《The Bartender at the End of the Universe》Ch 273: Don't Test a Man with a Gun
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Creak
The door was anything but quiet as it rocked on its hinges. Though, it did latch shut softly.
BANG!
Without hesitation, Sentenza fired from under his sheet. The blanket was flung up into the air as shot after shot was discharged from the gun.
"So quick, what if you had killed one of your friends?" Azrail asked in barely a whisper.
He had managed to avoid the gunfire by ducking down and quickly sliding to the side of the room. After he had emptied his gun, Sentenza turned his gaze towards the man as he kept his now empty gun trained on the door.
His blanket with six fresh holes drifted down, and now just covered the assassin's feet.
"Tch." Sentenza scoffed. "None of them would be dumb enough to barge in here unannounced...no one that's left anyway."
"How interesting," Azrail mused as he sat down on a stool next to Sentenza's bed.
The room was different than before, but still clearly belonged to Sentenza. It had his sort of spartan flair with a western motif throughout. Real wood furniture, stacks of blankets, and uncomfortable looking pillows under his head.
"The room suits you." Azrail added.
"Yeah, cuz it's mine," Sentenza grunted bluntly. "Now get out before I decide a warning isn't enough."
Azrail nodded as he crossed his legs. "I figured as much. I mean, you have two guns, so why only six shots? And all so close to the head? Felt a little too convenient."
"Well, it's the last warning you'll get from me." Sentenza snorted. "So, leave. Now."
His voice was firm, and he hadn't even turned his head towards the man who had invaded his personal space. He just had a single eye focused on him.
Azrail sighed and turned his gaze towards the window. "Your arrival has left me with a lot of questions you know. Answers too, but mostly questions."
"Don't care." Sentenza said.
"Yes, but I do. Why was this room ready for your arrival? Did those beings all work for you? How did you suddenly appear here? Was it truly magic?" Azrail listed off questions.
Sentenza let out a pained grunt as he pushed himself up on his bed until he was sitting. The bandages on his head obscured his right eye and most of the hair on his head. Just a few strands poked through. He left his gun on the bed in plain view, and grabbed his hat from the bed post. As he put it on his head, his other hand shot up with his second gun and fired.
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BANG!
"I told you to leave me alone." Sentenza threatened as he lowered the brim of his hat down over his eye while he held the smoking gun like the trained killer he was.
"Violence is usually better as a last resort than such an early option you know." Azrail scolded.
"Should've figured it wouldn't be so easy." Sentenza grumbled as he lowered the brim of his hat even more.
Azrail tossed the bullet around in his hand. "Interesting. Those guns are different, aren't they?"
"I don't care for people prodding into my business." Sentenza sneered, before he let out a pained grunt. His hand left his hat and wrapped across his stomach, as pain seemed to spread through his body.
Azrail's eyes grew deadly serious. "What you care about is irrelevant. You're dying, and I have the cure."
"Hah!" Sentenza burst out in a mocking laugh. "Like I haven't heard that one before. Heck, I've used it a time or two myself."
Sentenze flipped up his brim so he could stare down Azrail. Both of them had the eyes of a killer. Practiced, and efficient.
Azrail kept his eyes on Sentenza. "I'm afraid you misunderstand me. I just..."
BANG!
Azrail ducked out of the way but had a look of surprise as a bullet flew from near the ground and grazed across his cheek.
"Lucky guess," Sentenza scoffed. "But can you keep it up?"
BANG!
In the blink of an eye, Sentenza had somehow retrieved his second gun and was already half finished reloading as he fired another bullet.
Azrail scowled as he dashed up the wall. But from above, another bullet came soaring for his skull. It ended up grazing his cheek as well, in the exact same spot as the first one, which deepened the gash.
Sentenza didn't let up. Bullet after bullet started to fly towards his opponent. Except, now that Azrail was moving around, Sentenza never seemed to point his gun anywhere near him.
