Gateway Part Six

This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.

Gateway Part Six - Final Part

Still a wanted criminal. It wasn’t getting any better.

“Come on Kef... It’ll be better now you’re in the city...”

A city is an easy place to disappear. An easy place to disappear if you know where to hide. Bars, offices, wherever, it didn’t matter as long as it was some sort of shelter. Just somewhere to stay for a while, relax. Clear your head, clean up, patch a few wounds.

Kef stood in the first dark doorway he found, trying to remember whether he smoked or not, what the time was and when he last ate or slept. The gun seemed more of a comfort than ever. Four bullets left. It wouldn’t be enough.

“Suspect confirmed.”

Shit, this is it, he thought. He was beginning to wish he’d stolen Argyll’s knife. A nice quiet knife. Don’t need to reload a knife. Knife isn’t much good against a gang of trained killers who have you surrounded. He couldn’t see anyone around. It must just be some sort of radio transmission he was picking up somehow. They must have found Argyll.

Perhaps they’d got Ned too. Maybe they were all dead. From what Kef knew of the Killsquads, they didn’t waste any time. Far worse than the police and Kef already knew plenty about how bad the police were, but he had no idea how many there were to a squad, or how many squads were assigned to an individual.

Kef was tired. Thoughts began to stagnate like the stale smell of rain on concrete. All images were turning slowly to grey. Kef was being swallowed by the city. He had to go, get out, and just go somewhere. He started walking. “Don’t bother looking, Kef,” he told himself. “Just don’t look, don’t get looked at.” Nothing recently had been that simple.

“Suspect fleeing. In pursuit.”

Kef was a little worried. He hadn’t realised he was running. Were these people invisible?

“TWO SIX EIGHT! HALT!”

Kef span round, but it was still a full minute before he saw anyone. Three people holding guns.

Four bullets. He’d manage, if the bullets got through the armour.

“Unless you’re inhumanly fast I wouldn’t bother.”

Shit. It’s over.

Kef threw his gun down.

Shit, shit, shit. This is going to hurt.

“Chad?”

Two flashes.

Gateway Part Five

This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.

Gateway Part Five

Kef had been walking for what seemed like several hours, though it was probably closer to twenty minutes.

“Excuse me, sir. City Border Patrol.”

For the second time in a day, Kef was worried that he was about to die. He looked at the man’s badge and saw the name Argyll.

“Do you have clearance to enter the city?”

Kef had the gun deep in his pocket. He was conscious not to fumble for it. Argyll said nothing.

“Where would I get clearance?”

Too easy to give away too much. He was on the floor in seconds. Out of breath, Kef looked up. Argyll was rubbing his fist.

“I’m sorry son, I’ve not done that in a while, but I’m sure you understand.”

It still hurt, no matter how long it’s been, Kef thought, trying to breathe. I deserve this. It’s my own damn stupid fault, he told himself. How could I ever have thought this would be better? No. Kef could not answer that.

That punch was emptiness.

“Come on kid, get up. You need to make it look real.”

Side of the head, near the jaw. Argyll barely flinched.

“Damn it boy, I think you loosened a tooth there... son of a bitch.”

A few seconds more was all Kef would need. I just need to get past him, he said to himself.

“You get clearance from me.”

A few seconds more. Kef was breathing now.

“What?”

“I’ll give you clearance if you tie me up. You have to make it look real. Anyway, I like being tied up.”

It only took a few minutes, even though Kef didn’t want to do it.

“Smart move kid, shooting the radio. Transmitters and all. Ned told me all about it. He told me you were coming. Son of a bitch. All the idiot brothers in the world and he had to be mine.”

Kef had lost all patience for small talk.

“Clearance?”

“Granted.”