• Aireana turned to look. But to late. Bullets filled the room. Patrons and servers ran for cover. For most it was too late. I reached for my stolen gun, but Aireana yanked me toward the bar. Bullets smashed into the dark wood of the bar as we valted into it.
    Alic waited on the otherside.
    “What’s going on?”he shouted over the roar of gunfire.
    “Brenard.” Aireana shouted back.
    “Wait, you know that clown?” I was shocked.
    “And u don’t?”
    Just then the guns stopped. This is when the talking started. As always.
    “You’re so easy Jax, almost predictable.”
    “Ah, what do you know?”
    “I know you and I are the same breed. Or, were.” That bought a laugh from the goons. I fired over the bar in the general direction of some of the laughs. A second later I was reassured by the thud of a corps hitting the wood floor.
    “Nice shootin’ Tex. I got to say I envy that aim. To bad it’ll be gone.”
    “You wish, Jerkoff.”
    A goon spoke up. This was getting annoying.” Brenard can take you. I kn-“ Another gunshot and another body hitting the floor.
    “Now that’s just luck”
    “Only half.” A burst of automatic gunfire hit the bar silencing me. The burs also knocked a bottle off the counter-top. Catching it I noticed what it was.

    Brenard turned to his three remaining men ”Kill them.”
    “Yes sir.”
    Brenard turned and left as the sound of gun fire started up again. Smiling he reported the mission accomplished.

    I pulled the bow-tie from my neck. “Never liked these things.” I said as I stuffed it into the bottles neck. ”Hey Alic, you got a lighter?” I shouted over the ever increasing gunfire.
    “Ya.” He reached into his tux pocket and withdrew a lighter. I took it, lit the tie and threw it over the bar. After the sound of shattering glass fire engulfed the room. I stood to take a shot at the three things standing between me and the door.
    One had foolishly dropped his gun and patted at the flames that had engulfed his leg. I dropped him no problem. The second one got a round off before I killed him. The bullet tore into Alic’s shoulder as he stood. The third however backed around the door, but he took one in the leg as he did.
    Since no more bullets flew I took that as our cue to leave.( that and the sirens and the fact that the roof was about to cave.) I draped Alic’s arm over my shoulder, careful not to put pressure on his wound. Aireana found us a door and we made our not so glorious escape.

    We watched from a nearby hill as the emergency crews struggled with the increasing flames. Alic moned but remained stable. After a while I turned to Aireana and asked” What did he mean that we were the same beings?”
    “There is a lot that you need to know. And some things you need to see. Come, fallow me.
    I did, caeful of Alic. I didnt know anything anymore. But i was gonna find out. soon