Eli 'The Regulator' Schlusser
There was little movement on the desert plain, save perhaps for the swirls of sand that danced lightly in the moonlight. That was until a man, no taller than six foot tall, began running across the expanse. He wore only torn jeans and a pair of boots, with the rest of his body having little more than a layer of dirt to protect him from the elements. This man was terrified, and his scrawny legs were carrying him as fast as they could across the dry and inhospitable earth. Each foot bounced off the sand in succession until, to his horror, his right foot suddenly plunged lower and he tumbled to the ground. “Shit!” he hissed as he tried to regain his feet, but the earth bellow him suddenly sunk again; this time to his waist. He tried to climb out but the earth around him slowly sunk lower and lower until nothing but his head stuck out. “No! No! No!” he cried as it became harder and harder for him to move him limbs. Then, when he could do nothing else, he simply began to weep. For him it seemed like an age passed while the sound of gentle footsteps from behind grew ever louder and nearer, until a shadow finally loomed in front of him. Even now he could not see the figure that had slaughtered his friends.
“Please! I’m begging you, have mercy! I didn’t know who her family was; I would have never touched her if I did!” the man sobbed.
“She was fourteen.” Came a still, cold voice.
“I- I know alright. I get it. I’m the bad guy, and you’re the good guy. But you-” his plea was suddenly cut off by a short gruff snigger.
“No Harry, I’m not a good guy.” Came the voice again. ‘Harry’ felt his guts twist in fear as the man slowly walked round to his front. He recognised the man stood before him now, a man that some called ‘The Regulator’. He was tall and well dressed, with a black suit that may have sold well were it not covered in sand and droplets of blood. His face was stern with strong features, and his short beard added an element of ruggedness. Even if Harry had not heard of this man, it was clear that he was brutal and unforgiving.
Eli slowly crouched down and reached for Harry’s neck, causing him to shut his eyes in fear. Beads of sweat flowed down Harry’s brow and cheek like waterfall, and left dark drops in the sand. He thought he would feel the touch of a cool blade across his neck, but instead the stolen necklace was yanked off of him. “This belongs to the girl’s family.” Said Eli, who in truth only wanted it for proof that he had done the job.
“So… does this mean I get to live?” whimpered Harry, looking up at Eli who was now walking off.
“No.” and with that the earth swallowed Harry whole, leaving no trace that he had ever been there.
Eli stood by one of the train’s doors, the wall in which he leant on providing his only comfort. As much as he would have liked to have sat down and rested his feet, especially after the two day walk from his last job to the nearest station, he aired on the side of caution. From where he was he could not only get to the luggage (and thus the weapons) quicker than anyone else, but he could also make a run with little problem. Multiple times he felt himself nodding off where he stood, only to be awaken as he swayed and jolted himself awake. He couldn’t help it, something about the gentle muttering of voices and the pacing of the train made him feel relaxed despite his intuition telling him otherwise.
When the train finally reached its stop he was the first off and made his way quickly to the back, where the luggage was already being tipped over the side. Like most of the others there, he quickly retrieved his weapons and placed them in the appropriate holsters. Once done, he carelessly threw his empty luggage case into some nearby grass, knowing that he wouldn’t need it again until he was back here and ready to depart. Eli then turned and began to eye up the others, knowing that they’d either be his partners or his competition.
ButtsnBalls
AlteredTundra
