[novella] Bloody Loud

This was to be the 15th flash story for Flashnano 2022 with the prompt "We are halfway! Take a story and cut it in half."

Original draft was finished on 2023-01-03.

[...]

Those were still on the second floor while I was already at the exit, running towards it, pistol in hand. The stupid blonde stood in front of the emergency override; she wasn't guarding it, she was only frozen in place by the shock of watching her friends and lovers dropping one by one on the CCTV. I pushed her to the side and hit the button. The iron curtains began to slowly rise, revealing the vigilante standing alone in the rain, soaked trench coat flopping around in the wind. "Stay there" I shouted, aiming at the menacing silhouette, "not a step closer!" I grabbed the girl, pulled her closer and locked my arm around her waist, holding her in front of me.

The vigilante didn't seem to care and advanced. "I know they are coming." Another step. "They don't know where you are just yet. Shoot, and they'll know." Another step. "Let her go."

I turned my gun to the side, aiming at the girl's head, displaying my silencer. "Are you sure about that?" I boasted.

"Yes."

"Let's take it to the test." I remember smiling as I pulled the trigger. The sudden noise was overwhelming, I instinctively put my hand on my ear, not realizing that I let go of my gun.

"There's a reason why those are called 'suppressors', not 'silencers', you know."

I glanced back as I heard movement and radio noises from behind, but by the time I turned back, the law came unjustly close. He looked taller I thought.

The vigilante grabbed my shoulder and yanked my head to the side, exposing my neck before promptly sinking sharp teeth in it. My body locked in place while my blood was sucked out of me. It made me feel light, as if I was floating, as if all my worries was of the past and nothing mattered anymore. I heard the policemen yell "drop the body," mistaking the just outlaw for my unjust self, who pulled his own pistol out of a pocket, firing a warning shot. The smell of gunpowder and cinnamon filled the air as my limp body hit the floor.