The farmer’s road turned up the side of the hill and became very narrow and twisty.
They slowed down to a crawl as they pushed the bikes up the hill.
“Where do we go?” Darren said.
“Next driveway we turn down and hide,” Yuki said.
The truck turned up the road just as they were pushing their bikes into a driveway.
The light glowed on them. Darren heard the truck screech to a stop. The sound echoed through a door opening and gun cocking.
“Freeze.” A loud male voice shouted out from behind them.
Darren and Yuki stopped in their tracks.
“Turn around, and let’s see your hands.” The voice continued.
Darren and Yuki let go of their bikes. The child carriers kept the bikes upright.
Darren and Yuki turned around to face the truck. The bright light completely blinded them from seeing anything around them. Darren attempted to shield himself from the light with his hands.
“Curfew breaker.” The soldier yelled, “Get your hands up.”
Darren looked at the soldier and then at Yuki.
“When I tell you to, dive into that ditch,” Darren said.
“What…” Yuki said.
“Don’t argue.” Darren said, “I promised that I would keep you safe and I intend to do so.”
“I love you,” Yuki said.
“We had a good run,” Darren said.
“Hands on your…” The soldier started to shout.
A gunshot echoed out from the hillside. Darren heard the distinct thud of a body hitting the ground.
“To the ditch!” Darren yelled.
Yuki jumped into the ditch. Darren heard a splash from the water in the bottom.
“Man down!” A soldiers voice echoed from the truck.
The light moved from Darren and pointed up into the hills behind the truck.
Darren ran towards the truck and pulled out his handgun.
Darren aimed his handgun at the big bright light that was mounted on the truck.
He squeezed the trigger, and the bullet smashed into the light, killing it. A shower of sparks erupted from the light.
At that moment, Darren saw the situation he was in. The soldier that was in the passenger seat was on the ground in a pool of his own blood.
The driver had gotten out of the truck with a rifle in hand. He was running around the hood to get a shot at Darren.
A soldier stood in the opening of the roof hatch, shielding himself from the sparks of the busted light. A rifle was slung across his shoulders.
A fourth soldier sat behind the driver. He fumbled with the door as he attempted to exit the vehicle.
Darren, with his gun still aimed at the light, moved his aim over a foot and fired a couple shots at the soldier in the roof hatch. A bullet hit the soldier in the arm and the chest. The bullet that had hit the arm pierced the skin and broke a bone. The round that hit the chest exploded against the soldier’s Kevlar vest. The soldier’s head exploded a moment later.
Chapter 37
Darren heard another gunshot from a distance. Darren saw the driver duck behind the hood. Darren raced towards the vehicle and took cover behind the rear truck tire. Darren looked back towards Yuki and the ditch.
Yuki had pulled herself out of the ditch, and she was hiding behind her carrier.
Darren drew his sword from its sheath.
The fourth soldier opened the rear passenger door. His gun was out and in front of him. Darren aimed his weapon at the soldier, He fired off a burst of shots at the soldier, and then his handgun jammed.
The soldier jumped out of the truck. His rifle moving to aim at Darren’s chest.
Darren let out a scream and swung his sword at the soldier. His sword swung underneath the barrel of the rifle and skimmed across the skin of the man’s left elbow. It continued on to dig into the chest of the soldier.
Darren saw that it was just a kid no older than himself. The kid squeezed the trigger, and the rifle slammed back into his shoulder. The bullet raced towards Darren causing Darren to jump backward letting go of the sword.
Darren fell on his ass as he watched the kid slump backward onto the ground. Darren felt blood trickle down his neck. He pressed his hand to his neck and felt the warmness of his own blood.
“Darren!” Yuki’s voice echoed from the bikes.
The driver appeared around the back of the truck. His rifle was pointed at Darren.
“Shit,” Darren said.
A gunshot fired off from the bikes. Meaty smacks echoed from the soldier. Darren looked to see that a bullet wound appeared on the drivers lower abdomen. A second bullet went into his upper chest a moment later. Blood spattered behind him as the round went through the body.
The soldier collapsed to the ground in a heap.
“Darren,” Yuki yelled as she ran towards him.
“You were supposed to run away,” Darren said.
“Shut up you idiot.” Yuki said, then stopped to see the blood seeping through Darren’s fingers, “Hold on. I’ll get the medkit.”
“My carrier, front. Next to the rice.” Darren said.
Darren held onto the bloody wound and held it tight. Blood flowed from the wound.
“It’s not that bad.” Darren said, “I think that it barely scratched it.”
“Shut up.” Yuki said, “I got it.”
“I mean. It barely hurts.” Darren said.
A moment later, Yuki ran up to Darren.
“Oh fuck,” Yuki said.
“I don’t think it got the artery.” Darren said, “But it’s bleeding bad. I need a bandage.”
Yuki wrapped the bandage around Darren’s neck and held it tight.
Darren closed his eyes for a moment.
Yuki slapped his face.
“Don’t die.” Yuki said, “I’m not losing you too.”
“I won’t,” Darren said.
“Don’t try to sleep,” Yuki said.
The crunch of a pair of boots appeared behind them.
“I think I know you two.” The voice said.
Darren saw a Japanese man in a dirty army uniform.
Yuki raised her handgun from the ground.
“Don’t.” The man said, “I met you before. Gave you some tea and some rations.”
“Captain Yusako.” Yuki said, “Darren’s hit.”
The Captain walked up to Darren and looked at the wound.
“Keep it wrapped up.” The Captain said, “My medic will look at him. I think he’ll live.”
“See. I told you I’m fine.” Darren said.
A moment later, ten army men poured onto the road.
“Secure the area.” The Captain said, before turning to one man, “You are late Lt Harrito.”
“You’re in the wrong position.” Lt Harrito said, “We were supposed to ambush them up the road.”
“You are correct on that.” The Captain said, “These civilians got caught. But enough of that for now. Get their gear to base camp and clean up the area. I am going to have a walk with these two.”
A soldier came and looked at Darren’s neck. He cleaned the area and poured a white powder on it.
Yuki sat next to Darren.
“Can he walk?” The Captain asked.
“Yes, sir.” The medic said, “Flesh wound. He’ll be fine.”
“Walk with me to camp.” The Captain said.
“Our gear?” Yuki said.
“Your gear will be packed up and won’t be touched.” The Captain said.
“Our guns?” Darren said.
“Keep them.” The Captain said, “I trust you.”
Darren stood up. He used the door to pull himself up. He picked up his gun from the ground. With a couple quick motions, he cleared out the jammed bullet. He put the handgun away in his holster. He picked up his fedora where it had fallen.
“Where did you get the gun?” The Captain asked.
“The boss’s desk at the storage unit where we were hiding out at,” Darren said.
Darren pulled the sword out of the body of the kid soldier. He cleaned the sword with the soldier’s jacket and put it back in his sheath.