(Reverence 3, 59 / 12:21AM)

  (Luke’s group)

  Her hands bound her from picking up the gun.

  Despite the long black metal crushing against her brown boots, her hands lost the motion to grab as they succumbed to blood loss. Her knees buckled, her breath heavy, she tilted her head downward as not even the fiery inferno lit up at her darkened eyelids.

  The turquoise-mustached man smiled smugly at the woman, along with his wife right next to him who had her left hand on his shoulder. As Luke and Hope were blinded, and Miles was patched up by the blinded Hope, it only left Iris to be the one to take on both Zirardges.

  And unlike a certain woman, Iris instantly clenched both of her hands, digging her fingernails into her palms as blood swept to the gravel road.

  (Iris) You’re just trying to falter my mood swings… I … I have enough of this …

  Not even looking down, she kept her eyes on the two Zirardges as she picked up her Thompson.

  Noticing that Betty extended both of her hands outward so that her palms faced Iris, she shut her eyes as she moved her finger onto the metallic trigger that she remembered by heart. Having the Thompson from her hip, she soon pressed fire onto the couple.

  The shattering of the air only intensified, with Doug placing himself in front of his wife. Taking in the bullets, his stomach and chest were carefully grated by the hot lead, blood seeping out again as a pool of it littered his turquoise boots.

  While covering both of his hands over his heart.

  The piercing sound was replaced by just two empty clicks, Iris dropped her gun as she lunged herself to the left.

  (Iris’s thoughts) If that man has some sort of blessing or Curse that deals with healing, then anything that we would throw at him would just be useless. Although…

  Dust being swept up into the desert cloudy sky, Iris dug both hands into her pockets, pulling out two wooden rolling pins.

  The rolling pins were yellowish and old, with bits of wood seemingly cracking off from its hinges. Along with the rolling motion of the pin not being able to travel freely with the wind, it meant that it was just a typical rolling pin used for—

  Two blades flicked out from the front.

  (Iris’s thoughts) His weakness is right next to him.

  Pulling back her right hand and arm, her skin and muscles gleamed and worked together as she allowed the flow of energy to surge within her. Smelling the air that glistened with burnt garlic and ash, a hint of vanilla hair conditioner and shampoo soon bristled her large nose. Clenching her jaw, she then heard the sounds of a trench gun graze to the right of her, with bits of her jacket burning from the bullet.

  (Iris’s thoughts) And unlike him, she is weak in terms of strength and defense. Only a troll that specializes in support.

  The sounds of the trench gun piercing right next to her eardrums, tinnitus soon clouding her earlobes.

  Pushing her heels off of the gravel road again, another round of dust and pebble shot right up to the cloudy sky, as the smell of vanilla extract began to increase. Feeling warmer, she soon began to thrust her right hand like the speed of a slingshot, as the moment that her body made contact…

  Another trench gunshot shattered the air.

  But at that moment, her blade seeped deep into something.

  (Iris’s thoughts) cough cough …

  Having her eyes closed, a small liquid trail flowed out from both corners of her lips, the liquid holding onto the edge of her chin as the right side of her stomach became soft and mushy. With the hot blowing wind breezing through her, another round of dry and wet coughs jumped out from her parched throat.

  But another liquid traversed from her right hand, the sticky substance soon encapsulated the entirety of the wooden rolling blade pin on her right hand. Another round of coughs seeping out in front of her, Iris began to slowly open her eyes, despite her eyelids trying to calm itself shut.

  Right in front of her, the old woman gasped as no blood seeped out from her, with only the stab wound dripping down onto the gravel road.

  (Iris) I … did it …

  Luke, Hope.

  The entirety of the soldiers that were near the ranch house covered their heads to escape from the darkness of reality.

  A light at the end of a tunnel appeared.

  (Luke) Huh?

  Like a time suck, Luke saw the sight in front of him, as Iris managed to inflict her attack on Betty. As for Hope, her healing was done as she also saw what lay in front of her, her breath out of place with a high fever still taking hold.

  Her forehead drenched in sweat, her throat glimmering underneath the burning flames from above.

  Miles blissfully slept his worries away while the blue shield that defended them was long gone. His left shoulder fully healed, the hole in his jacket followed by the dried-up blood that poured from his arm dusted itself into the wind.

  Patting his head, Hope began to pull out her combat pistol.

  (Doug) B-Betty…

  Both women fell onto their knees, feeling the gravel road scrape against them. Both their breaths soft and mellow, blood continued to spurred out from Iris’s lips as her teeth chattered like a beaver chomping down on an old tree.

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  As for Betty, she gripped the rolling pin with her right hand, keeping the blade in place as she didn’t want it to let go.

  (Betty) I’m … cough cough … not going to be killed by you …

  (Iris) You and I both …

  (Sean) Hey, ya’ll!

  Everyone turned their eyes toward the ginger-haired elf that walked out of the thick smoke.

  Holding his right shoulder with his left hand, he also dragged a bit of his left foot with a pebble jamming itself into his shoes. His shirt untucked inside of his pants, he tucked his right hand into his pocket, as he soon made eye contact with the shaking Doug who kept his distance from the group.

  And with a forced smile, Sean cocked his head to the right.

  (Sean) Did you miss me? I know you miss me, right Doug?

  A low hiss came out from Doug, his teeth slewing out a multitude of saliva and drool as his eyes began to strain a crimson red. His fingers trembling, his breath heavy, he hunched his back slightly as his fingers dug themselves into his trench gun.

  Pointing it at the elf, he already had his finger on the trigger—

  (Luke) Don’t.

  Luke pointed two of his uzis at Doug, having the two barrels jab into the area where Doug’s heart is.

  Doug immediately widened his eyes, his anger seemingly vanishing as he moved his finger away from the trigger. Also noticing Hope drag herself toward Iris, Doug began to lower his aim down to the ground.

  Still having the barrel onto him, Luke kept his eyes on Doug, his stare not a glare but a look of disappointment.

  (Luke) We just want what we came here for. We didn’t do this for revenge.

  (Doug) Then what are you doing it for? For that leaflicker? For yourself? Or for someone else…

  Letting his pointer fingers lay on the side of his uzis, Luke only pushed the barrel into Doug’s upper body evermore. Being submerged into the fabric of Doug’s jacket, a bead of sweat rolled down Doug’s face.

  Luke tilted his head downward to ignore the fiery inferno in front of him, seeing the flames go up as it released ash and smoke. Bits of ember gnawing at his cheeks, only the light from his red eyes fully shined into the flames of what he created.

  (Luke) I just wanted a normal life. A life where I could explore the world and make friends.

  (Luke’s thoughts) But I guess there’s always a twist to my goals…

  The rumbling beneath him began to thunder.

  Having their attention on Sean, even the ginger elf looked behind to notice a large fog of dust and smoke brewing up from behind. Noticing a familiar animal, he let out a cheeky smile as the corners of his lips curled upward.

  Because right in front of them was a group of gun-wielding Pacitheists riding their green donkeys.

  Still clutching their Thompson guns in their primary hands, they soon stopped right in front of the elf who watched with his hands on his sides. The temporary leader of the group, a man having a cute button nose and bunny ears, glared at the elf.

  (Jumbo) Please tell me that you got what you’re looking for.

  (Sean) Relax, relax, I got it! Besides, you guys should get going.

  Jumbo took note of the bleeding Iris who still had her rolling pin blade stabbing onto Betty. Seeing this, Jumbo rode himself past Sean and toward the main leader of the mafia. Being right in front of her, both women looked up to see the bunny-human looking down on both of them, his eyes mostly on the old woman.

  Taking in the blonde hair that had a couple of white strands of hair, Jumbo let out a smirk.

  (Jumbo) It sucks being the losers huh?

  (Betty) gasps … shut it … your breath smells like carrots …

  (Jumbo) Yeah, original. Man, you discriminants come up with the most basic racial slurs. I heard better slurs from my friends.

  Jumbo then looked his eyes upon the dark purple-haired woman.

  Hope, who managed to finally reach her, began to press her hand onto the right side of Iris’s stomach. Her hand being soaked with blood, she clenched her eyes as a yellowish light seeped out of her, and her entire body began to feel like tiny ants were crawling inside of her body.

  Jumping out of his donkey, Jumbo placed his hand on the rolling pin; pulling it out to let the blood flow from the wound.

