The Hulk grabs the hostage nearest to him by the back of his shirt, which stretches around his throat.He scrambles to his feet.
“All right!Move the fuck along.”
Everyone except the leader yells.It’s jarring, and if it’s a tactic to keep us on edge, it’s working.
Instead, he stands guard while they poke and prod and sneer, quietly watching over his twisted kingdom.Like he has all the time in the world.
They start to move us in groups.The closest first, working their way across the floor.It’s impossible to see where they’re taking them; once they reach the corridor, they turn left and disappear.
Then they return and repeat.
Tegan and I are still close to the eastern wall, where she greeted me before they came in.
It’ll take a few minutes for them to reach us, so I’ve got time to think.
Beside me, Tegan is shivering.Tear tracks cut through her blush.
I reach out and squeeze her hand.
Then I lift my head and seek out Sterling.
He’s staring.Okay?he mouths.
I check that no one is watching, then nod.He doesn’t look relieved; in fact, that’s his planning face.Christ.I hope he isn’t thinking of doing anything heroic.
A few feet away, I watch as the leader bends to zip tie an older man in scuffed jeans and heavy brown boots.They look like the kind my uncle wears on the farm—thick and sturdy.Working boots.Not the sort you need to wear into a bank, but then this was probably just an errand for him.In and out.
Quick and painless.
That’s when the shouting starts.
It’s the man in heavy boots.He’s terrified.
The leader grabs him by the throat and lifts him onto his feet.The sounds of his struggling are loud in the shocked silence.
Sterling gets to his feet.“The fuck are you doing?Let him go.”
I push up to my knees, but I can’t stop him.
I’m too far away.
The older man is still choking.He aims a punch at the leader’s stomach, but it mustn’t connect because there’s no reaction.The leader does drop him though, punching the poor guy once in the nose before Sterling is across the floor and in front of him.
The leader brings his gun up.
Aiming straight between Sterling’s eyes.
Sterling, finally seeing sense, takes a step back.“I’m not asking for trouble, okay?I’m trying to help you.”He holds his hands up in front of him.
“Oh, really?”comes the leader’s response.There’s no hint of an accent, no way to really tell what he sounds like through the helmet.It’s smart.
He gestures with his gun, and Sterling takes another step back.
“I don’t think you want to add a murder charge today, do you?”Sterling’s voice is low and controlled.
I don’t believe it.He’s still fucking calm.
We’d better make it through this alive because I’m going to kill him.
