government's grip on this land is only getting tighter, and we're the only ones willing to break it."

Barok regarded her for a long moment, then nodded. "Then we'll stand by you. No matter the cost."

Bastian clapped both of them on the back. "Black Dust's got some new firepower now. But with you, Seraphina, we're unstoppable."

Seraphina's smile was small, but it held something rare—a spark of something she hadn't realized she'd been missing. Honor. Trust. A cause.