Like a thunderous roar, the shot struck. The lingering tail echoed and reflected off the mountain walls.

No one realized it had been aimed at them.

Levon staggered. Something had hit his chest hard. The gun dropped from his hands as he collapsed in the open beside his truck. Olek rushed to him, having been the first to notice. Regina turned and, seeing Levon’s body, shrieked.

“Oh my, god, no! Levon!”

At her cry, Nicolae, David, and Alex clambered out of the truck’s cargo compartment. They stared, horror-struck, as Olek and Regina tried to pull Levon behind cover. Crimson snaked and smeared the crisp white from under his body. Nicolae reacted first and grabbed his radio. His voice quavered. “They shot Levon. Jake, we’re under attack. He’s not moving… he’s not moving…”

David dashed past, spotting Levon’s rifle. Reaching where it lay, he bent down to grab it. Snow spat up in his face before his ears registered the boom of another shot. Startled, he lost balance and toppled to the ground, gun in possession. He felt Olek’s firm hands lift him and fling him back behind the truck. Olek glared at him and growled a single word in Ukrainian. David didn’t need a translation to understand what it meant. He returned Olek’s glare.

“We need all the weapons we have,” he said. “There could be more of them.” It was uncertain how much of that Olek understood. He simply shook his head and returned to Levon.

Alex and Nicolae crowded around Regina and Olek, unsure of what actions to take. Nicolae clasped his hands tight behind his blond dreads, his green eyes wide, and his breathing rapid. “This can’t be happening. What are we going to do?” No one responded. All focus was on Levon. Regina checked for a pulse while Olek unzipped Levon’s jacket. Everyone’s radio blared at the sound of Jake’s voice.

“Guys, talk to me. Tell me what’s going on. Tell me he’s okay.”

Regina lifted her hand from Levon’s neck and unclipped her radio. “He’s alive. Olek is revealing the wound. Jake… it doesn’t look good. Hold.” She let go of the talk button and waited as Olek reached under Levon’s back. He removed his hand, glistening blood staining his skin. Regina choked back a sob, pressing the talk button once more. “There’s an exit wound.”

“Well, that’s good, right? I mean, it’s better than the bullet being lodged in his body.”

“Jake, he got shot in the chest. Straight through or not, it could be fatal. We don’t know if the bullet hit a major organ. I-I don’t know what to do.”

“The clinic. Maybe there’s someone inside. They could help.”

Everyone glanced at the clinic that sat a few yards away. The hopeful thought fled as they looked through the windows. It looked empty and dark. Alex, who was nearest the clinic, took a few cautious steps closer, avoiding the parking gap between trucks. He put a hand over his eyes and squinted through his spectacles. “Guys, I don’t think there’s anyone there.”

Regina stood up. She brushed the snow off her pants and parted the deep red strands covering her pale cheeks. “Doesn’t matter,” she said. “We can still try to patch the wound. Someone help me lift him up.”

“Now, hold on,” David said. He walked over to Regina, his body tense. “I’m not sure if everyone forgot or not, but we just got shot at. They know where we are. I don’t know about you, but no person in their right mind would try to take potshots at us unless there were more of them.”

Regina met David’s eyes. “Levon won’t make it long if we can’t stop the bleeding.”

“If we go in there, they will surround us and trap us inside. You know I’m right.”

Regina’s pupils constricted. “And what do you propose we do?”

“We get the hell out of here and take our chances.”

“Levon won’t survive the trip, and you know it. He’ll die. Is that what you want?”

“How about what everyone else wants?” David switched his gaze to Nicolae. “How ‘bout you, Nic? You feel like dying today?” Nicolae opened his mouth, but no words came. David curled his lip. “No surprise there. How ‘bout you Alex, or are you too afraid to go against our new, fearless leader like Nic here?”

Alex lowered his head. Messy, long brown bangs hid his face. “I… I’m not…”

“Leave them alone, David,” Regina said. She curled her fists. “I’m not leaving Levon to die, and that’s final.”

“He’s already dead, Regina. He got shot in the chest. You don’t just get up and walk away from that.” David’s head snapped to the right as Regina’s fist connected against his jaw. He stumbled back in surprise but recovered quick, nose flaring and face flushed hot. Olek jumped between them while Nicolae and Alex grabbed Regina by the arms.

“You wanting to get us all killed? Huh? If we stay, we die. I’m not risking my life for that.”

“You’re just a coward, David. Have you forgotten who took care of us and kept us safe in this god-forsaken world? You want to save your sorry ass so much? Go ahead. There are three trucks right there. Take your pick.”

