WOW! I bet that's what you're thinking. Merry Christmas! There are some major major MAJOR plot points that need 'busting out'. Ehehe…
Previously on Tasting Gunpowder!
The results of the showing are posted, Milly is bought and Meryl has been loaned out several times.
Milly awoke silently, perhaps as an ode to her impending suffering. Today was the day she would be bought, exchanged like a child buying a toy with his allowance. It made her sick to her stomach, how someone could have such a disregard to a human soul and spirit. The night had been cold and long, her bra and underwear offering no protection to the chill permeating from the stone walls caging her in.
She brought her arms up to her chest to seal in what little warmth her body held when her hand brushed against a lump. Milly's eyes widened in realization of the object and the memory flooding through her.
Flashback
"Big big sister! Big big sister? I finished today's lessons!" A young version of Milly held up the old flaky textbook.
"Well now, aren't we a fast worker!" Milly smiled at the praise given. She was 14 years old, and like the rest of her siblings, home schooled by their older siblings and sometimes their parents. The family was too large for momma and papa to afford clothes and text books for them all, so only big big brother and big big sister went to school.
"Big big sister, whatcha working on?" Milly inquired as she clambered up on the king size bed that the girls shared.
"Oh, just some plans for the wedding…" Milly blinked and pointed out the colors of the flowers on the paper.
"Are those going to be at your wedding?"
"I do hope so…" Milly smiled as she imagined her eldest sister walking down the aisle to join her fiancé, Adrian.
"I like Adrian, he's nice." Milly stated as she sat up.
"I couldn't have found a better one!" Milly giggled at the comment, imagining her sister picking boys out of a barrel like apples.
"I like him because he won't hurt you."
"Well of course he wouldn't hurt me; he's very protective of me!"
"Like how you met…tell me again!" Milly pleaded as she bounced, her caramel hair following after.
"Oh, again? Ok ok as long as you stop hopping… alright, well, I walked into the bank to open up an account for mother, and there were a few people in line, but I noticed this group of unshaven men sitting in a corner. But when one of them pulled out a gun everyone screamed. A few people fired some shots but missed, and some tried to run outside, but the others caught them. I was all backed up against the wall when…"
"This is my favorite part!!"
"I know Milly, ha, now let me continue. I was backed up against the wall when someone shoved me down to the ground. I was about to get up and put a hurtin' on him, till I noticed the smoking hole in the wall where I had just been standing. I look up and there's Adrian, Fighting them robbers of with his 22. pistol. He was out of ammo, and the guys were getting at some of those nice peoples money, but I had an idea. I reached down in my dress to my bra, and snatched up my little bullet. He was looking at me all sorts of funny ways, but I handed it to him and he shot their leader in the shoulder, just in time for the cavalry to arrive from the calls of people hearing the ruckus. Once he knew I was ok and lead free, he asked me out on a date. And who wouldn't wanna go out on a date with such a handsome man? And you know the rest…"
"I want to marry a handsome man and then live in a house and then I could get a thomas!"
"Ahah, yeah Milly, don't rush it…Wait, I have an idea! How bout we get a needle and thread and cloth and make you a little holder for a bullet in your bra! Maybe it will bring you luck in finding a husband like it did to me…"
End Flashback
She looked down at the valley between her breasts, and there it was. Her sisters stitching still held true. The cloth was worn and old, they had to remove it and transfer it to a new bra several times when she grew. The bullet was one of her fathers, and parts of the shell held a rusty green tint.
Milly leaned over and whispered through the drainage hole.
"Sempai…. Sempai… You awake? Sempai?" A mumble and a coarse hello greeted her through the wall.
"Sempai, You... You… you wouldn't happen to have a gun would you?" The last sentence was said in hushes.
"What? What are you talking about?" A now fully awake Meryl peeped back at her.
"N…Nothing…" Milly sat back and thought with disbelief about her fate. Is this what was really going to happen? Would daily rape and molestation become the norm? No, not for Milly Thompson. She wouldn't go on that way. Of course she didn't have many options to choose from. She could go with the horrible man who bought her, or… or… could she really? Would she really? Suicide? There really wasn't a pleasant way to end it all. There had to be another way… there had to be.
But wait… Could it all be…no… coincidence or destiny? She could! And she knew exactly how…
I was going to end it here, but I love you too much.
Vash and Nick leaned back against the plastic cracking seats and sighed. Their journey was a long one; they had to be halfway across Gunsmoke by now. Some bus drivers wouldn't budge when they heard their 'sob stories', so they were forced to use some of their precious savings. They earned a couple hundred double dollars when buses would break down; it was a good thing they knew a lot about engines.
