4th Bullet: Walk with me on this Shaky Vertigo

The first punch sent the boy flat on his back.

The second punch made the other two reconsider their life choices.

It wasn’t a big fist. It wasn’t even a boy’s fist. It was small, knuckle-scraped, and belonged to a red-haired girl who looked like she still needed help reaching the top shelf. Tilly shook out her stinging hand.

“Alright,” she said, squinting at the fallen bully, “that one was free. You want another, or are we done here?”

The two standing boys stared at her like she’d just grown horns. One grabbed the other by the collar.

“Run.”

They ran.

They didn’t even grab their friend. He had to scramble after them, wheezing and clutching his nose like it had personally betrayed him.

Behind Tilly stood the original target: a chubby boy curled in on himself, crying so hard it sounded like his lungs were trying to escape.

She turned around slowly.

“…You can stop now.”

The crying intensified.

Tilly sighed, bent down, and picked him up by the collar like a sack of potatoes.

“Listen,” she said firmly, “those idiots will keep coming back if you don’t stop bawling like they kicked your soul instead of your shins.”

The boy sniffled. Loudly.

She stared at him.

“SHUT UP.”

Silence.

He wiped his nose on his sleeve. “Why did you—sniff—help me?”

Tilly dropped him back on his feet and planted her hands on her hips.
“Because it’s not fair. And because they were annoying me.”

She stuck out her hand. “Name’s Tilly.”

The boy blinked at it, then at her face—wide eyes, fiery hair, a grin that promised both trouble and protection. He shook her hand with trembling fingers.

“Cletus. I live by the market. Aren’t you the inn owner’s daughter?”

She groaned.
“Unfortunately.”

Then, with a proud tilt of her chin:
“I’m also Beverly of Bones’ kid.”

Cletus’s eyes widened. “Cattle Kate’s lieutenant?”

“That’s the one.”

Before he could respond—

“TILLY.”

A woman approached, tall and broad-shouldered, apron dusted with flour and a crucifix resting against her chest. Her face was kind, symmetrical—until you noticed the missing chunk of ear.

Tilly lit up. “Mom!”

She sprinted forward and collided into the woman’s waist.

“What did I say about wandering off?” Beverly asked, hugging her back.

“I was bored. And these guys were being jerks.”
She pointed. “So I fixed it.”

Beverly gave her a look.
“…What did I say about fighting?”

“Only fight if it’s unfair for them.”

A pause.

Beverly smiled despite herself. “Good answer.”

She crouched in front of Cletus. “You alright, sweetheart?” He nodded rapidly.

“And my daughter didn’t scare you too badly?”

Cletus glanced at Tilly, who cracked her knuckles experimentally.

“No ma’am.”

Beverly sighed. “Come on then. Let’s eat.”

Ushering the youth, the three arrived at the bustling inn. Waiters and waitresses, bellhops and all sorts of staff rushed in and out, catering the horses, customers and pouring out beverages like waterfalls. Foods of different kinds flooded his nostrils and the warmness washed over his body in an embracing hug. Cletus gazed in amazement, seeing the activeness of it all. His father's bakery, down the market in the small corners, didn't even get a quarter of this amount of traction. 

"Awesome, right?" Tilly asked, nudging his arm. 

Cletus could only nod. Nod, nod.

Beverly lead the two behind the counter and further past a door to reveal the living quarters of Tilly's family. It was a spacious and standard area, a couch and radio on the table, cupboards containing various dishes and objects sitting on stands and alike. By the dining table sat a man counting money and scribing documents. Cletus instantly recognized the owner, Tilly's dad.

With the food dished out, the warming family chatted away, asking Cletus a variety of questions in which he answered in either one words or mumbles and rambles. Even though they gave confusing or awkward nods, they fully accepted his shyness. 

After dinner was over, Tilly invited Cletus into her room. Her room was just a floor above the dining area and it was a little bit small but warm. She searched her drawers and grabbed a photo of figures in black cloaks, their faces invisible. He tried to get a closer look but nothing came out clear. He frowned.

"I can't see their faces," Cletus said. "Who are they?"

"Killrights. Don't you know?" Tilly asked.

"Only a bit..." Cletus only had a basic understanding of Killrights. Her mother, a trader, told him that they were a special class of trained Grim Reapers that battled off the rogue and deviant Desperados, former Grim Reapers of The End. "They're kinda like cowboy knights, right? I've never seen one though."

"They sometimes come in the town. I heard a rumour that the mayor and 'em are going to meet in the town tomorrow."

"How'd you know?"

