Lazarus Heart
Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun.
*=Thoughts and dreams.
Authors note: I want to thank RoseRed5 and Hecate for reviewing.
Chapter 3: Bad Company.
A bus drove through the desert pushing its engine to its limit; ahead of the bus moving on an intercept course was a sandstorm. The scene looked like a toy car playing chicken with a diesel truck, and it seemed that the driver of the bus was well aware of that fact. In between the storm and bus there was town, the town that the driver was heading for, ever since he had seen the first signs of a storm.
It was close, but the bus managed to reach the town, and find shelter behind a building before the swirling mass of sand hit the town. The bus driver along with the passengers let out sighs of relief, and then got ready to exit the vehicle. None of the passengers were more relieved than Vash and the insurance girls, the detour to this town was bad enough, but having to deal with a sand clogged engine was definitely worse.
"That was close" Vash sighed as he grabbed his bag.
"You're telling me" Meryl replied then stood up with the rest of the passengers.
Millie looked out the window near Vash, "but now we have to walk through that" she said indicating the storm outside.
"Don't worry Millie, it won't last long, and at least it's not a typhoon," Meryl said, remembering the typhoon in New Oregon.
Vash smiled brightly "I don't know about you two, but I'm going to get a drink while we wait".
Millie clasped her hands together "oh yeah that sounds great!"
Meryl placed her hands on her hips and stared at them with narrow eyes. "No way, you two are not getting any drinks!"
Vash gave Meryl a light smile "come on what harm could one drink have?"
"Please Meryl" Millie chimed in, and made her bottom lip quiver.
Meryl shook her head and brought a hand to her head "oh I give up" she sighed.
Vash and Millie thanked her with a duel bone-crushing hug, which squeezed the air out her. The bus door opened letting the passengers off, and the two released Meryl from the hug, letting her fall to the floor. *I swear they're like giant children sometimes* Meryl thought as she watched Millie and Vash rush out of the bus. Meryl picked herself up off the floor with a groan, and then stepped off the bus. The wind was blowing strongly so she hurried over to the town saloon, and to her dismay, Vash and Millie were already drinking.
Their fellow passengers filled up the saloon as well, and it seemed to Meryl that all passengers had the idea Vash did. Meryl sighed then walked over to a table like she was carrying the world on her shoulders, she sat down and watched her friends turn one drink into several. It wasn't long before they were smashed and Meryl was cursing her stupidity, *why do I always agree to this* she thought as the bus driver challenged Vash to a chugging contest.
Time wore on, turning afternoon into evening, and outside the small saloon the sandstorm still raged. Meryl was bewildered at how long the storm was lasting, *sandstorms don't usually last this long, what could be causing it? * Any other thoughts were cut off when a drunken Vash, hanging on a wagon wheel light fixture swung over their table (barely missing Millie who was unconscious and sleeping on the table at that point) and crashed into a wall. Drunken laughter followed his crash landing as Vash crawled over to the table, and used it to stand up.
Vash held his stomach while he swayed, almost falling over "I don't feel so good" he groaned.
Meryl rolled her eyes waiting for him to run towards the bathroom, which he did a few seconds later, holding one hand on his stomach and the other over his mouth. While Vash was in the bathroom Meryl noticed something strange about the saloon, except for the passengers from the bus the only local in the saloon was the bartender. She raised her eyebrow at this and looked around to confirm her suspicions.
Sure enough there were no locals in the saloon "that's strange" she said out loud. Meryl's curiosity got the better of her, and she walk over to the bar "is it usually this slow at night, besides the passengers I mean?" she asked the bartender. The bartender looked surprised at her question, and his eyes darted around nervously "uh, my town isn't big on drinking" he replied. Meryl didn't believe his answer, and was about to question him some more when the saloon door burst open.
Meryl turned around to face the door ready to draw her derringers, but stopped as she noticed it was only a boy. The boy was crying, and his clothes were ripped, he spotted Millie who was asleep on the table closest to him. The child ran over to her and latched on to her leg, this caused Millie to wake up in surprise. She quickly hugged the child out of instinct. "What's wrong?" she asked him with a yawn. The boy didn't say anything as he buried his face into her cloak, and began to shake.
Millie smiled softly as she picked him up and pulled the child onto her lap, Meryl rushed over to her followed by the bartender.
"Is he hurt?" Meryl asked.
"I don't think so Meryl his clothes are a mess, but I don't think he's hurt" Millie replied.
"Jimmy, Jimmy what happened, where are your parents?" the bartender asked the boy.
