I watched Briar leave, a twinge of guilt filling my gut. "She wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you..."

The sound of sirens grew. I turned, seeing a single police car flying down the empty road.

I picked up the Tommy Gun, my breathing labored. "Come get it, fuckers..."

The car screeched to a halt as I opened fire, splintering the hood and windshield. Blood stained the glass from the passenger seat, the drivers door flying open and an older man jumping out to the pavement, squeezing off a shot.

The shot hit me in the shoulder. I dropped the Tommy Gun and dove for cover behind a nearby boulder, pulling the 1911 from my belt.

Blood leaked past my lips as I let out a few coughs.

"You killed my partner!" The man yelled.

"Tough shit!" I yelled back.

"There doesn't have to be anymore killin', just come out with your hands up!" He ordered.

My body felt cold, I was losing blood, fast. "To late for that... I'm already dead... And, I'm taking you with me!" I yelled back, moving my gun out and squeezing off a few shots.

The man ducked behind his car. "Dammit, girl, it doesn't have to end this way!"

"I can't let you find her..." I whispered to myself. "I have to give her a chance to escape..."

I sucked in a tight breath before forcing myself to my feet. "C'mon!"

I sent a few more shots into the side of the car, my gun eventually clicking, signaling it was empty.

The man stood tall, pointing his gun at me. "You're out, just drop it... Please..."

I clutched the wound on my stomach, tossing the gun to the ground. Then, my eyes traveled over to the Tommy Gun, which still had a few rounds left in it.

"Don't do it!" The man ordered, taking a hesitant step towards me.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Sheriff Peter Boggs. Now, come on, let's get you patched up. No need to keep this up." He pleaded.

My eyes darted to the gun again. "Sorry, sheriff, but I'm not going to prison."

"No!" He yelled as I dove for the gun, feeling the warm burn of a bullet entering my chest.

I hit the ground hard, trying as hard as I could to pull in air, to no avail. The bullet must've hit my lung.

My fingertips grazed the gun, the sheriff immediately running over, kicking the gun out of my grasp.

I rolled over on my back, gasping for air, coughing up blood.

The sheriff holstered his pistol as he looked over me. "Why'd you do it, girl?"

"B-B-Briar... I-I couldn't let you get to her... It's not-" I let out a cough then. "It's not her fault..."

—————

I stood over the girl as she took her last breaths, her eyes closing for the last time.

"Shit..." I said, looking over at my car, the detective dead in the passenger seat.

A few more cars pulled up behind mine, a couple deputies running up to me. "Sheriff? Are you ok?"

"I'm fine... Get an ambulance down here for these two, now!" I ordered, the frustration of the situation getting the better of me.

The deputy nodded before yelling orders into his radio.

I walked past him, passing my car, seeing the detective still bleeding out in the passenger seat, his dead fingers still clutching the pistol in his holster.

"I need to borrow your car." I said to one of the deputies.

She nodded, opening the drivers side door. "It's all yours, sheriff."

I hopped in and started it up, taking off down the road, in pursuit of Briar...

—————

The tears fell faster as I heard the sounds of gunfire in the distance. "Connie..."

I drove until the sun started to set in the sky, open land for miles in all direction. There was nowhere I could go, nowhere I could hide. And, my car was running low on gas.

As the car started to sputter, I pulled it over to the side of the road, where it eventually gave out.

I slammed my hand against the steering wheel. "Dammit!"

I slumped back in my seat then. "I guess this is it..."

   Then, I heard the sound of sirens. The flash of headlights reflecting through the rear view mirror.

   I quickly grabbed the shotgun from the back seat and stepped out of the car.

   Tears filled my eyes once again as I pulled both triggers, firing both barrels at the same time.

   The force knocked the shotgun out of my hand and pushed me to the ground. "Stay away from me!" I yelled as the car screeched to a stop, an old man running out, gun drawn.

   "Show me your hands!" He ordered.

   I wiped at my eyes before raising my hands, surrendering. "I'm sorry..."

   He holstered his gun before kneeling down in front of me. "It's ok, Briar... Let's just get you home..."

   "You're not arresting me..?" I asked.

   He took his cowboy hat off, rubbing his forehead. "No need to... Your friend already admitted to everything..."

   "I-is she..?" I asked, stuttering slightly.

   He looked down, fiddling with the brim of his hat. "She didn't give me much choice... I'm sorry..."

   I quickly got to my feet, charging him.

   He wrapped his arms around me as I punched his chest. "You son of a bitch!"

   He held me tight. "I'm sorry, Briar..."

   "I hate you!" I yelled, but he refused to let me go.

   "Briar... Please, your mother's worried sick..." He said.

   I finally wrapped my arms around him, crying into his shoulder. "I loved her, dad..."

   He rubbed my back. "I know... I did everything I could... I begged her just to come with me... She wouldn't listen..."

   I pulled away then, rubbing my eyes. "She told me she wouldn't go to jail..."

   My dad rested his hands on my shoulder. "Im sorry, kid... But, we have to go, before anyone else finds out who you are..."

"I'm sorry, dad... I didn't mean to involve you in all of this... I accidentally got caught up in all of it and... And, it just kept spiraling further and further out of control..." I replied, lowering my head.

"It's ok, Briar... I'm just glad I was able to get to you before anyone else did... Now, let's go..."

   So, I followed him back to his car, sitting in silence the whole ride. Memories of her face dancing around my thoughts...