Tilly chuckled. "My mom. The miners and mayor are real close so they often get information from him." She sat on her bed. "I don't really like Killrights. What I do like about them is that they're heroes. They save people, living and spirits. I wanna be like that some day. And maybe I'll be able to have someone as manly as them. A rugged beard and a pistol that'll shoot down the sun. I want someone like that." She hugged herself and squealed before clearing her throat. "Don't tell anyone about that." She huffed her chest.

Cletus nodded.

Late at night, after Cletus left to home and Tilly went to bed, Nathaniel opened up his documents and read over the budget. All that bust and noise in the inn and yet it wasn't enough. Business wasn't booming the same anymore, not since the mine was starting to lose its value. Minerals were low and less and less traders were appearing. And now that Beverly was a miner... 

Nathaniel rubbed his in annoyance. There simply wasn't enough money and there wasn't much he could do about it. 

A pair of arms wrapped around his neck and a soft kiss planted on his head. He smiled warmly and saw a small box placed on the table.

"What's that, Bev?" he asked.

"A gift. I personally made it for you and Tilly. But you can't open it until tomorrow."

"Why tomorrow?"

She faced him, grinning ear to ear. "You know how the mine's are almost out of business? The boss said that we're going to dig even deeper to look for more minerals. And now, even the smallest of ores will set us for life. Isn't that amazing?"

Nathaniel's eyes grew worried. "That doesn't sound safe. Wouldn't digging deeper cause the mine to collapse? People could get hurt or worse..."

"It'll be fine. I'll snag an ore and we'll be living a merry retirement." She put her hands on her hips, her aura brimming with light.

"Bev, listen to yourself. I know you're always out and about doing the most but you're not Bones anymore. You're not invincible and freakishly strong. You're just doing the mining as a side-job. You don't have to worry about the money, okay? I can cut the prices and—"

"Cut the prices?" Beverly jabbed in. "No, Nathan. I can do this. I'm perfectly capable."

"Bev, you could die, why won't you realize that?"

"I've fought Sandbeasts, cowboys and many more desert monsters. What can't I handle, finding some rock?"

"That isn't the point. Even if you would were to get some ore, what makes you think the mayor would want to give you this handsome reward? Ever since that mine's discovered, he's been thinking about his next big investment or pay or anything. He hasn't built anything public for the town, only more banks and business buildings and hell, I've been running longer than them. He doesn't care about the locals of this town, only his pockets."

"And I've been breaking my back to finally let you rest. I want to help you and Tilly and this whole family! Can't you swallow your stupid pride of being the breadwinner and let me help as your wife?" she was starting shout, something she hadn't done in years.

"Bev! Listen to me!"

"No, you listen Nathan! I'm going to do that job tomorrow and I'll comeback with enough money your retirement. Beverly of Bones is over. It's just Beverly, okay? Just Bev. Who I've hurt, who I've killed, it's over so let me make amends."

Nathaniel simply stared and that's all he could do in the morning as she fitted on her blue-collared clothes and got to work.

Push. Shove. Punch. Trip. Shout. Scream. Blood. Horror. Black cloaks. Tumbling rocks. A buggy leaving. So many things happened as Cletus rushed over to Tilly. She was crying at the ground and Cletus launched himself over her to protect her from the stampeding feet of adults. The rocks collapsed at the far back of mines, causing the ground to shake. He lifted up his head to see an old man, screaming and begging for his son to escape the mines. Deep in the darkness of the industrial caves he saw a corpse crushed by a rock. His eyes were squeezed out and his body rattled like a gutted pig.

He looked back to see the Killrights chasing after the mayor's private dune buggy. Tilly was crying underneath him and all he could do was hug her tightly, hoping for the nightmare to end. That's right.

The worst day in Brinehook Town had arise.

Cletus looked up from his pistol and the old man gripped his shoulders.

"Is it true Tilly was with those Killrights?" They were in the inn, a mob gathered around them. They held weapons ranging from pitchforks to pistols.

Cletus nodded. "She was hanging around that patch-faced Killright. I think they went to the mine. Why are you only going after them now?"

"Because, if they're down in the mine, they're probably won't be expecting an angry mob waiting for them. We take 'em out. And if they kill one of our own or even hurt us, The End will do its thing." He grinned. "Thank you, Cletus, you're our hero."

Cletus nodded, slower than he ever did.

                                                                                     ♱♱♱

Tilly's eyes fluttered open. She carefully lifted herself in a seating position to see the events unravel before her. Feast snarled but held his distance as he watched Rosner lower his pistol and walk over to Vadars who could barely stand, gripping and using his Death Arm as a support stick. 

The captain stared at the rookie who had his head held low.

He struck him across the face. 

