Chapter 1
Just a little farther…
Max knew he was lying to himself, but the more he focused on the distance the less time he would have to spend bringing the physical and emotional pain back to his senses. He reflexively clutched his side a little harder when he thought about that fateful gunshot…… the words said to him, hatred dripping between each letter… but alas the pain brought him back to the present. The throbbing inside is skull resumed…. Pounding harder with less mercy every second… he thought that it was eventually going to split, which at least would get him out of this mess a little bit easier, at least guilt free. The blood he could tell was beginning to clot up in the gash on his side, noticing it for the first time in a while…. He tried to let go of it but hastily clamped it back on as it began to flow again. He gritted his teeth and let out a scream of frustration, which gave him a little more power into his step…. considering he had a very noticeable limp. The shotgun he had over his soldier got heavier by the minute, digging into his shoulder. His vision blurred, he could only barely see the gas station, the lights shining off the 6 pumps showing a sign of salvation. The beautiful swirling flakes were nothing more than a backdrop in the situation, the real problem came from the cold winds that rushed through his body, regardless of his clothing. The faint sirens coming from behind only pushed him harder, bringing the sense of urgency back to reality.
He yelled louder as he picked up his speed, the bitter cold biting at every spot of naked skin he had on his body, the only thing that kept him warm was the blood that flowed freely from his cuts. He knew the station was closed, the lights being out inside the store, and a heavy chain thrown between the door handles with a giant padlock, but he didn't care. He was desperate. He pulled down the shotgun from his shoulder, heavier than ever, and instinctively took a shot at the lock 15 feet away. Nothing happened. The revving engines were getting louder as he became more urgent, and took a shot at the large window of the store as the sounds of screeching tires came around the corner, but Max didnt dare look back, he couldnt make a mistake now, he just hoped they didnt see him yet. He leapt through the window, ignoring the searing pain through his legs. He was losing conciousness now... he had forgotten how sleepy he had become, but he didnt mind, he just had to find a place to make him safe... the shotgun had grown too heavy so he abandoned it begind him as he army-crawled his way through the broken glass. He heard car doors slam, and the distinct sound of footsteps, and the cocking of weapons... Just a few more feet... he knew he had to pretoect himself so he pulled out his 9mm pistol as he pulled himself the last few inches into the corner of the convenience store. He was barely able to pull himself up, his body numbing up and leaving his senses dulled. He sat in the corner, waiting for the inevitable sleep to overcome him. He stopped worrying about the goons that walked into the store, turning on the lights and scanning the floor. His body slumped, as the icy blanket swept over the last free parts of his body... and he couldnt help thinking of what happened that brought him to this moment... it all seemed like a bad hangover, or a nightmare. He could only wish that it was that way. The memories, words, gunshots, deaths, and grievances all came flooding back to him. And eventually they were organized, before he lost conciousness,to the night that it began, that brought Max to his downfall.