CHAPTER FOUR
The Diners
They had reached the remains of the four corners of the old U.S. and in those cavernous ruins they heard screams echoing off the stonewalls. George was the first to reach the source of the screams followed by Rista with The Flannel Ronin in tow. A group of Outskirt cannibals surrounded two women their shirts were torn open, the screams came mostly from the woman with long red hair, while the shorter brunette shouted at her captors, two other men, one of which was a Dog Skull were tied back to back to a pillar, and finally another man was tied to the rotating spit in the center, burning alive but the peculiar thing was that he did not scream in pain, he was growling in anger.
GEORGE
This is bad.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
Rista, how much can you see?
RISTA
Everything, their fire enhances my red sight.
THE FLANNEL RONIN
Then you go high, I go low while George focuses on the prisoners.
Rista leapt off the edge of the cliff sword first, slicing through the first Outlander and without moving a step, twisted his blade backwards to cut through the Outlander charging from behind.
The Flannel Ronin rode George into the fray, he leapt off him into the center of the Outlanders, he got low, balancing his body with his left hand, he kicked in a circular motion while slashing through the Outlanders in a pinwheel of death.
George pounced on the fire wielding Outlander that guarded the two women, tearing into his throat with his fangs, and then biting through the ropes to set the captives free. Next, the Saber-Tooth Tabby grabbed the large man on the spit by the color flinging him on the dirt ground to safety. The two men were startled at first to see the large cat with blood across its mouth, but gave a huge sigh of relief when the beast nonchalantly tore apart the ropes binding them with a wave of its paw.
Every Outlander laid lifeless while their prisoners were freed if not incredibly shaken. Bushy was the first to speak.
BUSHY
You guys didn’t free us to kill us did you?
RISTA
No.
BUSHY
Well then thank you, sooo much! Right everybody?
SIGG
From the bottom of my heart…
Francisco stood, his body was smoking and half of his face and torso had been horribly burned.
CISCO
Thanks loads
Delphine screamed then fainted into Vesper’s arms.
VESPER
CAN WE GET OUT OF HERE ALREADY!?
BUSHY
Any chance you happen to be going East?
THE FLANNEL RONIN
Yes.
BUSHY
We’re headed to Haven City and as you can already tell this trip went a little haywire.
CISCO
You’re telling me.
BUSHY
We’ll gladly give you a ride East in exchange for our protection.
The Ronin’s agreed and were soon on the road in a filled Winnebago with the five strangers. Introductions were made with the two Ronin’s remaining silent upon finding out the two men were the princes of the West. They fought the urge to murder these royals and take this vehicle to capitol of the East; such was not the way of the Neo-Samurai.
The Strangers had fled the West and decided to get a look at the scenery when the Outlanders assaulted them.
BUSHY
If you three hadn’t stepped in that’s it, would’ve been over. It’s a crazy thing to be rescued, I think its underrated. Quite exhilarating, right everyone?
Vesper and Delphine were stone silent in the back of the car, the Ronin’s also stayed silent with their eyes forward; Sigg had fallen asleep while Francisco used the passenger mirror to look at his face as he peeled away this burned skin.
FRANCISCO
Whatever you say cuz. Anyone else hungry?
Sigg perked up from his sleep.
SIGG
I could eat.
BUSHY
That’s not a bad idea but I don’t know where to go.
The Flannel Ronin squinted, using his master sight to see ahead.
THE FLANEL RONIN
There is a Diner ahead, eight miles.
BUSHY
Not gonna ask how you know, I’m just gonna go.
The Winnebago sped down the abandoned highway unbeknownst to them that Denver Max’s blood red armor plated Town car was not too far behind.
LUMBERJACK
Can you pick it up; you’re driving like a senior citizen.
DENVER MAX
My driving is fine.
LUMBERJACK
How about we switch off and I can show you how mistaken you are.
DENVER MAX
No one drive’s this car but me.
LUMBERJACK
Then pray I don’t kill you after this nap you’re forcing me into.
The Winnebago had reached the Diner at sunset. Delphine and Vesper were the first to run out of the car followed by Francisco and Sigg. The Ronin’s started their exit when they were stopped by Bushy.
BUSHY
Hold on a second fellas, I need to show you something.
Rista and The Flannel Ronin sat across from each other arms folded while George lay on the floor. Bushy pulled a TV/VCR from the ceiling of the Winnebago, turned it on while slamming a tape inside.
BUSHY
My friends you met, they’re good people, but this film, this is really who I’m asking you to swear to protect.
He pressed play, the Ronin’s went from bored and confused to amazed as soon as the movie began and they stayed amazed until it ended.
The Diner was rundown with old decaying wood and white cracked tiles that had seen better days. Unlike many establishments a long the Outskirts this one actually observed the “No Entertainment laws” there was no music, the only sounds were the creaks in foundation.
Delphine, Vesper and Sigg were seated at the booth nearest to the entrance of the Diner.
DELPHINE
I want to go home, I want to go home.
VESPER
We can’t we’re wanted criminals.
DELPHINE
My parents are the Duke and the Duchess of Hillsboro, they can work out something.
SIGG
Even for me?
