Eden Dale [COMPLETED & UPDATED]

III: Sabre Mansion

Barrett M82A1
.44 Magnum, tiger-striped
Beretta M9, 9mm
Scottish Dirk, staghorn

You have to keep going, Jon
'I don't have to keep listening to you.'
You are not serious
'Of course. I'm tired.'
[Silence.]
'We're resting here. After all, it's like, how far away again?'
14 yards
'Don't worry. You'll get your game.'

Jon's ventures deep into the woods had proven effectual, though exhausting. He could hear their distant chatters, like little birds, from where he stood, panting, clearly puffed out.

Jon rested his back on a trunk, subsequently dropping his rucksack bag to the left, and his rifle case to the right of his stand. He squirmed a little in his gear, chugged a bottle of water, then sighed.

***

"Can we at least know where you're taking us?" Eden cried out. "I demand it!"

[Silence.]

"Come on, guys."

All in the vehicle laughed.

"It's a surprise, remember?" Chris said with a smirk as he drove on.

Bella was seated on the passenger seat. She wiggled her feet over the dashboard then looked behind once. "Hope you're having fun so far. You shouldn't turn 22, all gloomy."

"Fun, yea. Sure." Eden scoffed then turned to Ema. "I know you're in this too, Ema. So, tell me. Where are we going?" Of course, she wouldn't get anything out of her.

As if remembering something, Eden rose. "Wait. Bella, where does your Uncle, Michael, live again?" The road was narrowing to a bend.

Bella just smiled as they took the turn, revealing an old mansion that sat a few meters ahead. The vehicle advanced into the compound, and Chris found a perfect spot beneath some huge tree at the mansion's fore. He parked the Honda.

With some excitement, Bella jumped off. She yanked Eden's side open, who alighted, smiling. "Welcome, to Sabre... Mansion." Bella spoke gleefully.

Chris courteously opened Ema's door. "Come on, Chris. You don't really have to do that for me..." she blushed, her hands smoothly sliding through his palm as he helped her up and off.

"Come on, Ema." Chris grinned broadly.

They had just turned from the vehicle when Bella appeared from out of nowhere, sandwiching herself between the two.

"Hey, handsome!" Bella turned to Chris, then winked. "Hey. Ema." She tried to smile.

Ema noticed that Eden was on a call. Of course. She excused herself, then quietly paced off. "Let me help Eden with some of the stuff."

Bella watched her briefly, then turned back to Chris. "Trouble in paradise?" He asked.

Bella just tittered then nudged him on the side. They followed on.

"Come on, dad. You can't miss every birthday!" Eden laughed lightly, dismissively.
"Well, guess what? My friends took me on a three-day trip! We actually just got here. It looks pretty cool. A little creepy, but cool."
"M-hmm"
"Okay, sure."
"I doubt that, but it's okay, really. I'll understand."
"No problem."
"Of course, I will! You should too."
"Uh-huh, okay... bye, dad. I love you."

Eden hung up then turned to Ema, who stood behind her. She smiled broadly. "Hey, Ema."

"Eden."

The two traded looks before Eden turned to the door.

"Here." Ema handed her the key.

"Thanks," Eden said.

***

Jon looked through the scope of the Barrett, and there she was. Eden looked stunning in her white dress. Her bunny hair formed spirals up her head, ending in beautiful coils on either side.

Jon took a deep breath, then played his finger on the trigger. He scanned the surrounding areas, then nodded, satisfied with how things looked. He paused to hydrate.

Big man. You've not done something, you know. Came the bugging voice. Heat and proximity sensors. Well, not always "bugging."

Jon scrambled for his bag, then took out a gadget. He stared at its blue screen, which initially displayed blank lines over a radar. He smacked it once, then it came to life, beeping. It showed something. He heaved.

Anything?
'There is something. But what does it say?'
Well, let's see...
[Silence.]
Someone's definitely approaching, at 3 o'clock
'Distance?'
12 yards, at least
'Any weapons?'
A gun. Probably a pistol.
'Just one?'
[Silence.]
See that? That, right there, is a vehicle. Probably his, or...
'No.'
Okay, let's take care of this, then. Quick.

Jon checked his shoulder and ankle straps. His tiger-striped .44 Magnum was well-holstered. The staghorn handle of his Scottish Dirk peeped out of its sheath, which was comfortably strapped to his right ankle. He fastened the shell pouch belt, which ran around his waist area.

All good.

Jon took to the hunt.

***

"Yea, I'm sure I saw a vehicle. I've just passed It as we speak. Sneaking deeper into the woods now. It has no plates."
"The boss is around, so you know, he'd get suspicious if I looked."
[Pause]
"Uh-huh."
[Pause]
"Yea."
"So, what do I do?"
"Copy that. I should be back in no time."

Ronan ended the call, then turned around to the cold silenced barrel of a .44. It wore an evil grin. "It's corked," Jon warned.

Ronan managed to drop his phone in an attempt to reach the 9mm pistol on his waist strap, but Jon was swifter than that.

A fucken Beretta. Who the hell is this guy?

Jon tossed the 9mm gun, which was already in his left hand, then pressed his .44 Magnum's muzzle a little harder against Ronan's skull. He approached. "Do you have trust issues?"