Jimmy reacted to his name and looked up at the bartender with tear-stained cheeks, "t-the m-monster took them" he choked out then hugged Millie tighter. Meryl thought Jimmy was in shock, but the bartender didn't ask the boy what he meant, and his face went pale.
"Oh lord" the bartender said as he bowed his head.
Millie looked at Jimmy then at the bartender "is there really a monster?" she asked in a concerned tone.
"Monster? What are you talking about Millie? There is no such thing as monsters" Meryl scoffed.
"I'm afraid she's right miss," the bartender said, keeping his eyes on the floor and shaking his head.
Before Meryl could say anything else the door opened again, and Vash walked in with a serious expression on his face. Vash quickly noticed the boy in Millie's arms, the boy had short raven colored hair, and couldn't have been more than eight or nine years old. Vash let his gaze wander over the people in the saloon, to the startled passengers then back to his friends, "the bus is totaled" he said calmly.
"What?" Meryl yelled.
"See for yourself" Vash told them, and then walked back outside.
Meryl walked after him followed by the passengers and the bus driver, Millie stayed behind with Jimmy. Once outside the group was almost instantly covered in sand, and they walked single file towards the bus. Soon they all saw what Vash had been talking about, only the bus wasn't totaled, it had been shredded. The bus was now a pile of scrap metal, and to everyone's horror claw marks covered the remains of the bus. Vash closed his eyes, he had a bad feeling in his gut, and it wasn't from alcohol. Meryl stood looking at the ruined bus, shock and disbelief clouding her face.
"I was afraid this would happen" the bartender yelled above the storm.
"What do you mean?" Vash asked him.
The bartender looked at him with solemn eyes, "the monster appeared about a month ago, all those who went for help never came back. The monster always strikes during sandstorms; since it's arrival we've had four storms, almost as if this thing can cause them."
He turned away and began to walk slowly towards the saloon, "I'm sorry, but tonight the storm grows fierce, and I doubt any of us will ever leave this town".
Vash stood like a statue as he stared at the ruined bus, and pondered over the bartender's words. Meryl stood beside him and watched the passengers walk back to the saloon; fear clouded their eyes. Vash's eyes narrowed as determination once again swept through him, with one last look at the claw marks he turned and walked swiftly back to the saloon. Meryl watched him a moment before following, she knew the look on Vash's face very well, having seen it many times before.
It was the face of the Humanoid Typhoon, Vash the Stampede.
********
Interlude: Warrens City, one day ago
Frank Marlin sat at his usual table, nursing his bottle of whiskey while Abby (the bartender) looked at him with disapproving eyes. Frank lowered his eyes and took another drink from the half empty bottle, *I only come in here once a week to have a bottle of whiskey, you'd think she would quit staring daggers at me by now*. It was true, he would come here every other day to visit with Abby, but once every week he'd walk in around noon and have a drink.
The last time he had been drunk was about two years ago, when Vash had been declared an Act of God. Frank still got mad thinking about that, Vash was a good person despite the reputation he carried with him. Frank knew this from personal experience, having seen Vash risk his life to save money that wasn't even his. Frank's mental ranting was interrupted when the bat wing doors of the saloon opened, and a red haired man wearing a brown poncho walked in.
Abby raised an eyebrow at the newcomer; it was unusual to get a customer other than Frank this early in the day. Frank looked at the man and did a double take as he noticed the man was carrying a large cross under his arm. *The priest who brought me Vash's gun to be fixed, he carried a cross like that*, Frank thought in alarm. Lazarus's gray eyes looked back and forth between Frank and Abby *what's up with these two* he thought to himself. Lazarus shrugged mentally, and walked over to the bar while Frank watched him every step of the way.
He propped the cross against the bar and then hung his duffle bag on the arm of it. Lazarus sat down next to the cross, and Abby quickly held her hand out. "I have a no gun policy here, so I'm going to hold your gun until you leave" she told Lazarus sternly. Frank watched as Lazarus reached under his poncho, and pulled out a semi-automatic he had never seen before. He placed the gun on the bar then reached over into his duffle bag, and brought out two more guns.
One gun in particular froze the blood in Frank's veins, * that's Vash's gun, what the hell is this guy doing with it*! He thought in alarm. Abby recognized the gun as well "those are some strange guns" she said calmly. Lazarus nodded and pointed to the white semi-automatic "this one was given to me, these two I found out in the middle of nowhere" he said pointing at the revolvers. Frank began to worry, *Oh no, has something happened to Vash? No, Vash knows how to take care of himself, but if he's lost his gun he'll probably come here for a new one. I need to get that gun back just in case, but I'll have to play this just right*.