Azrail flipped and rolled as bullets swarmed him on all sides. Each one left a small cut on his body. The bullets seemed impossible to dodge as they ricocheted across small bits of metal around the room, and even spent casings and other bullets. It was like a spider's web of deadly led being woven right in front of him.
Pretty soon, Azrail made his escape. He opened the door as a bullet whizzed past his ear.
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SLAM!
The thud of an onslaught of bullets against the thick wooden door followed Azrail after he slammed the door shut. He put a hand up to his face and touched his bloodied cheek. He frowned as he looked at the blood on his fingers.
Narissa sighed and rubbed her temple. "Of course, he's already attacking someone." She groaned. "What an absolute fool."
"Young lady, what exactly do you think you're doing?" Harold demanded as he walked proudly up to Narissa.
"Oh? Young? My. My. You flatterer." She cooed. "Allow me to turn that question around. What's a clearly powerful man like you doing here?"
Harold smiled smugly as he stuck his thumbs under his suspenders. "Why yes, I am powerful, aren't I?"
"Of course you are darling, but what brings you here?" Narissa asked. Her words dripping with sweet honey.
"Hmm? Oh uh yes. Quite right," Harold cleared his throat. "Hmm hmm."
He straightened his arms down at his sides and adjusted his glasses on his face. "I'm on the lookout for truants today. Why, it seems like most of the school has all but disappeared."
"Most of the school you say?" Narissa spoke slowly as she seemed to carefully choose each word.
Harold nodded. "Why, I couldn't take two steps without running into a trouble making child, but now? Well, I can't seem to find any....except you of course, but such a respectful young lady could never cause trouble, I'm sure."
"I see." Narissa nodded as she crossed her arms and put her fist under her chin. "But is that really something someone of your...position should worry about?"
"Hmm," Harold nodded. "You know, you may have a point there. I'm far too busy to worry about a few students going missing, aren't I?"
Narissa nodded. "Yes, you have so many pressing matters to deal with after all."
"I do?" Harold stammered. "Uh, I mean, of course I do!"
"Yes, why there's so much on your plate, maybe you should let someone else help carry your burden?" Narissa continued as she looked at Harold with feigned compassion. "Someone who could wield your authority and reach places you're too busy to deal with."
Harold continued to nod. "That does sound like a good idea, doesn't it. Yeah, glad I thought of it."
Harold smirked as he congratulated himself.
"Wow, you're so smart. I just wish...well, no. I couldn't."
"Huh?" Harold asked as he leaned closer. "What is it?"
"Well, it's just..." Narissa backed away slightly and looked down.
"What? What is it?" Harold asked as he took another step towards her. "If you have a problem, why you can trust it with...actually, on second thought." Harold paused and started to pull away from her.
Before he could fully disengage, Narissa took a step closer to him. "Ah, I just thought I could be the one to help you. I have the time, and a chance to enforce your vision? Why that'd be a dream come true!"
Harold was pulled back in. "Really? You'd want to...I mean, of course you would. Who wouldn't want to work for me!"
Narissa nodded. "Oh yes, so much power and wisdom. Anyone would be honored to carry out your commands."
Harold smiled smugly and stared into the distance with a dumb look on his face. After a moment of apparent daydreaming, he shook his head and looked at Narissa.
"Well, I suppose it couldn't hurt." He agreed. "Very well, you're now the head hall monitor, and my new lead truancy officer."
"Oh, thank you so much for this great honor," Narissa praised. "I'll do my best to uphold your laws."
"Yes, well see that you do," Harold nodded as he turned around with a dumb smirk on his face. "I've got some...er...work to do in my office. See that I'm not disturbed."
"Anything you command." Narissa bowed.
"Now uh...where exactly was my office?" Harold mumbled to himself as he looked around.
"Pretty sly scam there," Lulu said as she seemed to just suddenly appear beside Narissa.
"What scam?" Narissa grinned. "I just gave him exactly what he needed."
Lulu winked. "Oh sure. And I just know he thought of that need all by himself, didn't he."
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