When Bill finished telling his plan, we all went back to the hideout room and went to bed. I waited till the boys were sound asleep. Then I quietly tiptoed out of the room and out into the night. Kaliah didn't hear me. She hung upside down with her wings folded up around her. The glow in the dark paint on her wings glowed bright like a lantern. I cautiously tiptoed till I was out of earshot. I lifted my wings and flapped them. I flew up. Ignoring the pain as I flew toward the town.
I landed at the entrance of the town and ran down the main street to the sheriff's office. When I found the sheriff's office, I peered through the window. It was dark inside, but I could faintly see Rango asleep at his chair. I went to the door and tried opening it. It was locked. I pounded on the door. "Rango! Rango! Oh please wake up!" I said. Rango opened the door and yawned. "Huh? Who's-" he started. "Rango! It's me, Banshee," I said. Rango opened his sleepy eyes.
"Banshee? What's wrong?" he asked and yawned again. "I found out about Bill's plan!" I said. Rango's eyes widened. "You did?" asked Rango. I nodded. "Yes!" I said. Rango placed his hands up. "Shhh! Calm down. You'll wake up the whole-" Suddenly a gunshot interrupted him we both turned and gasped.
The whole town approached us. They all had flaming torches and guns. I saw Priscilla with two revolvers in her hands. She glared at me angrily. Someone pointed to me. "It's Banshee! She's goin' to kill the sheriff!" Everyone yelled and shouted. They started to advance toward us. "Wait! Hold on everyone!" called Rango as he raised his arms up and went in front of me. "Now, let's get this all sorted out without killing-" Rango started.
"It's Banshee! Every time she comes back to town, she does something horrible!" yelled a townsperson. Rango tried to calm them down but they ignored him. They became out of control. Rango's posse made their way through the crowd and stood in front of me. Protecting me. They tried telling the crowd to calm down and listen to Rango. The mob's screaming and shouting muffled them out.
The flames and guns came toward me. I took a couple steps backwards till my back touched the jail door. I couldn't take it anymore. I had to confess. I dodged out of the way and climbed up to the sheriff/jail building. I took a deep breath, and screeched. A couple windows shattered, but it made everyone quiet down.
"I have something to say!" I yelled down to them. Rango looked up at me in shock. Don't! he mouthed. I ignored him. "I'm not evil. I'm only pretending to be evil! Bill and his gang were forming a plan to take over this town. I was supposed to find out about this plan, to save you guys," I told them. The crowd just stared up at me. Silence filled the air.
I couldn't tell if they believed me or not. I continued and told them of the plan how Bill was starting up his own army of outlaws and make everyone slaves, to do his evil bidding. The town gasped. They exchanged scared glances. When I finished telling them my story, everyone went silent again. I waited for their response, hoping that what I told them was enough for them to believe me. Rango looked up at me, then to the mob.
Finally one of the citizens spoke his mind. "Burn her!" he yelled. Everyone yelled in agreement. They raised their guns to me and fired. Rango tried to stop them, but it was too late. I quickly flew off and out of the town. Gunshots were heard. Flaming torches were thrown at me. I felt my sore wings get hit by the flames and the flying bullets. I screeched in pain as I came down. I crashed and rolled down Main street. Pain shot up and down my wings as I quickly scrambled to my feet. The mob was still chasing me. I turned and bolted. I was almost out of the town when I heard a voice. "Banshee! Wait!"
I looked down and eyed Priscilla and Ricochet. I made my way to them. "I believe you," said Priscilla. Ricochet nodded. "We knew you would never join Bad Bill and his gang. You're nice," he said. I smiled weakly. I turned my head. The mob was close. I looked down at the two kids sadly. "Thank you, for believing in me… I just wish everyone else did too," Priscilla and Ricochet gave me a quick hug before I bolted out of town and into the darkness.
I turned my head and noticed the mob stopped chasing me. I slowed down and started walking the rest of the way. My wings screamed in pain from the burns and bullets, but I bit my lip, ignoring them. I looked down at the ground sadly. Feeling horrible. The town didn't believe me. Bill's army of outlaws was coming first thing in the morning. Rango and the posse didn't stand a chance, and I couldn't stop the army by myself. What was I going to do? I felt tears come to my eyes and quickly wiped them away in frustration. I couldn't hide all the weapons and money, that would take too long. I couldn't trick Bill, he was too smart for that. I fumbled with my wings as the Abandoned Mines came into view.
