Abandon: Chapter 17
The Abernathy Trilogy
Abernathy, Abandon, America
by Kristen
Abandon
Chapter 17
Justin
I stand atop the barrel at the corner of the building, willing my knees not to shake. In a few moments, if all goes as planned, William will come around this corner, with Sydney right behind. I told him to go back in and tell Sydney that he had seen a wayward fox wander down from the hills, stealing chickens from the shops.
William is to come out before Sydney and round the corner first. Then, in my brilliant plan, I will drive the butt of this pistol into the next face that comes into my vision. It's a foolish scheme, I know, but we have no hope of overpowering Sydney without surprising him first. And I want not to fire this gun if I can help it. I am well aware that I have only one shot.
Suddenly, I hear the door open at the front of the building.
"It took off around this corner, sir," comes William's voice, my cue to know that Sydney is indeed behind him.
My heart is pounding in my throat, and I can feel the pistol slipping in my sweaty hands. It seems an eternity before William's head appears before me, and then...the next shape I see around the wall is Sydney's startled expression, in an instant registering what is about to happen to him. With all my might, I drive the butt of the rifle into his face, not even aiming so much as blindly jamming it where it falls.
He cries out horribly and clutches his face. Quickly, William and I each grab one of his arms, forcing them to his back and tying his wrists together. He struggles wildly, but we manage to wrestle him onto his belly on the ground and bind his ankles as well. I tear off a bit of my shirt to gag him and pull the ring of keys off his belt.
With heaving breaths, I look him over--not terribly wounded, but furiously angry. He spits soggy curses from under the cloth gag. I toss the gun to William. "Watch him. If he moves, shoot him," I order falsely, hoping only that Sydney will be intimidated by my words. I am far too sickened by what I've already done to desire adding murder to my list of crimes.
William, thankfully, picks up the role of enforcer quite seriously--I suspect he has a grudge against our dear old Sydney. He stands near him with grim conviction, the pistol pointed at the back of his head.
I leave the two of them there in the alley, and dart into the building. I run down the back hall, which ends in a "T" shape. To the left and right are rows of doors, each with a tiny opening near the top.
"Brian?" I call out, not too loudly. Several faces appear at the sound of a strange voice, but only one answers me back.
"Justin?" I hear to my left and I run to his cell door, trying every key with shaking hands. Finally the lock clicks and I throw open the door, tossing myself into his arms. I clutch at him madly, frantically, my heart aching as though it had been ripped from my chest and now brutally jammed back in.
I break the embrace, reluctantly, and he gazes at me with wet eyes.
"Justin," he cries, "what are..."
"Come, there's no time," I shout, grabbing his hand and pulling him out the door. "We must go!"
We charge out of the building and into the alley, where William guards over Sydney's prostrate form.
"William!" Brian cries, bewildered, but there is no time for answers. I run to my horse and mount it, pulling Brian up behind me. Once we are safely at the ready, William leaves Sydney on the ground and mounts his own horse. We take off, flying down the main avenue of Hereford, just as the first toll of the noon Angelus begins to echo throughout the town.
Abernathy, Abandon, America
by Kristen
Abandon
Chapter 17
Justin
I stand atop the barrel at the corner of the building, willing my knees not to shake. In a few moments, if all goes as planned, William will come around this corner, with Sydney right behind. I told him to go back in and tell Sydney that he had seen a wayward fox wander down from the hills, stealing chickens from the shops.
William is to come out before Sydney and round the corner first. Then, in my brilliant plan, I will drive the butt of this pistol into the next face that comes into my vision. It's a foolish scheme, I know, but we have no hope of overpowering Sydney without surprising him first. And I want not to fire this gun if I can help it. I am well aware that I have only one shot.
Suddenly, I hear the door open at the front of the building.
"It took off around this corner, sir," comes William's voice, my cue to know that Sydney is indeed behind him.
My heart is pounding in my throat, and I can feel the pistol slipping in my sweaty hands. It seems an eternity before William's head appears before me, and then...the next shape I see around the wall is Sydney's startled expression, in an instant registering what is about to happen to him. With all my might, I drive the butt of the rifle into his face, not even aiming so much as blindly jamming it where it falls.
He cries out horribly and clutches his face. Quickly, William and I each grab one of his arms, forcing them to his back and tying his wrists together. He struggles wildly, but we manage to wrestle him onto his belly on the ground and bind his ankles as well. I tear off a bit of my shirt to gag him and pull the ring of keys off his belt.
With heaving breaths, I look him over--not terribly wounded, but furiously angry. He spits soggy curses from under the cloth gag. I toss the gun to William. "Watch him. If he moves, shoot him," I order falsely, hoping only that Sydney will be intimidated by my words. I am far too sickened by what I've already done to desire adding murder to my list of crimes.
William, thankfully, picks up the role of enforcer quite seriously--I suspect he has a grudge against our dear old Sydney. He stands near him with grim conviction, the pistol pointed at the back of his head.
I leave the two of them there in the alley, and dart into the building. I run down the back hall, which ends in a "T" shape. To the left and right are rows of doors, each with a tiny opening near the top.
"Brian?" I call out, not too loudly. Several faces appear at the sound of a strange voice, but only one answers me back.
"Justin?" I hear to my left and I run to his cell door, trying every key with shaking hands. Finally the lock clicks and I throw open the door, tossing myself into his arms. I clutch at him madly, frantically, my heart aching as though it had been ripped from my chest and now brutally jammed back in.
I break the embrace, reluctantly, and he gazes at me with wet eyes.
"Justin," he cries, "what are..."
"Come, there's no time," I shout, grabbing his hand and pulling him out the door. "We must go!"
We charge out of the building and into the alley, where William guards over Sydney's prostrate form.
"William!" Brian cries, bewildered, but there is no time for answers. I run to my horse and mount it, pulling Brian up behind me. Once we are safely at the ready, William leaves Sydney on the ground and mounts his own horse. We take off, flying down the main avenue of Hereford, just as the first toll of the noon Angelus begins to echo throughout the town.