Chapter Nine
Ratigan held his hand so tightly over my mouth I thought I was going to suffocate. He muttered darkly to me.
"Well, we just HAD to unmask the mastermind now, didn't we? I should've killed your friend when I had the chance! No matter, they'll meet their end soon enough. And you'll accompany me to the West Indies my dear. As much as you may regret it, you are mine. Mine to control and mine to obey me, all mine!" He touched my cheek. I pulled away. "And yes," he whispered, "mine to touch and hold and caress." He laughed madly.
Suddenly, GC yelled from the driver's seat, "Oy, Professor! Basil's behind us!"
"WHAT!" Ratigan looked out the window. He looked panicked. He pulled out his pistol.
"NO!" I lunged at him, reaching wildly for the weapon. He threw me against the seat and let out five shots. Before he had a chance to reload, there was a loud crash. I toppled out of the stagecoach, rolling wildly on the ground. As I came to a stop, I jumped up. The remnants of two stagecoaches lay scattered about. Dr. Dawson was helping Josh up.
Josh? I thought he betrayed me! What was he doing here?
I looked wildly about for Basil. He was approaching the wreckage.
Wait! Where's Ratigan?
Obviously Basil was wondering the same thing. He pulled pieces of broken wood away, searching for the body. A bloody face appeared. I gasped; it was GC!
"Where is Ratigan?" Basil said to himself.
"Is he... dead?" I asked.
"No, Meg my sweet." Josh ran up to me and pulled me away. Ratigan had been behind me! I almost fainted.
He was holding the pistol up. Josh shielded me. "What do you want, scum?"
"Let her go, Havers. She's my wife."
"Ratigan, you're absolutely mad! To think she would ever stoop so low as to willingly marry you! It's absurd!" Basil said. "Forced marriages aren't legal."
"You can't use her anymore, Professor! The game's up, your plans have failed!" Josh shouted.
Ratigan took a step toward us as we took a step back. He followed us like this, the pistol aimed at Josh's heart.
"Josh, you used to be so loyal to me. I do suppose I was wrong. I should've killed you when I had the chance." I bumped into Basil. "And now you're trying to help her?" he continued. "Well, if that is your desire, then so be it."
The shot rang in my ears. As the smoke started to clear, I looked for Josh. To my horror I saw Basil lying on the ground, a pool of blood starting to form around him.
"BASIL!" Dawson ran to Basil.
Josh jumped on Ratigan, struggling for the gun. "RUN!" he shouted to me. "RUN MEG!"
I dashed to aid Dawson. "He's still alive," Dawson said, tying his handkerchief around Basil's wound. "Shot in the arm. But he's weak. We have to get him out of here."
We supported the detective on our shoulders and started off through the deserted streets. I was tiring already. Dawson tried to support most of the weight, but I could tell he wasn't used to such exercise.
"Let go of me!" Basil was muttering. "Need to... kill him!"
"He's losing more blood!" Dawson gasped as we ran. "We can't take him much further." We hid behind a few trashcans, examining Basil. "He's fainted." Dawson said. "But Ratigan will come soon enough."
"Josh! He's still back there, battling him!" I whispered urgently. "Doctor, I must go help him!" Dawson was about to protest when I added, "This is all my fault Dr. Dawson! If I hadn't been so stupid, none of this would've ever happened. Please, let me help him. Ratigan won't hurt me."
"But Basil wanted to-"
"But Ratigan will get away!"
Dawson looked anxious. "Oh... ah... All right! Go. But Miss Sarentis," he reached into Basil's pocket. "Take this revolver."
"Thank you Doctor."
I made off through the streets, hoping to backtrack my steps. I kept tripping over my dress. After a quarter of an hour of running, I realized I was completely lost. I couldn't find Josh or Ratigan anywhere.
I jogged aimlessly around for about five minutes, hoping to find a familiar landmark. Suddenly Josh ran into me, almost knocking me over.
"Meg! What are you doing here?" Before I could answer, Josh grabbed my paw and dragged me along. "Run! He's right behind me!"
We made a wild flight. I could hear Ratigan behind us. I could tell he by his pace that he was going to catch up with us soon.
I tripped and fell sprawling on the ground. Josh tried to help me up, but Ratigan flayed him with his huge claws, sending him flying through the air. Ratigan advanced toward Josh, striking the poor mouse's body. I tried to pull him away, but he smacked me, causing me to fall to the ground again. I landed on my side. The revolver was several feet away.
"You imbecile! How dare you defy me! Your life is worth nothing now!" He laughed cruelly as Josh cried out.
"Leave him alone!" I cried. "James, leave him alone!"
Ratigan glared at me. He then turned on another one of his evil grins. "But my dear, he tried to kidnap you."
"NO RATIGAN! He tried to save me! He risked his own life in order that I may go free. You would've never done that for me. You only wanted to use me! You low-life, lying, cheating, traitorous, selfish-"
"SHUT UP!" He held a knife up and kicked Josh. "Say goodbye to your dear Josh Havers."
I grabbed the revolver and aimed. I can't do this! Killing someone, in cold blood? What am I doing?
Josh. Josh is going to die!
I tightly closed my eyes, and pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The force of the shot nearly knocked me over. The gun clattered on the cobblestone street. I rubbed my bruised shoulder and slowly opened my eyes.
Ratigan was still standing, his hands on his chest. He looked shocked. "Meg... how could..."
He collapsed to the ground.
I ran to Josh's side. "Josh, Josh! Are you all right?" I started to rip off fragments of my wedding dress, wrapping them on his bleeding wounds. "Oh, this is all my fault. I'm so sorry. Josh, please say something!"
Josh leaned toward me. "Thank you," he whispered.
"What?"
"Thank you Meg." He grinned weakly at me.
"You're all right! But you're speaking strangely. Let's go, please."
"You saved me."
"I almost killed you!"
"He almost killed me." He gestured toward the still body. There were crimson stains on his hands. I looked away. I couldn't help it; tears started to roll down my cheeks. "Meg, don't cry. He deserved it."
"I... I killed a fellow creature. I'm a murderer!"
Josh gently brushed the tears off my face. "No, you're not. You did it in self defense." He slowly lifted himself up. "Come on. Let's go."
We hurried away to find Dr. Dawson, leaving the body behind us.
Leigh: Ratigan was a pansy anyway. I'm glad she shot him.
JWJ: Me too. But how come you get to shoot him Meg?
Meg: (from another room) I'm not speaking to you JWJ!
Sarah: JWJ, did you ever consider that she wrote the story, therefore earning the privilege of shooting the bad guy?
Emma: But she just spent a whole story about him not being dead when he actually should have been. Why would she kill him now?
Lizz: Is he dead?
Sarah: Read the sequel.
