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Dallas…

He moved slowly now, like a snake. No… like a snake charmer, keeping me locked in his trance-like gaze. Holding me prisoner with his beady black eyes, unable to move or do anything or—

DALLAS!

In a fraction of an instant, he snapped his weapon downward and leveled it at me. It happened robotically, like his arm was hydraulic…

CRACK!

The rifle came alive in my hands. Shit, it was like it shot itself.

Alacard looked down, at the blossoming red hole in his chest. A dark stain was spreading outward, looking black in the moonlight.

Best of all, his face was contorted in a mask of complete surprise.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

He jerked a few times, stumbling backwards. Then he crumpled, just as Kane sprang to his feet.

“Dallas!”

CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK!

“DALLAS!”

Somehow I stopped before my clip was empty. But only just barely.

“Holy shit, Dallas.” Kane’s hand closed over the barrel, pushing it downward. “I’ve never seen you move that fast,” he swore.

You’ve never seen me deal blackjack.

The thought only barely registered in the furthest recesses of my mind. I was still numb. Speechless. Tingling all over.

My lover’s arm slid around my waist, pulling me in the direction of the cliff face. “C’mon.”

“B—But the truck…” I managed to say. “It’s that way.”

Kane said something, but I could barely hear now. I thought maybe I’d gone deaf from the sound of gunshots, but then I realized the deafening sound was above me. And it was getting louder and louder.

“Forget the truck,” Kane was practically shouting into my ear. “Come this way, we need cover.”

“What’s happening?” I yelled. The dust was swirling again, only this time there was was a storm. Or at least it seemed that way as I looked up, trying to find recognizable patches of the clear night sky.

My whole body was shaking. Even my ear drums were vibrating.

“What the hell is going on?” I shouted.

Kane’s breath was hot against my ear. His voice was loud but calm.

“Helicopters.”

Sixty-Three

KANE

It was beautiful, seeing the way it all unfolded. Watching the entire platoon repel from the two Sikorskys, inserting themselves smoothly and effortlessly into the fight.

My only regret was that it was over too soon.