This is it! We have reached the end. Runner and Fairweather got the two rival gangs together and now seek to stop the Summoner and his demon once and for all! Will they survive the fight?? Let’s find out!
And now…
Runner Ramirez & the Racetrack from Hell
By Tyler Tarlton
Chapter 12
"Keep going!" I shouted as I scrambled to my feet. I dove atop the possessed man and held his arms down with all the remaining strength I could muster. "Now!!"
As a howling wind shot from between the trees, Fairweather stood and once again extended the cross. He repeated the phrases with even more authority than before.
"The power of Christ compels you!!" he shouted over the tumult. He bent his knees slightly and locked them into place, pushing the Cross as far from his body as he could. "In the name of Christ, be gone!!!"
A shock roiled the ground and the man jerked his back in a violent twist. I got tossed to the side and then...it was over.
I sat up and watched as the man rose with confusion and something akin to sadness on his face. He looked his body over then glared at me.
"What did you do?!? He was going to-"
The words collapsed as a thick club rammed into the man's head. He dropped, out cold. I looked at Fairweather with a newfound respect. He was tougher than he looked and either lacked fear or lacked the capacity.
"Good work," I said as I stood up. A groan followed as my 'friend's' strength left me. The pain came roaring in and back down to one knee I went.
"Are you okay?" Fairweather asked as he stepped over and extended one hand. I took it as he helped me back to my feet.
"I will be," I answered. "I don't feel much when he's giving me power. But after that..."
I let another groan finish the thought. I straightened and looked around. Somehow, only a couple of the assembled thugs had lost their lives. The rest had gotten away.
"We better get out of here," I said. "Before either of the gangs come back for some answers."
The next evening I stood outside the bus station and looked over all the various routes. I got no shocks on my spine that corresponded with any of them so I wasn't sure where to go. But my Grandpa always used to say, 'when in doubt, go west.' He had covered every inch of that area in his cowboy and prospecting days and had always found something for himself out there. So I looked over the board and decided to head to Dallas.
"Where ya going?"
I turned to see Fairweather's Packard idling at the curb. The man leaned out the open window. I walked over.
"West," I stated. "Probably Dallas. Can't stay here much longer, those gangs know my face and neither would be thrilled to see me again. Thanks for your help by the way."
"No problem. Say, you want a ride? My face is known here too and I think we make a pretty good team."
There are moments throughout one's life when you reach a crossroads with a choice to be made. I had one here. Did I really want to baby sit some kid? But then again, should I encounter another demon...which I most definitely would.
The Packard zoomed away a moment later. I sat in the passenger seat, my meager possessions tucked back behind. Fairweather turned onto the highway and headed west, toward the setting sun. Another adventure in the books. The first with...yeah I'll say it, my friend Reginald Fairweather. I know you've heard of him and that's how we met. Crazy huh?
And as you are no doubt aware, the reason you're interviewing me in the first place, there would be many more adventures to come. With most making this last one look like a walk in the park. And we didn't know it at the time, but our next fight was just around the corner.
As we crossed into Georgia...
# # THE END # #
There you go! I really hope you’ve enjoyed the first Runner Ramirez story! We’ll be back with an old-fashioned Story Genie next week before embarking on a new serialized story the week after. More details on that to come. And Runner will be back this May for his second adventure RUNNER RAMIREZ & THE GREAT GHOST WAR. Get ready!