Twenty-Three

                                    

                                          
Your gaze jumped over the man's red face.
He was still steady on his legs, but many years of drinking had probably also taught him how to take a piss without falling over.
His eyes, the same pale colour as Karl's, were darkened and almost distant.
"Leave.", you demanded, but a small shake in your voice gave away how much fear made your heart beat faster.
The priest chuckled.
"Everyone has to face their punishment one day.", he purred and sat down at the bar. "Your punishment comes early."
"Let's take this outside.", Karl's father suggested with a smirk.
At this point, everyone was intrigued.
Eyes and ears were following the scenery, some more distant than others.
But despite the face that you were the one who poured the drinks, no one made a move to interfere. They just watched like hawks over a dying lamb.
They smelled blood.
It was only the question if it would be yours or someone else's.
You knew damn well that nobody would help, no matter what the outcome of this would be. They wouldn't push you off the cliff, but if you fell on your own they wouldn't help you back up either.
A tsk escaped your mouth.
"Let's go outside, sir.", you walked around the bar to face the man with a hard gaze. "No blood on my hardwood floor."
A mocking smirk appeared on his drunk face.
"That will be your smallest problem.", he growled. "You think we let outlaws live with us? We allowed you to settle in this town and this is how you pay respect?"
Your lips twitched.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I've seen you.", father McLean suddenly howled. "You're with them outlaws!"
"I'm not.", you insisted.
"There's a fella you're with. He's one of em'.", Karl's father grabbed you by the collar and threw you out the door, right into the pouring rain. "Ma boy is gone. That was the day you knocked on my door. That man must have kidnapped him."
He raised his hand to reach out for a blow.
But you were quicker to react.
Out of reflex, your hands shot up and hit him in the chest.
It was just a light blow, barely enough to make him gasp for air.
But it was enough to awaken the flame of anger.
"I have nothing to do with these criminals.", you growled. "All I do is live in this town."
The cold rain poured down on you.
Layers of fabric got soaked and started to stick to your spin. The chilly feeling made you grow goosebumps all over.
"You stole ma boy!"
Something in the back of your brain snapped.
"What difference does it make that he's gone?", you bit back and retreated, eyes locked with him. "He would have found the same end as his mother."
He bared his teeth.
There was blood stuck to his knuckles. The skin was all worn out and fleshy.
He must have given a beating not a long time ago.
"His mother's death ain't none of ya business!", he pulled out the colt to point at you. "She was senile."
A cold expression crossed your face.
"She was suicidal. Because someone forced her to escape one way or another."
His face fell.
The cold anger turned into a hint of fear.
His eyes moved through the darkness.
He was unsure, hesitant.
The official story was that Karl's mother had committed suicide. The unofficial truth was that his father had beaten her to death in one of his many moments of rage.
But a man of god would have never admitted to killing his own wife.
"Ya think ya real smart, don't ya?", he asked, eyes narrowed, as he took a step towards you. "I wonder what your story would be. Killed by a hunting accident?"
You laughed.
"We've got plenty of witnesses.", you gestured towards the saloon.
So many eyes were watching.
None of them would say a word to make things right.
He would just shoot you and the story was over.
Your eyes jumped up to the windows of your apartment.
Ginny was sitting at his window.
His gaze was almost as dark as the weather itself.
There was something in his eyes, an expression that said I told you so.
Karl appeared next to him.
Your heart skipped a beat.
If he would be seen in your house, with your brother, everything would be shattered to ruins.
In the distance, the sound of horses approaching mixed with the pouring sound of the rain.
Karl's father noticed you staring.
Frowning, he made a move to turn his head and follow your gaze.
"No.", you mumbled to yourself and took a step forward to grab his hand with the colt with both hands. "I am who you want!"
Angered, he immediately turned back to you and missed how both boys disappeared from the window, out of sight.
His eyes were filled with a dark shadow.
He was ready to kill.
"Ya really want to die on this hill, don't ya?", he asked and put pressure on the trigger. "Fine."
Steps cut through the rain.
Your eyes focused on the gun that was directly pointed at your face.
Through the barrel, you were able to see the shiny bullet.
All at once, the world fell silent.
The rain seemed to slow down. It didn't feel so deafening no more.
The cold feeling of the water on your body disappeared.
Only dull noises filled your ears.
Someone called out.
You didn't react.
All you could focus on was that bullet right in front of you.
A bullet with your name written on it.
Again, some voice called out.
The finger twitched on the trigger.
Your breath hitched.
But the bullet didn't fire.
Suddenly, some shadow bolted in from the side and a fist smashed right into the man's face.
Struck by the force of the blow, his head snapped to the side.
Blood poured out of his mouth and splattered your face.
The warmth pulled you back to reality.
The entirety of the world came crashing down on you, the deafening sound of the rain, the cold and the feeling of plain fear.
"(Y/N)!", a rough voice called out.
Your eyes moved to the shadow.
"Arthur?!", you gasped.