Sharp Shooter

An Offer

I found myself awoken later that night by light coming from Syren's bunk across from me. I looked over and saw that he was playing some kind of a game.

"What are you playing?", I asked rolling over and facing him.

"Minecraft on my Vita", Syren answered, "you should be asleep Ren."

"And so should you", I yawned.

"I'm not the one that's going to visit hell tomorrow", Syren answered.

"What time is it anyway?", I asked.

"2 in the morning", Syren answered, "wake up time is in four hours."

I sighed and rolled back over, closing my eyes. I was almost back to sleep when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I rolled over to see John standing there, looking like he'd just gotten back from a night on the town.

"Hey Renny", he whispered, "are you awake?"

"Yes", I yawned, "what's up?"

"Get dressed", John said, "someone wants to talk to you."

"Who?", I asked sitting up.

"I can't tell you", John said, "Jace will chew my ass if I do, I'm gonna take you to see him though, hurry up, we got four hours to get there and back."

I sighed and threw aside the covers. I pulled on my jeans, jean jacket and boots as John glanced at Vortex, who was snoring loudly, and then to Syren.

"If she asks you say you saw nothing", John said firmly, "got it?"

"Got ya brother", Syren said, "my muzzle is sealed."

"You ready?', John asked turning back to me.

"Yeah", I answered.

"Come on then", John said as we walked out the door, "we'll stop for something on the way."

"Where exactly are we going?", I asked.

"Somewhere off Base", John answered as we walked through the dark sand towards a large black hangar, "that's all I can say, but I promise you everything will be answered in the next couple of hours."

I didn't answer. We walked into the hangar and in the dim light I could see a orange, slick looking car with a huge black wing over the back. There was a white Hennessy Venom across the windshield and a Texas flag on the front bumper.

"What kind of car is this?", I asked as John unlocked the doors.

"2012 Hennessy Venom GT", John said as I climbed in. He stuck the key in the ignition and pulled back the shifter before the car jumped to life with a very deep, raspy growl and the headlights came on, "bought it off a guy a couple of months ago."

"It's kind of loud", I said, "what if someone hears us?"

"Won't matter", John answered, "we'll be back by the time anyone realizes that I took you with me."

John put his car in gear and drove from the hangar. We cruised down a dirt road at about 30 miles an hour until we hit a check point at a chain link fence. John slowed the car down and rolled down his window, handing something to the guard. I could see a couple of Deuces in front of us that were carrying full loads, if the sagging rear ends were any indication.

"All clear Major sir", the guard at the check point said shining his light in the car, stinging my eyes a little.

"Thank you Sargent", John said putting the car back in gear. We followed the dirt road for a few more minutes before there was a turn to a paved road. John slowed down and came to a stop at the fork where we waited for a Neon Green Mustang to blow past us before John turned onto the road, going through three gears. He didn't catch the other car, but he did come close to giving me a heart attack. The car was going so fast I found myself sinking back into the seat. My scars felt like they were going to come open and my scales felt like they were sliding off my skin.