Chapter 20

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

The blinding, disorienting flash of blood red and ice blue police lights bit into Quixxa's concentration. Her body stretched out and lying on the flat of a roof, her shaking palms were cupped around the grip of her pistol. The flashing in her one open eye reflected off the smooth sights of her pistol like the aurora. But it hadn't yet thrown her off her target. The bead of her pistol was firmly planted in the back of one of the officers below.

C'mon Quix.

She bit her lip, her finger wrapped steadily around the trigger. They still had no idea she was watching from above. If they had, they'd be moving much faster.

She watched, her aim unswerving, as Runt tried, again, to explain the situation. She knew they wouldn't listen. He already had cuffs on, and in her opinion, that meant their ears were closed.

And on New Medina, that meant Runt's case was closed.

The gun in her hand seemed to be the only way out for him.

But...

But. That was the only thing stopping her. The but. The what if.

What if they caught her? What if it didn't do Runt any good? What if he hated her for killing? What if she missed and hit him? What if they escaped, but couldn't get off world? What if?

What.

If.

She tightened her grip on the trigger, listening to the tiny lever ticking closer to a murder.

She counted the officers again. Three.

She had nine rounds. Plenty.

But... Runt.

He wouldn't approve.

Killing in his name wouldn't do anything for him. Knowing him, he'd die just from the anxiety of knowing a murder was on his shoulders.

But maybe if he knew what the police were tied in with...

She'd never told him the police were part of the pink market too. Not all of them, but enough. He'd never made the connection on his own either. He still thought it was simple racism. They were far beyond that. It was just down to the almighty dollar.

If only he knew that. Then maybe he'd have a different view. Maybe he wouldn't be in cuffs.

Quixxa grit her teeth and tightened her grip again, following the officer as he walked around his cruiser. She knew she wasn't squeezing hard enough to fire.

Please.... God, just make it go off. Just this once. Not for me, for him. He can't live through this one....

The gun didn't go off.

Please...

She felt anger starting to burn in her chest.

Hot, bitter tears started to creep down her cheeks as she watched the pair of police cruisers roll away. Runt was in the second one.

She followed the cruiser in her sights, not moving, until it was out of sight.

She instantly regretted it.

A shockwave of hate burst her heart. The trigger on the gun, still aimed at the empty street, seemed to pull itself.

Click.

The sound made Quixxa twitch. She'd expected an explosion, she'd wanted to see the rooftop lit up with flame.

But the straight asphalt street and the flat gravel topped roof remained quiet except for the howl of wind and sand.

A scream started to cut its way out of her throat. She hadn't chambered a round.

She dropped the gun on the roof so she wouldn't spike it, and smashed her palms into the gravel rooftop, standing up with a shriek.

That was her chance. Her only ticket out. His only ticket out.

And now it was gone.

She scooped up a handful of gravel and pelted the building next to her with it. Another handful sprayed the stars; the next, the street below. The next, blindly flung as soon as she'd picked it up. She lost herself, shrieking at the wind as sand collected in the back of her throat. Hot stabs of rage made her chest ache and her eyes water as she screeched curses and rage into the darkness. She eventually fell to her knees, still tearing at her throat and vocals cords with screams as they devolved into unwilling cries.

Her whole body was shuddering by the time she'd stopped to pant.

Her eyes went straight to the sky.

Why?

Why'd you do this? Why'd you give me hope then take it away?

She grit her teeth and pounded the roof, sending a spray of gravel into the air.

He didn't deserve that!

She glared skyward for a moment, then screamed blindly into the storm again.

Runt had been the only hope for her.

But now, she was the only hope for him.

And she wasn't sure she was up to the task.

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net