Wolfwood rested against his cross, trying to visualize what the place would look like, how far they would have to run, number of henchmen… ect. He gave up after awhile, frustrated with the fact that hey knew practically nothing about this creep.
Nick looked over and noticed that even Vash was looking peeved. Maybe it was the screaming baby in the front seat, or the repetitive classical music the bus driver insisted on playing, or the fake plastic leather seat he was sitting on was cracked and kept pinching his butt. Over, and over, and over, and over, and over… slowly till he reached the fine line of insanity. Probably one of those.
He glanced out the window, looking for something to take his attention from the scary fat lady whose make-up resembled a peacock, and the fact she was staring at him lustily. A cloud of dust was out in the distance, and Wolfwood peered closer. It almost looked like… yes! A vehicle!
"Tongari…" The comment pushed Vash to the limit.
"WHAT?!?!" Wolfwood shrunk back and feebly offered a finger that pointed out the window.
The van skidded to a stop near some rocks commonly found in those parts. A man jumped out of the car and walked over to the large rock and pressed something.
"STOP THE BUS!!!" The gunman shouted the plea in unison as the spooked bus driver skidded to a halt. He was about to yell at them for scaring him but it was too late. They had shoved through the doors and were already on their way out to the van. They ran up as close to the van as they dared and stopped to duck down behind some rocks. A man hopped out of the van and walked up to a boulder and knocked. A large door opened and a guard appeared.
"I'm here on business terms; I'm uh, picking up a package." The man whispered. The man was far away, but something about him tweaked Wolfwood. The guard nodded and the man got back in his van and backed himself in through the door. Making sure the guard wasn't looking, the two gunmen ran in next to the truck as the posted sentry punched in the code for the closing mechanism.
They quickly hopped into the back of the truck when they saw they were approaching another door. Another guard, more questions, and then a dreaded line.
"Mind if I have a look in back?" The man agreed, and the guard took a look inside with his flashlight.
"Just checking for explosives. Go on now." The van passed through the door and Vash and Wolfwood dropped down from their places on the ceiling.
"Who knew that actually worked? Good thing for those bars." Vash mused.
Milly sat quietly. Meryl hadn't spoken all morning to her, frankly, what could you really say to someone in that situation. Clanking was heard faintly down the halls. Another 15 minuets and the van would be there. It would be stopped many times, at each station asking different questions, gathering information, and collecting valuables to be returned to him when he leaves the last gate, assured that he hadn't stolen any women.
Milly wondered about her plan. It probably wouldn't work, and she would most likely end up killed. But if she died she wouldn't have to endure the suffering that would ensue her entire life afterwards. She would have to cling to any hope at all before losing it. Milly awoke out of her thoughtful daze as the sound of an engine was heard very close. It was there, in the vehicle exit! She had lost track of all time, and wasn't ready yet.
Scythe walked over to his desk and snatched up a clipboard. He checked a few things off, and then sat down to count the money. Milly was ready now. Little did she know, Vash and the boys were hiding in that very truck. It was backed in through a garage like door meant for vehicles, the door was open and the back doors of the van were ajar, waiting. The gunmen were waiting for the most precise moment to drop down from the ceiling and knock out the guards.
:: Wobble Wobble :: Vash's arms couldn't take much more.
"Psst, Wolfwood, Now!" The dropped down and smacked the guards in the back of the head and knocked them out successfully. Luckily for them, most of the guards were positioned to block exits, and there were only three guarding the truck. They hadn't planned for this kind of maximum security. They ran around the truck, and Vash knocked out the driver by poking a sensitive spot in the back of his head, and giving him a whack on the head for good measure.
'Now or never, now or never, now or never…' Was running through Milly's mind. She had her plan set. Scythe walked over to her door, and keys were turning. Meryl couldn't take it.
"Milly, I love you! Ill come back for you and save you I promise! Ill come back for you!" Meryl whispered through her tears. Milly let a tear fall as the door opened. Scythe reached in, but Milly had different plans. She had her bullet positioned against the mattress to provide leverage, and she struck a stone against the ground near it twice, sending sparks to the primer. The bullet exploded, not the way it should have though. The bullet rose and fell, penetrating Scythes leg, making him fall to his knees. The shell casing the bullet was in shattered and was sent flying, and Milly caught a few pieces in the leg and stomach.
"Get her!" Scythe shouted through his pain, but when he looked over his shoulder, his guards had disappeared or lay fallen on the floor. Scythe angrily took out his tiny revolver, aiming it at Milly's head, and shot.
