The chill of the desert night seemed sharper now, cutting through the quiet as tension mounted between the three men. Charlie's hand went to his revolver, the metallic scrape loud in the stillness as he drew it and cocked the hammer. His eyes burned with defiance as he pointed the weapon directly at Jose.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSd03jQIti
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNjEIckiqw
"Charlie," Jed barked, his voice low but commanding, "don't."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmHptVkpci
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL7A6x7lMH
Charlie didn't budge, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the handle. "Jed, I can't keep lettin' him go. You know what he's done!"
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXWkGyJSWL
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNr8GmM4HF
Jose smirked from atop his horse, unfazed by the gun barrel aimed his way. "Go ahead, boy," he drawled, his tone dripping with arrogance. "See if you've got the nerve. Or better yet, see what happens after."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbcAYDUZlG
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrhvKf0vbW
Jed sighed, pushing back his hat and glaring at Charlie. "Put it down, boy. You're wastin' energy you don't have on someone who ain't worth it."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQrmHqywo2
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3z2roWzIiW
After a tense beat, Charlie lowered the gun, though his jaw was clenched tight with anger. "This ain't over," he muttered.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpBzhQBmED
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFDyZuuXhn
Jose chuckled, his voice a low rumble. "Oh, it never is with you two, is it?" He shifted in his saddle, the movement casual, almost lazy, as though he were a king addressing peasants. "Now, before we get all sentimental, let me tell you somethin'." He nodded toward the distant village. "That town yonder? Built-in a week. Just one man, out here in the middle of nowhere."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwt6Y29peEu
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx34enmC92
Jed squinted his skepticism plain on his weathered face. "How would you know?"
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsnGD8YWJL
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOmyZmFuS9
"Well," Jose said, leaning forward as if relishing the attention, "last Monday, I was ridin' through these parts, mindin' my own business when I saw it. Figured it was just another ghost town, but when I got closer, there he was. Big fella—pale, bald, looked like he'd never seen the sun. Out here all alone, buildin' like it was a holy mission or somethin'. Kept mutterin' 'bout makin' humans 'evolve.'"
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWsnSKFSRj
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs8s6TU6Vi
Jed raised a brow. "And you just happened to stumble on this guy? What'd you do, rob him blind?"
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpc0GhxKjsm
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMVBXGYWYt
Jose's grin widened, his teeth glinting in the moonlight. "Well, you know me."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mw7tWBzzy
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7V2q9Wqaz
Charlie snorted. "You're full of it. No way some man just up and builds a whole damn town in a week."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk7U7Sc3Fd
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzX9SCOWkTI
"Believe me, don't believe me," Jose replied with a shrug, his tone mocking. "Doesn't make a lick of difference to me."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRLWU9XacP
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5vQiO0uGp
Jed leaned on the horn of his saddle, his expression unimpressed. "So why're you tellin' us this fairy tale?"
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN9PiXDZRH
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeX92aSjV69
Jose's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Because I figure we can make a deal. Work together. Find that Holy Crystal everyone's whisperin' about."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZx8B2xvqKp
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8nCwTJV4j
Charlie let out a bark of laughter, shaking his head. "You serious? That's the funniest damn thing I've heard all week!"
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhMKqvJiuF
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AaXdFHtqn
Jed chuckled too, though his tone was darker, sharper. "You're somethin', Jose. A snake in the grass. No, scratch that—you're a damn rat."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSyXw37v2z
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf0WYObhHe
Jose's smile thinned, his voice dropping to an icy tone. "Fine. Laugh it up. But you'll regret this." With that, he pulled on the reins, his horse turning smoothly. He cast one last look over his shoulder before riding off toward the village, his figure swallowed by the night.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMarr6HI26
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBSF95c6sH
For a moment, the only sound was the wind.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjz2nAxccgA
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18vBseM9Oa
Charlie glanced at Jed. "So, Uncle Jed… should we head into that town?"
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e2ppjQkhn
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjc1SMguUJ
Jed adjusted his hat, his gaze lingering on the village lights. "Yeah, might as well. Could use a roof over our heads for a spell."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ozdj4Ybjl
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KxxfGIDj1
Charlie hesitated. "What about Jose?"