Vadars stumbled but didn't fall.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" Rosner questioned. He then pointed at Vadars' scar. "Didn't I teach you anything about being a Killright? Do you even remember the first rule?"

Vadars kept silent before letting out a breathe. "Sacrifice our lives to protect the innocent."

"And you failed. That waitress could've died all because of your fighter's high. I didn't select you because of that, did I?" 

"No, sir."

"Good. Stand down."

Tilly had never seen Vadars so submissive and his captain show so much expression. Rosner lifted his Magnum once more and pointed it straight at Feast. The Desperado growled.

"Who do you think you are, disturbing my meal, Captain Killright?"

"Oh, shut your trap, Desperado." Rosner cocked the hammer back. "Either you slash your throat with your scythe or I kill you where you stand."

"Try me."

Rosner grunted and fired his Magnum revolver. Feast leaped back and Rosner dashed to the side, firing even more shots. Feast clambered to the wall like a spider, his limbs contorting and Rosner split his Magnum into two copies and fired away, bullets crying in the mines. Rosner himself disappeared in thin air and tracked down Feast hiding behind a pile of rocks. He opened fire, the entire pile and surrounding area exploding. 

Vadars fell to the ground and Tilly rushed to his side. His clothes were badly torn and his wounds kept flowing with blood.

"Damn..." Vadars squinted.

"You should rest... You did your job."

"Shut up. I didn't."

Tilly stared.

"I almost got you killed and I'm sorry... don't forgive, okay?" He forced himself up and punched his face. "Right now, that Desperado, he's my problem and I'll be the one to kill him. Not for my sake, but for yours. Let me do my job." He felt the cross-stitch on his cheek.

Rosner dumped the second Magnum and ran in close, disappearing once more within a second and suddenly reappeared right in front of Feast, smashing a body blow with his fist. Feast cried out in pain and Rosner connected with a spinning kick to the jaw. Feast tumbled away and leapt back on to his feet. He reached and equipped his scythe, the nasty blade gleaming brightly. 

With a deep breath, Rosner ripped his cloak off and his arms bulged. He split his revolvers apart and whispered a single word.

"Multam."

With the swiftness of lightning, Rosner showered Feast with bullets, splitting his revolver after each six shots were finished and tossing the empty guns to the ground yet they crumbled away before they even hit the ground. Feast could only stand and take the punishment. Focused blasts lanced through his body. After the last shot, he was barely functional. Pools of blood surrounding his standing body. 

He stood long before rage whirled through his whole body. With a deafening screech, it moved just as fast as Rosner and bit his shoulder with a ferocious gnash. Rosner howled in pain and he was kicked away. He leapt up straight and gripped his pistol and pointed it at Feast. The Desperado chewed, swallowed and grinned once more. The bullet holes were vanishing and Rosner grunted in pain.

"CAPTAIN!" Vadars shouted. Rosner kept his eyes ahead but he was listening. "Let me take him down. I will."

"And why should I trust you once more?"

Vadars, stomping each foot into the ground and stood next to his captain. He gripped his own Death Arm, a new light glowing in his eyes. Mind if I release that memory, cap?" A warm smile appeared on his lips and Rosner sighed. 

"Get it over with."

Vadars heaved his Death Arm and faced down Feast. The monster didn't even speak. He just lunged. Vadars, lifting his Death Arm and gathered purple and black energy in his blade. The blade rumbled and the winds bellowed around him. He gripped his wrist and yelled, the power doubling over. He stared at the charging Desperado.

"Let's start this scene, 'ight?"

With a thunderous roar, the eyes of the Devil returned to Vadars' eyes. The power accumulated to such a high degree, ores, gems and other minerals began to glow. The Death Arm touched the heavens and a primal yell came out:

"VULSHOCK: EXCITARE MORTUOS!!"

A black and purple light flashed through out the whole mine. The Desperado screamed and Till held onto the ground, the flash becoming brighter, causing her eyes to shut. When she opened them, she felt a hand touch her shoulder. A warm, familiar hand that she couldn't experience anymore. A hand that she cherished and would remember for the rest of her life, the sensation undying.

When the winds and dirt cleared, Feast was crumbling away into black ashes and there stood Vadars, Death Arm pointed straight ahead. Victory shone him in respect, clawed straight from his beastly palms.

                                                                          AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hello dear readers!

The hiatus is officially over! I'm back in full health and the Brinehook Mine Arc is reaching its conclusion. I hope you enjoy the new cover as celebration for this. It looks rushed but I'm proud of it, ya know? 

On a more serious note, thank you for the likes, views and comments. I truly do love all my fans. Let's make Killrights great together. Until the next bullet!