The Streisand Effect [Spectra Fanfiction, book 2/3]

17 - Living Nightmare

"I'm assuming you two have a little bit of history then?" Duria pointed towards both nox, his eyes darting back and forth.

"Unfortunately," Blondie grimaced. His frightful expression didn't last long, now it was back to his usual frown.

"More than you know," the nox named Sarin said, "Now drop 'em. All of you. I won't ask again."

Both nox stared each other down, their eyes darting from each other's to their weapons. Everyone else was frozen. The yellow dahmak that stood beside Beknati had his rifle aimed high, but the irva held a hand out, motioning for him to lower the weapon. 

"Please. No more bloodshed," the dahmak asked, a sense of urgency but solemness in his voice.

"Uh, last time I checked, you're the only one here who's fired a shot," Jäga stated. His shotgun was still aimed squarely at Beknati, however the irva didn't seem phased at all.

Sarin's eyes bore into Blondie's. An abyss staring into an abyss. Neither one moved.

"So this is what you've been up to all these years. Working for the empire?" Blondie spat.

"It has its benefits. And not the empire, no. Someone else. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that you're once again in my way. So get out of it. Or I'll make you."

Blondie scoffed, "Really? And what happened last time you tried that?" The nox jested, eyeing the scar etched into the other man.

"You ran away. You left me to die. Like you always do. Always runnin' from somethin' ain't ya?"

"You turned into a monster."

"We're outlaws Daggart. We've been monsters this whole time. Although I see you've gone soft. Well. Softer."

"My gun still shoots straight."

"That so? Care to test that theory?"

"Only if you're willing to die again. You're a dead man walking Sarin."

The shadowy nox chuckled dangerously. A menacing grin crept across his face.

"That's right partner. I'm long since gone. And you can't kill what's already dead."

In an instant, everything turned to shit.

Sarin moved as fast as lightning. Before Blondie could even raise his gun, the nox had already drawn and a shot erupted from the revolver. It carved through the air effortlessly, a glowing tracer that sliced right through Blondie's left ear. 

The nox stumbled backwards, dazed and confused. His eyes suddenly widened as he felt a sharp pain on his head. He looked back at Sarin who was watching with satisfaction. Blondie could feel his heart beating. He dared not look at the ground.

Lying next to him was his ear. The shot was aimed perfectly. It had severed it in half. Blondie raised a shaking hand to his head, only to see blood soaking his fingers. Eventually, trails of blood dribbled down onto his forehead.

Everyone else stood completely still, unable to comprehend what was happening.

Sarin chuckled as he loaded another round into his revolver. He slowly began walking towards the wounded nox, humming to himself as he did.

"Hmm, hmm, hm, hm, hmmmmm, Guess you ain't as fast as you thought."

Blondie desperately looked around for his revolver. The shock from the hit had caused him to drop it, so instead he instinctively reached for his sword. 

Beknati and the dahmak simply watched as their associate began playing with his food.

"Oh, swords now? Guess you still gotta bit of fight left in you after all. Alright then, if you insist," Sarin grinned, holstering his pistol and drawing his blade.