The sandstorm chafed at Cherry's exposed skin. They were close now. She could feel it. Scratch's heart, his soul, cried out to her, aided by the guiding slender hand of the King in Yellow.

Like a guiding star, the yellow sign burned in the sky, ever before her, a symbol she alone could see.

"That way," she yelled while pointing, braving to open her mouth in spite of the flying dust. Himura piloted the speeder like an expert considering the blinding storm whirling around them. But they had the wind at their backs, as if coaxed on by the invisible gentle touch of the King.

A cry of surprise escaped from Himura, who slammed on the reverse thrusters. And not a breath too soon. The dust cleared just enough for him to see an incoming canyon wall.

With the surprise come and gone, Himura swore, spattering the dashboard with spittle. "It's no use, Cherry. We've lost him. We'll run right into a wall or off a cliff if we keep up this madness."

Cherry's heart sank. But the King had never steered her wrong yet. He would not let her down now. A hunger gnawed in her chest, a longing as she drew nearer to Scratch, and nearer to the sultan of sulphur.

She hacked up sand, spitting with gusto, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand. "Trust the King, Himura. Don't let your faith waiver."

Himura scowled.

Cherry closed her eyes, resting her head on the dashboard, sensing, feeling. After an eternity of waiting, she felt a pulse.

"There," Cherry said, aiming her finger off to the right.

Himura groaned, but even as the doubt bubbled out of his mouth, the sand cleared, giving way to the mouth of a cave. Cherry leered at Himura, burning away his doubt, replacing it with guilt.

At their backs, just below the wailing wind, rumbling thrusters burned, subsonic sounds resonating in her gut. The exodus that followed her were locked onto Himura's speeder, so that even though the sands separated them, they would find their way back to her, just as the King had led her here.

A tattered figure emerged from the cave. It took Cherry a moment to recognize her Scratch. That name fit now more than ever. His skin peeked through shreds in his once immaculate tailored suit. Dust covered him from head to toe. But the fire in his pupils still burned. Each strong hand grasped a person. In his left hand he gripped that traitorous slut Coraline by the scruff of her neck. And in his right, he clasped her stupid son's hand in a vice grip. Broken handcuffs dangled from his bleeding wrists. And yet he smiled.

Cherry ran to him. Himura followed behind, training his guns on the mother and son duo so that she and Scratch could share a warm embrace. He lifted her off the sand and spun her around in the air, locking his lips on hers. By the time they broke their passionate embrace, panting for breath, the speeders carrying the loyal true believers congregated around their shepherd, like a herd of metal hovering cattle.

Scratch led her hand in hand back to the speeder. As they passed through the hovering speeders, the loyalists crowed a shout of victory. A cloud of doubt nagged at Cherry's mind.

"But Scratch," she whispered. "What of the marshal?"

He put a bloody finger to her lips. "Shhh. The King sent a messenger to loosen my bonds and to lead the marshal astray. He's not coming back."

But as they seated themselves in the speeder, Cherry gazed back at the mouth of the cave and her face paled.

Eerie chills of déjà vu crawled over her skin, piercing her chest into her soul. Her premonition, her vision of a harbinger of death striding out of a skull's empty socket played out in her mind's eye, as it was personified before her. She screamed.

Quick as a stroke, Scratch snatched the guns from Himura's holster and wrapped his arms around the boy, constricting him. Both barrels aimed at the boy. Cora yelled, clawing at Scratch, but Himura pinned her arms against her sides.

"Stay back, Marshal. Or I hurt the boy."

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The marshal scowled. Cherry felt the rage boiling in the lawman's eyes, even as far away as she stood. He clenched his jaw, determination set in. His large hands hovered over his holsters. While Cherry had not witnessed his shootout in person, she knew many people that did who hadn't lived to tell the tale. Even with their numbers, he might be able to hold his own against them. He was that good.

"You wouldn't dare."

The words echoed off the cave wall, laden with conviction.

His boots crunched grit underneath as he edged forward, calling Scratch's bluff.

Scratch cocked the gun. "Don't test me, Marshal. I hate kids. Wouldn't lose a wink of sleep."

Tears streamed down the boy's face. "Mommy."

He tossed a gun to Cherry and directed her to train it on Cora.

"If you harm my Ashton I'll—"

Scratch silenced her with a rough slap. "You won't do nothing girl."

Cora wailed now, incoherent words devolving into raw emotion. She tried to wrestle her way out, but could not break free of Himura's grasp.

"Let 'em go, Roy," said the marshal. "You don't want to kill them."

Scratch nodded in agreement. "It's wrong to kill the boy, I know. You're right. But how can I ensure you won't try to keep following me? There's only a few ways to settle this, and none of them are pretty. The sands demand an offering, paid in blood."

The marshal's brows drew together so tight, they touched just above the bridge of his nose.

"Me for them. Let's trade."

"I'd take that bargain, if not for that stunt you pulled back in town. I've seen what you're capable of. In fact, it's because you're so dangerous, you've forced my hand, Tracy. I've got no choice. Now, drop them guns."

"Too much dust in the guns from the last time you asked me to do that. I ain't dropping 'em again. Not until you lower your guns and give Cora and her son a speeder back to town."

Scratch spoke low, with just as much conviction. "Ain't gonna happen. Drop your weapons or the boy drops dead."

The marshal and Cora fought for Cherry's gaze. But Scratch threw her the gun, trusted her with it, so she mustn't take her eye off Cora. Tears streamed down the woman's face.

A smirk pulled Cherry's lips up. Oh how she'd waited for this, when Scratch forgot Miss Coraline and returned his attention to her. Now her moment had come. Her ascension drew near. Without Cora distracting Scratch, he'd remember Cherry's worth, her value, even as the King recognized her and trusted her with the precious visions that had saved Scratch's life now, more than once.

Scratch yelled, snapping the tension. "Enough." He cocked the hammer of the gun, and pressed it against the boy's head.

In Cherry's peripheral, the marshal raised his revolvers, aiming straight for her precious Scratch. She knew he'd not miss. At her side, Cora screamed, and blessed with unreal maternal strength, burst free from Himura's hold. She threw herself on Roy.

Cherry's heartbeat stretched out. The blood pumping in her arteries slowed to a drip. She blinked and it lasted an eternity.

If Cora reached Scratch, and the reverend lowered his guns even for a breath, Tracy would have his opening.

Cherry didn't even consider it.

She acted.

With the gun aimed at Cora's back, she pulled the trigger.