“Enough.” Olek’s gravelly voice took everyone by surprise. With an intense stride, he approached David and snatched the rifle from David’s hands.

“What the hell, old man?”

Olek ignored David and walked back to Regina. He yanked the gun from her and then distributed the weapons to Alex and Nicolae. Discomfort filled the two’s faces as they looked upon the firearms now in their care. Olek then pointed to Regina and David and followed it up with a gesture toward Levon’s body. Regina obeyed and positioned herself by Levon’s legs, preparing to lift him. David stood in place, arms crossed, eyes drilling into Olek’s.

“So, that’s how it’s gonna be, huh? Taking her side, I see.”

Olek straightened his stance, face firm. He gestured with a nod toward Levon.

David shook his head with slow disgust. “Nah. I’m out. I ain’t staying here to get shot.” He stiffened, his eyes peering down the smoothbore barrel of Olek’s shotgun.

“Deserters don’t live.” Olek’s words bit with sincerity, and his hands were steady.

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An unsettled stillness swept the group. Fear flashed through David’s eyes, but he managed a nervous smirk. His voice shook. “I always knew you understood more than you let on, old man. You really ready to take a comrade’s life?”

Olek shoved the barrel closer.

A tense moment passed before Jake’s voice blasted over their radios. “Uh, guys… I’m not sure what’s going on, but whatever you’re planning to do… do it fast. We’ve got a massive problem.” As if on cue, a dreadful horn split the air with a haunting presence. Everyone’s faces drained.

Regina spoke what they all knew. “The Order of Stygian.”

A second horn sounded to the right of the first. Then another to the left. All three bellowed together with resounding vehemence, almost harmonizing. Their intent was obvious.

To strike fear in those that heard.

“No,” David said. “No, that’s not good.” He flashed hatred at Regina. “You just killed us all.”

The radios hissed. “I’ve spotted over thirty people - probably more - making their way through the town. They all appear to be wearing the garments of the Order of Stygian. They’re approaching on foot west of your location, moving at a cautious rate. You still have time if you hurry. It goes without saying, but they’re armed. I say you got about ten to twenty minutes before they’re on you. I need to know what you’re planning.”

Regina was quick to answer. “We’re going into the clinic. We’ve gotta try to patch Levon’s wound or he isn’t going to make it. After that, we’re gone.”

“Please be careful. I’ll keep you all informed of their positions.”

Regina raised her radio to her mouth but paused. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “Jake… I don’t want to put this burden on you, but… if we can’t get out in time, we may need you to assist our escape.”

“Wait… you’re not saying… to kill someone, are you?”

“If it comes to it.”

“Regina, you’re asking me to take a shot from well over a mile away. Even a professionally trained sniper with a spotter would find that difficult.”

“I know. You’re going to need to move closer.”

“I… you can’t be serious.”

Regina saw Olek tapping his wrist like a watch. She nodded. “Jake, I’m sorry. I know it’s asking a lot, but our lives may depend on you. I need you to move closer and provide support.” Silence lingered for several seconds.

“Okay… okay, I’ll do it. Good luck. Be safe.”

“You too.”

Regina re-clipped her radio and grasped Levon’s ankles. David, with reluctance, moved to the other side and placed his hands under Levon’s shoulders. As they both lifted Levon up, Olek motioned Nicolae and Alex toward the clinic. The three of them took point and walked ahead of Regina and David. They all took turns crossing the gaps between trucks. Each time caused their heart rates to increase. Every gap was a spot for the sniper to shoot.

Three to four yards was the measure of the final distance to the clinic. Olek put a hand up. The rest crowded behind him and waited. Olek crept his gun and foot out into the open. The crack echoed milliseconds after the bullet smacked the pavement. Olek took the chance and tore across the clearing. He waved at the others to follow. All of them raced forward, pushing their legs hard. They only had seconds.

Olek barreled through the entrance door and held it for the others. Nicolae made it second, and then Alex. Another pop broke the air as David and Regina carried Levon inside. Chills trickled up Regina’s spine. She had heard the bullet whistle past. Not wasting time, they darted past the lobby to a door located beside a check-in desk. Nicolae propped it open with his foot as David and Regina entered. Seeing an exam room to their right, they rushed Levon into it. They placed him, facing up, on the examination table, and Regina began applying pressure to the wound.

“Okay… okay,” Regina said. “First things first. We need supplies. Look for gauze and something to keep it tightly in place. Grab as much as you can carry. We’ll need to take some for the trip back. If we can just keep the bleeding under control, maybe… maybe we can keep Levon stable long enough for the doc to take over back home.” She surveyed the room, lit only by a single large window. A computer desk rested against the east wall with wooden cabinets hanging above. She pointed to them. “Someone check those.”

