Chapter Thirteen
Dallas shook his head. It was a huge mistake coming here, and he had dragged his friends into it. He glared at the Barker brothers, "Let the others go. This is an argument between the three of us. They have nothing to do with it. I'll fight; but leave my friends out of it."
Arty Chop looked over at Dallas with a bemused expression, "We ain't going nowhere, buddy boy. We volunteered to come. We knew what was in store, and we've made our decision. We're staying."
The others agreed.
Miles laughed, "Well isn't that just pretty. You're all one big happy family, except I don't see Tim anywhere. Do you know where he is Dally? Was he too chicken or something?"
Stung by the mention of Tim's desertion, Dallas retorted with a set of insults and swear words he always reserved for Miles.
Charlie laughed, "Tim chickened out? Wasn't he the one we shot? It's too bad we hadn't shot you, because then your friends wouldn't be here. Plus your girlfriend would be safe."
Dallas didn't like the sound of that one bit, "What do you mean?" His voice had a dangerous tone to it.
Charlie smiled, "Well, you see, your girlfriend was a witness. We can't have that can we?"
Dallas roared out, "She didn't see a thing! How can you call her a witness? If you touch her, I'll tear you limb from limb! You hear me?"
Miles grinned, and then snapped his fingers, "I've been dreaming of this for a long time."
Unanimously, the whole Barker gang flicked out switchblades, which was followed by Dallas and his friends flicking out their weapons. Dallas looked them over.
Bill had fully loaded his guns and was now twirling them in his hands, his face showing nothing but raw, burning hate for the Barker gang.
Roy looked expressionless while fingering his switchblade.
Arty Chop had picked up a piece of lead pipe and was smiling cheerfully at the guy in front of him.
Chuck was looking scared to death as he tried to pull out the blade of his pocketknife. Moe was looking neither angry nor scared; his face seemed to either show regret for what he would now have to do, or pity for these hoods threatening him.
Ralph looked as nervous as Chuck was scared, his eyes darting from face to face; as if looking for something and not finding it.
Dallas wanted to break down and sob. He was doomed, and now his friends were doomed. Arty Chop's fortunes had been looking great, and now he was going to die. Chuck and Moe had had futures in store for them, which were now taken away from them. Ralph had been enjoying the freedom of running around with friends.
Dallas had failed them. And he wanted to give up and accept his fate.
He suddenly heard Charlie's voice, "So this is revenge Dallas Winston, and it won't end here. Lucy and Tim will end up just like you. Murdered.
"Wrong on three accounts Charlie Barker. Lucy ain't gonna die, Tim ain't gonna die, and Dally ain't gonna die." It was Frank Miller.
Twenty guys, the whole Miller gang, had come to the aid of Bill and Roy.
Dallas could have sung the national anthem in joy if he knew how it went. Yet he couldn't help wondering; how did they know where to come?
The answer was right beside Frank and his two cousins.
Tim and Lucy.
Dallas really did cry this time, three tears of joy flowed down his cheeks. They were saved!
Frank, his two cousins, and five members of the gang were levelling guns at the Barkers.
Frank smiled, "How about we fighting fair, Charlie? No tricks." Charlie and Miles, furious, nodded grudgingly. The Barkers pocketed their blades, as did the Miller Gang, and Dallas' company.
At first no one moved. Then Arty Chop yelled out happily "Up and at em, guys!" and had plunged into the sea of Barkers. The fight was on.
Dallas screamed as he slugged a guy in the stomach, and then turned to fight another. Nearby, he could see Bill fighting two at once. Arty Chop was laughing as he threw wild punches at anyone in his way. Chuck and Moe were ganging up on a big guy. Roy was standing over an unconscious Miller. Frank was supporting a half-conscious Matt Miller while Jeff provided cover. Everywhere people were slugging another guy.
Dallas sent the guy he was fighting reeling as he fought his way to Lucy, who was helping a struggling Tim against a Barker Dallas knew was named Roger Gents.
He was a seventeen-year-old dropout who often participated in jumping passers-by. Dallas hurled him to the ground, kicked his side once, and turned to the two people he loved most in the world. "Tim, I…" Dallas couldn't think of anything to say, and tried to prevent from hugging Tim. Tim smiled hesitantly, then stepped aside as Lucy and Dallas kissed.
Now it was the three of them sticking together as they fought the Barkers around them. Twice, they helped a Miller to his feet, all the while, the rumble raged on.
Dallas called out to a Miller named Fred Jenkins, who was being overwhelmed by three Barkers. Bill heard Dallas call out and with a roar, broke one guy's nose and started to pull Fred away from the other two.
Lucy shrieked in fury as a guy kicked Tim's bad foot. Tim wailed in pain and went down. Two guys jumped over Tim and attacked Dallas, while their friend held Lucy back.