Frank got out of his seat and walked over to the bar, once there he casually glanced at Vash's revolver. "Hey stranger, you wouldn't by chance be willing to sell me that silver gun would you?" Abby picked up a dirty glass and began to clean it while Lazarus looked up at Frank. "I guess it depends on what you want it for" Lazarus replied coolly.
Frank laughed, "Well it just so happens that I'm a gunsmith, and I'm always looking for new designs to tinker with. That gun right there is a very interesting design. So what do you say, could you part with it?" Lazarus rubbed his chin as he thought about it, *I do need the money, and this gunsmith shouldn't be able to unlock the dangerous parts of the gun*. Lazarus shrugged, "Hell, why not? How much will you give me for it?"
"I'll give you one hundred and fifty double dollars for it." Frank knew that was cheap for a gun, but that was all he had.
Lazarus sighed *that's not much, but it'll cover the bus fare to December*. Lazarus held out his hand, "you've got a deal, Mr.?" Frank shook his hand, "Frank Marlin, and you are?" Lazarus thought a moment before replying, "Laz Arussell." Frank reached into his back pocket, and was about to grab his wallet when suddenly, shouting was heard from outside. Lazarus leaned back to look out the door, but remained in his seat while Abby and frank ran over to a window.
They looked out the window and were shocked by what they saw. "I don't believe it" Abby said with disbelief in her voice. "I can't believe they actually came back," Frank added. Standing in the middle of the street next to a black convertible with fins, were six men, the same men Vash had stood up against two years ago. The leader of the bandits (referred to as "Big bro") watched with a cocky grin as the people of the town pulled guns, and gathered around them.
Abby turned to get the Frank Marlin special off the plaque behind the bar, but stopped as she heard Big bro speak. "I told all of you that we'd be back, and this time we're ready for you". Big bro nodded to one of his men, "show them hank" he told the bandit, hank reached into the back seat of the convertible and pulled off the a brown tarp that covered it. "Sit up" he told the teenage girl who had been hidden under the tarp, she sat up quickly with tears in her eyes, and hank pressed a gun to the back of her skull.
The people of the town gasped, and lowered their weapons as Big bro laughed. "You see? If you want this girl to remain safe you'd better not do anything foolish, now open the bank and start bringing out the money." The town's people looked at the bandits with hate and anger in their eyes, but they did as they were told. Frank stared at the bandits with clenched fists, "I can't believe those bastards are doing this", he said through clenched teeth. Abby shook her head, "I know, but what can we do?" she said with despair in her voice.
Lazarus listened the whole time the bandits talked with disinterest, until a sharp pain went through his mind. He grimaced then rubbed the side of his head *oh no, not you again*, he thought in annoyance. Lazarus knew the mental pain well, having felt it every time the "voice" as he called it, got angry with him. *Yeah it's me again, damn I'd think you'd be used to me by now* the voice said in Lazarus's mind. Lazarus sighed, the voice had gotten stronger over the past month, and it could now carry on entire conversations with him.
*What the hell do you want now*? Lazarus thought in annoyance. Another flare of pain went through his mind, *idiot! What do you think I want? I want you to get off your butt and help that girl out there*. Lazarus's eyes widened *are you crazy! There's like six armed men outside, I'll be dead inside of two seconds*.
The voice scoffed at him, *Aw quit being a wuss it's not that many, and besides do you wanna help the girl, or spend the next week curled up in the fetal position, clutching your head in pain*?
Lazarus narrowed his eyes and growled mentally, *you wouldn't*.
*I would* the voice replied with a smug tone.
Lazarus cursed, *all right I'll do it, but I'm doing this my way understand*? *Fine, just hurry, and be careful*. Lazarus smirked, *I didn't know you cared*. The voice laughed in his mind, *I don't, I just don't want you to get the girl killed*.
Lazarus grumbled as he stood up, and the voice faded from his mind, *ok, what to do*? He thought looking around the saloon. He noticed Frank's half empty bottle then Abby's cleaning rag, and after a few seconds a plan formed in his mind. Across the room Frank watched people load bags of money into the bandits car, suddenly he remembered Lazarus, and turned around to see what his reaction to this was. To his surprise, only the preacher's cross and the two revolvers remained in the saloon.
Lazarus was gone.
