Chapter Twenty-Two

When Austin said I'd be on my own, I didn't expect to be truly alone, I thought he meant it figuratively really.

But it turns out that Rex has got it too bad to even walk properly right now, so I can't even argue the fact that I'm headed to the next place all by my lonesome.

It's not as though it would have made much of a difference inn the end, Rex would still make me carry the weight of confronting these people.

I'm more or less fussed about the fact that I have to shout out that embarrassing line, calling out the owners on their debt.

I don't know how I'm going to do that with a straight face!

We're headed to one the gun shop now, Beau, our medic, and Rex are still back at the Pizzeria waiting for one of the drivers to show up. I wish I could get a ride, specifically in a four wheeled, four-doored vehicle.

Enduring this much cold wasn't what I was expecting truly, I mean, it's winter everywhere else in the world but winter here just seems like an entire arctic storm.

The people of Xoxia are much prepared though, many of them have coats lined with heaters and gloves connected to the same thing. I unfortunately never had enough money to afford one of those kinds of coats for myself.

I got one for Paige, we share it though, since she usually disappears at least twice a year, jumping into the future weeks or months at a time.

But for now, I suppose that's just more motivation to get this job over with, the sooner I do, the sooner I get to meet Invincibill and the sooner he pays me for helping him with his Lynx problem.

Although, Austin and I are currently headed to the nearest gun shop on the list, and not the nearest place on the list.

The nearest place would be the other meta that's holding out on Rey and therefore Invincibill, the owner of a Tailoring shop.

"Why aren't we headed to the Tailors? Shouldn't we take out whoever is closer?" I ask, looking up at the giant of a man.

He hums lightly, "I figured we spice it up a bit, Meta, Gun, Meta, Gun. We're on Gun now, should get you some experience with fire fights, you'll need it in this line of work anyway."

That doesn't sound ominous at all.

Still, not much I can do and it's not like I actually want to fight another Meta, I barely got out of my scrape with the last one.

Though, I have learned something new about my powers.

First being, it doesn't nearly have the range to encompass an entire building much less the entire base of a Pizzeria.

The other being that I have a lot of trouble using it while nervous, or perhaps nervous shouldn't be the word, no, stricken with fear and anxiety ought to work better at explaining that.

With Selena, Ramon's daughter near me with her eyes glowing bright and dangerous, I have much doubt I could have been able to survive had she paid me the due attention I was worth.

I certainly wouldn't have been able to freeze time in time, and even if I was, I'm not sure what can still move under my influence. I think something like light and lightning must be exceptions.

Or would they? Whenever I use my powers, I feel a bit suffocated and stuffy all of a sudden, and my eyesight is shot to hell as well, or maybe it's just dark.

I'm not sure, but whatever it is I think all that matters is that I identify my target, pause time and incapacitate them before they can kill me.

Which is the exact strategy I'm going to use for the owner of the Gun shop we've just turned up on.

Austin nods slightly down at me, patting my back as he does, "Here's the place, ki-Vern."

He's still getting used to using my name, I feel the urge to have him call me whatever he wants but I suppose that won't do.

The Gun shop is situated in an environment far brighter than I'd imagined. There's a small hearty diner around the corner, a mechanic's pit stops and directly opposite the gun shop itself is a supermarket.

Peeking through the glass windows of the shop I find there's barely anyone around. A shiver racks through me as I realize that not up to two hours ago, I was in this exact situation and here I am, again.

And I still have two more stops after this. Fuck.

My stomach churns as my hand brushes against my pistol, I've only got so many bullets left in it after using it on the previous owner and on Ramon.

But I guess this is a Gun shop, they'll have a new magazine for me.

After, I make them bleed.

The thought of the red, silvery liquid spilled all over the floors once again makes me want to throw up, but I have little time for that, Austin taps my shoulder and gives it a firm squeeze.

"You can do this." He says, devoid of any motivational spirit.

I nod and stroll in. Like the Pizzeria, the shop has a bell on its door and it rings throughout the entirety of the building. The place is rectangular in shape and is divided in two sides – the customer side and the server's side – by the glass display.

There's no one behind the counters and display shelves, the wall is lined with guns of all times; shotguns, sawed off and normal, pistols, handguns, sub-machine and even machine guns.

But just as someone turns up from the back of the room, an averaged height woman with a vibe of danger and anger, I notice what makes the gun shops such trouble for the gang.

And that would be the two turrets tracking my every move with ultimate range stuck at the far top corners of the wall, conveniently on the server's side.

"Hello, welcome to Desire's Gun Shop, how may I help you, I'm Desire."