Hello everybody. Like last time I'm only going to post the first half of the chapter since the second half isn't finished. I'll be thankful for any reviews, even if you only review a half of it. Thanks in advance.
Chapter 3: London
The man pulled and held the trigger of his submachine gun. Gabriel yanked Glennings out of the car just as the bullets escaped the barrel, embedding themselves into the backseat of the cab.
Gabriel dragged him into the alley and threw him behind a group of trash cans. He reached into his jacket, pulled out his two Webley revolvers, and used the cans for cover.
“Are you okay?” he asked as a barrage of enemy bullets rained in. He looked over when there was no answer. Glennings was sweating and panting incessantly, clutching his chest. Blood was seeping through his fingers.
Gabriel heard footsteps coming there way. He whipped out from behind the trash cans and opened fire. Two men had joined the first and they were running down the alley. He caught them by surprise and hit the center runner in the chest. He was sent sprawling to the ground as the others retreated out of the alley.
Gabriel hid back behind the trash cans and flicked open his guns’ chambers. He had three bullets left in one, two in the other. He made sure the gunpowder wasn’t wet and then flicked them closed again.
“Harper,” came Glennings’ weak voice. He spoke so quietly that Gabriel hardly heard him over the crack of gunfire.
“What?” Gabriel said, shooting a couple shots to keep the men at bay.
“I’m going to die, aren’t I?”
Gabriel didn’t answer Glennings’ question. He shot once more when he saw the two remaining men begin to stalk closer. They were taking turns covering each other so they could acquire more ground.
A bullet whizzed through all the garbage cans and flew just above their heads. Loose pieces of trash fell on the two of them as they ducked down low.
Glennings grabbed Gabriel by the collar and pulled him close to his face. “I don’t like you, Harper,” he wheezed, his pungent breath exploding in Gabriel’s face. “But I don’t want the bastards who killed me to get this.” He pushed the page into Gabriel’s chest. “Don’t let them get what they wanted out of this. Take it and run.”
Gabriel was stunned by Glennings’ command. Never would he have expected him to make such a sacrifice. Gabriel knew from experience that he could be vengeful, but to think he was willing to give up his life was astonishing. It was selfless, it was brave, it was generous, it was… Not like him.
“Damn it, Harper, I said run!”
Gabriel put the page inside his coat and nodded. He jumped out from behind the trash cans with his two Webley revolvers in hand. He took aim and shot the last of his ammunition at the two men. His drinks, for the first time all night, began to affect him. He realized that his first shot hitting its mark had been a miracle as his bullets flew by the men harmlessly.
Gabriel turned around, put his guns into their holsters, and ran for his life, bullets at his heels. His heart was pumping with adrenaline, giving him the energy and speed he desperately needed. He looked for a place to use as an escape, but the only one he could see was the door leading back into the action house, and it was still a long ways away. Your luck may finally be running out, he thought.
The two men saw his destination and looked at each other with confidence. They were in an alley with no cover but the abandoned trash cans and the man without a weapon was running down it. Killing him would be the easiest thing they’d ever done.
The men took their time aiming and then fired. Gabriel heard their shots and braced himself for the flesh slicing pain of bullets, but they never came. He looked back, expecting to see the hot lead flying at him like a freight train, but what he saw almost made him stop running.
Glennings had picked up one of the garbage cans with the last of his strength and began running at the two men. He was shouting curses as he charged, his body convulsing each time a bullet pierced his skin.
He’s blocking the bullets for me, Gabriel realized in disbelief. He’d misunderstood Glennings completely. He’d always thought of him as the rich, cowardly type who hid behind big men that were paid big money to watch his sorry back. Now he knew differently. Gabriel made a silent oath that he’d never speak badly of Glennings again if he survived this. ‘If’ being the keyword, he thought to himself.
Glennings’ bravery invigorated him, giving him the strength to move faster. He sprinted down the alley like a track star and found himself at the door as Glennings fell to the ground. The two men ran to the body in hopes of finding the page, but he knew that they wouldn’t find it. And then they’d come after him.
The door opened just as he was reaching for it. A man came out with another submachine gun and aimed it at Gabriel. Unwilling to let Glennings’ sacrifice go to waist, he plowed into the man and tackled him back into the auction house. Those who were still inside gasped as they saw the two fly in from outside.
Gabriel accidentally kicked the gun away as he knocked the man out with a punch. He tried to grab it before it was out of reach, but he missed. The gun slid all the way down the isle, and he knew he couldn’t take the time to get it. Knowing he may regret it later, he ignored the weapon and ran for the main exit.
He was panting heavily now, and his blood splattered suit attracted everyone’s eyes. When he passed by they dodged him as if he were a monster. He smiled when he realized that he’d probably react the same way when confronted by someone like himself.
Gabriel glanced back and saw one of the men running through the door. The man turned from side to side as he tried to locate his enemy. Where’s the other one? Gabriel wondered.
The moment Gabriel was in his sights, the man whipped out his gun and shot a round at him. Everyone screamed and fell to the floor as the ammunition shot above them. Gabriel was the only one not doing so. If he stopped he’d be dead. So he ducked mid run and sprinted on, feeling the hot lead flying over his back.