Dallas was in a headlock with the other guy punching him. He couldn't take it. He was about to go down when the blows suddenly stopped and the guy head locking him let go of him with a howl of pain. Arty Chop and Ralph had come to the rescue.
"Arty! Ralph! Thanks guys." Dallas' face was in pain, but he still grinned.
Ralph provided cover while Arty Chop helped Tim to his feet, "I guess I finally returned the favour, eh Dal?" He laughed, then nodded his head to the left, "Bill said he didn't see Miles and Charlie fighting."
Sure enough, Miles and Charlie were hanging around on the sidelines of the fight, as if waiting for the opportunity to escape.
And Dallas would stop them once and for all.
Chapter Fourteen
Dallas fought his way over to Bill, who was using a half-conscious Barker as a shield, "I'm going after Miles. Want to come?"
Bill nodded, dropping the Barker in his hands. Together with Tim and Lucy, Bill and Dallas fought their way through guys.
Once or twice, he looked at Bill. What was going through his head? The guns had gotten Dallas thinking about Bill Florence.
He shivered and looked at Lucy, suddenly fearful for her, "You shouldn't have come."
She smiled and kissed him sweetly on the cheek, "You're right. You could have taken those guys single-handedly. You'd have died, but you always get them the second time."
Dallas rolled his eyes. Lucy. She was always bright, sweet, and funny Lucy. His gaze was interrupted when Tim yelled out loud. He turned, and saw Tim pointing at Charlie and Miles. They were a few feet away. If Dallas could just reach…
All of a sudden, the nine high-ranked Barkers they had seen earlier slammed into Bill, Dallas, Lucy, and Tim. Bill and Dallas were swept apart as they fought to stay together. But the Barkers outnumbered them and were fresh, whereas the four of them had been fighting for what seemed to them like an hour and a half.
Dallas slugged it out with a guy who seemed to be twice as heavy as him. Nearby, he could see Bill holding his own against two others. Where were Tim and Lucy? Dallas looked everywhere but he could see no trace of Tim or Lucy. The guy hitting him knew his business as he landed a hard one on Dally's nose. Feeling blood start to run, Dallas went down, trying to avoid the kicks aimed at him. It was no use, and it showed when the guy almost knocked him out. Dallas then felt hands grabbing him, taking him to the people he was after. Except he was defenceless, and their captive.
It took a minute for Dallas to see normally. The first thing he saw was the leering face he remembered so well now. Charlie's eyes lit up when he saw Dallas move, "Hey Dallas. It's good that you're awake man. Now you can watch as we break your heart."
How long had he waited for this revenge? Dallas wondered about Charlie for minute and then asked, "What happened to your girlfriend?"
Charlie looked stunned, then looked grimly at Dallas with deep loathing eyes for Dallas, "After all these years, now you think about her? Well, when she learned that you had been allowed out, she couldn't take it. Imagine watching your own friend get half killed by you. She was terrified, having nightmares all the time of you killing her and me both."
He took a breath and filled his voice with hate, "So she hanged herself! I wanted to die too. I had loved her; I was going to marry her or something. I wanted that rope round my neck. But instead, I vowed revenge, and I've built up to this moment."
"And now,' He spoke again, with the air of a man come to sweet revenge, 'you will feel the pain I have felt all of my life."
"Dally!" Lucy shrieked, and Dallas saw that two Barkers were holding down Lucy. Tim was right beside her, looking at Dallas with a look of warning and horror. Dallas then understood what was going to happen.
"Nooooo!" Dallas screamed, pulling out his switchblade and plunging it into the nearest Barker's side. The guy screamed and went down. Dallas charged at the Barker brothers in fury, waving his blade at anyone in his path. Suddenly there were shouts, gunshots, and Dallas saw Lucy stand very still, and then slowly crumple. The sight would continue to kill him for the rest of his life.
He didn't know how long or how loud he screamed. He seemed to have an endless supply of air in his lungs. He hacked at the Barkers blocking his path, not caring whether he missed or not. Soon he was charging headlong at Miles. He pocketed his blade and beat Miles into pulp before Miles could turn around. Dallas was reliving the rage from three years ago.
Dallas dropped the unconscious, bleeding Miles, and attacked Charlie screaming swear words. This time Charlie saw him coming and it became a bloody fistfight. Charlie was bigger, but had none of Dallas' rage.
Rage, however, would not win this fight. Charlie pinned Dallas down, gasping for breath, "So it's come down to this then. Dallas Winston finally met his match!"
Dallas struggled one last time as Charlie took Dallas' switchblade from his pocket. Charlie raised it near Dally's neck, smiling, "It's over Dallas."
Dallas struggled against Charlie's bulk and stone-hard grip. Revenge had given Charlie invincibility in the face of his sworn enemy. Dallas gave one last sob, and waited for Charlie to plunge the switchblade into his heart.