Suddenly I felt a hand cover my mouth I freaked out and started to struggle. I felt ropes wrap tightly around my wings, pinning them down to my sides. I struggled some more. Kicking and thrashing. I tried to scream, but someone tied a piece of cloth around my mouth. I heard gruff voices. I couldn't make out what they were saying. A heavy object struck me upside the head and I blacked out...
I woke up with a very sore headache. I groaned, but realized my groan was muffled. The piece of fabric was still tied over my mouth. I tried to move but realized my arms were stuck to my sides. I opened my eyes. I sat a good distance away from the Abandoned Mines. The sun faced me as it slowly rose over the mountains. Warming the desert landscape. My ribs felt broken, and my nose felt runny. I wiped my nose on my shoulder. Blood stained my light colored fur.
My mind flashed back to last night. Fuzzy images of the mob, Rango, the posse, Priscilla, Ricochet flickered in my brain. The plan…Bill's plan…It all came back to me. I went to warn the town, they didn't believe me, I went back to the mines and then…
The headache came it ceased, I tried getting up. The ropes wouldn't let me. I looked down and realized I was tied down to a rock. I sighed in frustration.
Suddenly, Bill came into view. "Good morning, traitor! How did you sleep?" asked Bill with a smirk on his face. I looked up at him and then turned away. Just then, Chorizo came up next to Bill, he snarled at me, "Si, we found out. You confessed to the towns people, we heard you," said the shrew. I blinked. They heard me…they saw me walk out of the mines last night and followed me to town.
A couple seconds later, Stump and Kinski appeared. They stood next to Bill and Chorizo. I stared up at them. Bill was the only one who was smirking. He knew I was a fake the whole time. Kinski, Stump and Chorizo didn't. Then why didn't Bill tell them? Why didn't he just shoot me? I guess he was waiting for the right time.
Suddenly, Kinski lurched forward toward me with his hands out. Stump and Chorizo quickly grabbed Kinski's arms. He screamed angrily as he tried to slash my face with his nails. His eyes were wild with insanity. Stump and Chorizo used all their strength to keep Kinski from killing me. Kinski thrashed violently, fighting them to let go. He snapped his sharp, rotting teeth at me. Cursing and straining to reach me. I fidgeted uncomfortably, wanting to get away. Finally, Kinski gave up fighting. Stump and Chorizo loosened their grip, but still held his arms. Kinski narrowed his eyes at me. I felt my stomach twist in pain. I could feel his hurt. His small feelings for me have been crushed, torn, and stomped on.
Kinski spat in my face. I opened one eye as I felt his warm saliva run down my face. I looked into his eyes. His eyes were filled with hate. I could hear him breathing heavily as he glared at me with rage. Past all the anger and insanity, I saw sadness. Tears ran down my face. Stump and Chorizo let go of his arms. Kinski gave me one last hateful look and stormed off. My eyes fell to the ground. I felt like I just got hit by a train. "Don't worry, Kinski, she'll get what she deserves," Stump called to the hunchback jackrabbit, but Kinski didn't look back as he kept walking.
Suddenly a loud hissing sound was heard. A spine twisting sound I couldn't recognize came after. Bill and the gang smiled evilly as the creature came into view. It was a rattlesnake. My eyes widened and I started struggling like mad. The ropes around me dug into my skin. The rattlesnake slithered up to the gang.
"You ssaid you had a "gift" for me?" asked the rattlesnake as he rattled his gatling gun tail. The rattlesnake was a dark brown with shades of black, he wore a black hat. Ammo holders wrapped around his long body.
Bill smiled. "Yep, a soul, just for you, Jake," he said and pointed to me. The snake who was named Jake, looked at me and laughed, amused. I stopped struggling and froze in fear. Bill turned to his men. "Go get our bat hostage, and get her ready," ordered Bill to Chorizo and Stump. As the two outlaws passed by me, they waved goodbye and laughed hysterically as they left. The snake started circling me slowly. He grinned, revealing a set of sharp teeth. He stopped and faced me. His eyes were wild and looked like uncontrollable fire.
