” I said it. There is a cottage over there. Can’t any of you blind bats see the lamp burning from the window? Let’s rush down there and hope the beast hasn’t digested the poor owners yet.” Said Gallagher and dashed down with such athleticism that made his footsteps sound like the galloping of a giant stallion as he was in his self, a huge fellow measuring six feet plus and a complementing muscular mass that cemented his status as a modern day giant. It was his extreme strengths that had paved the way for his many successes which included winning street fights and becoming the elite guard of a wealthy Billionaire, from who he stole a fortune and built his dreaded gang.
” Be very careful guys. These are unfamiliar territories. Anything can happen.” Said Sacramento to the dozen men that encircled the cottage as Gallagher and Durban went for the door. Knocking was old fashioned for a man like Gallagher. He stepped back for a second and with a thud, brought down the wooden door of the cottage with a strike from the base of his timberland boots. He quickly rushed into the room pointing his colt pistol at anything that moved while Durban watched over him.
” Gallagher!. How dare you break my door. Wouldn’t you and your men leave me and family alone.?” Said a lady who slowly appeared from the dark corner of the room, where she had been hiding.
” Amelia Scrooge? Oh my goodness”; ” If it isn’t Amelia Scrooge the daughter of a traitor. Honestly, I thought the beast of the woods would have churned you out their rear by now. But then I’m not even surprised. You guys are cockroaches and roaches survive any where at all. I won’t be shocked to find those bugs in hell.” Said Gallagher and burst out laughing in a wild manner while Durban joined him.
“How dare you speak of my late father in that manner. My father was a hero. He was never a thief. He was accused wrongly and we were chased away from our very homes into this godforsaken woods.” Said the lady as she stepped forward letting the moon rays fall on her narrow face which was a beauty to behold. At eighteen she would have changed any beauty queen had she gotten a better nutrition and healthcare.
“Both of my parents are dead because of the harsh decision of your boss!. Has he sent you to take my life as well.?” Said Amelia as she spoke in an explicit show of hate, which didn’t try to hide her disgust towards the giant intruder.
” kill you. Wouldn’t that be too merciful. That’s just a waste of time and resources. Sooner or later, one of this hungry beast would take you as a snack. Let’s say you have found a way to evade them so far, then loneliness would do the job. It’s a killer to.” Said Gallagher and burst out laughing again.
” Damn you! So rude as usual.” Said Amelia as she slowly stepped back from Gallagher who walked up to her. The room went silent in as Gallagher majestically sauntered after Amelia causing her to move backed from the fear of his proximity. Soon, she was somewhat cornered against till her rear went flat against it’s surface and there was no were she could go again. With a precise and sudden strike, he grabbed her by the neck and leapt closer to her before sniffing her hair, then her neck and then her hair again. She panted in fear, as he was big enough to crush her with his giant hands.
” Have you by any means Seen a wounded man run past here tonight?” He asked, in a tone that was surprisingly calm to her hearing.
“No I have not. Let go of my neck . I can hardly breathe. You are hurting me.” She mumbled in distress as she struggled to loosen his grip from her neck.
” Be calm you urchin!”; ” Durban, call in the guys to search everywhere.” Said Gallagher with his hands palm still wrapped over her neck.
“My dear are you lying to me? Why do you smell rather Strange.” Said Gallagher as he applied more firmness on his grip. She gave up struggling from his grip and let her body loose. She was no match for his strength and it was best she passed out If she could. The trick seemed to work as he shoved her to the ground where she frantically coughed in a bid to escape suffocation. He bent towards her, stretching his hands to get a hold of her again.
” I haven’t seen anyone but you and your damn men in a thousand years. Why don’t you just leave me alone to die in the woods. Isn’t it enough that I survive on berries and rodents in this damn forest.” Cried Amelia as she lay clutching on her neck to ease out the pain in her larynx. Gallagher paused to sniff the air again.
The men soon flooded the cottage and began to check for the presence of their target. They tore down all the old curtains, covering the musty walls of the cottage. They turned over the chairs and tore open her hay mattress, but could not find anything. Soon the whole rooms were turned upside down as even the cutleries and cups where flipped over, in the frantic search for their target.
” Well my dear, A make over to your room is what my boys have freely offered. I believed you the whole time. We just needed something to vent on and these old shabby apartment of yours gave us all the challenge we needed. Indeed, death for you is mercy. Enjoy the rest of your miserly life in this god forsaken woods. Guys let’s get out of here. We can’t waste our lifetime chasing a single beast. Tomorrow is tax season.” Said Gallagher and hurriedly walked away from the building. All men went out of the room except for Durban who had an extra eye on the wooden floor of the cottage. He had spotted something and was curious to know what it was. He took some steps closer to it and shouted!
” Master ! Blood!”. He knelt down on the floor like some forensic expert bent down sniffing on the drop of blood he had seen, thanks to the rays of the oil lantern.
” Shift off my way you Urchins.” Said Gallagher as he shoved his men away and headed back inside the cottage where Durban stooped, sniffing the blood on the floor.
” Master . This is fresh blood. I have a strong feeling that the beast is here somewhere.” Said Durban as he sniffed the blood and went ahead to dip the tip of his tongue in it. Amelia eyes widened in fear, as her heartbeat pumelled even harder than it already did. Gallagher stood some feet away from the drop of blood and sniffed the air around.
” Get away from that thing, you mischievous Urchin. That’s the blood from the loins of a cursed girl.” Said Gallagher causing the other men to burst into a wild frenzy of laughter that was aimed at mocking the excesses of their colleague. They had always disliked the overzealous nature of Durban, who always loved to outshine them at the slightest opportunity. A wave of shame besieged Amelia who felt embarrassed by the findings of the intruders. She slowly turned and gazed at her gown, finding it stained with blood. She quickly Placed her hands over the stain and bent her face in Shame. It made the men laugh even harder, with some of them going as far as rolling on the floor from the heights of joy her shame had birthed them.
” let’s get going guys. We have a village to raid. Oh sorry I mean a village to tax.” Said Gallagher and burst into a fresh outburst of laughter, while his men joined him with the exception of Durban who contemplated on yanking off his tongue with the dagger in his hand.