Chương 140: Chapter 139 – Time to Pay the Piper

The gunshot echoed through the hallway, sharp and final. For a moment, everything suddenly stopped. Trula's eyes darted around the room as his heart raced, the sounds of the shouts from the hallway muted, adding to his confusion. Joe's eyes went wide, not from the sound of the weapon, but from the sudden, unexpected pain blossoming across his chest. As Trula's hand trembled, he caught sight of Joe. The pistol was still clenched firmly in his hand, horror dawning in his eyes as he realized what he'd done.

"No," Trula whispered.

"No, no, no..." he repeated as he rushed toward the Elf, trying to assess his condition.

"I am so sorry," he said softly, trying to hold up the elf as he collapsed slowly, almost gracefully, blood spreading across the floor. Trula dropped to his knees, trying desperately to staunch the bleeding. He watched helplessly as the blood gushed through his fingers with each pump of the doomed man's heart. The rush of blood slowly diminished as the light left Joe's eyes. Trula looked up at the security guards, their weapons now drawn. He reached for the gun lying on the floor next to him.

"Don't do it!" Xavier said, his eyes almost pleading with Trula not to be stupid. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"I don't want to have to shoot you, Trula, I really don't, but if you don't put it down, I will not hesitate to do it," Dan said. Trula looked at the gun in his hand, then at Dan and Xavier, then down at Joe. His mind raced as he went over every scenario. He knew there was no turning back, no way out except for one. He picked up the gun and raised it, knowing that however it played out, he was a dead man. Trula barely registered the impact… a sharp, burning sensation in his shoulder, another in his leg.

He looked at the gun still in his hand, willing his arm to lift it so he could finish this. A bullet to the brain was what he needed, and if the guards weren't going to do it, it was up to him. His shattered shoulder made it impossible for him to do what he needed to do. Tears began to fill his eyes, not from pain, but from the realization he had failed at everything. He killed the target, but couldn't successfully kill himself. Oh, the irony of it all. Dan called out to the team in the hall.

"Subject neutralized. Need a med team in here now!" Xavier rushed to Trula and ripped the gun from his hand.

"Dude, what were you thinking?" he asked, shaking his head at Trula.

"I was thinking I would die," Trula whispered back.

"Too bad you two are such lousy shots." He snickered. Trula's vision blurred. Joe's lifeless eyes seemed to stare accusingly, screaming, "Thanks for nothing, buddy. Appreciate it." As consciousness slipped away, he knew Wentworth would make him pay… thoroughly, excruciatingly, and ever so slowly. Wentworth would take his pound of flesh and enjoy every moment of it.