"A traitor, huh?" he asked, "You don't look like the traitor type," observed Jake. He laughed softly. "Bill told me what you did. How you pretended to be an outlaw wanting to join his gang," Jake shook his head. My body shook uncontrollably. Jake's eyes burned right through me. "Sucks when plans backfire on you, huh?" he asked me. I didn't answer. Jake aimed his gun at me. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for my end… I opened one eye when thirty seconds passed.
Suddenly a dark shadow fell across the sky. Bill and Jake gasped and looked up. I opened both of my eyes. Nothing. Jake stared up at the sky for a moment. He shook his head. He turned back to me and raised his gun close to my face. Suddenly the shadow fell over us again. Jake couldn't stand it any longer. He cursed up a storm as he fired a couple of shots in the air and slithered away. Bill started looking around for a place to hide.
I stiffened. Hawk, a voice in my head told me. The shadow came by again. A loud flapping noise was heard above me. I struggled to get away but it was no use. The flapping got louder, and closer. I stopped struggling and looked up. Instead of seeing what I though to be a huge hawk, I saw a dark grey, almost black creature. Kaliah!
Kaliah came down next to me. She used her wings to feel for the ropes. She used her teeth to undo the knots. The ropes loosened around me and I was free. I ripped the cloth from my mouth and wrapped my wings around Kaliah. "Thank you," I said. Kaliah moved away from my hug.
"You can thank me later," she said as she lifted her wings up and flapped away. I lifted my wings and flapped after her.
"Bill! The bat escaped!" yelled Chorizo as the two jackrabbits ran behind him to Bill. Bill looked up at them confusingly. Then he looked at where Banshee once stood. "That's not all that's escaped!" yelled Bill, outraged. Then he looked up and saw Kaliah and Banshee flying away. Bill took out his gun and started firing. The others turned and saw the two bats and started firing as well. Kaliah and I screeched in pain as our wings were nicked by flying bullets.
Kaliah and I screamed in pain. Our bleeding wings stopped flapping. We crashed to the ground. Pain shot through my body as I fell on my back. Kaliah fell on her stomach. She tried getting up, but her wings were in so much pain. She rested and started to lick the blood from her wings. Suddenly, our ears flicked up to the sounds of hammers being clicked back. I looked up and gasped.
Bill, Chorizo, Kinski and Stump had their guns aimed at our faces. Bill grabbed my right wing and pulled me up to his face. I winced and tilted my head back from his. I trembled in fear. Bill bared his teeth. "If I can't get someone to get rid of you, I'm gonna have to get rid of you myself!" he snapped angrily.
With that, he chucked me back to the ground. He aimed his gun close to my forehead. My body shook as my watery eyes stared up at the end of the gun. Kaliah's eyes widened in horror. She screeched and flapped her wings. Bill growled. "Get that bat and shut her up!" he snapped. Kinski, Chorizo and Stump ran over to where Kaliah was and grabbed her bleeding wings, holding her down. Stump wrapped his furry arms around her mouth, clamping it shut. Chorizo and Kinski used all their strength to pin down Kaliah's massive wings. Kaliah struggled and thrashed a couple times before collapsing in exhaustion.
Bill's eyes flickered over to Kinski, who was seen glaring at me. Waiting impatiently for me to die. His shoulders were raised, his body was tense, as if he was ready to spring foreward and attack. Bill smirked. "Kinski, come over here," he called. Kinski's eyes flickered from me to Bill. He looked over at the limp Kaliah before releasing her left wing and sauntering over to where Bill and I were.
Bill pulled Kinski's revolver out from his holster and handed it to him. He patted the hunchback jackrabbit's shoulder, careful not to touch his hump. "I think you should do the honors of killing this traitor, you seem so anxious to kill her," Bill said with a smirk on his face. Kinski nodded as he accepted his gun.
Bill stepped aside to give the hunchback jackrabbit more room. Kinski narrowed his eyes as he pressed the end of his gun to my forehead. More tears ran down my face. My wings were broken and limp. I couldn't seem to have the courage to scream at Kinski. Kinski bared his teeth as his finger slowly squeezed the trigger. "I meant all those things I said about you, Kinski," I finally said. Kinski's finger eased up on the trigger. His eyes flickered different emotions.
