The Final Showdown

Kenny stumbled forward through the woods, panting hard with Richard Irons close behind. "Not much further, Brian said the entrance should be just over this next hill," Kenny said before letting out a grunt, tripping over a buried root and falling into the snow.

Almost instantly he felt a firm hand on his collar lifting him out of the white cold and back to his feet, "Easy son, take a breath and calm yourself," Richard told Kenny who brushed off his wet-frozen face and shook off a chill, "I know you're scared for your friends but we need to be in control, not just for ourselves but for them,"

"I know, I know, it's...we gotta get to them before this sick fuck does something," Kenny gulped before quickly pulling out John's pistol from the back of his belt, "What do I do again?"

Richard let out a short exhale and knelt down, taking the gun from Kenny, "Flip the safety off here, pull the slide back to load in a bullet then...point and squeeze," He told the teen before planting a firm hand on his shoulder, "But you don't even think about reaching for it unless you have no choice, you aren't out here for blood, we're going to get your friends and then getting them out of here, hear me?"

"Right, yeah," Kenny quickly agreed, taking the gun back and tucking it away,

"No, Kenneth, do you hear me?" Richard asked again, his brow furrowed. Kenny's eyes grew slightly and he let out a silent, fully understanding nod, "Good, I didn't want to bring you all the way out here in the first place, and I'll be damned if anything happens to you," The veteran grunted while standing up, taking the lead as he led Kenny up the hill,

"Thank you for this Mr.Irons, I know...I know you came here to save Zoey, but you're the only one who has a chance at saving my friends," Kenny sincerely told the man after a moment of climbing,

"Not necessary, son," Richard replied, keeping his eyes peeled as he watched the tree line ahead of him beginning to see the hard mountain stone in between the trees, "Each of you were just as important as my daughter, no one would be left behind," Richard firmly stated before he let out a small, nearly missable, breathy laugh, "Besides, my daughter seems quite taken with you, if I don't return you in one piece I may as well not come back at all," Kenny nervously smiled at the man, feeling a whole new different type of fear but he quickly shook off any worry of Zoey's father, "Stop," Richard suddenly ordered, kneeling down.

Kenny quickly followed suit, slowly moving to Richard's side, "What, uh, what do you see?"

"Mineshaft entrance," Richard replied pointing towards the right at a dark cave opening in the mountainside, "You stick to my heels like glue, hear me?" Kenny nodded and Richard readied his rifle, swiftly walking through the snow and towards the entrance.

The pair reached the mineshaft and Richard reached forward, flicking the flashlight on his rifle as he entered the caves. The shaft was quiet, a few tunnels went left and right but the center with the minecart rails went deep and far into the mountain. "Mr.Irons," Kenny whispered, pointing up the center path at a small dim light in the distance. Richard aimed his rifle down the shaft and nodded, taking meaningful quick steps forward, though his boots seemed to not make a sound.

Kenny continued to look around, his heart picking up the further they went, wondering why Brian and Rachel weren't making a sound. Yet, just as they reached the light Kenny saw why tied to a large support beam were the White siblings with two large gags stuffed in their mouths. "Sonofabitch," Richard breathed out as he noted the dynamite sticks placed and wired all around the beam and mineshaft walls.

Rachel and Brian's eyes snapped up and locked on the duo, immediately screaming out frantically behind their gags. "It's okay guys, you're safe now," Kenny said while rushing forward, "Mr.Irons, do you have a knife? Cut them loose!" Kenny exclaimed as he moved to Rachel, pulling out the blonde girl's gag, "It's okay Rach, we've got-"

"Behind you!" Rachel cried out.

Kenny spun back just in time to see Quentin behind Richard, he slammed his arms down on Richard's rifle, forcing the gun to go clattering down onto the cave floor. Following up, Quentin took a strong swing at Richard's face which the veteran blocked, shoving the man back. "I don't know who the hell you are, but you're a dead man," Quentin growled out before rushing forward, throwing his weight at Richard.

Richard was able to catch Quentin by the arms, keeping him back but swiftly felt a knee slamming into his groin. The redheaded man let out a groan and felt his knees start to buckle, but he fought against falling. Tightening his fist he slammed it into Quentin's stomach causing a pained gasp to leave his mouth. Kenny stumbled to his feet and yanked for his gun pulling it out and fumbling with the safety as Quentin planted his hands on Richard's shoulders, slamming his head into the man. Richard fell to a knee, his world spinning and a trickle of blood running down his nose. With a roar Quentin swung his foot up, connecting with the veteran's chin, sending him flat onto his back unmoving.

Quentin took a few deep breaths and slicked his hair back, shaking his head angrily. His ear twitched as he heard Kenny fulling the slide back on his gun. Kenny watched as the bullet entered the chamber and with shaking hands lifted it, looking up at Quentin, ready to fire. Then a load pop rung through the caves, Rachel and Brian let out a wild scream as blood burst out of Kenny and he flew onto the ground, his gun clattering away from him. "Stupid fucking kid," Quentin muttered as he smoothly lowered his gun, not giving Kenny a second glance.

"Now, Rachel? Brian? Shall we get back to business?" Quentin asked with a devious smile,

"You fucking monster!" Rachel screamed back, "I'll kill you!"

"Think not honey," Quentin chuckled back, "And I'm afraid, as much as I've loved our little reunion today, this is the part where I kill you and little Bry,"

"Not happening," Richard suddenly grunted before jamming a carbon steel blade into the back of Quentin's knee.

Quentin let out a howl of pain and collapsed to the ground, his arm swung around, attempting to aim his gun at Richard who caught him by the wrist. With near herculean strength, Richard twisted and a snap echoed through the mineshaft followed by a clang of Quentin's gun hitting the ground and a new scream of pain. Richard then reached down, grabbing Quentin by the collar and yanking his head up, "Please! Please! No more! Stop!" Quentin sniveled out,

Richard let out a roar, swinging his fist down with all his strength, knocking the man out cold. He dropped Quentin without care and slowly got to his feet, with a wince, "Kenny? Son, are you still with me?!" Richard called out as he stumbled towards the teen,

"Kenny! Kenny wake up!" Rachel cried out,

Brian rapidly shook his head, finally freeing himself from his gag, and pulled on his restraints, "Ken! Kenny!?"