"Well well well, look who finally decided to show up." Ash sneered, whipping a gun out of the waistband if his jeans and aiming it at Dustin before firing.

The shot embedded in Dustin's chest before anyone could make a move.

Time seemed to slow to a grueling crawl as blood seeped out of the wound and through Dustin's black shirt, leaving a dark stain. His eyes were wide in a combination of shock and pain as he instinctively looked down at the hole in his chest before looking back up into Ash's eyes one last time as he fell forward onto his knees before collapsing face first into the pavement, blood pooling around him as his hazel eyes fluttered shut.

Mark was the first to react by falling to his knees by Dustin, gently lifting Dustin's head into his lap as he hung his head and closed his eyes, tears silently streaming down his cheeks.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Felix roared, charging towards Ash with fury blazing in his sapphire blue eyes. He was instantly held back by other members of the Shadows as Ash merely glanced over at Felix before bowing the smoke away from the barrel of his pistol.

"Who's next?" Ash challenged as he looked around at the others that were frozen in place.

"Why are you here?" Bob demanded, glaring at Ash.

"I knew Dustin was buddies with you merry band of misfits, and I don't take kindly to liars, so I found him and killed him. That and I want to settle the score." Ash explained, glancing over at the still crying Mark.

"Pathetic really." Ash snorted.

"Don't you DARE call my friend pathetic!" Jack snarled, his baby blue eyes burning with anger.

"My my, such protective friends." Ash chuckled coldly.

"It's because we have a heart, unlike you." Ken spat disdainfully.

"Do you want me to give you another bullet to the gut?" Ash whirled around to face Ken, aiming the gun at his stomach where he was shot last time.

Ken grudgingly fell silent, his eyes locked onto Ash's until Ash finally looked away.

"I'm used to getting what I want, and what I want is for your stupid broken friend crying like a baby to grow a pair and fight me fairly without anyone's help!" Ash yelled impatiently.

He snapped his fingers, causing the Shadow members to spring into action and grab onto Kaitlyn, Bob, Jack, Wade, Ken, Thomas, and Vince

"You're the one that wanted to take us on all at once." Wade reminded him.

"You want to fight?"

Mark suddenly spoke up, his voice barely above a whisper as he delicately laid Dustin's head back onto the ground before he turned around to face Ash, his eyes and nose red with tear tracks staining his cheeks.

"Then what are you waiting for?" Mark taunted, his eyes cold and filled with rage.

Ash smirked as he holstered the gun and sauntered up to Mark. Mark didn't back down, even though Ash was taller and had an army on his side, as well as a gun and actual fighting experience.

"Don't hurt Mark!" Thomas ran in between Mark and Ash before anyone could stop him, his body trembling as he stood before Ash. Even though he tried to look rave, Mark could see the fear in Thomas's eyes.

Ash moved his hand back to strike him, but Mark was faster.

He shoved Thomas into Jack's arms and caught Ash's fist mid air before swiping Ash's legs out from underneath him, causing him to slam onto the pavement.

"You've gotten better. Good. I like a challenge." Ash chuckled, the sound genuine and creepy.

"I've learned a thing or two from video games." Mark remarked, allowing Ash to stand back up as he slowly circled around him like a lion stalking its prey.

"Have you learned invincibility?" Ash tainted as he whipped his gun back out and aimed it at Mark.

Vince cried out in fear from where a Shadow member was holding him behind Mark.

"You move, then the kid dies. It's him or you." Ash cocked the gun.

Mark glanced up at the sky, taking a deep breath as he closed his eyes and stretched his arms out like he was preparing to fly.

A gunshot rang out across the gas station, accompanied by the sound of a body thudding to the ground before everything fell silent.