Rising Volume 2, Issue 5

Gauntlet and Rose set off into the evening. With the weekend on, there were few questions where either of them would be - friends houses, sleep overs, all night gaming binges, all the usual kid stuff. Anything else but what they weer actually doing right now - going into the lion's den in Northern Indiana.

The neighborhood was managed well enough by the resident, but there was a slow creeping of decay creeping in from weather exposure as well as neglect. The trees made it a shady area, the areas was torn between urban and rural area, and that made it dangerous for scoping out and trying to make a plan. If the Bullet Heads were any good at protecting their turf, it made going there even more dangerous.

Wisely, after being dropped off by bus as the cusp of night, and changing into their uniforms, Gauntlet and Rose took the back alley's to avoid any police entanglements- he wasn't sure if the police were out looking for him, but Gauntlet wasn't going to give them any free opportunities to scoop him up.

The house that was details in the uncle's folder was two stories, for for small families. The Bullet heads took up at least the entire bottom floor, but there was relatively little activity, it was more of an outpost for parties and to let people know of anything happening on the turn before the main HQ, which that little detail was not in the file. Just as well, though it would have been nice to know so it wasn't next door. Unlikely, but possible.

There was a front door and a back. they went via the back door, which went into the kitchen. There was one of them cooking on a stove that was out of sight of the window sill.

"Looks calm - no parties or anything. So there should be only a few people." Rose said. "I just hope Springer is there today. So how do you want to do it?"

"I think - the direct approach. Stay here."
"What are you doing?"
"Just stay out of sight. Keep the bat handy."

Gauntlet stepped up out of the bush, his hand on the baton on his belt. He saw beer cans litter the ground. He was already seating, and the nerves were on edge as he kicked the can knocking onto there before hitting the wall of the house.

When the cook turned to look out the window, his heart skipped a beat. They disappeared into the house. A few moments later, three guys in Bullet Head attire stepped out. They stopped at the bottom of the staircase.

"You lost, kid?"
"Nope. I'm not here for trouble."
"You come up here, dressed like that, not looking for trouble? You have a sense of humor."
"I'm looking for Ryan Johnson."
They look at each other.
"What makes you think we know who that is?"
"I know who Adam is, and I know he loves his brother. Plus Ryan has been collared before. So, is here or or not?"

They stood there, silently taunting, perhaps waiting to see if a move was made. But there wasn't. Their leader, a taller man than the rest, nodded to one of his buddies, who went back inside for a few moments before the brought a kid half their size out, groggy as if he just woke up.

"You know this kid?"

Ryan took a moment before realizing who was standing before him. "El?"

"Gauntlet - Ryan."
The men behind Ryan chuckled.
"What are you doing here?"
"I need a few moments with you, if that's alright."
"Sure. I guess."
"Hey Ryan, I don't think you should be going anywhere with him."
"I'll stay in sight. Relax" Ryan said then approached Gauntlet, who did not flinch.
"Are you alone?" asked Ryan.
"Not going to answer that."
"I see. what do you want?"
"Is Alex really in charge of the Bullet Heads?"
"How did you know?"
"He intervened on one of Rose's routes."
"Sofia is in on this too? Where is she?"
"Focus, Ryan. What is Adam doing with the Bullet Heads? Is he out for blood, or trying to start another Heroes Club with criminals?"
"That's... how he made it sound." Ryan said, losing confidence quickly. "I really shouldn't talk about him though, with the other guys around. They're loyal - fiercely. It will get back that you were here, E... Gauntlet."
"I think he was counting on that, thus why he let Rose walk. I just want to avoid a war or something."
"You think he still holds a grudge?"
"I know he does - i just didn't think he would go this route."
"Well, you're back at it, right? I bet Robert is too, right?"
"No. He's... a civilian. Don't involve him in this."
"Looks like sooner or later he will be - no mater what. It's all coming around."
"What are you talking about? How bent is your brother now?"
"Since we disbanded. Seriously bent - I barely know him anymore."
"Is he planning something? You have to tell me, Ryan."
"I don't know, but you should keep away from him, for your own good."
"Not if he is going to cause harm to people." Gauntlet said, slowly walking towards Ryan. "he knows about us already, we could be in trouble, for one. And what about Robert? He's a civilian."
"then that's what he is. go home, Gauntlet. I can't help you."

Ryan turned away and went back his side, his homeboys watching as they went inside the house. Gauntlet turned back and returned to Rose, who was still waiting with her bat ready.

"So now what?"
"Looks like we're going to have to prod the cow."
"You're crazy."
"Yeah. But we have to make it clear we can't be toyed with. Come on, I have a plan."