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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVCaTuuKXH
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ss9VBL1Lg
"Charlie," Jed barked, his voice low but commanding, "don't."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eItwHPbKR
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBTjvAeDuI
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!"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanE7lJXQxf
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcETK1E4c4
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEP6bXTgxb
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tqsoCXv27
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEU6Xwc9VF
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMsE9rLdtW
After a tense beat, Charlie lowered the gun, though his jaw was clenched tight with anger. "This ain't over," he muttered.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wXpZmnPvc
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LIQBmjyPU
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8JwL0bdj9
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT7R91wC9e
Jed squinted his skepticism plain on his weathered face. "How would you know?"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Nu9tW0iOW
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEl5HHa7Nb9
"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.'"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4U1z1S8ty
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopDyuh9EZP
Jed raised a brow. "And you just happened to stumble on this guy? What'd you do, rob him blind?"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAGiC1oQXg
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡortyIT5Wy6
Jose's grin widened, his teeth glinting in the moonlight. "Well, you know me."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVeYBGVxLc
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcV7B1HEmSg
Charlie snorted. "You're full of it. No way some man just up and builds a whole damn town in a week."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgEljitzX6
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjb2pL2LfF
"Believe me, don't believe me," Jose replied with a shrug, his tone mocking. "Doesn't make a lick of difference to me."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXE8W8w8AD
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCTS2gVPrj
Jed leaned on the horn of his saddle, his expression unimpressed. "So why're you tellin' us this fairy tale?"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBkkV3ZVvc
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJYR2dW3S8
Jose's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Because I figure we can make a deal. Work together. Find that Holy Crystal everyone's whisperin' about."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCOVVeQVxV
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxTpmaJ6kE
Charlie let out a bark of laughter, shaking his head. "You serious? That's the funniest damn thing I've heard all week!"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ggNUdueJt
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKncddaHlod
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleCcvGaNvH
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPtwg01BqS
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg6a3x0ecj
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsO4dCAT82
For a moment, the only sound was the wind.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFNfzfUNGf
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5AdaOFUmj
Charlie glanced at Jed. "So, Uncle Jed… should we head into that town?"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBbciYX7w8
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2RjFnZvjc
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfk1LcvQO1
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaTBeSTaSn
Charlie hesitated. "What about Jose?"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ66DjTycQl
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3msSK0BF3U
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqxDCOnebV
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXMsnuyPDW
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpd7oDTzoX
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEog24wPsFe
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj8SHW8F9Y
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rS19XVZRd
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOH5DAPMCI
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DYtJxuSTK
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluhJE5Waf2
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1Tx6T9DAk
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla3YxtkQLh
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2x12USzUHb
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi1kftZ4Oi
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gIxHE69ZR
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7KTFBEIut
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWUxUvzAd4
Jed sniffed the air, his expression turning sour. "Nice on the inside, sure, but the outside? This whole damn place stinks."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqny2auKtai
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyA8qfRL16
Charlie gave him a confused look before sniffing the air himself. "Stinks? I don't smell nothin'."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr9jA2dgZO
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiRfI1auoX
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1h58TGj0oZ
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20R701qd0Z
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?"
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohaTSSuwmQ
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIMc27yQil
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRB3BpdgdS
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte5N3lOliV
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAO6KxzOKdt
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVNttDJNmR
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonaMeCuOFm
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3inpr0lxJ
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8mtrG0PO8
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDcKOorDQI
"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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS09JWI08O2
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG740cZzrNH
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v0oVLiNdj
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvOw7e3fBp
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPmPUoOlQL
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXWlF0nMWj
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJt5eTjMGnH
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvbDdngULh
"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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfsud0Cn16
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLUGRvFGpE
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoINuiir00s
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7DRLNId33
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXrc7IXTdR
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTSGgpWhgc
"Mind if I come in?" Jose asked smoothly, his tone deceptively casual.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVErW5jswYK
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36xcC8p78z
Charlie didn't hesitate. "Yes." He slammed the door shut, putting his weight into it for good measure.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjSwK0gBAF
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0R4ZJIrNm
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCdqM9BoIo
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA9BKTn09U
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."
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNorY1JATnU
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy66SbHlka
Charlie muttered, "What the hell? I slammed the door on his fingers," his mind raced, spiraling through a mix of confusion and unease.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtulv4mpAuR
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAHXma4tPv
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?
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbvbL5SraA
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33hjj0TWoa
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1O3P192T8s
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCmvF9KGST
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJvgcTtICo
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLGL4W1SVt
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.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1HAKUVNVT
ns 15.158.61.23da2