Milly clamped her eyes shut at she saw the revolver. Sweet relief from the torture, it was coming. A picture of her friend and family crossed her mind, and Wolfwood's voice filled her head. A loud clang was heard, and Milly peeked through her closed eyes. There, standing there was her savior. Wolfwood's cross punisher intercepted the bullet, and it clinked to the floor, smoking. Scythe received a smack across the face with the punisher, and he fell to the ground.
Wolfwood was about to let him have it again when he heard Vash shouting.
"Wait, there's more guards coming!" The guards on break had heard the shots and shouting, and were on their way. Wolfwood snatched the keys off of Scythes belt and tossed them to Vash. He began unlocking cells as Wolfwood shot at the new guards. Milly yelped and rushed over behind Wolfwood.
"Hurry up godamit! I can't hold them off forever!!!" Vash tried to unlock the doors as the girls were trying to hide behind him. He finished unlocking them, around 15 cells, as another wave of guards showed up. Vash ran for a door. He flung it open and stopped dead. It was a maintenance closet.
"Dammit, please don't be another closet!" Vash shouted as he ran for the only other door. He flung this one open to reveal the man-passageway, and he sent the girls down it. Wolfwood stopped firing and snatched up Milly, heading for the door. Meryl stayed behind to wait for Milly, angering Vash. They took off down the hallway, until footsteps were heard from up ahead.
There only choice was to duck into one of the scattered rooms along the hallway. They slipped in as the guards met and jabbered in confusion. Milly looked around the room. Cages and bars and hooks and ropes, pictures and chains and tables where everywhere.
Meryl cringed; she had been in this room several times already. Milly turned away to stare at the door. Guards were still running passed the door, and Wolfwood was utterly pissed that this was such an unorganized rescue. When the footsteps seemed to have stopped, Vash cautiously opened the door. A quick peek and he slowly started letting the girls out, one by one, and sent them up the main hall toward a security gate that was left wide open in all the running around. When it was just Milly and Meryl left, Vash grabbed them and Wolfwood and started running up the hall.
The girls were far ahead, he could already hear them whispering and yelling at each other as they went. 'Just a little further…' Vash thought. But the sounds of voices behind him and gunshots warned him, and he spun around, as did the rest of the four. Vash fired a few rounds, successfully hitting the henchmen's shooting hands, but once he ran out of bullets he snatched Meryl by the wrist and ran down the hallway again. Wolfwood wasn't far behind, until the sprays of bullets became more intense. Milly cried out in anguish as one struck her in the thigh, and Wolfwood slightly stumbled at the sight, but he picked her up and carried her along with them. Meryl and Wolfwood seemed to shout in unison, as each was struck, Wolfwood in the bicep, and Meryl took two in the back.
They stumbled along through the labyrinth-like corridors, stopping periodically to let Wolfwood have at the guards with his punisher. Vash pulled out his machine gun from his auto-mail arm and caught a few guards in the legs.
"Stop that you idiot! Shoot to immobilize!" Vash shouted as the group took off again. Meryl squeezed her eyes shut in pain, her vision was fuzzy and she felt blood running down her back and side. Bullets screamed past them, and the only thing moving Meryl was the fact that Vash was dragging her along.
'Please leave me, let me die!' Meryl's mind cried out, her back was pulsating with such an intense pain that she thought she would die, and wanted to. They caught up to the rest of the girls, who were stumbling along ahead of them. Vash shouted directions up ahead, and they came up upon something.
"Dammit, were back where we started!" It was true; they ended up in the passageway that the truck was in, running toward it. The driver had already come-to, like the rest of the guards, leaving his truck unguarded.
Vash started loading the girls in back, and Wolfwood hopped in the driver's seat. He snatched the keys from the dashboard, and making sure everyone was loaded in back, tried the various keys. He found the right one and floored it, and the guards chasing them tossed themselves aside as the van barreled down the hall. Up ahead, some guards were trying to close the door to the outside. Wolfwood sped up and burst through the door. Vash peeked through the cargo-view window behind Wolfwood's seat as they spun around. The priest managed to get the wheel under control again, and as he was driving away, someone ran out of the hallway. It wasn't a guard, he wasn't dressed in blue. He looked familiar. Was it? Is that possible? Could it be? It was.
The owner of the van and the man who purchased Milly was none other than Chapel the Evergreen.
Dun dun duuuun. New twist. In the fine again music video for Seether, there was that guy who looked like chapel holing up a sign that said I slept with 432 women. That was my idea. MAJOR FLUFF WARNING! WAAF, FLUFF, ROMANCE, COTTON CANDY. Whatever you call it, you're going to DROWN in it.
PS: Thank you sooo much for 100 reviews!!!!!!!!!!!!
7 pages deserves a nice review, right? Please! Look, right there, it says go. So go!