G Hopf - The End

With an answer just above a whisper Hunter said, “Yes.”

Opening the door slowly he saw Hunter curled up in the corner. Gordon reached in and touched his arm gently, and Hunter responded by lunging toward him and into his arms. Embracing him tightly, Gordon rocked and kissed his head.

Hunter cried and kept saying, “I’m sorry Daddy, I’m sorry.”

Losing himself in the moment, Gordon was reminded of the long night he still had before him. Samantha quietly stepped into the room and touched him on the shoulder.

“Gordon, we hear some more shooting.”

“Hunter, Daddy has to go.”

Hunter clung tight and said, “No, Daddy, don’t go.”

“I’ll be back, I promise.”

“No, please don’t go Daddy, I need you.”

Hunter’s need for Gordon at this moment broke his heart, “I’ll be right back.”

Samantha leaned down and said, “Come here, baby.” Hunter grabbed hold of Samantha and clung to her tightly, still sobbing.

Gordon walked out of the room and went immediately downstairs.

“It sounds like it’s the opposite side of the community from Jimmy’s house,” Nelson said.

“I don’t think I can go, it might be a ploy to draw me out. The rest of our group might have to fend for themselves right now.”

Gordon, Nelson, Holloway and Nelson’s father chatted for a few minutes about the evening and the need to leave first thing in the morning. Their conversation was cut short when Samantha spoke.

“Absolutely not,” she said from the top of the stairs.

Gordon looked up at her. “Absolutely not, what?”

“You are not going to stay here. You need to go. I want you to go see Mindy and end this,” Samantha said walking down the stairs. After putting Hunter to bed she had overheard their conversation downstairs.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Sam.”

“We’ll be fine, go finish this. This is all because of that bitch. You said Dan is out front dead so she’s the only one left to deal with.”

“I said he was shot, he’s not dead.”

Samantha looked surprised after hearing that Dan was still alive. Pressing him further, “Gordon, we can handle this here. I’m telling you to go and finish this. Go now! Once you’ve taken care of things then go get Simone.”

Gordon was surprised by how forceful Samantha was being. “Sam, I really don’t think I should go.”

She walked up to him, looked at him squarely and said, “Go finish this!”

Gordon looked at Nelson, who raised his eyebrows and winked at him. Looking back to Samantha, he nodded his reluctant approval.

Gordon walked into the garage, reloaded his magazines and wrapped his arm. As he walked to the front to leave he turned to Nelson and said, “Dan was out front bleeding out, can you take care of him?”

“Sure thing, I’ll take care of it STAT,” Nelson answered pulling out a 7-inch knife he had sheathed on his side.

“Let me go with you,” Holloway asked.

“I got this,” Gordon answered, stuffing his pockets with more loaded magazines and double-checking his pistols.

Opening the door again Samantha stopped him, “Gordon.”

Anticipating her comment he said, “I love you too.”

“Gordon.” She said again.

As he turned to look at her, she said, “Kill them all.”

Ensuring that he survived the night, he took his time getting to Mindy’s house. Each step he took was careful and calculated. With so much fighting he knew they too were out for blood. When he reached her street he stopped and squatted down to just listen. Taking a moment to listen to his surroundings, he also thought back on what had transpired earlier in the evening. The thought of Jimmy being dead weighed on him, the loss his group would suffer without him would be great. He vowed he would avenge his friend tonight.

His eyes had begun to adjust to the complete darkness. Only his knowledge of the streets kept him going in the right direction. After spending minutes listening to the eerie quiet he felt confident that he could move. Walking briskly, he made for her house. His anxiety grew with each step; his eyes darting from left to right straining to see anyone. He wasn’t sure how long it took but he finally arrived. He touched the familiar large shrub just outside her house. He took up a position there and listened. The night had finally remained quiet for a long time. The shooting he heard when he left had lasted only moments. It ended as fast as it had started. Not hearing any movement in her front yard he stood up and walked around the large shrub and into someone.

Startled by his surprise encounter, Gordon reacted by pushing the man away from him. Whoever it was groaned as they fell on the ground. Not taking chances, Gordon raised his pistol and shot toward the man twice. The man yelled out in pain and was moving on the ground. Gordon shot two more times. The man stopped moving and fell silent.

The sound of broken glass made Gordon move quickly to take cover along the side of the house. Gunfire and yelling now erupted from inside the house. Gordon recognized Mindy’s voice but could not tell who the male voice belonged to. He wasn’t sure how he should proceed; knowing her floor plan was an advantage but if Mindy was smart she would have blocked off doors and hallways with furniture.

Someone was shooting and it was near the middle of the house, which would have been the living room. Only hearing two voices, Gordon decided he would attempt to enter through a glass door on the opposite side of the house. The glass door was off a side patio and entered into the formal dining room.

Gordon slowly made his way along the side of the house. Mindy was sounding hysterical inside and was barking orders to the other person in there with her. It took him minutes to make his way to the patio and finally to the door. He first tested to see if by luck it was unlocked. Unfortunately, Mindy was thinking and the door was not open. Gordon’s plan was to shoot the glass out and walk right in. Knowing it was risky, he couldn’t think of another way to get in unless he was going to kick down the front door. Leaning up against the side of the house he was hesitating. He was hoping the glass would shatter and fall. Not being an expert on glass, he was hoping it would work. He stood and placed his rifle in his shoulder and was squeezing the trigger when gunfire came from the front of the house. This was different though, it was coming from outside. Gordon hesitated again and took cover. Mindy and her companion were screaming and exchanging fire with whoever was out front. Sensing an opportunity, Gordon changed his plan and went to a side garage door off of the same patio. It, too, was locked, but when a volley of gunfire erupted from inside he took the opportunity to kick the door in. He walked in and went directly for the door that led into the house. It was locked, but still seizing on the chaos in the house he shot the door knob and kicked in the door.

“Someone is at the back door!” Mindy cried out.

More unintelligible chatter went back and forth between her and the man inside. Leaning up against the door frame taking cover Gordon laid down a volley of fire from his M4.

“I’ll get him Mindy, don’t worry,” the man said.

Hearing the man’s voice clearly now he knew who was with Mindy.

“Hey, Max, I would say that there’s not much you can do. You’re surrounded and most of your men are dead including Dan!”

“Fuck you, you prick!” Max yelled.

“We won’t hurt you Max, all I want is Mindy. If you surrender I won’t hurt you!”

More gunfire erupted toward the front of the house. Gordon could hear Max and Mindy taking cover.

“Fuck this Mindy, I’m outta here!”