Chapter 53: Time To Strike 2
Jennifer
My brain, now fuelled by a sudden burst of adrenaline, quickly put things together. The asshole in the hut had been my father all along? I had thought I recognised his voice when he told me he had taken Maya yesterday, but I had dismissed it as the panic of the situation had overtaken me.
He turned me to use me as a shield as Valkyrie and Pheonix caught up with us, weapons raised. “I just wanted to give you a message before I go, we are coming for you Claire and we will not stop until we have taken what is ours and destroyed you for your betrayal. You are no daughter of mine.”
He spat out the words like vile venom in my ear. As he said this, he seemed to be fumbling around with one hand whilst his other stayed wrapped around my neck and I waited for the feel of the cold steal of a knife or the barrel of a gun.
With that, he threw something over my head and a burst of smoke filled the area as it hit the ground in front of me. It burned my throat and eyes. Threw bleary vision, I watched as the man, with a scarf wrapped around his mouth and nose as a makeshift mask, ran away.
Valkyrie and Pheonix reached me as I collapsed to the ground and as soon as they were past me, they fired at the retreating silhouette of the man I once called my father. A shot fired and I watched the blood spray from his shoulder as he didn’t even break his stride.
“Lethal force.” I gritted out through coughs, not sure if it was loud enough to be heard but the women did as I asked regardless as the next bullet went straight through the back of his head and he dropped to the ground.
Pheonix moved to check the body as Val came back to pick me up. She motioned to the others who had come out to get back inside until the smoke had cleared whilst she effortlessly lifted me off the ground where I had fallen to and moved towards the cottage.
It all happened so quickly, in the blink of an eye. I should feel something for the fact that I had just watched my father get shot dead in front of me after he threatened me, kidnapped my dog, tried to blow up my farm and conspired to destroy me.
I felt nothing though, just anger and frustration that I couldn't make him tell us what the fuck we were missing from everything that happened last night now that he was dead. It would give me something to talk about with Gina anyway. Well, maybe leave out the killing part.
I sighed as Valkyrie placed me down on the couch in the cottage and Travis gave orders for some special tea to be made to soothe our throats. Valkyrie quickly started to strip off my shirt and trousers and I took a second to be grateful that I had worn a sports bra that day that covered most of me.
She began wash the areas where the chemical compound had splashed onto me after it hit the ground and smashed. “You didn’t get hit?” My voice came out breathily and I immediately started coughing as I tried to speak.
“Shhh, don’t speak.” She said as Pheonix returned with an inhaler and handed it to me, instructing me on how to use it. “Me and Pheonix were far enough away that it just missed us, all we got was slight inhilation but out training kicked in quickly, so we covered our mouths before too much damage was done. Unfortunately, chemical warfare is all too common in the field.” She explained.
At least I knew I was in good hands. Pheonix came back again with a robe and threw it over me. “Thankfully, it looks like your cast took the worst of it. There are a few minor burns on your other shin and your cast will need replaced but the main issue will be your breathing for now.” Val spoke but Pheonix was also examining every inch of my skin as she did.
Kevin handed me some kind of herbal tea that I didn’t recognise. “It has some honey in it to help soothe your throat and herbs to help with inflammation, irritation, damaged tissue and ones to open your airways. It’s Pheonix’s special mix, we always have some on hand in our first aid kits.” Kevin explained.
Pheonix looked bashful at the praise, awkwardly looking away. Phantom, who had just re-entered from outside, seemed to notice this and interjecting to ease his friend's awkwardness. I hadn’t even seen him leave.
“The smoke is cleared so it’s safe to go outside now. I took a look at the remains of what he threw. Looks like he had a small, sealed pouch that likely contained potassium permanganate and a small glass vile of glycerol. I found secret pockets sewn into the insides of his waistband, all he would have to do would be put the vile in the pouch and once the glass broke, the compounds would create an exothermic reaction which would release a toxic smoke.”
“Phantom is our scientist, if you hadn’t worked that out.” Travis added with chuckle. “So, he made a homemade smoke bomb, those chemicals explain the burns on your leg.” He explained, pointing at my exposed shin as Valkyrie applied a topical ointment of some kind and I felt instant relief.
“We should get you to a hospital to get you checked out properly. They can give you oxygen, but you will have to decide what you want to tell them.” Travis added. “Holding a man on your property for two days is not exactly legal but I will follow your lead.” He said.
“What the fuck happened Jennifer?!?! Why is there a dead guy by the gates and why do you look like death???” Johnathan asked all at once as he burst through the door into the cabin.
“Oh that.” I grimaced. “That would be my father.” I replied as he stared at me with shock and incredulity.