End chapter 3, written by Lee
Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun.
*=Thoughts and dreams.
Authors note: I want to thank RoseRed5 and Hecate for reviewing.
Chapter 3: Bad Company.
A bus drove through the desert pushing its engine to its limit; ahead of the bus moving on an intercept course was a sandstorm. The scene looked like a toy car playing chicken with a diesel truck, and it seemed that the driver of the bus was well aware of that fact. In between the storm and bus there was town, the town that the driver was heading for, ever since he had seen the first signs of a storm.
It was close, but the bus managed to reach the town, and find shelter behind a building before the swirling mass of sand hit the town. The bus driver along with the passengers let out sighs of relief, and then got ready to exit the vehicle. None of the passengers were more relieved than Vash and the insurance girls, the detour to this town was bad enough, but having to deal with a sand clogged engine was definitely worse.
"That was close" Vash sighed as he grabbed his bag.
"You're telling me" Meryl replied then stood up with the rest of the passengers.
Millie looked out the window near Vash, "but now we have to walk through that" she said indicating the storm outside.
"Don't worry Millie, it won't last long, and at least it's not a typhoon," Meryl said, remembering the typhoon in New Oregon.
Vash smiled brightly "I don't know about you two, but I'm going to get a drink while we wait".
Millie clasped her hands together "oh yeah that sounds great!"
Meryl placed her hands on her hips and stared at them with narrow eyes. "No way, you two are not getting any drinks!"
Vash gave Meryl a light smile "come on what harm could one drink have?"
"Please Meryl" Millie chimed in, and made her bottom lip quiver.
Meryl shook her head and brought a hand to her head "oh I give up" she sighed.
Vash and Millie thanked her with a duel bone-crushing hug, which squeezed the air out her. The bus door opened letting the passengers off, and the two released Meryl from the hug, letting her fall to the floor. *I swear they're like giant children sometimes* Meryl thought as she watched Millie and Vash rush out of the bus. Meryl picked herself up off the floor with a groan, and then stepped off the bus. The wind was blowing strongly so she hurried over to the town saloon, and to her dismay, Vash and Millie were already drinking.
Their fellow passengers filled up the saloon as well, and it seemed to Meryl that all passengers had the idea Vash did. Meryl sighed then walked over to a table like she was carrying the world on her shoulders, she sat down and watched her friends turn one drink into several. It wasn't long before they were smashed and Meryl was cursing her stupidity, *why do I always agree to this* she thought as the bus driver challenged Vash to a chugging contest.
Time wore on, turning afternoon into evening, and outside the small saloon the sandstorm still raged. Meryl was bewildered at how long the storm was lasting, *sandstorms don't usually last this long, what could be causing it? * Any other thoughts were cut off when a drunken Vash, hanging on a wagon wheel light fixture swung over their table (barely missing Millie who was unconscious and sleeping on the table at that point) and crashed into a wall. Drunken laughter followed his crash landing as Vash crawled over to the table, and used it to stand up.
Vash held his stomach while he swayed, almost falling over "I don't feel so good" he groaned.
Meryl rolled her eyes waiting for him to run towards the bathroom, which he did a few seconds later, holding one hand on his stomach and the other over his mouth. While Vash was in the bathroom Meryl noticed something strange about the saloon, except for the passengers from the bus the only local in the saloon was the bartender. She raised her eyebrow at this and looked around to confirm her suspicions.
Sure enough there were no locals in the saloon "that's strange" she said out loud. Meryl's curiosity got the better of her, and she walk over to the bar "is it usually this slow at night, besides the passengers I mean?" she asked the bartender. The bartender looked surprised at her question, and his eyes darted around nervously "uh, my town isn't big on drinking" he replied. Meryl didn't believe his answer, and was about to question him some more when the saloon door burst open.
Meryl turned around to face the door ready to draw her derringers, but stopped as she noticed it was only a boy. The boy was crying, and his clothes were ripped, he spotted Millie who was asleep on the table closest to him. The child ran over to her and latched on to her leg, this caused Millie to wake up in surprise. She quickly hugged the child out of instinct. "What's wrong?" she asked him with a yawn. The boy didn't say anything as he buried his face into her cloak, and began to shake.
Millie smiled softly as she picked him up and pulled the child onto her lap, Meryl rushed over to her followed by the bartender.
"Is he hurt?" Meryl asked.
"I don't think so Meryl his clothes are a mess, but I don't think he's hurt" Millie replied.
"Jimmy, Jimmy what happened, where are your parents?" the bartender asked the boy.
