Chapter 40: New Blood

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We were walking away from the duckblind and all that ran through my head were curses for not being better at navigation. I had no idea where we were..

There were two men behind us, one following me and the other following Jared. The other man and Jerry number-two were walking ahead of us. No one spoke. The need to escape multiplied with the feeling that escape was impossible.

The sun was rising steadily as was the heat. The air around us wasn't heavy, but it was suffocating; And the nerves inside of me didn't help the growing perspiration that gathered at the small of my back.

I gathered enough gumption to glance at Jared. He had his head down and an over all sense of defeat.

I didn't think things were that hopeless. But I could be wrong. Now that I think about it, four against two. Four guns against zero. Four big guys against one medium guy with a girl. Yeah, not the best odds.

Wait, maybe we do have a gun. I glanced over at Jared and scanned him as discretely as possible. Sure enough, the end of his jacket flipped enough to flash a gun tucked into the back of his belt.

Why didn't they search him for a gun? Did he sleep with that digging into his back? Wouldn't it be really uncomfortable? I think it would leave a bruise after laying on it..

I blinked away my thoughts as my gaze stayed glued to where his gun is. Just waiting to be pulled out and used.

Something weighed me down at the pit of my stomach. A pool of adrenaline started building. It made me shake in anticipation and suddenly my feet felt unsure of their steps.

I knew if I was going to pull off this next idea I needed to be firm and confident in every move I made.

"You can't just jerk and flail your arms around in the hope of achieving what you want. If something needs to happen, you need to know it'll happen. Not just hope it will. Use your brain, use your muscles." Gavin looked me up and down before adding, "or lack there of."

"Thanks for that.."

The memory played through in a flash and I started to feel frustrated with myself for not knowing how to stay in control of my limbs under pressure.

I used that frustration to shoot stable energy into my steps. I stood a little taller and a determination filled me that I'd never known. I am not going to just let these people take me.

Gavin's voice came to me once again..
"If you want to get away from a situation then get away from it. You're the only person who will help you."

If I go with them I may not come back. And I don't want that to happen.

The man walking behind me must've felt the shift in me because suddenly he stood closer than before and now I could feel his gun gently press on my spine every other step.

It feels cold and hard aginst- no. No Alice, stop thinking about that. It doesn't matter what you're up against, it matters how you're going to get out of it.

I took a couple deep breaths and waited for the right moment. I glanced down at Jared's jacket.

Not yet.

The wind came up and flipped the corner of it from side to side.

Not yet.

My hands begged to twitch but I wouldn't let them.

Another gust of wind came and my heart leapt in anticipation.

NOW!

I reached behind me and grabbed the man's gun from my spine. Using his surprise against him, I twisted his elbow back and shot him in the head.

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