My words look big again! I wonder why...I guess I'll just have to wait until the chappies are up so I can see if it looks this way! Anyways... ((starts sobbing)) even though I don't want to ruin it for you, something really sad happens in this chap/in the beginning of next. Awww...I didn't want to do it, but...I did! And my quote-of-the-chapter will have to wait until next chappie...I gotta go!
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The sun shone excruciatingly hot down upon Alex's face, neck, and bare arms, as the gang waited for their leaders to come out of the saloon and carry out their plans. She felt a tight, choking feeling in her gut and throat, and she fidgeted with her nervous energy, her thoughts rushing through her head at a million iles an hour.
"Let's go," Lucius's cold, crisp voice commanded, and she turned as him, Vann, and Eamon came out, dragging the Snake leader between them in an off-set triangle. In silence they made their way to the edge of town, towards "the border", that divided the good side of the city from the bad.
It had been simple, with Eamon's careful guidance. They were to take the Snake, and hold a public execution at the border. It was a sign to all the other gangs, the citypeople, and the sheriffs, that they weren't to be messed with. Since Vann was not trusted to be able to give the Snake a clean, clear, and single shot, and Eamon, in Lucius's words, would have too much fun with it, Lucius was the one doing the honors.
As they walked without speaking towards the border, people appeared at windows and doors, and at the corners of streets, watching them with alert, cautious eyes. Alex shifted on her feet, and chewed on the inside of her cheek as she fiddled with the butt of her pistol. A hand suddenly grasped her fidgeting one, and she looked up in surprise at Eamon.
He gave her a bright smile, that didn't quite reach his dark, knowing eyes. "Don't worry, lad; this'll be over very quickly."
As if last night didn't happen at all. Alex gave him an uncertain smile back, then looked down at her dusty boots, shimmering in her sight with the sun-burnt sand. She again felt the agonizing head of the sun, and it made her stomach feel moldy and rotten. Oh, God, I think I'm gonna be sick, she thought to herself, but the expected bile never came, and so she continued on without a word.
There, up ahead; the border. Already people were gathered along on the other side of the chain fence; the notice must have gotten out quickly. She stopped with many of the other Coyotes, as they watched the three dynamic enigmas of the gang, Eamon, Vann, and Lucius, prepare the "service".
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He had gotten the idea. He had debated it. He had made up countless reasons why they should go, and why not. He had planned out every aspect, and then he had thrown it to hopelessness. By now, Vash the Stampede was tired of thinking about it.
"Where are you going?" Wolfwood called, rising as he headed for the door.
"To save the day," Vash said with sarcasm, and then he swept out the door, like the typhoon of his namesake.
"On your knees," Lucius said loudly in a cold, hard, and utterly emotionless voice. The Snake leader, shaking so badly he stumbled when he walked, slowly fell to his knees, whimpering pitifully. "For your crimes against the Red Hill Coyotes; for your pride and foolishness, and your cowardice. I, Lucius Left-Shot, will, as everyone present will bear witness for, hereby commit you to public execution."
"No, please! Please, please don't kill me! Oh, God, oh, God! Dooon't!" The Snake leader broke down into a pile of sobs and whimpers, his voice pleading. He turned and tugged Lucius's pantleg, sobbing and spluttering into it. "Please don't kill me, oh, God, please! God, help me! Somebody, somebody, please, stop him, stop them, oh, God, please, no!"
Lucius's face was rock-hard and just as blank, but his eyes shone with loathing and revulsion. "And you dare to call yourself a gang leader, no matter how weak!" he hissed, then said in a snarl, "You will die."
"Don't!" The cry came from a voice that was all-to-familiar to Alex. She whipped around, to see the familiar spiked blond hair, wide aqua eyes, and long wind-swept red coat. He stood there, panting heavily, arms out slightly from his sides. Behind him came Wolfwood, carrying his large white cross, followed by the two girls, Meryl and Milly. "Don't kill him!"
"This is none of your business, foreigner," Lucius said sharply, his terrifying glare upon the four new arrivals. But then Eamon stepped forward, palms outspread.
"Hold on a sec, Luce, these people helped me an' Al an' Vann," he said, motioning to Lucius to wait. Then he made his way towards Vash, dropping his hands. "Please, I must ask you not to interfere. Though my friend was being a bit harsh, it is true. This really is not your concern, an' it would be best if you headed back to your home."
Vash's look was almost murderous. "Don't you dare kill this man," he said in a low voice. "I will not allow it."
Eamon's try at diplomacy was forgotten, and he immediately got to business. "It doesn't matter if you won't allow it. This isn't your problem; it would be best if you stayed out of it. You might get hurt."
But the Stampede was unsurrendering. "I will go, as long as you don't kill this man. Let him go! Let him leave this city, and go off somewhere else! Why do you want to kill him? It isn't right!" By now, all the Coyotes had drawn close, including Lucius, and the Snake lay in a whimpering puddle, forgotten. "Please, don't shoot him, and I'll never bother you again. Let him go!"
"Vash," Alex said quietly. "It isn't our decision. This is what has to be done-"
"Why?" He asked, his eyes locked hard on her. "Why does it have to be done? You can very easily call the whole thing off, and let him go!" Then his eyes caught on Eamon's, solid and bold. "For your humanity."
Eamon stood in silence. Though they knew Lucius and Vann were also leaders, at the moment, this decision was all Eamon's. Finally, he lowered his head. And opened his mouth to speak. And started with one word, "fine", but then he was interrupted rudely by a gunshot.
Alex felt her heart stop when she heard it. On instinct everyone whipped out their weapons, but most of them were dropped as they all watched, helplessly, as Eamon collapsed to the ground, a shocked, astounded look on his face.