Jimmy reacted to his name and looked up at the bartender with tear-stained cheeks, "t-the m-monster took them" he choked out then hugged Millie tighter. Meryl thought Jimmy was in shock, but the bartender didn't ask the boy what he meant, and his face went pale.
"Oh lord" the bartender said as he bowed his head.
Millie looked at Jimmy then at the bartender "is there really a monster?" she asked in a concerned tone.
"Monster? What are you talking about Millie? There is no such thing as monsters" Meryl scoffed.
"I'm afraid she's right miss," the bartender said, keeping his eyes on the floor and shaking his head.
Before Meryl could say anything else the door opened again, and Vash walked in with a serious expression on his face. Vash quickly noticed the boy in Millie's arms, the boy had short raven colored hair, and couldn't have been more than eight or nine years old. Vash let his gaze wander over the people in the saloon, to the startled passengers then back to his friends, "the bus is totaled" he said calmly.
"What?" Meryl yelled.
"See for yourself" Vash told them, and then walked back outside.
Meryl walked after him followed by the passengers and the bus driver, Millie stayed behind with Jimmy. Once outside the group was almost instantly covered in sand, and they walked single file towards the bus. Soon they all saw what Vash had been talking about, only the bus wasn't totaled, it had been shredded. The bus was now a pile of scrap metal, and to everyone's horror claw marks covered the remains of the bus. Vash closed his eyes, he had a bad feeling in his gut, and it wasn't from alcohol. Meryl stood looking at the ruined bus, shock and disbelief clouding her face.
"I was afraid this would happen" the bartender yelled above the storm.
"What do you mean?" Vash asked him.
The bartender looked at him with solemn eyes, "the monster appeared about a month ago, all those who went for help never came back. The monster always strikes during sandstorms; since it's arrival we've had four storms, almost as if this thing can cause them."
He turned away and began to walk slowly towards the saloon, "I'm sorry, but tonight the storm grows fierce, and I doubt any of us will ever leave this town".
Vash stood like a statue as he stared at the ruined bus, and pondered over the bartender's words. Meryl stood beside him and watched the passengers walk back to the saloon; fear clouded their eyes. Vash's eyes narrowed as determination once again swept through him, with one last look at the claw marks he turned and walked swiftly back to the saloon. Meryl watched him a moment before following, she knew the look on Vash's face very well, having seen it many times before.
It was the face of the Humanoid Typhoon, Vash the Stampede.
********
Interlude: Warrens City, one day ago
Frank Marlin sat at his usual table, nursing his bottle of whiskey while Abby (the bartender) looked at him with disapproving eyes. Frank lowered his eyes and took another drink from the half empty bottle, *I only come in here once a week to have a bottle of whiskey, you'd think she would quit staring daggers at me by now*. It was true, he would come here every other day to visit with Abby, but once every week he'd walk in around noon and have a drink.
The last time he had been drunk was about two years ago, when Vash had been declared an Act of God. Frank still got mad thinking about that, Vash was a good person despite the reputation he carried with him. Frank knew this from personal experience, having seen Vash risk his life to save money that wasn't even his. Frank's mental ranting was interrupted when the bat wing doors of the saloon opened, and a red haired man wearing a brown poncho walked in.
Abby raised an eyebrow at the newcomer; it was unusual to get a customer other than Frank this early in the day. Frank looked at the man and did a double take as he noticed the man was carrying a large cross under his arm. *The priest who brought me Vash's gun to be fixed, he carried a cross like that*, Frank thought in alarm. Lazarus's gray eyes looked back and forth between Frank and Abby *what's up with these two* he thought to himself. Lazarus shrugged mentally, and walked over to the bar while Frank watched him every step of the way.
He propped the cross against the bar and then hung his duffle bag on the arm of it. Lazarus sat down next to the cross, and Abby quickly held her hand out. "I have a no gun policy here, so I'm going to hold your gun until you leave" she told Lazarus sternly. Frank watched as Lazarus reached under his poncho, and pulled out a semi-automatic he had never seen before. He placed the gun on the bar then reached over into his duffle bag, and brought out two more guns.
One gun in particular froze the blood in Frank's veins, * that's Vash's gun, what the hell is this guy doing with it*! He thought in alarm. Abby recognized the gun as well "those are some strange guns" she said calmly. Lazarus nodded and pointed to the white semi-automatic "this one was given to me, these two I found out in the middle of nowhere" he said pointing at the revolvers. Frank began to worry, *Oh no, has something happened to Vash? No, Vash knows how to take care of himself, but if he's lost his gun he'll probably come here for a new one. I need to get that gun back just in case, but I'll have to play this just right*.