What did it matter? Lucy was dead, and now he would die. He could have fought back, but time with Lucy had occasionally made him see that violence was ridiculous. Even when those feelings were gone, they lingered on a little inside him. Now he would die.
Suddenly, a gunshot was fired, and Charlie was blown off of Dallas, dead. Dallas lay there, stunned for a second, and looked around wildly.
Bill Florence, the toughest of the tough, stood there, as if in a movie pose, with a two guns in his hands.
Dallas dared not look behind him. He wasn't in mind to see Charlie's body. He had had enough. Slowly he got up, staring at Bill with a scared expression on his face, "You've done that before haven't you? You've killed someone before."
Bill's eyes flickered, and then looked away. Dallas turned to see what he was looking at.
Lucy.
Tim was sitting beside her body, looking sad. The rumble had ended with the death of Charlie. Miles was unconscious, and the Barkers had fled in all directions. The victorious Miller Gang had cheered while picking up limp comrades. All were hurt in some way, whether a broken nose or a kick to the head. Frank Miller, a black eye already forming on his face, was standing by Tim, along with Roy, Chuck, and the rest. All had bruises and Ralph had actually cracked some ribs, but they still stood there as Dallas and Bill walked over.
Lucy was still alive. Her breathing came in ragged gasps as she struggled to live a little longer. Her eyes, flickering, glowed for a minute when Dallas bent over her. She tried to speak, but nothing came out. She tried again, and whispered, "Dallas… Thank God you're okay…"
Dallas went sick with shame. Here she was, dying, and she was thankful he was alive. Tears were flowing down his cheeks as he stuttered, "I-I should have saved you. You shouldn't be dying now. I should."
Lucy shuddered, and then smiled weakly at him, "I don't mind…dying, I just wish I hadn't seen all this violence…" She coughed, and her last words were barely heard, "I love you Dallas… I love you." And Lucy died.
Dallas bowed his head and sobbed. The others didn't know what to say. Tim brushed a tear out of his eye. Bill looked angry, then turned away. Chuck looked devastated. Everyone seemed to share Dallas' sorrow.
Dallas got up and turned away from Lucy's body, "Guys, I…" When he tried to speak, all that came was more tears. The others came forward to comfort him. Though they couldn't take away Dallas' pain, they would try to ease it.
They looked up suddenly at the sound of sirens. Frank and his gang melted into the darkness, just as a lone police car showed up. Good Old Frank. He was always on the lookout for the authorities.
A cop came out of the police car. He had a bulldog-like face with shifty eyes, as if looking for something. Or someone.
And that someone was Bill. As soon as the cop saw him, he straightened up, patted his belt, and walked over to Bill. The two stared each other down, displaying their hate of each other.
The cop pulled out a paper, chuckled dryly, and then looked at Bill, "I doubt I need to ask who you are, eh? Bill Florence?"
Bill's voice lowered dangerously, "Yes, that's me,"
The policeman handed Bill the piece of paper, and grinned tauntingly when Bill simply stared at the words he couldn't read, "What's the matter Mr. Florence? Can't you read?"He said these words with disgust for Bill.
Bill stared at him like he wanted to cut the guy's heart out and eat it.
The policeman took back the paper, looking at Bill with no sympathy as he said, "Your father is dead. Am I right?"
Bill could have slugged him as he muttered, "Yes he is,"
The cop looked right at Bill, hatred in his voice, "And your mother abandoned you, right?
Of course she did. She had the sense to do it at least. I spoke to her just recently, and she hardly mentioned you."
Fury slowly left Bill's face and to the surprise of the others, astonishment replaced fury. Dallas could somehow see a tiny bit of hope in Bill's eyes.
Bill spoke, "My…mom?" It was as if Bill was learning a new word he had never heard of before.
The policeman nodded, "That's right,"
Now there was a sudden eagerness in Bill's voice as he stepped forward, "What did she say?"
The policeman looked grim, "Not too much. She died ten minutes after I arrived."
Bill suddenly looked as if he was being sentenced to the electric chair, "Dead?"
The cop nodded again, "Just four days ago,"
Bill's shoulder's sunk, and turned away from the cop.
Dallas and the rest were shocked. Bill's stone face had melted, leaving a mortified, broken-hearted one.
Bill staggered to the alley wall. He leaned against it, covered his eyes, and cried.
The gang had never expected to see this. Bill, the scourge of New York, crying. Dallas felt as if he shared Bill's pain. Bill had been alone for most of his life after his mother had left him for dead. How many nights had he cried? He had had nothing, and he barely had anything even now. Roy, the gang, and Frank Miller and Co. were definitely something, but they could never replace Bill's parents. Not in a million years.