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2xblYwZr0
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DfCp7v9sZ
Jed snorted. "Jose's like a rattlesnake without venom. He makes noise, but he ain't bitin' tonight. Just another man tryin' to act bigger than he is."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbvT8SsH7N
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxso6HwzZO
With that, the two men urged their horses forward, their silhouettes cutting through the shadows as they approached the strange, unmarked town. Charlie and Jed finally arrived at the village after a long, quiet ride under the pale moonlight. The air hung heavy, carrying a faint chill that seeped into their bones. The homes ahead were squat and sturdy, built from rough-hewn stone and clay, their domed roofs blending into the earth like they'd been there forever. Narrow paths wound between them, cobbled in places, packed dirt in others, the kind of place where time itself seemed to slow. Smoke rose in thin spirals from a few chimneys, though the village itself was eerily still.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS1nO2EOYW
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EIKRQNRMS
The two dismounted in front of a small, two-door structure tucked into the shadows. Jed glanced at it, squinting like the place owed him money. "Well," he grumbled, "if this ain't cozy. Looks like it could collapse if you sneezed hard enough."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uBqaPyThJ
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgolOP8mUC
Charlie, ever the optimist, chuckled. "It's better than sleepin' out there with the coyotes and the cold. Let's see if it'll hold the horses."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKJlUDKfRC
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUYF2zixgo
They opened the creaky double doors and led their steeds inside. The room smelled faintly of hay and damp stone—a stable of sorts, though far from luxurious. Charlie patted his horse on the neck before turning to Jed. "Silver'll be fine here. Not like there's much trouble to get into."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoqopgYhJS
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdNgjLErsl
Jed snorted, adjusting his hat. "Speakin' of trouble, keep an eye on your saddle. Last thing we need is Jose creepin' back to pick us clean."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLAIXjcnpl
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc64ARalEQ
With the horses settled, they stepped out the back door into the open air. The village stretched before them in the faint light of lanterns flickering in windows. Charlie paused, his gaze drawn to one house in particular. It had a faint glow spilling out from inside, and even from a distance, he could see the glass panes were clean, the walls well-kept. It stood out against the general weathered state of the village.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxNibHW72u
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgw2c2cG0E
Charlie nudged Jed. "Hey, look at that one." He pointed. "It's got lights, nice windows… hell, I think I even smell food. Thought this place'd be all creepy and abandoned."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gZwEBA3G1
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOdo5MvZ8t
Jed sniffed the air, his expression turning sour. "Nice on the inside, sure, but the outside? This whole damn place stinks."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoo0esQXhlQ
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B8Jyl4xU5
Charlie gave him a confused look before sniffing the air himself. "Stinks? I don't smell nothin'."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2o9BeygMM
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXChxAFLz4
Jed scowled, waving his hand dismissively. "Figures. You got the nose of a damn mule. Smells like mold and desperation out here. But you do you, kid."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1TPDF2EPN
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrSAeOo1LG
Charlie laughed under his breath, shaking his head. "You're somethin' else, Uncle Jed. What're you gonna do, sniff every house in this village?"
