Norbert looked around, licking his lips as he started to form a plan in his head. He knew his goal was to get the kid out of there, protecting the kid as he does not knowing how bullet-resistant the kid would be would be the tricky part. Staring back at him, taking his eyes off the voice far above him, Norbert assessed the damage, the body caked with dry blood as Norbert wondered what he was doing after the escape.
Tearing his eyes away from the hostage, Norbert looked up above. "And why did you gangsters get hold of this kid? Just to bring me in and shoot me?" Norbert asked above.
Hearing the scorn in the voice as it replied, "Simple money, hired out to do a simple job, kill you. Nothing personal, kid, but business is business." The boss said in return.
As Norbert stared back, trying to put the pieces together, "So, just to make sure that I'm getting this straight, you were hired to wait until this Norbert person appeared in this warehouse and ... shoot him?" Norbert asked, wondering if this was the group's master plan, how he could face his end.
"Yes, that's right, now. Sorry to cut this little conversation short, but it’s getting late and I have a busy day tomorrow. A million dollars isn't going to spread itself." The boss from above mainly said to himself.
All the guards around him raised their guns at Norbert, who, in return, just stared.
"You're getting a million dollars just to shoot me dead, sheesh where do I sign up. And what does Francesco have to do with all of this? I don't see him here at all. And it doesn't seem to be his family locked up either?" Norbert asked, head tilted to the side as he scanned above, wondering where Obsius was all this time.
"Not here, but we protect his family as he owns a store. Wouldn’t be in his best interest if that protection disappeared. You can't have the kid down there saying anything to you. Orders are orders. Now, is there anything else you want to ask before you die?" The boss asked.
Norbert tapped his chin. "No, that should be about everything. Oh, just wondering, will you kill the kid after me?" Norbert asked, hoping he would get an answer.
"Doesn't matter either way; the kid won't be badly damaged; the client wants its bait back for next time." The boss supplied quickly.
Norbert nodded as he rushed forward, not giving any time as he rushed forward, pushing energy around his entire body. He rushed past the first guard in two steps, leaving him wanting to get the kid and get out as soon as possible. Everyone was turning; Norbert felt the first bullet enter him before he heard the bang.
As the pain started to blossom in his leg, the world quieted itself as Norbert took a shaky step before the energy within his leg coursed around the wound, the pain disappearing instantly, sound once more smashing back into him as more gunshots filled the room. Concrete and dust shot off into the air, Norbert's next step solid once more as he dived forward, hand over his head.
He might be able to operate with a bullet, but he did not want to see if his skull was more robust than the bullet rolled forward before sliding on the ground. Smashing into the kid, Norbert looked at the kid in a filthy piece of cloth, shackles around his arms going into the concrete, bolts appearing through the concrete. Grabbing onto the ends of the chain leading to the floor, Norbert held the kid in the other in one hand as he pushed with his feet.
CRACK
The concrete underneath him let go, the two of them on the move again, the bullets not stopping now as Norbert looked for a way to get onto the levels above. Bullets pelting his back, the clothes not stopping them at all. Norbert looked back; the only way he could see leading up was the way he came. Spinning around on his feet, Norbert ran back the way he came, hunched over, protecting the kid from above. Norbert hit the stairs leading to the next level.
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"Keep shooting him. We all knew he could take a beating, but he isn't immortal; don't stop!" The voice echoed from above, bouncing off the items and crates within the warehouse. Feet smashing against the steps, Norbert made his way up to the next floor, the guards on this one already coming towards him. As the guards stared at Norbert, raising their guns, they began to shoot again.
Diving off to the side, Norbert ran around, scrambling on the ground until he was protected behind a crate, seeing splinters come up from behind him, appearing over the crate as the bullets slowly ate away the wood.
Looking down at the kid in his arms, Norbert asked, "Been hit anywhere?"
Only receiving a shake from their head in return. Smiling Norbert felt one hand behind his back, feeling the holes in his clothes, the blood running down his back. Bringing it around, fingertips cacked with blood, a stream running down his glove and into his sleeve; wiping it on the ground, Norbert looked behind the crate again, wondering what they were doing all this time. He watched as the guards came rushing down, stopping him from using the closest ladder.
Cursing to himself, picking up the kid, Norbert ran into the maze of crates, seeing if there was another way up above. Ducking down, Norbert made a perimeter of the level. Running this way and that throughout the maze of crates, shots slowed down as the guards waited for a line of sight, no longer peppering anything that moved after one of them shot their buddy.
On the other side, seeing a way up, Norbert breathed a sigh of relief. The wounds on his back healed up, but he still felt the bumps of the bullets, knowing he would need someone to get those removed before he left the country; not wanting to explain this situation to anyone.
He saw two more on the floor above before he was on the ground level. Running up the level again, climbing the ladder, happy it had one going up to the desired floor.
Standing there, Norbert breathed in; through one more maze of crates, he would be outside, just a last sprint until he was far enough away not to be spotted, thinking of the warm bed waiting for him back in the hotel and then booking it with this kid finding his parents or a place for him to belong.
Nodding to himself regarding the plan, breathing in once more, and feeling the energy rush forward, he entered the maze of crates again. Bullets were now coming from below, sparks flying around, in front of and behind him, each spreading shots, trying to get at him with high speed. Jumping on top of crates, Norbert made his way through.
Seeing the door to the side of him, Norbert scanned, seeing a crate in the way. Leaping over this one cleanly, he saw the door, freedom and out of this place. Smashing through the door, flying in front of him, the wind hitting his face as he skidded to a halt.
CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK
Countless guns all turned towards him, these, not the pistols of before but some semi-automatic weapons; seeing the size of the clips in each one, Norbert quickly counted the twenty guns facing him.
Gulping, Norbert stared at the door, having smashed into someone in front of him, blood pooling out of them onto the stone around him. Scrunching his face up, Norbert looked above, seeing the four on the roof all standing on this side now, guns trained on him.
Gulping once more, Norbert looked around at the people in front of him. Twenty-four people, all with weapons trained on him, waiting for him to move; with a kid in his hands that he needed to protect, he looked forward, trying to spot the boss man again.
"Whelp looks like I'm kind of screwed," Norbert said as he looked into the trees dotting the hill, wondering where Obsius was, hoping she wouldn’t get caught in the cross fire.
"I thought they were paranoid with insisting extra men and weapons, but it looks like they were right. You must have taken at least ten shots, yet your still up and running. Any way of telling me what you're on before kicking the bucket?" The boss asked.
Norbert now staring at the man about to end his life; all the others were tall, whereas this one stood out, only a quarter of his height, holding a cigar between his lips as he puffed it out. His white suit stretched the size of the man it tried to contain, more circular than anything else—the thick, slick back hair, not a wrinkle on his face from age or stress.
Going through the party list and not recognising him at all, thinking how awkward it would be if this were the groom of the wedding he crashed earlier.
"Just some good old protein shakes, nothing more than that," Norbert replied.
The man in front of him laughed in return, Norbert joining in.
"Do I get to see the face of the man that eats lead?" The boss replied.
Norbert just shook his head, tapping the mask on the side. "You’ll need to peel this off my dead body."
"We can arrange that."
BANG
Norbert stood up for a second before liquid went down his face. The mask fell, and his vision expanded, the ground rushed before him.