By Regalo3000
(In response to Challenge #1: "First Kills")
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No, stop, stay right where you are! ...
Stop right there! ...
Don't move! ...
I said don't move! I'm warning you! This is your last warning! ...
BANG BANG BANG!!!
_______
It was a beautiful day. The sun was bright. The birds were singing. It didn't look like the kind of day that would end in death.
Slow Motion was in his room, writing in his journal. The types of things he wrote about were not the daily events that surrounded him, but, impressions of things
World Watch One is a cool bus.
I laugh inside every time I see New Jersey. I think he's funny.
The room is cold. I wonder if the boiler's not working?
_______
He went to look for someone who could turn up the heat, but, no one could be found. He searched reception. No one. Then he saw what he thought was a spot of blood on the floor. Then there was another one. The trail led to a closet. He opened the door.
The Driller was lying inside, dead.
No way! Whoever could take out The Driller had to be really good!
He wanted to weep but held his cool, checked The Driller's holster which turned up empty, picked up a pipe that was lying against the wall of the closet.
_______
Slow Motion moved through the corridors of the Institute, looking for more signs of death, or any clue that could lead him to the whereabouts of the killer, or killers. He had no idea how many intruders had made their way into the building.
Then there came the noise, the opening and closing of a filing cabinet. The noise repeated itself again and again. Whoever it was was searching for something and hadn't found it.
Where is it? asked a voice. It has to be here!
Slow Motion turned and looked around the corner quickly, got an immediate assessment of the situation.
The killer had Mrs. Johnson in a headlock and was using his free arm to open and close the cabinet drawers while still holding onto a gun. The firearm was fitted with a silencer.
Mrs. Johnson had spotted Slow Motion but did not give his position away by making any noise. Instead, she spoke: If you just tell me what you're looking for, I might be able to help.
There's a file here on me, said the killer. I know there is.
What's your name?
Don't be funny with me, you know who I am, you all know who I am.
All I know is that you're the delivery guy.
Stop lying! Stop lying!
And I heard you lost your job.
They're all against me, and you're in on it too!
Honestly! I'm not!
Liar!
I know that voice, thought Slow Motion.
Where's Slow Motion?
Stanford!!!
Slow Motion, is that you???
Yes.
You bastard! You weren't supposed to have made it! You were supposed to lose!
Stanford, what's going on with you?
Anastasia died, he began to cry.
Let go of the woman, then we'll talk!
Go on! Get out of here!
He let Mrs. Johnson go. She calmly walked round the corner, mouthing the words thank you as she passed Slow Motion, who urged her on with a nod of the head and a slight push.
Okay, we can talk now, Stanford. Slow Motion stepped around the corner/
Wow, you look good, said Stanford.
I'm eating well. How did she die?
No, stop, stay right where you are.
Stanford raised the gun in the air aiming right for Slow Motion's heart.
Anastasia is ancient history, Stanford.
Not to me, I never stopped loving her, even after you took her away from me. Why did you take her? She was mine!
I'm sorry, said Slow Motion, I wasn't thinking. I didn't care how you felt and I'm sorry.
She died in a car accident.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Stop right there!
I'm not going to harm you, I just want to talk!
Don't move, Stanford was yelling. The veins stood out on his temple. I said don't move! I'm warning you! This is your last warning!
Slow Motion slowly reached out for the gun without saying a word. Stanford fell to his knees, weeping like a child.
Buckaroo came round the corner followed by several Blue Blaze Irregulars!
No one's taking me! yelled Stanford pulling out yet another firearm!
BANG BANG BANG!!!
Stanford slid to the floor and looked up at Slow Motion. I showed, he said ... mercy ...
Tears welled up in Slow Motion's eyes.
Buckaroo yelled, Get a medic over here now!!
Reno was on one knee bending over Stanford. He's dead, Buckaroo.
Slow Motion, are you okay?
Slow Motion remained silent, staring at the body of his old college buddy.
Slow Motion? Hey ... buddy ... Come to ...
Slow Motion's body was wracked with pain as weeping overtook him.
C'mon, good buddy, said Buckaroo, helping Slow Motion to his feet.
_______
Slow Motion would spend the following weeks on the rooftop of the Institute, under the gazebo, in the little oriental garden, unshaven, unbathed, and unmoving except to eat one meal a day, or to answer questions shot at him by the local police. The only visitor he would accept was Mrs. Johnson. But, they never talked at all, they simply sat and stared together at the horizon.
