"Go get those three kids down here, now," commanded Billy Bob.
When Peter heard that, he shooshed the other two away from the stairs and back into his room. He quickly extinguished the candle in the bathroom leaving only the one that Deanna had brought up. Grabbing that one he headed back out the bedroom door just as Darryl came up. Peter acted startled. He allowed the already melted wax in the candle jar to splash the light out.
"Hey, man, you scared me. Now lookit whatcha done." Peter complained.
"Just shutup and get downstairs." Darryl replied.
Peter was about to complain some more when Darryl's candle reflected a blue glint off the barrel of his gun. Even though he had been prepared, the sight of the gun brought fresh fear deep into Peter's soul. Pain seared his chest almost as if he had just been shot all over again. He just stared at the gun, unmoving. His brain told him that he was fast enough to take the gun away, but his apprehensive emotions told him otherwise. He had often felt this as a geek facing up to bullies like Flash, but never as Spiderman. He froze.
"I said, 'get movin'" Darryl growled and Peter was shoved from behind by the other two.
As the threesome entered the living room, Belle was heard to be saying, "What do you want with us? We don't know anything about the two of you."
"Lady, as soon as the storm's over, we outa here. So just sit nice and quiet and everything will be fine." Billy Bob stated flatly.
Peter could hear the lie in his voice. These two had no intention of letting anyone live. But, just on the chance that maybe, just maybe they would leave them alone, Pete did not want to start something that would end up in a massacre. At the same time, he was trying to convince himself that waiting was the better option. Suppose he does start something and he can't handle it? What if he freezes and that gets someone killed?
"Gowon, sit!" Darryl said and he shoved Peter into a loveseat. Deanna quickly followed the young man and sat next to him. Josh ran to his father. Looking towards Belle, Darryl said, "Go get some fresh coffee. It's gonna be a long night."
Billy Bob glared at his partner, "Go with her you moron! She could come back here with a load of knives or somethin'." Then looking at the others he threatened, "If anyone moves in here, I'll shoot the owner." And he pointed the gun at Judge's head. Then looking at Peter, "So, you take pictures of this webhead, huh? Bet you wish he were here to save you now, dontcha?" His smile sent a chill up Peter's spine.
"So what would he do to me if he was here?"
Peter remained quiet.
"Answer me geek. What would that freak do to me?" he screamed.
Josh jumped up and yelled, "He would tie you up with webbing then punch your lights out!"
Turning slowly to face the kid, he snarled, "He would, would he? So what do you know about him? Are you his buddy too? Maybe you're his publicist?
Deanna jumped in, "Leave the boy alone!" at the same time Mary snagged her son by the shirttail and yanked him back down. She whispered harshly into his ear, "Shhhh. Just keep quiet Josh. Don't antagonize the guy."
"Hmmm, and what's your name, Pretty?" Billy Bob asked as he slowly and disgustingly licked his lips. Deanna turned white as a ghost and sat back down next to Peter.
"That geek ain't gonna give you what I can, Sweetie. Now, aren't ya gonna give me your name?" he asked, irritation edging his voice. He edged closer towards Deanna as Darryl returned with fresh coffee. "Good timing, Dar, I think I will have dessert with my coffee.
Keep an eye on everyone here while I show this little lady a good time."
While all the attention was on Billy Bob, Josh popped his open hand over one of the candle jars snuffing out the flame. Mabel saw that and blew out the fire closest to her. Judge picked up on the example of the two guests and was able to snuff out two more candles just as Mike got up to defend his daughter. Even without a blink, Billy Bob sucker punched the father and knocked him out cold.
Peter slapped his hand over the closest candle to him effectively extinguishing that flame. As he took aim at Billy Bob with his fist, the last two candles were snuffed out. The first sound heard was that of someone's fist connecting with a jaw. But there was no thud indicating that the recipient of the punch fell. There was a sudden commotion of motion as several of the guests tried to leave the pitch black room. There was a gunshot, but no sound afterwards indicating that it struck anyone or anything. But the next sound was confusing to all who heard it. It could only be described as a 'thwp' immediately followed by the clatter of a gun hitting the floor.