“Guys?” Nicolae stood outside the exam room, inspecting the floor in the corridor. “Did any of you notice the blood in the hallway?”

“We can’t deal with that right now,” Regina said. “We already wasted too much time outside. The longer we don’t address Levon’s wounds, the less chance he has of surviving. Be useful and search for supplies.”

“O-okay.” Nicolae continued examining the hall. Dried blood trailed along glossy white ceramic tiles until they curved left into an exam room at the end. He couldn’t look away. Memories of before the attack resurfaced in his mind. He swallowed.

“Nicolae. Supplies!”

Regina’s words snapped Nicolae out of his trance. “Sorry. I’ll check the room next to us.”

Alex rummaged through the cabinets Regina had ordered to be searched. With reckless abandon, he moved and tossed items out of the way. Nothing. He opened the next cabinet door. Still nothing. When he investigated the third, his hazel eyes lit up, and a laugh escaped his throat. “Found it.” He showed Regina a box of gauze pads and a roller bandage.

“Perfect,” she said. “There are some plastic cups on the counter next to the sink. Grab one and fill it with water and mix some soap in it. We’ll clean the wounds and then apply the dressing.”

“On it.”

“You even know what you’re doing?” David had been standing back, watching with crossed arms, his eyebrows knitted into a frown.

Regina didn’t even look at him. “At least I’m doing something. I know you’re not happy that we didn’t go with your plan, but are you really just going to stand there and do nothing?”

David cast his gaze toward the window, the first hint of shame finally revealing itself. He loosened his posture, breathing out through his nose with a slow exhale. He turned to Regina, and for the first time, spoke with warmth. “What do you need me to do?”

At his words, tears welled in Regina’s bright blue eyes. She didn’t have to be aggressive. Pent-up emotions flooded her body in waves. The reality of the situation had struck her in the gut. She maintained pressure on Levon’s wound, but her body convulsed with sobs. “I don’t want him to die, David. Not like this. He’s been a father to me ever since I came to this cursed place. I can’t lose him.”

David looked away, removing his black beanie, which revealed matted, shortly trimmed, dirty blond hair. He held it in his hands and studied it. It served no purpose other than to give him somewhere to look that wasn’t Regina. He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry about before. As you said, I was being a coward. Levon means a lot to a lot of people. It was cruel of me to say the things that I said.” He turned to her and tried to smile. “I definitely deserved that nasty right hook you gave me.”

Regina allowed herself a soft laugh, but it came out wet and with a choke. She nodded her head in reassurance to David and then tried to wipe her eyes against her sleeves. Olek and Alex had been standing in silence next to her. Olek gave her a comforting pat on her shoulder before turning to join Nicolae in the exam room opposite them. Alex took this moment to speak.

“I’ve got the water ready for you.”

Regina sniffed back the mucus that had built up. “Okay. Let’s do this. David, help me roll him on his side. We’re going to need to rip his shirt open so I can have full access to both wounds. We need to act quick.”

----------------------------------------

Nicolae pulled out anything he thought looked useful. Gauze, roller bandages, medical tape, and antibiotic ointments. All of them he threw into a red bio-hazard bag. He jumped when Olek entered. “God, Olek. You scared the soul out of me.” He lifted the bio-hazard bag for Olek to see. “Look, we can use these for carrying supplies. In the chaos, I left the duffel bag outside. Thought this would work just as well. What am I saying? You probably didn’t understand a single word of that.” Olek grabbed one of the medical packages and dropped it into Nicolae’s bag, giving him a thumbs-up afterward.

“Okay,” Nicolae said. “Maybe you did.” He looked toward the room’s entrance. “I gotta show you something.” He placed a hand behind Olek’s back and guided him out into the hall. He pointed to the blood trail on the floor. “That. That right there bothers me.”

With his eyes, Olek traced the trail’s path until it disappeared into the last exam room on the left. He maintained his gaze on the room, his mind trying to process it.

Nicolae broke the silence. “The Order of Stygian didn’t arrive until after we got here, so this couldn’t have been them. We also have yet to see anyone from this town. That begs the question: what the hell happened to them?”

The occluded sound of a door opening behind them interrupted the moment. Nicolae and Olek both whipped around, a pair of charging footsteps coming closer. Before they had a chance to unshoulder their weapons, the door to the lobby burst open. Both parties stood paralyzed, neither expecting the other.

“Who the hell are you?” Nicolae asked.

“My name is officer Ericson Williams. My partner here needs immediate medical assistance. Now, who the hell are you?”