21Old-school 60s TV show.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, etc.
Rated M for adult themes (in later chapters).
Chapter 1 The Barn
The two boys stood in the barn facing Mr Rand.
Virgil turned to his brother. John was impassive, a blond lock of hair falling over one eye. That his brother, usually so self-conscious, didn't brush the hair aside but stood like a statue made the question Virgil was about to ask die on his lips.
Mr Rand held his rifle across his chest looking down on it like he was nursing a favourite pet.
'I think we have to get on home now, Mr Rand,' John said flatly.
The man looked at him as if seeing him for the first time.
'No,' he said simply. He shifted the gun so it pointed dead at John's head.
Virgil stepped back in surprise but John didn't flinch. Mr Rand smiled crookedly, swaying slightly.
'No, boy. Stay here,' the man slurred.
Virgil's heart pounded and the blood thrummed in his ears. Mr Rand took several staggering steps towards John. Virgil felt suddenly invisible and totally powerless. He glanced towards the barn door and wondered if he should run for it.
'Naw, Johnnie. You're gonna stay here. With me.'
Mr Rand was no longer pointing the rifle at John. The gun barrel was dipped towards the ground. The farmer bent down to stare into John's face. His left hand moved to the boy's head and brushed the blond lock from his eyes.
John let out a strangled yell and hit the hand away. Virgil, moving before he could think, lunged at the man's gun hand and clutched on as hard as he could with both hands. The farmer swept his arm wildly to shake the small boy off as John flailed his fists in his face. Even though he was drunk, the two teen boys were no match for the strapping farmer.
As the three struggled, Mr Ran lost his grip on the rifle and it fell to the ground.
'Leave my brother alone, leave him alone,' John yelled, his voice becoming hysterical, the backpack strapped firmly on his shoulders hampering his swings.
Virgil dove for the rifle and then took several quick steps back pointing it at the two figures, unsure what to do next.
'You little bastard!' the man bellowed as he raised a fist to strike John.
A shot rang out and Virgil was thrown back into the barn wall like he'd been kicked by a horse. The rifle flew out of his hands.
A heavy silence drenched the barn. Virgil looked up stunned. John had turned to him, panic on his face. Behind him Mr Rand lay on the ground, clutching his head with bloody hands.
'You little bastard. I'm gonna kill you!' the man groaned as he tried to gain his feet.
John took two strides, grabbed Virgil's arm and pulled him towards the door.
'Come on!'
They ran across an unploughed field, jumped the far fence and sped across another field, the tall grass whipping their faces. Finally breathless and unable to run any more, Virgil collapsed on the ground his heart burning in his chest.
'Do you think I killed him Johnnie?' Virgil asked between gasps.
John was standing, bent over, trying to get his breath back as well.
'Johnnie?' Virgil pleaded.
'No. He's fine.'
'Are you sure?' Virgil asked, not convinced.
'Yes. You only grazed him.'
'It looked bad. The blood…'
'It wasn't that much. You only nicked him.' John straightened up and looked back at the barn off in the distance, its roof rising above the grass stalks that hid them. 'You're lucky you didn't hit me instead.'
Virgil's eyes widened in horror at the thought.
'Let's go,' John said. 'It'll be dark soon and it looks like it's gonna rain. Grandma will be mad if we're late for dinner.'
Virgil stood to follow him and then his faced paled.
'John. I left my bag behind.'
John's backpack was still strapped to his back.
'Forget it,' he said.
'No, Johnnie,' said Virgil in real fear. 'It's got my keys in it. What if Mr Rand finds it and uses it…'
'He won't,' said John firmly but his face was worried. He looked at his little brother for a moment then took off his backpack and gave it to Virgil.
'Hold this. I'll go back and get yours.'
'No, John! Mr Rand…'
'It'll be fine. I'll make sure I'm not seen and I'll get it when he leaves the barn. He'll have to go back inside his house to patch up his head. Stay here and wait for me.'
John ignored Virgil's calls as he jogged back the way they had come.
Within minutes the sky opened up and the rain poured down, heavy in the darkening twilight.
And Virgil waited.