Villainy Thrives

Holden Treli stood with his revolvers smoking at each side. Four men of the marshals laid on the sun-scorched gravel covered in crimson pools, expanding evermore. marshal Callidan Stood across, his pistol emptied. “Seems you’re empty, marshal.” Treli laughed, showing his crooked, yellowed smile. His beige, brown and white clothes were all dirtied, stained with sweat. He smelled of booze, blood and gunpowder.

The marshal wore a fine black jacket, with his badge fastened nicely on the heart. He wore disty leather boots and gloves, and a wide-brimmed hat to block the sun, which he threw aside, knowing what came next. “I counted twelve bullets, Treli,” The marshal didn’t smile, stone faced as could be. “Looks like you’re out, too.” Callidan holstered his pistol, Treli did the same. They slowly circled each other, the searing sun bearing down on them. Sweat soaked their clothes and trickled down their foreheads. Circle by circle, they stayed within four meters of the other. Treli had an impressive record, robbing over 50 banks in the country. Killing hundreds, including the rest of Callidan’s team. The marshal couldn’t let this stand, they had never come this close.The wind of the west blew softly, gently moving the gravel upon the ground. Their fingers sparked with anticipation.

“Careful, marshal, don’t hurt your back!” He ran at Callidan, throwing his fists fiercely at his face. Callidan dodged swiftly, pummeling Treli in the stomach. He coughed loudly, laughing as he grabbed Callidan’s arm in response. He kicked the back of the marshal’s knee, bringing him to the ground with a second shove of a foot.

Callidan responded quickly, kipping up in no time to surprise Treli. He knocked him directly across the chin, causing Treli to stagger back. With two swift strikes to his face, Treli fell to the ground. His ears were ringing, blood dripping from his nose. Without pause, he kicked his feet up, expecting the marshal’s advance. Treli’s heels dug straight under Callidan’s ribs, knocking the wind out of him.

Coughing, unable to breathe, Callidan was stunned. Treli scrambled to his feet, running in to chop his enemy in the throat. He barely evaded the strike, hitting Treli below the belt, and then hitting him in the throat as he bent over in pain.

“Ych!” Treli yelped, jumping and running back. “Marshal, you fight cheap. What kind of law man are you?”

“One who wins!” Callidan yelled, charging. Treli was gasping for air, but adrenaline kicked in as he found his breath. He knew the marshal would leave himself open if he acted hurt, still. Before Callidan could strike, he gave a mighty uppercut to his chin, causing his teeth to crack from a mighty clack of the jaw. The marshal fell over in pain. Treli saw no reason for mercy. He killed before, and this was no different. He grabbed Callidan’s leg, jumping onto his knee with full force while bending his shin up.

CRACK

Callidan screamed in pain as his leg snapped under Treli’s force. He couldn’t get up, no bullets, no weapons.

Treli stood back, laughing. “Looks like you have a problem here, marshal.” He pulled a single bullet out of his jacket pocket, loading it into his right revolver. “I knew I brought this lucky bullet for a reason.”

“What? Why did you keep it and not use it you bastard?” Callidan roared.

“‘cause I like me a fight, marshal, that’s why.” Treli laughed in his guttural tone. The marshal eyes widened as the barrel of hell faced him. “You know what they say, marshal,” He giggled like a young man. “Innocence dies,” he cocked his gun, readied to play the final death note. “While villainy thrives.”