Frank got out of his seat and walked over to the bar, once there he casually glanced at Vash's revolver. "Hey stranger, you wouldn't by chance be willing to sell me that silver gun would you?" Abby picked up a dirty glass and began to clean it while Lazarus looked up at Frank. "I guess it depends on what you want it for" Lazarus replied coolly.
Frank laughed, "Well it just so happens that I'm a gunsmith, and I'm always looking for new designs to tinker with. That gun right there is a very interesting design. So what do you say, could you part with it?" Lazarus rubbed his chin as he thought about it, *I do need the money, and this gunsmith shouldn't be able to unlock the dangerous parts of the gun*. Lazarus shrugged, "Hell, why not? How much will you give me for it?"
"I'll give you one hundred and fifty double dollars for it." Frank knew that was cheap for a gun, but that was all he had.
Lazarus sighed *that's not much, but it'll cover the bus fare to December*. Lazarus held out his hand, "you've got a deal, Mr.?" Frank shook his hand, "Frank Marlin, and you are?" Lazarus thought a moment before replying, "Laz Arussell." Frank reached into his back pocket, and was about to grab his wallet when suddenly, shouting was heard from outside. Lazarus leaned back to look out the door, but remained in his seat while Abby and frank ran over to a window.
They looked out the window and were shocked by what they saw. "I don't believe it" Abby said with disbelief in her voice. "I can't believe they actually came back," Frank added. Standing in the middle of the street next to a black convertible with fins, were six men, the same men Vash had stood up against two years ago. The leader of the bandits (referred to as "Big bro") watched with a cocky grin as the people of the town pulled guns, and gathered around them.
Abby turned to get the Frank Marlin special off the plaque behind the bar, but stopped as she heard Big bro speak. "I told all of you that we'd be back, and this time we're ready for you". Big bro nodded to one of his men, "show them hank" he told the bandit, hank reached into the back seat of the convertible and pulled off the a brown tarp that covered it. "Sit up" he told the teenage girl who had been hidden under the tarp, she sat up quickly with tears in her eyes, and hank pressed a gun to the back of her skull.
The people of the town gasped, and lowered their weapons as Big bro laughed. "You see? If you want this girl to remain safe you'd better not do anything foolish, now open the bank and start bringing out the money." The town's people looked at the bandits with hate and anger in their eyes, but they did as they were told. Frank stared at the bandits with clenched fists, "I can't believe those bastards are doing this", he said through clenched teeth. Abby shook her head, "I know, but what can we do?" she said with despair in her voice.
Lazarus listened the whole time the bandits talked with disinterest, until a sharp pain went through his mind. He grimaced then rubbed the side of his head *oh no, not you again*, he thought in annoyance. Lazarus knew the mental pain well, having felt it every time the "voice" as he called it, got angry with him. *Yeah it's me again, damn I'd think you'd be used to me by now* the voice said in Lazarus's mind. Lazarus sighed, the voice had gotten stronger over the past month, and it could now carry on entire conversations with him.
*What the hell do you want now*? Lazarus thought in annoyance. Another flare of pain went through his mind, *idiot! What do you think I want? I want you to get off your butt and help that girl out there*. Lazarus's eyes widened *are you crazy! There's like six armed men outside, I'll be dead inside of two seconds*.
The voice scoffed at him, *Aw quit being a wuss it's not that many, and besides do you wanna help the girl, or spend the next week curled up in the fetal position, clutching your head in pain*?
Lazarus narrowed his eyes and growled mentally, *you wouldn't*.
*I would* the voice replied with a smug tone.
Lazarus cursed, *all right I'll do it, but I'm doing this my way understand*? *Fine, just hurry, and be careful*. Lazarus smirked, *I didn't know you cared*. The voice laughed in his mind, *I don't, I just don't want you to get the girl killed*.
Lazarus grumbled as he stood up, and the voice faded from his mind, *ok, what to do*? He thought looking around the saloon. He noticed Frank's half empty bottle then Abby's cleaning rag, and after a few seconds a plan formed in his mind. Across the room Frank watched people load bags of money into the bandits car, suddenly he remembered Lazarus, and turned around to see what his reaction to this was. To his surprise, only the preacher's cross and the two revolvers remained in the saloon.
Lazarus was gone.
End chapter 3, written by Lee