DELPHINE
We’ll drop you off somewhere.
VESPER
In what we don’t have a car.
DELPHINE
Then we just run and keeping going until we get back home.
VESPER
We’ll be attacked by more Outlanders.
DELPHINE
Then you think of a way to get us out of here because I’m losing my mind!
The front doors CREAKED announcing the arrival of the two men, one short and stout wearing a denim jacket, a Stetson and the taller one wore a long gray trenchoat while wielding a giant axe. They strolled in, nodded at the odd group in the nearest booth as they approached the bar in the center of the Diner where JoJo the waitress had been “resting her eyes”. She snapped awake at the sound of the squeaking boots.
JOJO
Welcome to Dusty’s, seat wherever you’d like.
They sat at the counter.
LUMBERJACK
I’m hitting the head, just get me a coffee.
JOJO
Sure thing sweetness.
Denver Max took the menu and rifled through it. Delphine looked at him from afar.
DELPHINE
This is our chance.
VESPER
What?
DELPHINE
Shut up and follow me slowly.
The three quietly got up from the booth, Delphine headed for the man at the counter, snatchingthe pistol from his holster; Denver Max held his hands up.
DENVER MAX
Can I help you little lady?
DELPHINE
Give me your car keys!
DENVER MAX
I can’t do that I’m afraid, you see, no one can drive my car but m-
BAM! Delphine shot Denver Max in the stomach; he fell face forward clutching his bloody stomach, screaming in agony.
DELPHINE
One of you get his keys!
VESPER
Del-
DELPHINE
HURRY IT UP!
Vesper ran to the fallen man, searching his body for his keys.
SIGG
I’m very sorry Mister.
She found the keys and threw them to Delphine, Sigg stayed behind the two ran out of the Diner, headed to the blood red armor plated Town car and hopped inside. When Delphine put the keys in the ignition a thumb print scanner went off. Perplexed, Delphine put her thumb on the plate and BOOM!!! The car exploded in a blaze. Denver Max blead out on the tile heaving with a smile on his face.
DENVER MAX
No…one…drive’s…my…car…but…
He closed his eyes and passed on.
LumberJack ran out from the bathroom, he saw a Dog-Skull standing over Denver Max who laid dead on the floor in a pool of blood while outside the car was in flames.
Francisco had been smoking a rolled cigarette when, Delphine, and Vesper ran out from the diner into the car and exploded. For the first time in a long time Francisco felt something, a lot of things, shock, terror, rage and grief to name a few. He had no idea what to do but run inside the diner.
Francisco burst into the Diner, LumberJack had Sigg by the throat then threw him to the ground and readied his axe.
FRANCISCO
That your car out there?
LUMBERJACK
It was my partner’s car.
FRANCISCO
I think your partner’s car killed my friends.
LUMBERJACK
I think your friends killed my partner!
FRANCISCO
I’m going to kill you.
LUMBERJACK
You can try.
They charged towards each other both swinging. Francisco nearly connected a right hook when CHOP his right arm was hacked off. Lumberjack assumed the battle was over but the kid kept moving towards him ready to go with his left while blood ran out of his left shoulder. Lumberjack hacked off the left arm, this mattered even less as Francisco now tried to bite the Lawman. LumberJack kept swinging until he had hacked the lunactic into pieces.
Rista was meditating outside of the Winnebago, having just seen the film he needed to contemplate heavily about the world around him, when the car explosion happened. Rista rose to attention running into the Diner just as LumberJack finished cutting up Francisco.
LUMBERJACK
Oh great who are you?
RISTA
I am Rista the blind Ronin and that boy’s protector.
LUMBERJACK
Course you are, lets get this over with.
He twirled his axe before coming down on the Ronin, who blocked the axe with his katana. The cling and clanging of both weapons was a choir of violence as their owners traded blows causing sparks.
Their duel brought them outside the Diner. The fire of the explosion illuminated their brutal shadows. Each weapon was held by the other until Rista went low sliding across the ground with his blade, going smoothly through LumberJack’s mid section. The Lawman fell apart with fountains of blood coming out each end. Rista used the sleeve of his kimono to wipe his katana clean before putting it back into its holster. Sigg slowly emerged from the Diner.
SIGG
Thank you.
Rista nodded then gestured for Sigg to follow him back to the Winnebago. When they got back Sigg frantically recounted the horrific events of the Diner to Bushy, the prince looked at the Dog Skull then both Ronin.
BUSHY
Now if one of you can just kill him we’ll be on our way.
RISTA
What!?
BUSHY
Look Sigg, its not like I hate you, but I don’t really like you either and with the others gone you serve no purpose.
SIGG
I’m the star of the movie!
BUSHY
And your memory shall live on forever. Now one of you get to slicing.
The Flannel Ronin nodded at Bushy then took out his katanaa, instead of striking at the Dog-Skull he slashed at Bushy’s throat, he gurgled and collapsed.
SIGG
WHY!?
THE FLANNEL RONING
He was dishonorable, and we saw your film, you were quite good.
GEORGE
Go now!
The two Ronin, the Saber-Tooth Tabby and the Dog-Skull actor were on their way to Haven City.
The Drewniverse 44 