Solution to Demise
It didn't take long for a raider to take notice of the sudden clanging of metal. Not even the raging storm could have caused that much ruckus! They could both hear a few cautionary steps from the other side of the wall.
"What the hell?" a female voice questioned the sudden sound. She seemed to be alone in her investigation. John and Cat waited, both on each side of the broken brick wall. One of them was going to get her; that was certain.
The raider seemed overly cautious. The pair could only base where she was on sound. They had no visuals. Peeking now would be a surefire way to get caught by the whole gang. So, they waited. Occasionally trading glances and John gestured for Cat to keep quiet and still.
She listened and kept her nerve, gesturing to hit the trash bin again, looking at John for approval. He thought for a moment but, they won't get anywhere like this. He gave the nod.
She hit it, swiftly and multiple times in succession, like it was a bell. The noise rang and echoed throughout. There was no way they wouldn't fall for it a second time! With how on-edge raiders are; this should be easy!
It took no time at all! The same woman from earlier peeked at the corner of the wall. She was quickly scooped up by John and silenced from screaming. She struggled in his grasp, but it was to no avail.
He didn't intend to kill this one. Only incapacitate. He would be no better than the raiders if he killed everyone who caused him a threat. Does he pick? It's the way of the Wasteland. Saving everyone just isn't reasonable.
John grasped the woman at the neck and squeezed until she had no more fight left in her. He wrestled her until she went limp. "We don't have to kill them all. We just want your husband, not blood. We will allow them the chance to escape with their lives. If they take it or not, that's on them. We are getting Mike either way."
She looked down at the now unconscious woman. "Are you sure she won't be a problem? We can just finish her now!"
John only scoffed, turning around and setting the raider down. He made sure she would be out of the way, and of any. Danger. "No reason to. She isn't a threat. If you think you are capable of it, by all means. Take her gun and shoot her!"
He leaned himself down and grabbed the shoddy pipe revolver from her holster. He checked if it was loaded, handing it to Cat, calling her bluff.
She took the gun and only held it down, not even aiming at the lady. "I-I can't. I want her dead. But, I won't do it myself!"
John got himself back into place on the wall. "See? We are better than them. Nature can take its course. People like her won't thrive. She will get her own, eventually. It doesn't have to be by our hands. Remember, we are here for Mike! Not blood."
"You're right. So, what is the next step? We got one of them, 6 more left. It's been quiet there. They don't seem too alerted."
John thought for a second. Then he was struck with an idea! "Okay, you remember how she sounded? Can you impersonate her? I want you to shoot that revolver and scream in panic. Make it convincing! They will probably be so distracted by the storm and gunfire. They won't even realize you aren't her!"
She looked nervous all over again. "Why are you putting me in these elaborate schemes? I'll do it. You better have my back!"
"Does it sound and look like I would leave you? You're joking!"
She glared at him, saying, "Yeah, you are just a stran-"
"Enough debate! Time is wasting!"
She grumbled and aimed the gun at the ground, just in front of her. She took a deep breath and yelled a mixture of profanity, panic, and a call for help. "Oh, fuck, Jesus, dicking Christ! I need backup here! We are under attack!" Cat said, in a very convincing raider voice.
She took her place back on the wall, ready to shoot anyone that came through.
"What the fuck! Who is out there? Court, you okay? I'm coming out. Don't shoot me. The boys will cover us…" one of them came around the corner. Their poorly maintained assault rifle was the first thing that went beyond the wall.
John grabbed the barrel and pulled the man into his embrace, beyond the wall aggressively. Cat kept herself ready and aimed. "Keep yourself quiet and let your gun go, Raider! No one needs to die. We just want the slave!"
"Where the fuck did you go!?" he heard the raider from the other side of the wall. They all got into different defensive positions. They held that position. The movement stopped and there was an eerie silence for a few moments. The only thing that was heard was the storm raging on. It was a tense standoff.
The raider that John held attempted to protest and tried to scream, but was quickly silenced by John. He pulled him even closer, finagling the rifle from his hands. In a quick turnaround, John spun both himself and the hostage in his arms. He made himself present in the middle of the giant hole in the wall.
He glanced at Cat and at Court's unconscious body. She took the hint almost instantly. She quickly picked up the body of the woman, dragging her back to join right next to John. All her strength to do this was fueled purely by adrenaline; both John and Cat held guns to their respective hostage raiders. While they both had multiple guns pointed at them.
No one shot at them yet. That was a good sign and quite the gamble. Truth was, he didn't know it would go like this.
"Now," John said, "Time we discussed demands!"
End Chapter 4: