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I was on a roll for a few days but I broke my streak. So here’s Part 6. Sorry it’s a little late. Better late than never, though, right? I hope you guys are gonna like this one. Anyways, feeling a little leery about Chuck and Bill? Just wait...
By Max Masen
-20 Minutes Later-
“Over there. Take a seat.” Bill points to a seat for John to sit down in. John still appears tense and keeps his head cocked cautiously and his eyes trained on Bill but he complies and sits in the stained loveseat.
The group walked inside of the barnhouse after Bill convinced John that it was safe and that they really were friends with Jess. The three of them were still cautious, but they decided it was best if they complied with Bill and Chuck.
Julie walks around the room and scans the paintings on the wall. Most of them are of ships in stormy weather. She looks at them closely and comments to Chuck, “Interesting piece here.” She brings her face in closer and examines the fine lines on it, the spots where the paint seems to jump off of the canvas. “What do you think this one is trying to say?”
“That my wife has terrible taste in art,” Chuck says and immediately starts laughing. Bill turns to Chuck and join in the laughter. Chuck slaps his knee and looks back up to Julie. “Sorry, dear. I’m just joking. I have no idea.” He turns to look at John and immediately changes the subject. “Anyone want any coffee? I can put some on.”
“We’re not planning on being here that long,” Tim replies. “We should actually be on our way.” Tim looks to John and he tilts his head to the door, indicating that they should be leaving.
“Hold on,” John says back. “Maybe we should have something to eat before we hit the road again. We didn’t exactly get a breakfast this morning. Or a dinner last night for that matter.”
Julie nods in agreement. “Can’t argue with that.”
“Well, it’s settled. Join me in the kitchen in a minute. I’ll have the hotcakes out shortly. You’ll love them. Special ingredient in these ones.” Chuck turns to the three of them and winks. He turns his back on them and enters the kitchen wearing his oven mitts.
“Special ingredient?” Tim whispers to John and Julie suspiciously. He turns to make sure Chuck and Bill can’t hear him talk. He looks back and continues, “I don’t like this. We really should be leaving. We’ve worn out our welcome and to be honest, I don’t know how much I trust this place.”
“You’re too paranoid. It’s just two old men… that somehow know Jess and the whereabouts of the Hyenas. Alright, it’s weird. But I’m sticking by what I said about it being best that we actually get a breakfast and something to eat.” John steps back, appearing cocky and hoping what he says sinks in without question.
“I have to agree with John,” Julie says definitively. Her stomach starts to rumble and she looks down at it and holds it. “We’ll watch your back while you eat, Tim.” She snickers and turns away from them.
“Very funny,” Tim shoots back, annoyed and realizing that he is paranoid, but possibly for good reason. He continues to look around the room, nothing out of the ordinary or appearing weird. Bill and Chuck are still in the kitchen, allowing Tim enough time to search the room unperturbed. He walks up to a few of the seats scattered throughout the room and slowly and quietly lifts the cushions on them to see if anything is hidden under them. He sees nothing and quickly gives up, but still holding onto doubt that the place is secure and safe.
“Tim!” Julie says both angrily and quietly. She scrunches her face tightly to show disgust at his transgressions. “What are you doing?! We’re guests here!”
“I’m not buying it!” Tim says louder than Julie had spoken, allowing Bill and Chuck to hear him from the kitchen.
Bill walks out slowly and sees Tim standing in the middle of the room, angry and with couch cushion in hand. “What’s going on in here? Are you folks not hungry anymore?”
Tim beams a rabid look at Bill, foam nearly boiling from his mouth. “Stay back!”
“Tim. think about what you’re doing. These people are on our side.” John speaks calmly and lifts his hand to signal that Tim needs to relax and think rationally.
“They’re going to kill us, John! We need to leave. They’ve probably already alerted the government! Let’s go before they get here. They’re going to capture us and torture us, just like they’re doing to Peter. Let’s go!” Tim starts screaming, hoping it is reinforcing his belief that they’re about to be betrayed.
“You’ve been out in the heat too long, son,” Bill says uneasily. “Just come in here and get something to eat.” He stretches out his hand as a peace offering.
“Stay back!” Tim lifts his assault rifle and aims it at Bill. “You might have tricked those two but not me! You won’t kill me!” He takes his eyes off of Bill for a moment and looks to John and Julie, his eyes pleading with them desperately. “Please, we need to leave now. The government is on their way.”
“How do you know, Tim?” John asks nervously, realizing he’s starting to become more suspicious of Tim’s motivations if he is in the right state of mind.
“I guarantee it!” Tim keeps the gun trained on Bill, his finger ready to press down on the trigger.
Bill intervenes and says, “Lower the gun. We can talk about-” He is quickly cut off by Tim pulling the trigger and shooting him, leaving him bleeding out on the ground, unconscious.
“No!” John screams. He runs up and starts to wrestle the gun away from Tim while Julie leaps to the side of Bill’s body.
“What the hell is going on out here?!” Chuck yells, walking out into the living room. He jumps back in shock upon seeing Bill’s body. “Bill, no! What have you people done?!” He falls to the floor and checks his friend’s body. He puts his ear to his chest and hears nothing. He looks up to Tim and John, a perverse look appearing on his face. His skin drains of blood and he starts to look pale. “Get… out… now.”
John pushes Tim to the door, John now holding the assault rifle and keeping it from Tim. Julie follows closely behind. They walk out the door slowly, Tim starting to realize what he’s done.
“I- I’m sorry. I didn’t think I would…” Tim begins but quickly runs out of things to say. He starts to come to his senses.
“Stop. It’s over now. We’re on foot for a while.”
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