Black Sun by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 55

They were fed and fairly comfortable, but were in great need of rest. The day was just beginning and promised to be long and, hopefully, uneventful. Lying down for what was supposed to a brief nap, Ryan and Abigail let their bodies become intertwined as they drifted off. But Abby first turned to him in a whispering voice. “Hey, do you remember the first time we did this?” After a moment’s hesitation, Ryan responded in detail. “Yeah, it was cold that night. There was no one else in that neighborhood, and I accidentally put my hand on your breast. But you enjoyed it, didn’t you?"

Abby reached down gently grabbed Ryan, who was already aroused, and responded while kissing him on the lips. “Well, I wasn’t expecting it, but I did enjoy it.” Kissing him again, she yawned and turned over, her back pressed against his chest. As was the first time, Ryan put an arm around her, letting his hand fall against her breast. She smiled gently as she drifted off to sleep.

Several hours had passed when Ryan was awakened by a familiar sound. It seemed distant but the sound of a human voice and was greatly concerned. Quietly, he slipped off the bed—allowing Abby to sleep. Ryan carefully approached the window—its curtains still open. Scanning the area around the hotel, he noticed a glint of sunlight reflecting off an object near a tree, just at the edge of the parking lot. He studied further and was shocked to it move. This was followed by the appearance of two people—both male. Ryan began to panic.

“Holy fuck,” he said.

His words shook Abby out of a sound but guarded sleep. Getting off the bed, she stood at the window near Ryan’s side. “What’s going on?” she asked.

Ryan pushed her back to the corner of the room, but it was too late. Not only were the two men much closer to the hotel, but both Ryan and Abby had been seen. She was not pleased about being shoved—by anyone, and made her thoughts known. “Hey,” she said. “What the fuck?”

Ryan stepped Away from the window and approaching Abby warned her about the two men that had, most likely, already entered the hotel.

“Shit,” Abby said. “What the fuck are we going to do? We’re trapped in here.”

Ryan acted on instinct and, taking Abby’s hand, he led her to the corner away from the door.

“Stay here,” he said. “And don’t make a sound.” He stood near the door and listened. It wasn’t long before he heard of conversation as the two men entered the hallway. “I know they’re up here somewhere,” one of them said. “And wasn’t there a girl in the window too?” Slowly, they continued making their way down the hallway. Still listening, Ryan could hear them getting closer to their room. His mind was racing, but he had a plan. Looking down at the floor, he noticed his shadow, cast long by the sun. He also noticed that his shadow had crept under the door, allowing for an easily recognizable signal. Ryan quickly backed away toward the door’s hinges and, clearing his mind, organized his plan.

Glancing behind him, he saw the green canvas bag containing their weapons and ammunition. Near the opening of the bag was a chromed nine-millimeter pistol. Picking it up, he tried to remember if he had chambered a round in it. If the chamber was empty, there would be a delay before the next shot was fired. This would give the two men enough time to fire at him. A split second is all one needs. The risk was clear, and the outcome could be devastating. He could hear their conversation as they paused near the room.

“God dammit, I know they’re here.”

“Yeah, they’ve got to be close. And I’m going to get some pussy from that girl, whether she wants to give it up or not.”

“Yeah? You fucking take a number, asshole.” Their conversation was loud enough that Abby could hear most of it, sending her into a silent panic—remembering the violent event at the book store. But silently, she asked herself if she could kill someone—even if it meant defending her life.

Ryan, having stepped away from the door, had managed to conceal his shadow. This could give him the element of surprise, making it possible to eliminate the threat that stood just beyond the door. Aiming the pistol toward the floor, he backed away so as to prevent his shadow from signaling their presence. Having done so, he moved around and placed himself at the opposite side where the door knob was within easy reach. Ryan listened closely as his eyes glanced over at Abby, who still sat quietly in the corner—her knees up in the fetal position. Even at a glance, he could see that she was near catatonic, terrified of what would happen should Ryan be killed.

The conversation continued in the hallway. Ryan decided that this would be the distraction he needed—for the two men to distract themselves. Placing his hand on the door knob, he felt the cold stainless steel as his hand curled around it. The moment had arrived. It had to be now. If he did nothing, the men would likely keep looking. With his left hand on the door knob and the pistol in the other, Ryan quickly turned it and, stepping forward, he raised the pistol and squeezed the trigger. Both men had to be swiftly dealt with, one after the other. Two shots were fired in quick succession. There was no delay. The chamber had, in fact, been loaded. Having aimed at their heads, Ryan left their bodies on the floor while blood and brain matter had been strewn against the wall, blown out of the large exit wounds sustained by both men. The carpet beneath them pooled red with blood and would eventually soak into it, leaving a permanent stain as the bodies, over time, turned to a soupy mix of the fluids of decay.