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmdxrQpzG1
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8VSakazHs
Jed smirked, his humor dark and sharp. "If I do, it'll still be more productive than whatever nonsense you're thinkin'. I'm gonna check this place out. Get a feel for it."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto9BNi5YT0
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp7v29OG0z
Charlie nodded, adjusting the brim of his hat. "Alright, I'll see if this place's got any food worth takin'. No point sleepin' on an empty stomach."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVTa9gPhxN
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXppaAO6hm
Jed tipped his hat and started walking down the narrow path, his boots crunching against the dirt and stone. "You don't die of food poisoning, you let me know," he called over his shoulder.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99v9iRZyHI
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt1MejBwVV
Charlie grinned as he turned toward the house with the glowing windows, his curiosity leading him closer. Meanwhile, Jed disappeared into the shadows, his figure blending into the stillness of the strange village. Charlie stepped into the house, pushing the creaky wooden door open with a hand on his holster, just in case. The dim light from a single lantern in the corner cast flickering shadows across the room. His eyes scanned the shelves, quickly picking out rows of canned beans, loaves of bread, candy bars, and bottles of whiskey and tea.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFShMYRqav8
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrX67HYAzW
"Well, damn," Charlie muttered, stepping further inside. He grabbed a can of beans, shaking it slightly, then set it down in favor of one of the whiskey bottles. "This ain't half bad. Place like this, I was expectin' rat droppings and cobwebs."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPd5dqT8Gm
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFn7sTKfCA7
He twisted the cap off a tea bottle, took a cautious sip, and smirked. "Decent enough," he said to himself, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsZQlWDj4o
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKIARLCwvB
As he walked further into the house, his boot nudged an empty tin can on the floor. It rolled lazily before stopping near the window. That's when Charlie noticed it—a shadow flickering outside. His breath hitched for a second, and his instincts kicked in. Slowly, he stepped toward the window, peering out cautiously from the side.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnGBCbsSHa
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xW7EmH3Mu
What he saw made his stomach turn. A dead coyote lay sprawled in the dirt just beyond the house, its belly torn open, blood pooling around it. The fresh wound glistened under the faint moonlight, and jagged teeth marks covered its neck.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5XzpsTZ33
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs49drt2eWr
"What the hell…" Charlie whispered, leaning closer. He scanned the area around the coyote but saw nothing else. It didn't look like something natural. Whatever killed it wasn't just hungry—it had been messy, almost careless.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlpFllSItb
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dzHb5fyGS
A knock at the door snapped Charlie back to reality, and he instinctively reached for his revolver. Relaxing slightly, he muttered, "Jed, finally. Took you long enough."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2Cc9eY3nm
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJkB46Zk5M
He strode to the door, unlocked it, and yanked it open. But instead of Jed's grizzled face, there stood Jose, his sly grin almost glowing in the lantern light.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUUxzmMUkx
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hhXJrkSFn
"Mind if I come in?" Jose asked smoothly, his tone deceptively casual.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveVXJXRxtj
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSumqCYiPeV
Charlie didn't hesitate. "Yes." He slammed the door shut, putting his weight into it for good measure.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEh31CJlrV
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGal94IW3rW
But it didn't close. Jose's fingers were wedged between the door and the frame, holding it open. Charlie stared, waiting for a yelp of pain or some kind of reaction, but Jose didn't so much as flinch. His grin only widened as he forced the door back open with surprising strength, stepping inside like he owned the place.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdsQJpiAiB
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIWjFgaWzt
Jose brushed some dust off his coat, looking around. "Nice little setup you got here," he said, his eyes scanning the shelves. "Food, tea… whiskey, even. You sure know how to pick 'em."
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgxuZAz7bB
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojao3vCNrJ
Charlie muttered, "What the hell? I slammed the door on his fingers," his mind raced, spiraling through a mix of confusion and unease.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOfQs79gYu
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmYxqh8fT3
How the hell didn't he scream? Didn't even blink… His thoughts churned as he glanced at Jose's hand, expecting to see blood, bruising—something—but there was nothing. Did I imagine it? No, I felt the damn door hit. So how's he actin' like it didn't even happen?
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHd6im7Mxm
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQUOC3tffG
His eyes flicked up to Jose's face, searching for a wince, a flicker of discomfort, but all he found was that smug, unbothered grin. That ain't natural. Either this bastard's tougher than anyone I've ever met… or there's somethin' seriously wrong with him.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgG56fO8IC
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhS9op1Ac1R
Charlie's fingers hovered near his holster. Could be he's one of those folks that don't feel pain, but even then… the way he walked in, like he owns the place? Ain't no normal man acts like that.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8lhUMWOky
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZ95CuiOGl
A bead of sweat slid down his temple as his unease deepened. Stay calm. Play it cool, he thought, forcing himself to keep his breathing steady. But beneath his calm exterior, a gnawing instinct whispered: This man's dangerous.
151Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCDHRqjcLP
ns3.14.248.121da2