Belle recognized the rattle of the fireplace utensils and hoped it was one of the guests and not a gunman. She cringed when she heard the sound of a solid metal iron connecting with a wooden item. She figured it must have been the fireplace poker being swung around. And by the solid whump of the object connected, she was hoping it wasn't the antique oak mantel that was damaged.
'Ouch' she thought to herself as she recognized her 200 year old vase being smashed. But the good news was that each time she heard a material thing getting destroyed, it meant there was no human on the receiving end. She jumped at the sound of the second gunfire. But that went straight up as she heard the ceiling plaster break and fall back down. But the next sound caused her to gasp. There was a soft thud, immediately followed by someone crying out in pain. She was afraid to think of who that could be, but she had a feeling. There was another louder thud, but that only elicited a semi-conscious groan. What came next made her hold her breath.
"If I hear anyone move, any noise whatsoever, I'm gonna start shooting everywhere. Got that!" Yelled Billy Bob.
"Darryl, get some fcking light in here, now!"
"Don't shoot me, BB. I'm over here looking for a candle."
After what seemed like an agonizing forever, a newly lit candle illuminated the living room. With the help of that one flame, Darryl quickly lit seven more to brighten the room significantly.
Belle looked around from her hiding place behind one of the Queen Anne chairs. The three elder sisters were huddled against the far wall, holding onto each other for dear life. Deanna's dad was still out where he had fallen before the fracas. Thankfully her husband, Judge was right behind her. Josh Sr. was sitting on the floor holding his head, blood seeping through his fingers. Mary, seeing her husband hurt, quickly scrambled over to him, pulling out a wad of tissues to press over the bullet crease. Josh Jr. was sitting in front of the chair that Belle was behind. He was white as a ghost. Belle's eyes fell on a still figure on the floor. He had passed out holding his bad arm, and she believed the thud she heard was him getting hit on the left side with the poker iron. Deanna was leaning over him, whispering something. Then she looked up and over at Belle, "His shoulder's bleeding."
Coming out from her hiding place, Belle looked at Billy Bob, blood trickling down his face, "I don't suppose you'll let me take care of that young man?"
He hesitated a long time, then answered, "Go ahead. If anything happens, your fault, my fault, nobody's fault. You're gonna be the first to get it. Understood?"
Judge quickly came up behind Belle and held her. "Leave him. Let's just ride out the hurricane until they leave."
Belle flashed him a look, the storm clouds in her eyes flashing worse than the gale raging outside. He backed away quickly.
She went over to the prone young man and gently rolled him onto his back. "Hand me that candle, dear," she said to Deanna who was right beside her. "And would you go get his sling over there on the chair?" she pointed to where Peter had removed his sling just before the fight.
Unbuttoning his shirt, she exposed his shoulder and saw that it had indeed started to bleed. When she removed the bandage, she could see that it really wasn't too bad. Basically the newly formed scab was knocked off, causing the wound to bleed freely again. A little pressure and fresh gauze would take care of it. She stood up holding the candle. Looking at Darryl she commanded, "Please accompany me to the medicine chest in the powder room, young man, so that I may get some fresh medical supplies for him."
Darryl was so taken by her demeanor that he did indeed go with her.
By the time she returned, Peter was starting to come around. He looked at Belle but did not focus on her. He changed his view to the direction of the two goons, then back to her. This time focusing. "I'm sorry," was all he said to her.
"Judge, come help Peter up into the chair," Belle ordered. He and Deanna were able to get the whoosey man onto the sofa with little jarring. That was when the young woman put the sling back on him, cradling his left arm. He looked at her, "Thanks."
Billy Bob looked at Pete and said, "You been taking too many pictures of that spiderfreak. You think a dork like you coulda taken us out? Now like I told Madam over there," he said nodding at Belle.
Belle steamed at being called madam.
He continued, "Any more problems and she gets it first."
Pete nodded acknowledgement and kept quiet.
Deanna was sitting next to the young man, "Thank you, Peter" she said to him. "Hopefully they'll leave me alone now."
"They're not going to leave anyone alone. They have no intention of leaving any witnesses." Peter whispered.