Chapter 15

Encounter

Graves stand in front of the door that will lead him towards the Sheriff that so wanted to hunt him. He closes his eyes and took a deep breath. Just a little bit and everything would be finished, all those days will finally end

Graves opened his eyes and look at his hands, they were shivering more than ever

Was his body about to die? or is it fear that made the hands do so? He didn't know which one and oddly it gave no difference. He fisted his hands and thought about what's beyond the door. Graves never thought that he would encounter with the Sheriff, it seem killing her would be the last thing he would do. But with his current state, could he even able to take another bullet?

The Outlaw body was not in the best state, he could feel that his heart was beating uncontrollably fast. His ribs could literary be just jelly of crushed bones. Ammunition was currently almost dried with a couple of shells to spare. All the traps were all used by the previous fights that he barely survive, sheer number do make a difference proven by his injuries. His chest was wrapped by white cloth to cover up all the bullet wounds he sustain, it was tend by a medic that he spare his life.

With the things assessed, the Sheriff offer seem too good to deny. A second chance? start everything fresh? No, it ain't that simple. Never been. He looked at Destiny that lean at the wall beside the door, he picked it up and ready himself. She want to hunt me, then I'm going to make sure she will be facing the wildest hunt she ever experience.

Graves kicked the door and move outside, he was instantly introduce by a few whizzing bullets that miss his body by an inch. He rolled over to the nearest machinery and took cover, he peeked out and saw a flash of light on the high platform. It was common sense it was the Sheriff on the platform with her sniper rifle, thankfully he put a few shells on several holes of the struts that hold the platform.

There was two space between him and the platform that Sheriff took base. One was the one he was currently taking cover, a place where many big machinery took place and a save haven for cover. The other one was no mans land, a spacious area where a perfect shot could be made without any problem. He planned on sprinting through the two space and shot down the platform once he got in range with his shotgun.

He came out from cover and sprint towards the platform. He could hear the bullets that was shot from the rifle but most of them were ricocheted by the hard steel machinery that surrounded him. He was getting closer as he use all of his energy to arrive at the platform as fast as he can. To end it fast. Then a big gauntlet punches the right side of his face, sending him flying towards the side. He tumbled down but soon recovers as he forces himself to get up to his two feet.

He put his hand at his jaw, he could feel his jaw slightly moved by the impact of a big gauntlet, he adjusted it with a crack and it felt normal. Graves look who did it, it was a pink hair girl that was smiling as she getting closer towards Graves.

"That wasn't hardest punch yet cowboy" She fisted her gauntlets, showing off their might. "Aww. Did I break your jaw? Must've hurt."

Graves walk back and shoot her, Vi just side step with ease, weaving and evading the shots as she advance towards Graves. The Outlaw tried to make a perfect shot but her movement were swift even though her size was not fit for her agility. The Sheriff gave a few shots too as he move back but most of them hit the machinery and randomly ricochet around the factory.

Vi caught up with Graves and gave him a strong right jab to his face, once again Graves was thrown into the air and tumble to the ground. The punch was more powerful and he could barely stand, he tried but his body was refusing him to do so. Vi slowly approaches Graves with a smile.

"Aww already giving in? Guess expectation do suck" she shrugs. "Thought people like you can endure more, but well imagination. Hehe."

Graves said nothing as he tried to control his breathing and thinking what can he do, Vi was taunting and it could be Graves opportunity to strike back. He breathed properly and grip the ground, trying to take as many ruble as he can. Vi stops in front of Graves and swiftly he throws the ruble to Vi eyes, blinding her.

"Agh!" Vi groans.

Graves gave Destiny stock to Vi face with momentum of his body getting up, then he gave a few blows toward Vi to make space between the two. But it was mostly a half hearted effort as each blows Graves gave was getting weaker and Vi took it like it was nothing. Graves suddenly stop and running out of breath, his age was showing some effects with addition with his wounds. Vi gave a punch at his torso, forcing Graves to kneel down and take a breath .

"Giving up already?" Vi stand firmly in front Graves. "Come on, have some spirit."

