?A great person once told me?Power? Is neither good, nor bad? but a tool to be used by those who seek a greater purpose??
?What happened to this person??
?I killed them??
He made his way between the broken houses, his long denim coat fluttering like a cape dancing in the wind. Wide brimmed hat pulled down, hiding dark eyes from a merciless sun backing the desert wasteland that was once called a town.
He passed a group of men, all covered in the dust of hard travel and harder times. Each one nodded too him behind their similar hats, bandannas and riding gear and he nodded back. He expected no one to stop him until getting a lot closer to his target, as they were looking for an army to liberate the target and not someone like themselves.
?What did this person do to you that warranted their death??
?This person made me what I am today??
?But men like you are needed to accomplish what others with no skill or no stomach to do??
Thunder sounded in the distance causing several men in the area to look up in surprise. Rain was very queer in a place like this but he had seen it before. The clouds moving in would not give any relief from the sun, but hopefully it would reach them in time to help hide his retreat, and the bodies he would end up leaving behind.
Spying the building he believed to be his target, he turned into an alley and ducked into the shadows. The oncoming storm was still a ways off and he wanted everything to be perfect upon his arrival. Leaning against the wall, he reached to his waist and retrieved the dual six shooters that rested in their holsters. Giving the heavy weapons a jerk; they opened up revealing a dull bullet in each slot. Another jerk closed the weapons and a second later, they lay resting at his waist again.
?Men like me are the reason men like you are allowed to get by??
?Then I am lucky to have you on my side!?
?I am not on your side? I?m just not working for the other side this time.?
Lightning struck close, bringing a drizzle of rain and he began his attack. Two men ran down the alley he had chosen as a hiding place and he brought both down with two hunting knives hidden in his boots. Grabbing the bodies and hiding them behind some boxes, he scaled the worn house and pulled himself on top of the roof.
Careful of the weak roof and the increasing difficulty of his footing, he made his way to the other side and leapt across another alley onto a second house. Below in the darkening street, most men began running for cover with a few opening their hands and mouths to the crying sky. Soon they would begin to fill their water reserves and catch a much needed showers, but all would have their guard down.
?And how much will it cost to keep you on my side??
?You already have my price.?
?Yes? You realize I could hire a small army for that amount??
The sun was completely gone now, swallowed up by black clouds and covering the world in a surreal darkness. He now knelt on the last roof he could reach and scanned the windows of the base of these outlaws. He would not make a move till he discovered where she was hidden because going in without that knowledge would be suicide for even a man of his abilities.
He finally found what he sought, sighting a lighted room with bars crudely nailed onto the outside, halfway up the three story building. He had seen all four sides of the building, and this was the only window with any activity or sign someone was being held captive. Smiling, he stepped off the roof.
?An army might fail.?
?And you won?t??
?Would we be having this conversation if there was a chance I would??
The first two shots fired were masked by an explosion of thunder that took down two men in front of the entrance. Before they hit the ground he had covered the distance between him and the bodies and began hiding them. He then made his way inside and slowly scanned the interior. Reaching for the knife in his boot, he made his way down the hall with a revolver in his right and the knife in his left.
Nothing got in his way until he found the stairwell. A door opened on his left and a large man holding a rifle froze with the shock of the stranger before him. The hesitation cost him his life as the knife was drove deep into his forehead and pulled out before he could sound an alarm. The man fell heavy and a second with an even more surprised look screamed for help. An explosion tore into second man?s chest sending him flying across the room and onto a wooden table breaking it.
Checking the room to make sure no one would surprise him from behind; he reloaded the gun and made his way to the stairs. He began to climb when footsteps above caused him to jump backwards and behind a corner. Three men came down the stairs and ran toward the room where the two dead men lay waiting.
?What?s going on?? he heard one of the three ask and brought his two hunting knives into the backs of the men behind the asker. ?Guys?? the living one asked not receiving an answer and turned in time to watch as his friends fall to the ground with a sick thud.
Fear struck the living one?s face quickly turning into rage giving strength and speed to a rising his gun. He smiled and done as he had done countless times before, drawing a revolver, aiming and firing one shot toward the temple of his enemy.
Retrieving his knives and moving fast, he made his way up the stairs and began heading to what he had marked as north. Counting the doors as he went, he finally found the one he believe to be the one with the cages on the door.
?Geranamy?? a nervous voice asked from inside. ?Did you guys get the intruder??
He smiled. The speaking had told him exactly where the man inside was and by the sound of his voice, had his weapon on the door trained. Counting to three, he kicked the door opened, stepped back and listened as a hail of bullets let out against the door.
"Some have said there is no subtlety to destruction. You know what? They’re dead.” -Jaya Ballard, task mage