The main entrance was getting closer and closer with each step, its doors wide open. He could see himself sprinting through them and escaping into the streets. It was so close.
The gunshots ceased, causing Gabriel to look back again. The man was fiddling with a new cartridge for the gun. Gabriel laughed victoriously as he realized he was going to make it.
The other man from the alley walked in through the main entrance and aimed his submachine gun at Gabriel. He stopped laughing. They’d surrounded him.
Acting on instinct and not thinking it through, he took out one of his guns and chucked it at the man.
The attack took the man by surprise as the heavy piece of metal struck him between the eyes. He fell back and pulled the trigger of his gun, the bullets shooting in an arch as he neared the ground.
Gabriel doubled back and ran for the only other exit he could see; a door at the back of the stage. By then the first man had reloaded his gun and, instead of first taking aim, he began firing randomly. The bullets rained havoc upon the room as they cut through the walls, the furniture, and the light fixtures. When Gabriel ran by the bar it and all its contents exploded in a fury of glass and alcohol as it was hit by the barrage of ammunition. He shielded his head with his arms to protect it from the shattered, falling glass.
The stream of bullets began to follow Gabriel as he ran past the rows of seats. He fell to his knees and started crawling towards the door, praying that they would block the enemy’s fire.
The seats were ravaged by the ammunition, the cushions destroyed and raining their feathers everywhere, the wooden frames exploding in a world of splinters. By the time Gabriel reached the last row he was covered from head to toe in debris.
The door was just a few feet away, but the man was still firing at Gabriel. If he went now it would be no better than suicide. He had to do the one thing he hated more than anything else in situations like this. He waited. Fortunately, it wasn’t for long.
The bullets suddenly stopped firing. Gabriel peeked over the edge of the seats and saw the man reloading. Now was his chance.
Gabriel sprang up and ran for the door, keeping an eye on the man. He was still fitting in the cartridge as Gabriel yanked open the door.
He heard the firing of a submachine gun as a sharp, burning pain shot through the back of his right calf. Gabriel cried out and fell through the doorway. He looked back before he hit the ground and saw his attacker. It was the man he’d thrown his gun at. He was back on his feet and firing a round at Gabriel with a bitter look on his face.
The heavy door closed behind him, but the bullets still pierced through it. Ignoring the pain as best he could, Gabriel crawled over to a large statue and kicked it in front of the door, creating a barricade.
The door had led him to a less glamorous part of the auction house; the storage area. It was filled with auction items from new cars to statues, like the one he’d just kicked over.
Gabriel looked down at his right leg, which was dripping with blood. He rolled up his pant leg and studied the wound closely. There was a small hole on the back of the calf and a slightly larger one on the other side. Good, he thought, So the bullet went all the way through.
He took off his tie and wrapped it tightly around the wound. He cringed his teeth in pain and thought of other things to take his mind off it. As he tied it in a not, he let a single gasp escape his lips. When he was done, he inspected his work carefully, and determined it was good enough for the time being.
“Who are you?” came a frightened voice from the darkness.
Gabriel looked up and saw a man sitting on top of a crate. He was hiding within the shadows, so he hadn’t noticed him before.
Not caring to answer, Gabriel asked his own question. “Is there a way out back here?” He stood up and limped over to the man. Now that he was closer, Gabriel immediately recognized him as the auctioneer. “Is there?” Gabriel said harshly when he didn’t speak up.
“No.” he answered quickly. “I would have left by now if there was.”
“Damn it!” Gabriel yelled. He punched his fist into the wall. He brought it back dripping with blood. He was trapped
Someone rammed up against the door, causing the statue barricade to shudder dangerously. Gabriel panicked. He grabbed the auctioneer by the collar and lifted him up. “Is there any way out?” he said. “A window, a weak wall, anything?”
The auctioneer was shaking and sweating. He could barely form his words. “T-there’s a w-window upstairs t-that leads t-to the roof.” He pointed towards a staircase over in the corner.
“Thanks,” Gabriel said, dropping the auctioneer. He stumbled over to the stairs and hopped up the steps on his one good leg.
When he reached the top he heard a crash from below. “Where is he?” spoke a fierce voice.
Gabriel heard a slap and the auctioneer cried out in pain. “H-he’s upstairs!”
Gabriel limped away from the stairs and looked around desperately for the window, but he couldn’t find it. The room was completely filled with crates of forgotten auction items that were stacked and set up like a maze. It was also almost too dark to see. There was only a dim light from the occasional light bulb to illuminate the room.
Gabriel could hear the men running up the steps. They’d be there any minute. He looked side to side, not sure where to go. Finally, he picked a large gap between the walls of crates and ran for it, silently coping with his leg’s pain.
“Is he there?” Gabriel heard one of the men say.
“I think so,” answered the other. “I saw a flash of movement over there.”
Their footsteps were coming his way, so Gabriel pushed on through the gap. He tried to make as little sound as possible, but he couldn’t quiet his thumping heart.
His eyes now used to the darkness, he just barely made out an opening ahead. He trudged on towards it with the highest of hopes. If it was the window he’d be home free.
It wasn’t.
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Alright. That's part one. Part 2 should already be up.