Graves spit blood from his mouth and look at Vi with grin. "Is that the best punch ya' got?"

"Oh you want one?" Vi raised both of her brow, walks backs and warm up her body, wanting to give the strongest punch she ever done. It's the first time someone was not screaming for mercy from her and also the first to ask a punch, so she was more than obliged to give her best. "I give one."

The Enforcer put her right fist at her back, trying to gain momentum. Graves put down Destiny and stand up properly, he widen his arms waiting the punch to hit his body. She sprint for a moment and throw her right fist towards Graves, giving full momentum and power towards her fist that was leading the charge.

She took the bait…. Graves dash to the side, dodging the fatal blow and let Vi continue to charge towards the wall that was behind Graves.

The power of the punch was so immense that the thick wall was crushed with no effort at all, it was surely a fatal blow if Graves was hit with it. Immediately Graves picked up Destiny and wait for Vi to come out from the hole.

Vi coughed as she breathed dust and debris, she could see nothing but gray smoke. She walk from the hole that she made and saw a cowboy aiming his shotgun perfectly at her. She was dumbfounded at the situation momentarily can't react.

"Ever heard Collateral Damage?" Graves gave a devilish grin to Vi.

Graves pulls the trigger and a ball of fire come out from Destiny barrel, the recoil of the shot was so immense that Graves was knocked back by it. Vi shielded herself with her gauntlet but it was so destructive that it also knocks back Vi towards the ruble behind her.

Graves strengthen himself and got up, he cocks his shotgun and two shells came out. Got a few shells left, Gotta make sure each shot count. He walk towards Vi to finish her and get on with the Sheriff. Vi tries to creep out of the ruble but her gauntlets were malfunctioning, the pneumatic pumps was starting to hiss, leaking pressure.

With his free left hand, Graves holds Vi by her hair and drags her out from the ruble. Vi could only grunt as her gauntlets refuses to follow her command. Graves throws her at the more open space of the factory and she rolls until she lay at her back. Vi shakes off the blood that was dripping from her head and tries to recover.

Graves gave constants kicks Vi and pin her down to the ground by putting his boot at her chest. Again with sheer determination she tried to get up but a boot to her chest denying her to do so.

"I ain't the type of man who hits woman but if a woman hit me" Malcolm puts some force on Vi chest. "I won't think twice on hitting back"

"Fuck you!" Vi cursed, slightly raising her head.

Graves lifted his boot and step on top of Vi face, she could only grunt of frustration and pain. He gave strong kicks at her head that made Vi unconscious. Immediately Graves shoots her gauntlets. He shot her right gauntlet then cocks Destiny, a shell got out from the gun and on the next one that had the same result. Vi gauntlets were fully separated from her hands as the shots destroy the gauntlets completely, yet her hands was still safe from any harm. He aimed at Vi head and ready to pull the trigger but a net came towards him. Instinctively Graves dash to the side, dodging it completely and look for the sniper that he forgot.

BANG

A shot had gone through Graves left shoulder.

BANG

Another one but this time was at his right thigh. The pain weaken him and kneel him down but instinctively Graves go down and rolls his body towards the near cover. He had to leave Destiny behind to remove the unnecessary weight.

He leaned at the big machinery that was not far from the last place he was. He gritted his teeth because of the immense pain that the shot cause. His body was shivering uncontrollably and breathing too heavy, slowly he controlled and think how to manage his wound once more.

I ain't dying, not right now ...

Malcolm tore his cape in half and wrap it around his thigh that was gushing blood, it just a simple wrap and he made it tight so that no blood would come out, for now. He groans in pain as he stretches his leg to make sure it was still moving. He uses the other half of his cape and wrap his shoulder that was not as serious as his thigh. He don't know how long will the dressing hold but death by a shot is more likely than bleeding.

He peeks to see the Sheriff but soon...

BANG

A shot cuts the skin of his cheek and quickly he hid behind cover. He touches the cut and blood wet his two fingers. He studies the cut and it was a well placed shot rather than just mere luck. Intentional or unintentional, the Sheriff proves to be a skillful markswoman.