bullet gut

Verona stumbled as she hit the base of the stairs, too caught off guard by the scene to remember not to step down, expecting another stair below, but to go forward. Avery caught her. Lucy glanced at the old woman, while holding a pen in hand, and deferred to John, stepping aside so John could rush Cleo.

"This way!" Lucy called to the woman, eyeing Francis, who was backing off.

More careful than others, but still dangerous. He could throw.

Cleo, face to face with John, drew her gun. She pressed the gun against his middle.

"Bullets won't stop me," John told her.

"I've got a variety."

She pulled the trigger. Verona flinched, ducking low, so she wouldn't get shot as the bullet punched through John and out behind him.

She pulled the trigger again, twice- three times. Verona stayed down, ducking, flinching with hands over her ears.

Another shot- the sound violent in a different way.

A misfire. Gun damaged, hand partially mangled.

"John!" Lucy called out.

"Get people clear!" John shouted. "I'll be fine!"

He overpowered Cleo, shoving her down into the stairs. A lot of the fight had gone out of her with her hand ruined.

- Summer Break 13.5