Danger Zone
By Divamercury
I'm still here, folks! Are you in enough suspense yet? Just wait, there's more! Enjoy Chapter 10 and PLEASE review!
Chapter 10
After Sara had escaped with Gabriel and Mac, I studied my surroundings as I hunched behind one of many of Gabriel's large shelves. The heavyset officer that was still recovering from Mac's attack was still in plain sight, but Dante wasn't anywhere to be found. The large display room was filled with an inky darkness because of the scarcity of windows, and what little light actually was able to illuminate it cast deep, thick shadows across the floor, not helping my situation. I wanted nothing more than to leave and go protect Sara but, knowing that if I solved the problem here, we wouldn't have as much to worry about, I strained to keep my eyes on the two rogues. I fired a few shots in rapid succession when I caught a glimpse of Dante behind a large urn on the opposite side of the room. Unfortunately for Gabriel, the urn shattered, and unfortunately for me, Dante vanished again. I was caught up in tracking him for quite some time, firing shots whenever I spotted him. For Sara's sake I told myself to make sure to get rid of the man. He was making her life a hell and I refused to allow it to go on any longer.
Being especially careful to keep my footfalls silent, a somewhat difficult task on the hardwood floor I was standing on, I took down my barricade, shifted my position, and slowly crept to another location in the room. I noted that Dante's partner-in-crime had vanished from my vision in the short amount of time it took me to move. A bit miffed, I checked my progress on my weapon and, as discreetly as possible, reloaded. Once this was done, I looked for them again, crouching behind the racks and trying to blend into the darkness that blanketed the room.
Apparently Dante and the other cop were doing the same thing I was, because none of us made any noise to be an indication to our locations. I re-barricaded myself behind another set of shelves and fired some random shots to try and drive the two dirty cops out of their hiding places. Dante's head popped up and zoomed across the floor as he ran low to the ground, and I heard the sound of the more heavyset cop's running as well. I was so focused on getting rid of Dante that I didn't realize was that his buddy was looping behind me.
Moments later my attention suddenly snapped behind me when I heard metal and wood creaking loudly. I whirled around, spotting and reflexively shooting Dante's lackey, who was standing behind me. However, I was unable to wound him before he achieved his objective, which caused the noise I heard: pushing the shelves directly on top of me. I tried to dodge it as it plummeted toward me but was unable to move because of my own barricade. I felt incredibly foolish and could do nothing as it crashed to the wood planking beneath my feet and pinned me to the floor at the waist. As I tried to wriggle free from my situation, an artifact of some kind fell from the shelf in front of me almost as an afterthought, apparently jostled by the downward trip of the other rack. I caught it easily and tossed it gently away from me, but it bumped the shelf again. I tried to cover myself with my arms for protection from the onslaught but they didn't really block the avalanche of merchandise that buried me. The last thing I saw was the cop's leer through a crack in the pile before I succumbed to unconsciousness.
* * *
I came out from my hiding place after I heard the crash and looked at the situation. Bosley was holding his arm where he had been shot by that Nottingham guy, who was apparently out cold after Bos pushed the shelves over on him. Bos dug him out of the pile of goods, but I knew he had an ulterior motive for his actions. Once Nottingham's head was free, Bos aimed his gun at Nottingham and was about to blow the guy's brains out in reprisal for his own wound when, against my first judgement, I intervened.
"Put down your weapon, Bos. You can't kill this guy," I said.
"Captain? What are you doing? He's been a huge thorn in our side and now, when we actually have the chance to kill him, you save him? Why the hell would you want me not to shoot the bastard?"
"I'm the boss here, and you'll do what I say, Bosley. Besides, I think he means something to the bitch. I think it'd be better if we kidnap him now that he won't be able to resist and then kill him right in front of Petzini. I've been told that that kind of thing works on her," I said, smirking as I thought back to the bitch's history.
"And anything to shut her down, right Captain?" Bos asked.
"Damn right," I said with a smile. "You okay, Bos?"
"Yeah. Just a flesh wound," he said, wrapping a bandana from his pocket around his arm and tying it with a wince over his wound. "I would have thought that an assassin would have been a better shot."
"Orlinsky would tell you he's a good enough shotif he was still breathing," I snarled, furious at the death of an officer loyal to our cause. "Besides, the guy was cornered when he shot you. He let the bitch and her friends get out and he stayed here to take us on. YepI bet he likes her. No wonder everyone says he's nuts. That proves it right there. Anyone that can stand to be in a room with her for more than five minutes at a time is absolutely, undeniably crazy. Now, let's get him restrained and out of here and I'll call in some backup to take care of the bitch."