  (Betty) gasps …

  Blood pouring out of her stomach, Doug took a single step forward as he scrunched up his entire face. His cheekbones pushing whatever facial muscles, he dropped his trench gun as he raised both of his hands in the air.

  Everyone seeing this display, Doug cleared his throat while looking down to the ground.

  (Doug) Let me treat her … I won’t do anything, just let me tend to my wife…

  Both Jumbo and Sean who walked right near him looked at one another, giving them a little nod before staring at Doug again.

  Sean pushed back his ginger hair, with bits of leaves still lingering in his hair as he deeply tucked both of his hands inside of his leather jacket.

  (Sean) We’re not here to kill anyone. Besides, you guys decided to blow it out of proportion.

  (Doug) You burned half of our crops, and you think we overreacted…?

  Jumbo noticed a stable filled with green donkeys, the stable that Luke and the others left to avoid being detected. Pointing his finger at the place, Luke’s group looked toward it in unison. Letting out a sigh, Luke looked down as he had his face pushed down while turning to look at both Jumbo and Sean.

  (Luke) So we’re going to have to ride ourselves out of here…

  (Jumbo) That’s our only way.

  (Luke) I’ll have to tie Miles and Hope to their donkeys. You could tie Iris to her right uhm … Jumbo, is it?

  (Jumbo) Got a problem with the name Jumbo?

  (Luke) N-No… no problem…

  Sean soon got behind Luke, who noticed that Hope only patched 50% of the wound on Iris’s body. Seeing her passed-out face, a large nosebleed escaped from her nostrils, causing Luke to walk toward the two sleeping women.

  Picking her Hope princess style, she nodded both Jumbo and Sean to come near his position, their eyes gazing into the sleeping Iris and Miles.

  (Luke) Carry Iris Jim—Jumbo. Sean, you’re going to have to carry Miles.

  (Sean) Wait what?

  (Jumbo) No worries. Best you guys get out of here. Who knows who will go after you…

  Waving them off goodbye, Luke and the others headed toward the stables where they originally fled from. Carrying the sleeping Hope in his arms, Sean carried Miles on his back as both young men reached inside the stable, the smell of manure being replaced by burnt garlic.

  One of the donkeys that licked Luke’s face prior began to show its teeth.

  Letting out a wheezing laugh, the donkey widened its eyes, followed by the rest of the donkeys copying the same donkey. Letting out a small chuckle, he then nestled Hope down on the hay near the donkey’s wooden gate, unlocking the locks as he opened the gate.

  Free, the donkey slowly walked out, rubbing its nuzzle onto Luke’s cheek.

  (Luke) I think this donkey likes me.

  Lowering its head, the donkey sneezed onto Hope’s face, its boogers and saliva running down her sleeping face. A bit of its liquid barely managed to get into her mouth, Luke took a step back as the donkey made another wheezing laugh that crackled the air.

  (Luke) And I guess it doesn’t like Hope…

  As Sean began to tie Miles up on his donkey, the elf had with him another donkey to ride on. Getting on his donkey, he had in his hand the reign of Miles’s donkey, looking back to see that both his hands and body were practically glued to the animal.

  The same went for Luke, who tied Hope up to a donkey that was near him.

  Getting on top of the goofy creature, ticks, and fleas were already raiding his pants and jacket, causing him to softly tap the donkey with his hind feet. Having Hope’s donkey in his hand, Sean rode beside Luke, seeing the view of the entirety of the ranch and its burning crops.

  Looking far into the southern part of the ranch, Luke squinted his eyes to see…

  (Luke) We’re going to need more donkeys.

  (Sean) What for?

  (Luke) Well, we need to get Luna and the others before we can bust out.

  As the two of them went back inside the stables, there lay a man holding in his arms the woman of his life.

  Having her head on his lap, his right hand had a stitching metal thing followed by a yard of string in his left. Her right stomach was wide open, he went through her skin with the needle that soon started to tighten the wound to close.

  While doing this, he looked toward the barn on the southern end of the property.

  (Doug’s thoughts) Good thing that I was a medic during the war.

  Squinting his eyes onto that large barn, a small smirk was latched onto his face, with Betty’s breathing soon being brought back to normal. Her small left hand caressing his arm, he continued to stitch up the wound as blood stained his smooth yet rough hands.

  (Doug) Don’t worry dear, our little Kenny will give them a spook.