Stump and Chorizo looked over to us. Kaliah's head lifted up from the ground. Her ears pointed forward. Bill blinked in disbelief. I continued. "I really do think you are an amazing person…I know you've had a rough childhood and a tough life living as a criminal, but deep down, I can see that you are hurt, lost, and unwanted. I see more to you. You aren't a freak. I…" my voice faltered. I felt waves of heat hit me. No one said anything as they stared at me in disbelief.
Kinski's eyes widened behind his bangs. His mouth slightly open in shock. His left hand with the gun started to shake. Gradually, he lowered the gun. I could hear his heart pounding inside his chest. Kinski stared down at me with an unreadable look. I stared back up at him.
"She's lying, Kinski! Shoot her! Get it over with dammit!" yelled Bill, breaking the silence. Kinski blinked and looked over at Bill. Bill growled. "Shoot her!" he shouted again. Kinski's eyes flickered from me to Bill. He started to panic, not sure whether to listen to Bill, or to silently forgive me and let me live. "Kinski! If you don't shoot her in five seconds, I'll shoot her myself!" Bill roared. Kinski's eyes widened. His gun trembled in his shaking hand. I stared up at him. Tears started to form again.
At the corner of my eye, I noticed Stump and Chorizo watching us from where they stood. Still holding Kaliah down. Kaliah's eyes were wide, her ears pointed foreward.
"Please, Kinski, Please don't kill Banshee. She cares for you," I heard Kaliah whisper. Her wounded wings trembled.
Stump had loosened his grip on Kaliah's mouth. All his attention was focused on Kinski. Curious if the hunchback jackrabbit would shoot me. Chorizo's eyes flickered back and forth from Bill, to Kinski, to me. No one breathed. Bill narrowed his eyes at Kinski's shaking hand.
Finally, he got fed up with Kinski. He brought his hand back and struck Kinski's face. Kinski screamed in pain as he was forced backwards and fell to the ground. A gunshot was heard. I heard Kaliah screech. Her wings flapped. Stump and Chorizo snapped out of their state of shock and held her down. Gripping her tighter.
"Noooo! Banshee!" Kaliah screamed, fighting to break free from Stump and Chorizo's grasp.
My eyes widened as my wings instantly wrapped around my stomach. I collapsed. Kinski got up from the ground. He rubbed his hump, groaning in pain. He looked over to me and noticed something was wrong. He looked down at his gun. Smoke snaked out of the end. He gasped, dropping it as if it was hot to the touch. He looked over to me. Blood stained my grey shirt and wings. "No!" he screamed as he crawled over to me.
I winced as I clutched my stomach. I cried in pain. Shaking. Kinski lifted my face with his furry hands. I forced my eyes open. His face was scratched from Bill's claws. Blood seeped out from the claw marks. His eyes stared back to mine, fighting the tears back. "I-I'm sorry," he whispered. More blood gushed out from my stomach. I whimpered in pain, lowering my head.
Bill grinned. He grabbed Kinski by the collar and pulled him to his feet. "Come on, let's go, the outlaws will be at the mines any minute," he said as he pulled the hunchback jackrabbit to the wagon. Bill turned to Stump and Chorizo, who were still fighting with Kaliah. "Put that bat in the wagon, she's still useful to us," he said. Stump and Chorizo exchanged glances. They sighed and hauled Kaliah to the wagon. Kaliah stopped screeching. She gave up fighting Stump and Chorizo and went limp. When they got her in, they squeezed their way into the wagon where there was room.
Bill continued dragging Kinski to the wagon. Kinski struggled like a dog on a leash. His head turned to me one last time. I lifted my head to him. A small puddle of blood formed around me. Kinski's eyes were filled with shock and pain as he stared at me. Watching me suffer. Finally, he lowered his head in shame and guilt. His turned back and climbed up into the wagon. His long, disheveled hair hid his face. There was nothing he could do to stop the bleeding. I was going to die in a couple of minutes.
Bill climbed into the wagon and whipped the reins. The boar squealed and lurched forward. The wagon made its way back to the Abandoned Mines, leaving me in the middle of the hot desert to bleed to death…