Page 50 of Gunslinger Girl

Dammit, Halcyon!

The rods spun in an ever-expanding circle, spreading outward toward the edge of the arena. Pity steadied herself. Much faster and she would never be able to hit them. It was now or never.

She aimed.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

One by one, the targets disappeared in a spray of sparks.

As they rained down, Pity sighted her final target: a larger orb that appeared above the center of the arena. When it shattered, she threw her arms victoriously into the air, the silver barrels of her guns sparkling as an eruption of golden flames enveloped her.

Applause ushered her back into the dark. Drenched in sweat, her heart raced. But now it was from elation. They had liked her. Hell, they had loved her. Even Miss Selene had stood for the ovation.

I don’t have to leave, she thought gleefully. There’s no way Selene would put me out after that.

When she reached the floor of the tunnels, she found Halcyon waiting.

“Bravo, Serendipity, bravo!” He handed her a single purple rose.

“I-I can’t believe—” she said. “I mean, I didn’t think I could—”

“I never had a doubt.” He dipped his head and was gone again, off to introduce the next act.

She started down the tunnel, half drunk from euphoria and the heady scent of the flower. A male silhouette came toward her from the opposite end. Widmer, she thought, or even Max, come to congratulate her.

But when the figure stepped into one of the lights, it was Beau.

He said nothing as he lunged at her. His hand wrapped around her throat. The rose fell from her fingers as her head thumped against the concrete wall. Stars of pain winked in the edges of her vision. She tried to cry out, but only a faint croak escaped.

Beau jammed his gun under her chin.

“If you ever do anything like that again,” he hissed, pale eyes boring into her, “you won’t live to see the next sunrise. Do you understand me?” The wrath on his handsome features chilled Pity to her core. He pressed the gun so hard that it bit into her flesh. “Say it! I want you to say that you understand.”

He loosened his grip.

“What I understand,” Pity wheezed, “is that if you don’t point that away from me, we’re going to learn which of us can pull a trigger faster.”

His eyes narrowed and flickered down to see the barrel pointed at his gut. The corner of his mouth twitched. “Twelve shots, little girl. That’s all you’ve got. I counted. Right now you’re on empty.”

“Am I?” She held his gaze, jaw set. “I’ve had a couple of minutes. And I think you’d agree that a smart person keeps their piece loaded in a place like Cessation, right?”

Beau glared at her. Finally, he released her fully and stepped back. He lowered his weapon but made no move to put it away. “Remember what I said. A smart person also knows when not to press their luck.” He turned on his heel and strode off, leaving her slumped against the wall.

When he was far enough away that she knew he wasn’t coming back, she raised a trembling hand to her throat. Fear still coursed through her. Her skin was clammy, her muscles weak.

It was a stupid idea, to shoot at Selene. Even with the barrier, she had known that. But it had worked, hadn’t it?

When she felt strong enough, she straightened and smoothed out her clothes. But before starting down the tunnel again, she flipped open the cylinder of her revolver. Six empty chambers stared up at her. One by one, she reloaded that gun, and then the other.

Only when she had finished did her hands stop shaking.

CHAPTER 16

When the show concluded, the entire company escorted Pity to the Gallery, where cheers erupted the moment she walked through the door.

“You were great!” exclaimed Max.

“You were perfect!” upped Luster.