29. Creeping death
CREEPING DEATH
The wind whipped around my face as soon as I opened the door.
Everything was so bright and white as snow fell around the rooftop in soft piles on the already coated layers.
I looked around, a smile coming to my face as I stepped onto the roof.
My feet shivered with every step forward as the cold raced up my calves.
It was the perfect scenery; the green forest coated in specks of white as the snow continued to fall.
Blood splashed from my chest in uneven arcs as I walked towards the center of the rooftop.
My teeth chattered as I looked all around, enjoying the fresh air.
The roof door swung open a moment later, and I turned towards him, a large smile beaming across my face.
Shaw looked at me out of breath, but straightened himself, a gun in his right hand and a knife sticking out of his left shoulder.
“You don’t have to worry about it, I just wanted to look around one last time before it ends,” I beamed at him. He stepped forward, and I stepped backward toward the edge of the roof.
“It’s not that easy Scott. You aren’t dying yet.” He grunted, moving forward again.
“Hasn’t it always been that easy?” I asked moving backwards again. “She’s dead you know, you’re free.”
“Doesn’t matter if I can’t make it out of here alive.” He shrugged, stepping forward once again.
“Ah the price of following orders has finally caught up to us.” I stepped back again, slipping on the thin layer of ice that had accumulated on the outside edge of the roof.
The roof door swung open, and I glanced away from Shaw to see who’d saved me in the end. It was a stupid move. Shaw tackled me, and I fell toward the center of the roof. I ripped the knife free of his shoulder, and he shouted. We tossed around until he got the upper hand and hauled me to my feet.
“Shaw,” Dustin’s voice carried across the space.
“Brother,” Shaw replied, the edge of his gun hitting my head as he held me locked between his arms. Melody’s eyes were wide with tears smeared across her face. We stood with guns aimed at our heads as the two men negotiated.
“Well, isn’t this nice? We finally get to have that conversation.” Dustin replied.
A moment later the door opened and two more men spilled out. Dustin held his hand up as they registered the situation.
“You won’t get out of here alive,” one of the men said, pointing his rifle at us.
“Eh you never know, luck might be on my side.” The gun’s safety flicked off, and everyone held their breath. I pinched my eyes shut, waiting for the end.
“True, but then what are you going to do about her?” Dustin’s voice spoke, and I locked eyes with him. Safety off as well.
“What do you want us to do boss?” One of the men asked.
“I think it’s time you grab the cars, let me handle my brother.” Dustin replied.
“You sure? We aren’t afraid to kill a civilian to bring him in,” the other man spoke.
“I’m sure, besides I think my brother cares about this broad more than he’s willing to admit.
” Dustin watched Shaw’s face, then glanced at mine.
I wasn’t sure if I should feel honored he was thinking of trading my life or devastated.
Keeping my mouth shut, I watched as both men retreated off the roof.
Dustin moved forward, Melody still in front of him like a human shield.
Shaw pulled us backward. “So what’s it going to be brother? ”
“Kill her. I don’t give a fuck about her.” Shaw hissed.
Tears streamed down Melody’s face as hurt and panic settled within her features.
“Shaw,” she cried. Dustin’s finger closed around the trigger in slow motion; time ticked by as I watched realization flash across her face.
The trigger safety sat next to the trigger, as my moment and the gunshot would send her to the grave.
“Wait,” Shaw yelled.
Dustin’s finger withdrew, and Melody sobbed out.
“Well brother, you got us into this situation how do you want to play this?” Dustin asked.
“Move away from the door, and we’ll trade, him for the girl,” he urged.
Laughter bubbled up my throat, “Kill me, save yourself the hassle.” Shaw smacked my head with the gun. Blood ran into my eyes as I stared at Dustin.
“Now, I can’t do that Addams, I made a promise to someone we both care about. Letting you die is not on the agenda,” Dustin hollered back.
His words grabbed my attention, and for the first time in a while, I didn’t want to die. Summer. Did Summer send Dustin to rescue me? My mind stumbled on why he was here, but it didn’t matter. He was here after all. He had already saved my life once.
“Enough chatter let’s do this back away slow slowly.” Shaw ordered.
Dustin stepped to the left of the door. Shaw and I stepped right; they looked at each other as we walked in a circle. Shaw and I moved closer to the door.
“Last chance, little brother let him go or she dies,” Dustin warned as we were feet from the door.
“How do I know you won’t just shoot me when I release him?” Shaw asked
“Dad taught us better than that. All I care about is him living,” Dustin replied.
Shaw chuckled darkly, “Dad never gave a shit about us if he had he wouldn’t have died.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I should’ve looked for you.”
“You were my brother I trusted you,” I felt wetness hit my collarbone and turned my head to see Shaw crying.
“I failed you, but it doesn’t have to end this way. Let him go.”
“Please,” Melody sobbed.
“Last chance, I’ll kill her you know that I will.”
“Shaw, please.” Melody cried louder.
“On the count of three,” Shaw shoved me forward, and I wobbled on shaky legs. “One,” he confirmed.
I walked toward Dustin. Melody walked towards me. “Two,” Dustin continued.
Tension coiled in the air as Melody and I passed each other, both looking worse for wear.
“Three.” They said in unison, guns raised, as Melody and I ducked for cover.
I slid to the side as a gun narrowly missed my frame. Another gunshot hit the window of the roof door, and I looked up just in time to see a wounded Melody being dragged backwards into the building.
Dustin was on me in an instant, punching me across the face and then hugging me tight. I chattered as the adrenaline left my system.
“What were you thinking Addams?” he hissed, pulling me into a sitting position.
“I wasn’t,” I shrugged, and he looked me over.
“You’re bleeding,” I said, my eyes catching sight of the blood oozing from his biceps onto the black t-shirt.
“Yeah so are you,” he chided me. “God you’re freezing.” He unzipped his jacket and pulled it around me.
“Thanks,” I muttered. Shock setting into my limbs, “You look like shit.”
“Aw man, I wore my best for you.” Dustin chuckled before he appraised my appearance. “what did they do to your hair? It’s all missing.”
“Shaved it,” I spoke. I didn’t care that it was missing; the person I was before died in that hole.
“Come on, let’s get going before actual cops show up.” He grabbed my arm, and we walked back to the stairs, him carrying most of my weight without complaint.